90 percent cases of malignant neoplasms result from environmental factors, therefore diet and physical activity are of fundamental importance for our health – emphasized Kinga Janik-Koncewicz from the Oncology Center in Warsaw at the conference Go for health.
The conference was organized at the Ministry of Health as part of the Primary Cancer Prevention task financed by the Ministry of Health as part of the National Program for Combating Cancer Diseases.
An expert from the Department of Epidemiology COI in Warsaw reminded that every year over 140 people are registered in Poland. new cases of cancer, and of malignant neoplasms, most often lung cancer, die 90 thousand. people.
According to the World Health Organization, about 1/3 of all cancer cases are preventable, she said. She explained that 80-90 percent. cancer is caused by environmental factors and the way we live. It depends on us whether we will be sick or stay healthy – she argued. As she emphasized, it is crucial not to smoke, a healthy diet and physical activity.
As indicated, WHO estimates that obesity greatly influences the risk of developing cancers, e.g. kidneys, intestines, pancreas, while in Poland about 45 percent. women and 60 percent. men are overweight or obese and are therefore at risk of developing cancer.
Janik-Koncewicz also drew attention to the role of physical activity, because according to WHO, its lack is responsible for 1/4 of cases of breast and colon cancer.
She recalled the principles of the European Code Against Cancer promoted by the Ministry of Health and COI, including in the form of a code for adults and comics for children and adolescents. The main principles are to avoid smoking, obesity, sun exposure, as well as eat at least five portions of a variety of vegetables and fruits a day and be physically active, she noted.
In turn, the dietitian and clinical psychologist Agata Ziemnicka-Łaska argued that eating vegetables and fruit at least five times a day is not that difficult, and by eating well we give ourselves a weapon against cancer. According to her, people are afraid of hearing about 5 portions, while one portion is e.g. a glass of juice, one apple, a handful of chopped fruit.
So it is not that philosophy – she said and advised to also use frozen vegetables, canned products, ready-made mixes of lettuces and sprouts, thicken soups with vegetable puree, stuff meats with e.g. spinach, bake vegetable-based cakes, e.g. carrots, prepare vegetable spreads for sandwiches or nibble on dried vegetable chips. You just need to change your thinking – she added.
She argued that you should choose a variety of vegetables and fruits, because then they multiply with each other, not add up. The more various pro-health substances we introduce into the body, the greater our profit will be – she said.
Actress and singer Sonia Bohosiewicz said that as a mother of two sons, she was very attentive to the lifestyle she passes on to her family. As she emphasized, thanks to her two sons, she is always on the move and uses her free time for walks together, playing football and other fun. She also encouraged the conscious choice of food ingredients while shopping and involving children in choosing vegetables and fruits for future meals.
Jakub Łobaszewski, the coordinator of the School program promoting the recommendations of the COI Code of Fighting Cancer, explained that as part of the program, students develop healthy habits, become convinced of a healthy diet, physical activity and not smoking. He recalled that the program had been operating since 2006; first in several voivodships, and now all over Poland. As part of the program, training and lectures for teachers and students as well as educational social campaigns, as well as students’ initiatives, e.g. art competitions, are organized. About 2013 thousand people participated in social actions under the program in 2014-400. people – he informed. In addition, this year’s pilot study will test students’ understanding of the Cancer Code. (PAP)