All About Cancer and Nutrition |

There’s no denying that cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and nearly half will die from the disease.

There’s no doubt that our society has become obsessed with body image. It’s not unusual to find people who spend more time thinking about their appearance than their career, social lives, or even their health. But how much of that focus is actually healthy?

Cancer is a disease that strikes fear into the hearts of many—and for good reason. Despite our best efforts, we can’t prevent it from happening to us. But we can do something. We can help to prevent it. Numerous studies suggest that certain lifestyle habits can help to prevent the disease from developing and, if it does develop, can make the disease much more survivable than it otherwise would be. While we can’t eliminate the disease entirely, we can reduce its impact and lengthen the period during which it does not spread. The key is to understand that cancer is a complex disease, and we can’t treat it in a vacuum. It affects our daily lives every day.

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality among young people. Cancer, on the other hand, is curable. Cancer may be avoided. Two of the most essential measures for preventing this murderer from hitting are good diet and avoiding becoming overweight.

“Cancer is now one of the most curable chronic illnesses in the United States.” Former Director of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Vincent Devita Jr.

What is the significance of cancer?

Do you know someone who is battling cancer or has succumbed to it? It’s likely that you do. Every day, approximately 1500 individuals in the United States die from cancer. 3400 individuals have received news of a new cancer diagnosis in the past 24 hours. Cancer claimed the lives of one out of every 33 people in 1900. Cancer claimed the lives of almost one out of every four people in 2007. The cancer rate in North America is alarming.

According to research, excessive body fat, physical inactivity, and poor diet are linked to approximately 33% of cancer fatalities (lots of fat, sugar, processed foods, animal foods and not many plants). When tobacco is taken into account, almost 60% of cancer deaths might be avoided.

What you should be aware of when it comes to cancer

Cancer is a tissue that is abnormal and quickly developing. It has the ability to take over normal body functions if it is not inhibited.

A carcinogen is a chemical that encourages malignant cells to grow. Carcinogens may originate from the foods we consume, the air we breathe, the lotions we use, and even our own bodies.

While many carcinogens are defused before causing damage, some of them attack and change genetic material inside cells. This isn’t good.

BMI & cancer

Body fatness is strongly linked to the risk of cancer. Some of the most compelling data currently available connects obesity with cancer. Up to 33% of colon, breast, kidney, and digestive tract malignancies are related to obesity.

Body fat that is excessive alters the hormonal milieu of the organism because adipose (fat) tissue is hormonally active. Body fat releases chemical signals that disrupt proper cell activity. Certain hormones are decreased when we lose body fat and maintain a slim physique, which may explain why risk is reduced.

Those who have already been diagnosed with cancer have a greater chance of surviving if they maintain a healthy weight.

Also, remember to measure your waist circumference. A larger waistline increases the risk of cancer. Women with a waist circumference of 31.5 inches or greater are at high risk. Men with a waist circumference of 37 inches or greater are at high risk.

“In populations with Western patterns of cancer incidence, overweight/obesity seems to be the most significant preventable cause of cancer, second only to cigarettes. The most essential approach for cancer prevention among nonsmokers in these groups is to avoid becoming overweight.” –Dr. Timothy J. Key of the University of Oxford’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit

Diet and cancer: Is There a Link?

The food we consume has a direct and indirect effect on cancer.

Nutrient-rich diets have a direct effect on the processes through which cancer cells develop and spread. Indirectly, diet may help manage cancer by regulating the metabolic circumstances that promote or inhibit disease development.

The following are the main aspects of our lifestyle and nutrition that affect cancer prevention:

• Oxidation
• Inflammation
• Immune-suppression
• Controlling blood sugar levels
• Stress

The items that irritate each region are mentioned below. Cancer-causing oxidative offenders include:

• Tobacco consumption
• Use of alcoholic beverages
• A sedentary way of life
• Excessive body fat is a condition in which a person’s body fat
• Exercising at a very high intensity
• Stress on the mind
• Radiation
• Iron levels in storage are high.
• Single antioxidant supplementation in high dosages

Inflammatory agents that may lead to cancer include:

• Smoking
• Use of alcoholic beverages
• Pollution
• Sleep deprivation
• Excessive physical activity
• Omega-6 fats, saturated fats, and trans fats are consumed in excess.
• Overeating refined/high-glycemic-index carbohydrates
• Cooking over a high burner and with a lot of heat (grilling and deep frying)
• Excess body fat

Immunosuppressive drugs that may cause cancer:

• Smoking
• Use of alcoholic beverages
• Emotional anguish
• Weight loss that is unhealthy
• A sedentary way of life
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Consumption of unhealthy fats in the diet
• Dairy products
• Foods high in iron (with heme iron)

Cancer-causing blood sugar offenders include:

• Overweight/obesity
• Large, infrequent meals
• Sleep disturbances
• Stress on the mind
• Inactivity
• Refined carbs and meals with a high glycemic index
• A diet that promotes inflammation (high omega-6 fat intake, refined carbs)

Stressors that may cause cancer include:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Overworking
• Disruption of sleep
• Inactivity
• Consumption of food/drink at an inopportune moment (e.g., no breakfast, large meals before bed, etc)
• Excessive exercise
• Low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets
• Diets that are low in carbohydrates and rich in protein
• Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is high.
• Overeating

Meat & cancer

When we consider this disparity in cancer prevalence across the globe, as well as findings from migrant studies, it appears that environmental factors (such as diet and exercise) are linked to cancer risk.

Meat consumption is a hot topic in science. Meat consumption varies threefold across the world, with extremely high intakes in affluent nations and very low intakes (to practically none) in developing countries. Over 100 epidemiological studies from various nations with varying eating patterns have shown a link between meat and cancer.

Whoohoo! The best in North America! Oh, oh… that’s not good. The BBC provided this image.

The National Institutes of Health found that men who ate more than 5 ounces of red meat per day and women who ate more than 3 ounces had a 51 percent higher risk of esophageal cancer, a 61 percent higher risk of liver cancer, and a 24 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer than those who ate less than an ounce per day.

We don’t know whether the cancer is caused by a particular kind of fat or protein, or if meat consumption is a proxy for other factors (such as low vegetable intake, or high intake of processed foods). The following are three eating habits related to colon cancer:

• More than once a week consumption of red meat
• More than twice a week, consume grilled meat
• Processed meat consumption

Animal fat consumption and the percentage of cancer deaths beyond the age of 55. From right to left, cancer fatalities increase as animal fat intake rises.

When compared to individuals who ate less red and processed meat, men and women who ate the most of these items were more likely to die younger, especially from heart disease and cancer, according to a study of more than 500,000 Americans. Processed meats, such as hot dogs, pepperoni, bacon, and deli meats, are a major cancer risk factor. For every 50 grams (2 oz) of processed meat eaten daily, the risk of colorectal cancer rises by 21%.

Because research on processed meats indicates that the risk of cancer rises with every serving, several experts advise avoiding them entirely.

Plant foods & cancer

Since the 1980s, over 150 studies have shown that individuals who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are half as likely to get cancer as those who eat a diet devoid of these plant foods. While various kinds of cancer seem to react differently to dietary variables, the unifying denominator that appears to benefit is a greater plant food consumption.

There isn’t a single scientific study that I’m aware of that shows a link between a plant-based diet and an increased risk of cancer.

Using this method to organize your plate at mealtime may help you avoid cancer.

However, not all plant-based diets are cancer-fighting.

We may produce acrylamide, a carcinogen, when we cook carbohydrate-dense meals like potatoes and cereals at high heats (over 248 degrees F). Potato chips and French fries have the greatest concentrations.

Foods that have been steamed, boiled, sprouted, or simmered may be a preferable choice. Also, stay away from processed carbs (chips, crackers, cereals, etc.).

Dairy & cancer

Nutrition has the ability to change the expression of genes implicated in cancer development. Casein, a protein present in cow’s milk, has been related to a variety of cancers.

See All About Milk for additional information on how milk/dairy may affect our health.

Organic food & cancer

Certain malignancies have been related to eating food that has been treated with synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. The best choice is to buy organic and local wherever feasible.

Conventional fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, provide a greater cancer-prevention benefit than eating none at all.

Levels of acrylamide in food

Beverages & cancer

Artificial sweeteners may increase cancer risk — in All At Diet Soda, we spoke about how diet soda affects your health.

Breast, mouth, throat, stomach, liver, colon, and esophageal cancers seem to be linked to excessive alcohol use (more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for males). When you add a pack of cigarettes to the mix, the danger level skyrockets. See All About Alcohol for additional information on alcohol and health.

Tea may offer cancer-preventive properties. More on the subject of tea

Supplements & cancer

Although chemicals included in food, such as beta-carotene and vitamin E, seem to decrease cancer risk when taken in their natural form (i.e. in fruits and vegetables), separated supplementation appear to raise cancer risk. Even simple multivitamin pills have been linked to the development of some cancers.

Rather of taking random pills, you may be better off supplementing solely with minerals that aren’t easily obtained through diet (such as vitamin D).

Conclusions and suggestions

Is it possible to prevent cancer via diet? Maybe. We now know that the food we consume may make the difference between beating cancer and letting it take over our lives.

The good news is that there are a number of things we can do in our everyday lives to decrease our risk. Indeed, including the following foods in our diet may reduce our chances of getting cancer by almost 60%!

• Maintain a slim physique (as lean as possible while still at a healthy weight)
• Limit your consumption of saturated fats and go for unsaturated fats and omega-3-rich meals instead (flax, hemp, walnuts, chia seeds, olives, avocado, algae, fish, etc.)
• Sugar and processed carbs should be avoided as much as possible (including sugary drinks)
• Limit your intake of animal products, particularly dairy and red meat (due to the animal protein, fat and iron content)
• Avoid over- or under-exercising by exercising regularly (approximately 5 hours per week).
• Eat mainly plant-based meals including beans, veggies, fruits, and whole grains.
• Alcohol should be limited or avoided.
• Smoking is not permitted.
• Don’t take any vitamin or mineral supplements that you don’t need.
• Stress management (e.g., meditation, yoga, tai chi, breathing, social connections, etc.)
• Tea and water should be consumed.

Do you want to start fighting cancer right now, with your next meal? The foods listed below have been proven to be effective cancer preventers.

• Every day, eat at least 1 cup of beans (e.g., pinto, chickpea, lima, peas, black, soy, etc.)
• Every day, consume at least 1 cup of green leafy vegetables (e.g., collards, chard, kale, spinach, beet greens, salad greens, watercress, etc.)
• Every day, consume at least 12 cup of crisp and cruciferous veggies (e.g., broccoli, celery, carrots, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, peppers, radishes, etc.)
• Every day, consume at least 1 cup of unprocessed starchy foods (e.g., yams, squash, millet, corn, quinoa, amaranth, whole wheat, barley, oats, etc.)
• Every day, consume at least 1 cup of seasonal fruit (e.g., berries, citrus, apples, pears, plums, peaches, kiwi, mango, etc.)
• Every day, consume at least 14 cup of nuts and seeds (e.g., almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds, cashews, etc.)
• Every day, consume at least 2 servings of nutrition wildcards (e.g., sea veggies, algae, herbs, spices, herbal teas, etc.)

“Use your knife and fork to fight cancer by eating lots of veggies, fruits, and healthy grains while avoiding red meat and fatty foods.” Dr. Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Duke University Medical School Professor

Bonus points

Diet is responsible for around 25-35 percent of cancer cases.

Smoking is responsible for 30% of cancer cases.

Cancer incidence among Canadian 15 to 29 year olds increased by 0.8 percent per year in men and 1.4 percent per year in females between 1996 and 2005.

Cancer death is more probable in those who consume a lot of red meat — approximately 22% higher for males and 20% higher for women.

Drinks and meals that are very hot (in temperature) increase the risk of oral cavity, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancer.

Vitamin B3 may help to prevent the development of acrylamide.

According to Dr. Barry Popkin’s estimations, we might save the lives of one million men and perhaps half a million women just by eating less red and processed meat (University of North Carolina).

Cancer’s toll in the United States.

References

To see the information sources mentioned in this article, go here.

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Find out more.

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Cancer is a frightening disease in which a normal cell body transforms into a cancerous cell, causing uncontrolled growth and division. Cancer is a global epidemic, and its incidence is rapidly rising. However, since our health is partially dependent on what we eat, it is no wonder that cancer rates are also increasing.. Read more about nutrition and cancer prevention and let us know what you think.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best nutrition for cancer patients?

The best nutrition for cancer patients is a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber.

What is the connection between nutrition and cancer?

The connection between nutrition and cancer is that a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and refined carbohydrates can lead to the development of cancer.

What cancers are associated with nutrition?

A cancer associated with nutrition is a tumor that arises from the cells of the digestive system.

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