The American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) has done a huge amount of research over the past 2 decades on the relationship between diet, lifestyle and cancer.
Causal agents were known, or strongly suspected, for a few cancers such as cigarette smoking and sunburn, but the relationship with diet, lifestyle and cancer was still shrouded in mystery. The first 10-year study by the AICR was published in 1997. This study attempted to uncover links with cancer throughout the world, country by country, the second 10-year study was published late in 2007 and powerful trends were emerging. More than 7,000 research papers involving more than 500,000 people from more than 50 countries were examined.
Powerful correlations were made with red meat eating and colorectal cancer, and the recommendation was made to refrain from eating red meat more than twice a week, processed meat treated with nitrites or powerful preservatives also were strongly linked to bowel cancer. The link with nitrites was so strong the decision was made to warn the Americans off their favourite BBQ food, hot dogs, processed meats should only be eaten on rare occasions.
http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dc_home_guides
Another strong link was discovered with body weight. Body Mass Index was suggested to be lowered even further than the current guidelines, big boned people such as Islanders could have a BMI of 23 and be healthy but the normal people should become as lean as they can get, a BMI of 22 should be aimed at. Eat a wide variety of food and make 80% of your plate plant food, fish should be eaten three times per week, and everyone should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise daily. Adhering to this and not smoking, or drinking above the guidelines would prevent 60% of cancers.
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