The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80% of heart disease & stroke, 80% of type 2 diabetes, and up to 40% of cancers could be prevented by eliminating three lifestyle risk factors: poor diet, inactivity and smoking (source).
This Harvard Health article cites avoiding red and processed meats, alcohol, sugar and highly processed foods while including a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, also stating:
“Because obesity is a risk factor for so many cancers, it’s important to prevent unnecessary weight gain,” says Fung. This means following a nutritious and sensible diet.
But don’t just stop at diet –
“Exercising on a regular basis can also reduce cancer risk. This is true not only because it can help you maintain a healthy weight; researchers have also found that regular exercise on its own reduces the risk of colon, breast, and endometrial cancers.
Ideally, it’s best to get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week if you can“