Your diet makes a difference

By choosing the right food that can help keep your body healthy. You can take steps to reduce your chances of getting cancer. Research proves that diet and certain types of cancer are related.

What is a Healthy Diet?

It is recommended that we:

  • EAT:  Plenty of fruits and vegetables and select whole grain cereals and whole meal products
  • EAT:  More poultry, fish and choose lean meat.
  • EAT LESS:  Fried and fatty foods and salt.

The food primarily from plant sources essentially turn out to be the most healthiest. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Eat other food from plant sources, such as breads, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta or beans several times each day.

  • Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources.
  • Choose low fat food.
  • Limit consumption of meats, especially high-fat meat.
  • Do physical exercise. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
  • Do physical exercise for 30 minutes or more each day.
  • Stay within your proper weight range.

Steps to a healthy life

Protect yourself and your family by knowing and acting on these steps to a healthy lifestyle, you can help prevent cancer:

  • Choose to be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke.
  • Choose a variety of lower fat, high fiber food. Maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Regularly scheduled PAP tests and mammograms, as per the individual’s age. Practice monthly breast self-examination.
  • See your doctor and dentist regularly for checkups.
  • Be aware of changes in your normal state of health. If you discover a lump or a mole that has changed, or a sore that won’t heal, check with your doctor immediately.
  • At home and at work, follow health and safety instructions.
  • Practice daily physical activity (at least 45 minutes a day)
  • Eat healthy food (low fat / low calories)
  • Avoid Tobacco / Smoking
  • Most Common Cancers in Oman

In the year 2010, the annual report from the Ministry of Health confirms previous findings that cancer is not yet a major public health problem in Oman. The country appears to be one of the lowest in comparison to industrialized countries. Although breast cancer incidence is on increase over the past few years, it remains low compare to other GCC countries as reported by the recent GCC report publication.

In the year 2013, the annual report from the Ministry of Health deals with several major themes regarding cancer in Oman. From the epidemiological standpoint, breast cancer has moved from the fourth to the second position as compared to 2012 data, followed by colorectal, and finally urinary bladder among the ten most common cancers in Oman.

In a 100,000 population frequency distribution from 2013

MOH website: www.moh.gov.om