The individual tips which had the greatest impact on reducing the risk of
death from those diseases were being as lean as possible without becoming
underweight (22 per cent reduced risk) and eating lots of vegetables, fruits
and pulses (21 per cent).
In terms of cancer, limiting alcohol had the greatest effect, reducing the
chance of death from cancer by 21 per cent.
Dr Teresa Norat, of Imperial College London, who led the study, published in
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, said it was the first research
to show a strong association between the global recommendations from the
WCRF and a reduced risk of death.
The study is also the first to examine the impact that breastfeeding can have
in reducing the chance of death from specific diseases, when combined with
other lifestyle changes.
Dr Panagiota Mitrou, the deputy head of science at WCRF, said: “This study
demonstrates in real terms the value of the WCRF/AICR recommendations in
preventing deaths from a range of common diseases, not just cancer.â€
This month, a British survey of more than 2,500 mothers found that 96 per cent
started weaning their children before six months. Of the three quarters of
mothers who breastfed to some degree, 57 per cent gave up before their baby
was three months old.
