The Washington-based charity organisation said that one out of three American adults, aged between 50 to 71, is unaware of how aging is linked to higher cancer risks.
“Many mistakenly believe it is too late for them. We can’t control our age, but we can control cancer risks,” said AICR nutritionist Alice Bender.
The study, which involved 450,000 respondents, found that those engaged in moderate physical activity significantly lowered the risk of contracting colon cancer compared to those inactive individuals in the same age group.
“Physical activity doesn’t mean running marathons – it means getting off the couch and being active. Because when it comes to cancer, inactivity is the enemy.
“The more active they are, the more they lower the risk of contracting pancreatic cancer as well,” said Bender.
As for eating smart, the AICR recommends more plant-based diets like fruits and vegetables, as it not only reduces cancer risks but also contributes to slowing down the aging process.
“Eating smart doesn’t mean becoming a vegetarian. It means learning how to shift the focus to eating more vegetables, whole grains, beans and fruit.
“For example, components in green tea, broccoli and several other plant foods has the ability to turn on and off genes directly related to both aging and the cancer process,” said Bender.
