Cancer, which comes in many different forms, can be caused by poor lifestyle, unknown environmental carcinogens, smoking and excessive sunlight exposure, among many others. While scientists have been curing cancer in mice and Petri dishes for decades, success on humans has proved elusive. Although science is only starting to fully accept diet as a means of cancer prevention, it is logical to associate certain cancers such as colorectal, pancreatic and stomach cancers with diet. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, other factors to consider are weight, physical activity and avoiding known carcinogens. Although the prevention of cancer is wide in scope, what you eat is within your control, and therefore, a great place to start.
Western Pattern Diet
Today this style of diet is gaining popularity in most developed nations. It consists of an intake of high fat, high sugar and refined grains. These foods are not proven to cause cancer. There is a much higher incidence of colon cancer among those practicing a Western Pattern Diet, but that still is not proof. These foods do, however, represent an extremely unhealthy lifestyle. In order to prevent cancer, you must be in good health in order to fight its development. Many believe that cancerous cells feed off of sugars, but there is no conclusive proof of this. There is proof, however, that sugars raise your insulin level, which in turn inhibits the release of growth hormones, thus depressing the immune system. If you are trying to avoid disease, this is a bad condition to be in.
Fruits and Vegetables
The World Cancer Research Fund produced the Eight Action Cancer Prevention Diet recently, and in it they suggest, among other things, that a healthy adult eat five non-starchy fruits and vegetables every day. Evidence suggests that this will significantly reduce the risk in such cancers as stomach, colorectal, lung and oral. The evidence is not as strong in hormonal cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. The antioxidants abundant in many fruits and vegetables are thought to protect cells from damage due to unstable molecules, otherwise known as free radicals. They also are believed to stabilize these molecules to further protect our cells. Some of the antioxidants that you should be looking for in your fruits and vegetables are vitamins C, E and A, as well as beta-carotene, lycopene and others. Often, studies show success in cancer prevention only when combining two or more antioxidants.
Meats and Fish
There is significant evidence to state that the consumption of red meat is a concern regarding cancer prevention, and should be curtailed to 18 ounces per week. Processed meat should be avoided all together. The Journal of National Cancer Institute in Sweden has published the results of a series of studies done from 1966 to 2006, and they indicate that a 1oz serving per day increase in your intake of meats that are salted, smoked, cured or preserved can increase your cancer risk by 15 to 38 percent. Some healthy alternatives are fish, poultry, beans and legumes. Fish that contain high amounts of omega 3 fatty acids are thought to aid in the prevention of some cancers, and breast cancer in particular. There are many studies suggesting omega 3's benefits, and it may be only a matter of time before national health organizations get on board with their endorsements.
Green Tea
If you're seeking to decrease your risk of cancer, you might want to increase your intake of green tea. Although green tea is known to be a potent antioxidant, it also contains polyphenols that have been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth and induce apoptosis, or cell death. According to the National Cancer Institute, green tea has also been shown to contain detoxification enzymes that may help to protect against tumor development.
