People failing to eat five-a-day
Fruit and veg can help to reduce the risk of some cancers
Also In The News
|
Blackburn Rovers suffered their first loss of the season after a shock 2-0 loss to Larissa in the first leg of their Uefa Cup first round tie. |  |
Friday, 21, Sep 2007 10:41
Nearly two-thirds of men and women in the UK are failing to eat the five portions of fruit and vegetables each day that are advised for good health, a new survey has revealed.
The government recommends that people eat five portions to help reduce the risk of some cancers, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
But the message does not appear to be reaching everybody, as the report from Cancer Research UK shows regional variations in how healthy diets are.
Forty-six per cent of adults in the south-west eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables compared to just 17 per cent in Northern Ireland.
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK director of health information, said the survey's results were "worrying".
Research has found that about one quarter of all cancer deaths are linked to unhealthy diets and obesity.
People with unhealthy diets increase their risk of contracting cancer of the stomach, bowel, mouth and the oesophagus ('foodpipe').
"We know that the food we eat has a big influence on our health," Ms Hiom said. "We should all be eating more fruit and veg."
Charlene Shoneye, specialist dietitian at Weight Concern, which has teamed up with Cancer Research UK to offer diet tips, added: "These results are a cause for concern. We know that eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancers, aid weight loss and help prevent obesity but we are still not eating enough.
"Remember that your fruit or vegetable portions can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned so it needn't be expensive."