Lifestyle

Alcohol, diet, exercise and stress

Alcohol

Less is better: even moderate drinking is linked to a higher risk of some cancers.

• Occasional means one drink once in a while.
• Moderate means up to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 for women.
• Heavy means more than 4 drinks on any day or 14 a week for men, and more than 3 on any day or 7 a week for women.

One standard drink is a 341 ml (12 oz) bottle of 5% beer or cider, a 142 ml (5 oz) glass of 12% wine, or a 43 ml (1.5 oz) shot of 40% spirits.

Physical activity

Aim for at least 150 minutes of activity a week, for example five sessions of 30 minutes.

Red and processed meat

Keep red meat to three or four portions a week, about 350 to 500 g (12 to 18 oz) cooked, and eat processed meat as little as possible.

Fruit and vegetables

Aim for at least five servings a day. A serving is a medium apple, banana or orange, 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables, or ½ cup of cooked vegetables or fruit.

Stress

There is no evidence that stress causes cancer. But people who feel stressed for long stretches of time may develop coping habits that make a healthy lifestyle harder: smoking, drinking more alcohol than usual, and paying less attention to their health. If you often feel stressed or overwhelmed, please consider getting support.

This article gives general information and doesn’t replace advice from your physician. Want to know which screenings apply to you? Take the ScreenMe questionnaire.