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Evidence for our Recommendations

Our Recommendations are based on a rigorous systematic review of the evidence relating diet, physical activity and body weight to the incidence of cancer, as well as an expert review of biological pathways (mechanisms) that could plausibly explain a causal link between the exposure and the risk of cancer.

Be a healthy weight
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Be a healthy weight

Keep your weight within the healthy range and avoid weight gain in adult life

Understand the research
Be physically active
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Be physically active

We recommend being physically active as part of everyday life – walk more and sit less

What our Panel found
Eat a diet rich in wholegrain, vegetables, fruit and beans
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Eat a diet rich in wholegrain, vegetables, fruit and beans

Make wholegrains, veg, fruit and beans a major part of your usual diet

Read the evidence
Limit 'fast foods'
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Limit 'fast foods'

Limit consumption of ‘fast foods’ and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars

Read our research
Limit red and processed meat
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Limit red and processed meat

Eat moderate amounts of red meat and eat little, if any, processed meat

What we say about meat
Limit sugar-sweetened drinks
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Limit sugar-sweetened drinks

Limit sugar-sweetened drinks, and consume mainly water and unsweetened drinks

What the data tells us
Limit alcohol consumption
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Limit alcohol consumption

For cancer prevention, it’s best not to drink alcohol

What’s the evidence?
Do not use supplements for cancer prevention
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Do not use supplements for cancer prevention

Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone

Why don’t they help?
Breastfeed your baby, if you can
Illustration of baby breastfeeding

Breastfeed your baby, if you can

Breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby

What the data tells us
After a cancer diagnosis
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After a cancer diagnosis

For the best results, follow our Recommendations, if you’re able to

Read through the data
Dietary and lifestyle patterns
CUP Global: Dietary and lifestyle patterns cover

Dietary and lifestyle patterns

Our findings show strong evidence that following our Recommendations as a package reduces your risk of breast and bowel cancers

Review the evidence
Endorsement of our research
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Endorsement of our research

Explore the studies that back up our advice

Read in more detail
A four-step process diagram: 1) Gathering evidence from reviews; 2) Evidence judged by a global panel; 3) Panel develops recommendations; 4) Report summarising evidence and impact for researchers and policy makers.

What’s our process?

Understand the 4-step method we use to evaluate our guidance and recommendations

Start with step 1