Healthier lifestyle could have prevented over half a million cancer cases

London: A new report has revealed that healthy living could have prevented almost 600,000 cases of cancer in the UK over the last five years.

According to the report from Cancer Research UK , four out of 10 cases could have been avoided if people had made lifestyle changes, the Independent reported.

The report found that quitting smoking would have had the biggest impact on reducing cancer - leading to more than 314,000 fewer cases since 2009, while 145,000 cases could have been prevented if people had adopted a balanced diet low in red and processed meat and salt and high in vegetables and 88,000 cases could have been avoided by maintaining a healthy weigh.

Professor Max Parkin, from Queen Mary, University of London, who provided the statistical evidence for the report, said that there's now little doubt that certain lifestyle choices can have a big impact on cancer risk with research around the world all pointing to the same key risk factors.

Top tips for avoiding cancer

1. Stopping smoking would have prevented 314,000 cases of cancer in the past five years.

2. Adopting a diet low in red and processed meat and salt and high in vegetables would result in 145,000 fewer cases.

3. Keeping a healthy weight through exercise is worth 88,000 fewer cases.

4. Reducing alcohol intake and protecting your skin from the sun means tens of thousands fewer cases.