Healthy Eating Could Reduce Cancer Risk

Health Wellness

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[Journal Sentinel] — While there is no one specific food that fights cancer single-handedly, eating a healthy, balanced diet could be a factor in reducing your cancer risk. Strong evidence shows that a diet made up of a variety of foods like fruits, whole grains and vegetables can help reduce cancer risk. Research also shows certain cancers, including breast and colon, are linked to obesity, in which diet plays a role. Here are five facts about ways food and nutrition can be used to help fight cancer.

1) Antioxidant-rich foods can help fight cancer. Antioxidants help protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that cause damage to our body’s cells. While our body produces some antioxidants on its own, it relies primarily on external sources like the food we eat as its main source. The highest levels of antioxidants are found in the most colorful fruits and vegetables. Spinach, blueberries, strawberries and pomegranates are examples of foods with high levels of antioxidants. Lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, has shown some evidence of reducing prostate cancer risks for men.

2) Low-fat, high-fiber diets are best. The American Cancer Society dietary guidelines suggest limiting meat products, high-fat dairy or high-sodium foods. Replacing those foods with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-fiber foods may help reduce cancer risk. Lower calorie foods lead to weight loss, and being overweight is linked to several types of cancer. While there is still more research to be done in this area, people who are overweight should consider losing weight to lower their cancer risk. In addition to helping with weight loss, high-fiber diets have been linked to lower risk for breast cancer.

3) Too much alcohol increases the risk of at least six types of cancers. Colorectal, breast, esophageal, liver, stomach and oral (mouth, larynx and pharynx) cancers have been linked to alcohol. Wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages contain a carcinogen, ethyl alcohol, which researchers believe might be linked to cancer. Alcohol can also damage our DNA, help carry cancer-causing substances into cells, or be linked with higher levels of estrogen, which could help cancer cells grow. An excessive amount of alcohol could lead to liver damage and smoking while drinking alcohol is particularly harmful for mouth and throat cancers.

4) Eating flaxseed might reduce the risk of some types of cancer. New research shows flaxseed consumption may be linked to reduced risk of colon, breast and prostate cancers. Ground flaxseed, sold in powdered form, can be mixed into oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt or cereal. It contains lignans, which can help decrease estrogen activity in the body.

5) If cancer is diagnosed, certain foods can help manage symptoms. In working with patients who have received a cancer diagnosis, there are ways to help with their symptoms and discomfort. If a patient is experiencing nausea during treatment, I recommend a bland diet with foods that are soft, low in fiber, cooked instead of raw, and not spicy, heavy or fried. Smaller, more frequent meals are easier on the stomach. For patients who lack appetite, high-calorie, high-protein foods are best, such as peanut butter, avocados and protein powders added to oatmeal. If diarrhea is an issue, eating low-fiber foods helps slow the digestive system.

Antioxidants cancer Healthy Eating High Fiber

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