Cut bacon and booze to keep cancer at bay

After looking at hundreds of studies involving more than 51 million people, experts conclude sticking to water and avoiding alcohol and bacon could help reduce the risk of cancer by up to 40%.

Eating and drinking properly are essential to protect against the disease. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) advises following the whole package is more important than any one habit or food and urged people not to cherry-pick its recommendations.

It said the link between obesity and cancer had grown stronger, so they caution against fizzy drinks and fast food, including processed meat, for the first time.

It also urged people to go further than guidelines recommending a minimum of two-and-a-half hours of moderately intense activity a week.

It’s also “best not to drink alcohol” as it’s thought to be linked to stomach cancer, in addition to five others.

Dr Giota Mitrou of the WCRF said that “about 40% of cancers can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle”.