An onco-healthy diet helps protect against cancer

• Experts insist that a balanced diet and avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and being overweight or obese, are associated with reducing the risk of developing a tumor.

Every year 162,000 new patients are diagnosed with cancer. Although the direct impact eating habits have on the development of the disease has not yet been completely clarified, it is true that various studies indicate that bad eating habits, combined with the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, being overweight or obese, may increase the risk of a tumor appearing.

That is why, and on the occasion of World Health Day, this Saturday, April 7, MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid is promoting the onco-healthy diet to help prevent future cancer diagnoses.

As the basis of onco-protective eating habits, specialists recommend a varied, balanced diet, adapted to the needs of each person, depending of age and lifestyle. At present, food guides aiming to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer recommend consuming fruit and vegetables (45%-60% of daily calorie intake), protein (between 15% and 20%), limiting the consumption of processed and fatty meats and avoiding eating poultry skin. The total amount of fat consumed should be no more than 35% of the daily calorie intake, while fiber, from pulses, cereals, fruit and vegetables, should be at least 25 g a day. In addition, a little daily exercise is fundamental to avoiding weight gain according to experts.