We hear it all
time…lose weight for your health. Few people however, realize extent to which a healthy body weight is critical to their physical and mental well-being and ultimately, their life expectancy. Just how does obesity lead to disease and death?At risk of oversimplifying a complex set of interactions, typical Western diet - high in saturated fats, sugar and refined flours - which may lead to obesity; may also act to stimulate growth of cancer cells.
The interaction of diet and development of cancer is an active field of research and Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and author of "What Color is Your Diet", says "It appears that diet has its most significant effects after cancer has already formed, acting to inhibit or stimulate growth of that cancer".
Women who are obese after menopause have a 50% higher relative risk of breast cancer. This is just one of notable documented links between obesity and cancer.
It is never too late to improve your health through healthful eating and adopting a more health-giving lifestyle. Here are simple steps to follow which can make an immediate improvement to your health and vitality.
1. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if weight has become health risk. You can check your BMI at http://www.leanmachine.org
2. Match your diet to your body's requirements. If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants. Also learn how to snack with healthful choices.
3. Color your diet with a large variety of colorful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.
