Weight as CANCER TRIGGERS

Weight  as CANCER TRIGGERS

Weight

Major underlying factors such as Westernisation and urbanisation have changed the way we live and eat, creating patterns that are often difficult to reverse. Says Boome: ‘Our diet has shifted from eating family meals and foods that are wholesome towards more meals outside the home, such as convenient and processed foods that are high in saturated fats, sugar, refined starch and therefore calories. Another characteristic of the modern-day diet is that our portion sizes have also increased significantly.’

Boome’s viewpoint is backed up by scientific studies, which suggest that the western diet is associated with a higher intake of fat and a lower intake of starchy foods, dietary fibre, fruit and vegetables. Unhealthy food and poor diet are just two of the factors that can contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle.

According to the WCRF and the AICR, urbanisation is associated with excessive weight gain and obesity.

Mat also looks at overeating, but from a slightly different angle: ‘People don’t eat because they are hungry. We eat because we don’t always respond to the emotional stimuli in our environment in a way that is healing productive, so sometimes instead of addressing the issue we just feed ourselves. When we comfort eat, we gain weight. When we gain weight, we increase our risk of many diseases including non-communicable diseases of lifestyle.’ Whatever the motivation behind overeating, the fact remains that it is a serious problem and an undeniable contributor to increased cancer risk.

‘Our health is determined by three components that all interact together: genetics, diet and lifestyle,’ continues Mat. ‘While we cannot control our genetics, we can control what we choose to eat and how we live our lives in terms of smoking or physical activity levels; this determines whether or not our genetic susceptibility to cancer and other diseases is turned on or off. The most important thing that anyone can do to avoid cancer or any other noncommunicable disease of lifestyle is to maintain a healthy weight. The basis of maintaining a healthy weight is eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, and moderate in heart-healthy fats and whole grains, as well as lean proteins, and exercising.’

In terms of our habits when it comes to hyper-palatable, salty and sweet foods, Mat says we just have to eat less of them to stop craving them. We tend to crave the foods we eat most often, especially if they are high in sugars, refined starches and fats. To reduce cravings, intake of these foods needs to be reduced. She explains that society teaches us the language of food, and this language often involves rewarding ourselves with food. If you are feeling lonely, eat a chocolate. If you are in love, cook your partner dinner. If you want to see a friend, meet for coffee. ‘When people don’t really know how to cope with their emotions, they may use food as a self-soothing mechanism instead of facing the emotion itself.’

Unlearning this relationship with food may not be easy, but Mat says the first step is to be aware of how your food language may be affecting your food choices. Once you are aware of unhealthy behaviours around food, you can start making small changes that will eventually add up to a healthy relationship with food and a stable, healthy weight.