Fighting cancer refers to preventing cancer, possibly because you have a history of cancer in your family. It also refers to people who want to prevent a recurrence and to people who have cancer and want to eat the best possible diet. According to the Helpguide, dietary choices matter to boost your immune system, and while you cannot necessarily avoid cancer simply from eating fiber, you can control your health somewhat by your food choices.
About Fiber
Fiber is any part of a plant that your body can't digest, so your body must pass it, pretty much in its whole form. You can get fiber by eating bran, whole grains, nuts, beans, apples, citrus fruits, peas, lentils and carrots. Leave the skin on fruits and vegetables when possible to get the most fiber benefit. When you eat fiber, drink plenty of water to maximize its benefits because fiber works best when it traps water. Water helps fiber move foods through your system. Fiber supplements are not as good a way to get fiber as foods are. The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber looks different when it gets wet, like oatmeal. Insoluble fiber looks the same after it gets wet, like an apple.
Reducing Cancer Risk
Fiber is important in any healthy diet, but the reasons are not totally clear regarding cancer. Medical News Today reports that a high-fiber diet can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, particularly colon cancer, since fiber helps move stool and any carcinogens through your digestive tract before harm occurs. Another reason fiber may help protect against disease could be because fiber contains antioxidants. These offer some protection because antioxidants help cells in your body to work better. Besides possibly helping to prevent certain types of cancer, fiber may also help in fighting the disease.
Fiber and Breast Cancer
Fiber may be important in fighting breast cancer in its early stages, according to Medical News Today. One reason for tumor growth is too much estrogen in the bloodstream. Fiber may bind with the estrogen, helping to stem the amount of estrogen in the bloodstream, which lessens tumor growth. Fiber probably doesn't help prevent breast cancer, though, according to a 1992 Nurses' Health Study reported in Medical News Today. Fiber does not influence breast cancer risk one way or the other.
Digestive Problems from Treatment
Soluble fiber may help cancer patients who have diarrhea due to cancer treatments. Soluble fiber helps to minimize diarrhea because fiber absorbs the water from the stool and helps make stool more solid. You can get soluble fiber from fruits, vegetables, beans and bran. Some cancer patients experience constipation from the treatment. Insoluble fiber from beans, vegetables and whole grains helps with that because fiber softens stool, making it easier to pass through the body. To relieve constipation, eat insoluble fiber and drink water.
Fighting Cancer
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, eating a mainly plant-based diet may help protect you from cancer because of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals they contain. A diet of mostly vegetables also helps keep your weight down. Overweight people have an increased risk of developing colorectal, pancreas and esophagus cancer, and breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The American Institute for Cancer Research suggests that eating fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains -- all fibrous foods -- can help prevent cancer and may even prevent development of tumors.
References
- Helpguide; The Anti-Cancer Diet; Maya W. Paul et al; April 2010
- Medical News Today; Why is Fiber (Fibre) Important in Your Diet?; June 2004
- American Institute for Cancer Research: Foods That Fight Cancer?
- Cooperative Extension, College of Agricu;lture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona; Dietary Fiber; Sherry Henley et al; August 1999
- University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center; Food for Thought: The Facts on Fiber; Suzanne Dixon; Winter 2002
