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Eating less red meat, adding fibre to your diet and getting regular exercise could lower your risk of developing bowel cancer by almost 50 per cent. That would mean 17,000 fewer cases a year, says the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). The WCRF recommends that people eat no more than 500g, or just over a pound, of red meat a week and that they avoid any type of processed meat altogether.

The message is clear

The WCRF has just published what it is calling ‘the most authoritative ever report of bowel cancer risk’. The charity analysed 24 studies that look into the link between bowel cancer and meat consumption

‘On meat, the clear message that comes out of our report is that red and processed meat increase risk of bowel cancer and that people who want to reduce their risk should consider cutting down the amount they eat,’ Alan Jackson, professor of nutrition at Southampton University and chair of the WCRF research panel, told the media.

The charity says no more than 500g of red meat should be eaten a week, which translates to ‘the equivalent of five or six medium portions of roast beef, lamb or pork’.

‘Convincing’ evidence

Thanks to new findings the charity can now say there is ‘convincing’ evidence that a higher intake of fibre, found in whole grains, fruit and vegetables, can protect against cancer. This is compared to a report from 2007 that said the link between fibre intake and bowel cancer was only ‘probable’.

It has also been confirmed that regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer.

Saving lives

WCRF general manager Teresa Nightingale said of the report: ‘We estimate that about 43 per cent of bowel cancer cases in the UK could be prevented through these sorts of changes. That is about 17,000 cases every year.’

Bowel cancer kills around 15,000 people in Britain a year.

Tags: cancer, eating healthily, exercise, healthy lifestyle