Groundbreaking campaign on breast cancer and diet launches with London talk
A GROUNDBREAKING campaign to raise awareness of diet and breast cancer was launched yesterday (27 February) with a talk featuring top scientist, Professor Jane Plant CBE. One in Nine – from leading health charity the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation, aims to raise awareness of how breast cancer cases are rising, now affecting one in nine women, and the major role of diet in this disease. Professor Plant was joined by two other speakers, Viva Health founder and director, Juliet Gellatley and Dr Justine Butler, author of the One in Nine report. The talk in London began with an insight into the modern dairy farming methods that make cow’s milk so harmful, followed by discussion of the wide body of evidence which shows how red meat and dairy products are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Viva Health also described how fruit, vegetables and wholegrains foods can help protect against this disease. A large number of people attended the event at Kings College, including nurses, students, health care professionals and breast cancer suffers and it received very positive feedback. “The talk was great, but frightening really. I was horrified by the treatment of cows. I did have an idea about it, but I didn’t know what they go through was as bad as that. The way these animals are treated is terrible.”It was so interesting – especially hearing about the nutritional studies. It was amazing the amount of information I got from it as a student in nutrition. The talk is something more people should hear. “I thought the speakers were absolutely excellent. I work at a breast cancer centre in London where we support women and men who have the disease. Many of them follow Jane Plant’s diet and her books are very popular.” For more information and to read One in Nine, visit www.vegetarian.org.uk/campaigns/breastcancer/index.html or call Viva Health on 0117 970 5190 or email info@vegetarian.org.uk | To read the report and guide go to: http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/campaigns/breastcancer/index.html
For photos of the speakers, images and/or copies of Viva Health’s report and guide or more information contact Dr Justine Butler or Juliet Gellatley at the VVF on 0117 970 5190 (out of hours): 07939 051351 or email info@vegetarian.org.uk Professor Jane Plant CBE: Anglo American Professor of Applied Geochemistry at Imperial College, London. Jane is the author of best sellers Your Life in Your Hands – Understanding, Preventing and Overcoming Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer, and world authority on how animal products (and other food and lifestyle factors) can cause breast cancer. Jane described her own moving story of how she overcame breast cancer by changing her diet. She explained how she used her scientific training to research diet and breast cancer and devise a diet plan that has helped so many other women.
Juliet Gellatley: founder and director of the largest vegetarian and vegan organisation in Europe, Viva! and of the health charity the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation (Viva Health). Juliet explained what it is about modern dairy farming methods that makes cow’s milk so harmful. Dr Justine Butler: Viva Health senior health campaigner and author of the Viva Health’s new ground breaking One in Nine report. Justine revealed the latest research on how red meat and dairy are linked to breast cancer and explained how you can protect yourself by changing your diet. Additional information Women diagnosed with breast cancer receive very little, if any, guidance on what foods can help them fight this disease. However, the research clearly shows that what you eat can be vital in helping you combat breast cancer. Viva Health believe it is really important to get this information into the public domain which is why they held this event. Viva Health have produced a scientific report called One in Nine which investigates the links between diet and breast cancer. It is the first review of its kind collecting together a compelling body of evidence. The research irrefutable – red meat and dairy products are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer while fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods lower the risk. A new guide, A Fighting Chance, has also been produced, which shows how you can change your diet to prevent or overcome breast cancer. This new easy-to-read colourful guide provides vital information and practical advice. It explains in simple terms what the scientific research on diet and breast cancer shows and reveals which foods help and which harm. Find out how meat and dairy foods could trigger this disease and why plant-based foods will help prevent or fight it. Read what a healthy diet is and discover what you need to eat each day. Choose from a detailed list of fantastic cancer-busting foods including cranberries, pomegranates and Shiitake mushrooms. It’s not all fancy foods though – good old favourites are there including oats (that’s porridge to you and me), broccoli, garlic and watercress. This useful guide also includes a seven-day meal plan with inspiring healthy recipes such as Tortilla Wraps with Mango Salsa, Quinoa Superbowl Salad and the fabulous Summer Berry Compote. Good, healthy food bursting with flavour and vitality. About Viva Health is the UK’s premier nutrition and health charity informing the public about how to obtain a healthy diet that protects health and fights disease. Viva Health are happy to answer any queries relating to diet and health; and produces a range of guides and fact sheets and an excellent magazine called Veggie Health.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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