Eat your greens to cut risk of cancer (From Salisbury Journal)

Eat your greens to cut risk of cancer

12:58pm Thursday 8th January 2009

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BRITAIN’S leading mouth cancer campaigners have welcomed news that eating your greens could cut the risk of cancer.

The British Dental Health Foundation – organisers of the annual Mouth Cancer Action Week – has urged the public to get their five a day and more for 2009.

A healthy eating New Year’s resolution could help reduce the 5,000 mouth cancer incidences in the UK each year, according to experts. Scientists studying half a million retirees in the US report that each extra serving of fruit and vegetables per 1,000 calories was linked to a six per cent reduction in the risk of head and neck cancers, including mouth cancer.

A third of oral cancers are linked to poor diet, so switching to a healthy eating lifestyle could make a huge difference to those not in the habit.

The study found people increasing their daily fruit and veg intake to six portions were 30 per cent less likely to develop the cancers than those eating just one and a half servings. Researchers at the US National Cancer Institute followed over 50s and their diets for a period of five years to establish the results.

Early detection of oral cancer improves survival chances to nine in ten cases. Warning signs include ulcers that do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual swellings or changes in the mouth and neck. The campaign’s slogan ‘If in doubt get checked out’ emphasises the need for regular professional check-ups.

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