Facts and Ideas from Anywhere (From the Editor‪)‬

PREVENTING CANCER Scientists with the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund analyzed 7000 scientific studies and produced recommendations to lower the risk of developing cancer (1, 2). Their recommendations were the following: be as lean as possible without becoming underweight; be physically active at least 30 minutes every day; avoid sugary drinks and processed foods high in sugar or fat; eat mostly plant foods--vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes; limit red meats and processed meats; limit alcoholic drinks to no more than two a day for men and one a day for women; limit salt intake; and meet nutritional needs through diet rather than supplements. Additionally, new mothers were encouraged to breast-feed their infants exclusively for 6 months, and cancer survivors were encouraged to follow the recommendations for cancer prevention. The panels also emphasized the importance of not smoking or using tobacco products. In their 1997 report, the panels linked fat only to uterine cancer. Now the authors indicate that fat plays a role not only in uterine cancer, but also in pancreatic, colorectal, renal, esophageal, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Thus, there is more evidence than ever that a person who weighs too much is more likely to develop cancer than a person at ideal body weight.