BY MICHAEL ROIZEN, MD, AND MEHMET OZ, MD - ShareCare

In the 2004 Sochi Winter Olympics, it was unseasonably warm and repeated losses by the usually gold-medal draped Norwegian cross country ski team prompted Norwegian newspapers to rant about smoerebom—or (loosely translated) waxing failure! Seems if you don’t “grease the skids” just right for snow conditions (there are 500 waxing preparations to choose from!), you can’t glide to the gold.

But if you grease the skids for cancer cells, there’s no gold for that. What you do get is a hugely increased risk for both aggressive prostate cancer and HER-2 negative, hormone-receptor positive breast cancer, as well cancer of the colon, rectum, kidney and pancreas.

Fat in the diet and excess fat on the body are both cancer-promoting; excess body weight contributes to as many as 20 percent of all cancer-related deaths. And even if you aren’t overweight, a fatty belly is cancer-friendly.

Wanna know how friendly? A recent study found that men’s risk for aggressive prostate cancer went up 13 percent for every 3.9 inch increase in waist size.

So, here’s how you win a gold medal for smart living: Eliminate ALL trans fats (check ingredient lists for hydrogenated oils), most saturated fats, stick with extra virgin olive oil and foods rich in omega-3s like salmon, flaxseed, walnuts and walnut oil, even basil! Add that to a Mediterranean mix of fresh fruits and veggies, and make animal protein a side dish not an entrée! As you dodge cancer risks, you’ll glide into a younger RealAge before you know it!