BBC Morning Live doctor's 'brave' food scraps alert to slash cancer risk

BBC Morning Live doctor's 'brave' food scraps alert to slash cancer risk Only 4 in 100 adults get enough, and a BBC doctor says that number needs to improve A BBC expert has urged people to be "brave" and add certain foods to their diet that they may otherwise chuck in the bin. Not only does it taste good, but it could slash your risk of cancer and diabetes. Talking to BBC Morning Live hosts, Rav Wilding and Louise Minchin, Doctor Oscar Duke said that while we all know vegetables are very good for us, sadly there's "a lot of veg that is wasted that we could potentially be eating and getting a massive benefit from" thanks to its high fibre content. The British Heart Foundation stresses that the UK government recommends adults eat 30g of fibre per day. But many fall short, averaging around 17g a day. In fact, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Nutrition Scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, says: "In the UK, only around 4 in 100 adults meet the recommended fibre intake, so finding simple ways to include more fibre in everyday meals really matters." Be brave, Dr Oscar says Urging people not to chuck it in the bin, and instead see if there are ways to add it to meals, the doctor explained: "This all comes down to what you’re brave enough to eat from tip to root. But fibre is incredibly important for us." Shocked at how little people eat the correct amount of fibre, he explained: "When you actually think about the benefits of fibre, it’s really across the board: [it reduces the risk of] heart disease, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, it makes you feel more full more quickly, so it is helpful in weight management. "It's known to reduce the risk of conditions like bowel cancer, diverticulitis and diverticulosis and other conditions that you get within the bowel. So it really is helpful across-the-board in terms of your health." Don't throw this away - eat it instead, says Dr Oscar According to statistics from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), more than one billion meals are left uneaten every day. This is the result of overproduction, spoilage, or poor meal planning. The GP, who graduated from King’s College London School of Medicine in 2010, explained that we can get fibre from "all sorts of places you might traditionally have thrown away." He urged people to think about adding the following to their diets: - Kiwi fruit - "and if you’re really brave, have the skin as well, as a huge amount of fibre comes from the kiwi fruit skin", he said. - Broccoli stalks - Seeds from bell peppers - Potatoes with the skin on While he advocates eating the parts of fruit and veg you may not usually eat, as they could be beneficial, he says to always double-check it is safe to do so, as things like rhubarb contain parts that are "not good for you to eat." According to Healthline: "Rhubarb leaves are considered inedible due to their high concentration of oxalic acid. In fact, both the stalks and leaves contain oxalic acid, but the leaves have a much higher content." It explains that "too much oxalate in the body can lead to a condition known as hyperoxaluria, which is when excess oxalate is excreted in the urine. This can also lead to an accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the organs. In the kidneys, this can lead to the formation of kidney stones and eventually kidney failure. "Symptoms of mild rhubarb leaf poisoning include vomiting and diarrhoea that resolve within a few hours. More serious oxalate toxicity causes sore throat, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting (sometimes including blood), diarrhoea, and abdominal pain." Don't add too much fibre too quickly Health experts at the Mayo Clinic caution that adding too much fibre too quickly can result in intestinal gas, diarrhoea, cramping and bloating. It urges people to gradually increase their fibre intake over a few weeks. It adds: "As you eat more fibre, remember to drink plenty of fluids. Some fibres work best when they absorb water, so being well hydrated can help prevent uncomfortable bowel movements." Don't underestimate its power Concluding his health segment, he stressed: "Do not underestimate the power of fibre. The nice thing is that in solving your health problems and hopefully reducing your risk of many health problems, you can help with waste as well." About the expert Dr Oscar Duke is an experienced private GP. He qualified from King’s College London School of Medicine in 2010 and went on to complete broad postgraduate training across London. Prior to training as a GP, Dr Duke spent years working in acute hospital medicine, including high-dependency care, respiratory medicine, diabetes and internal medicine. His background also covers emergency departments, transplant medicine, inpatient addiction services, paediatrics and one of the UK’s busiest sexual health clinics, giving him a depth of clinical insight across a wide range of conditions. Ensure our latest health headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings