Healthy food choices, physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight will prevent between 30-40% of all cases of cancer. (28)

Risk for osteoporosis can be prevented or improved with lifelong adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D.

Risk for Type 2 diabetes is reduced by achieving a healthy weight through healthy eating and physical activity (29) .

Risk for heart disease and stroke is reduced by having a healthy weight and making healthy food choices by choosing foods lower in fat and high in fibre, a high intake of fruits and vegetables and limiting salt .

Weight usually comes back

Calorie restriction without exercise causes a loss of muscle which may be responsible for a drop in metabolic rate and the typical post-dieting weight rebound

Repeated dieting depresses mood and increases body dissatisfaction

Blood pressure may increase significantly during relapse to obesity

Dieting is linked to low intakes of calcium, fiber, fruits and vegetables which are necessary for good health

Call or click Health Connection to get Your Copy of “Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide” and eat the recommended amount and type of food for your age and gender each day. (see below)

Emphasize vegetables and fruit and prepared with little or no added fat, sugar, or salt. Include at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day.

Eat a variety of grain products that are lower in fat, sugar or salt, and make at least half of your choices whole grains.

Drink 2 glasses of skim, 1% or 2% milk daily, or drink a fortified soy beverage. Select lower fat milk alternatives and use the Nutrition Facts table on yoghurts and cheeses to make wise choices.

Select lean meat and alternatives prepared with little or no added fat or salt. Have meat alternatives such as beans, lentils and tofu often, and at least two Food Guide Servings of fish each week.

Include a small amount of unsaturated fat each day including oil used in cooking, salad dressings, margarine and mayonnaise. Limit butter, hard margarine, lard and shortening.

Satisfy your thirst with water.

Limit foods and beverages high in calories, fat, sugar or salt.

Be active every day.(51)

Cancer is the second leading cause of death (23)

6% of Ontarians are diabetic, and 90% of these are Type 2 diabetics (22) 

1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men have osteoporosis (24)

39% of men and 22% of women reported a body mass index of 27 or greater (obese) (25)

According to parents’ reports, the majority of Grade 1 children in Simcoe County may not be meeting the recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide. (31)