Diet poses big cancer risk

Among the top 10 cancers that threaten Chinese people's health, five are cancers of the digestive system, including esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Experts remind citizens to change their unhealthy dietary patterns and eat more fruits and vegetables, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

Zhao Ping, deputy chairman of Cancer Foundation of China, speaking at a recent cancer conference, said that according to data, rectal cancer is more common among urban dwellers and esophageal cancer more frequent in rural areas.

Zhao explained that unhygienic habits and coarse food are related to esophageal cancer, while delicate food with excessive animal protein and animal fat might lead to a bigger chance of rectal cancer, which now ranks third on the list of most threatening cancers.

Zhao reminded people to eat less salted food and less meat.