A healthy diet can prevent the most common cancers

They said diet, exercise and weight control through simple measures like cycling to work and swapping fatty foods for fruit can make all the difference for these and many other cancers.

Research by the World Cancer Fund also showed that up to 75 per cent of mouth and throat cancers could be prevented, and says that globally, millions of cancer cases could be prevented each year.

According to the report, about a third of the 12 most common cancers in high-income countries and about a quarter in lower income countries could be prevented with the “clean living” policies. The panel of 23 experts who put together the report say cancer rates are set to increase, and urgent action is needed.

The report says everyone “from governments to households” should make public health, and in particular cancer prevention, a priority. Among the recommendations is the advice that schools and workplaces should encourage exercise and take unhealthy food off the menu.
They also urge people who do the weekly shopping for their family to check food labels to make sure the food they buy is healthy.