Food as Preventative Medicine
Eating too many calories, or eating too much of one kind of food and not enough of another, may lead to obesity, heart disease or type II diabetes. Up to 35% of all cancers may be preventable through a combination of suitable diet, physical activity, and proper body weight.
Heart Disease:
The Food Connection
The Bad News
Obesity increases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, salt, and alcohol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
The Good News
A healthy diet low in saturated fats may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Health Check Program
(external link: Heart & Stroke Foundation)
Cancer:
The Food Connection
The Bad News
According to the Harvard Center for Cancer Research, 35% of all cancer deaths can be attributed to poor diet, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.
The Good News
Diets containing many different vegetables and fruit may help reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
An active lifestyle — such as a one-hour brisk walk each day and an hour of vigorous exercise a week — is associated with a reduced risk of cancer.
“Overweight and obese adults and children in Canada are at a much greater risk for diabetes.”
— Improving the Health of Canadians, Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2004
