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Better Quality, Less Quantity
What can we do to protect us from cancer? What should and shouldn't we eat to reduce the risk?
What we put into our body has a profound effect, with many forms of cancers linked to diet and weight gain. For example, according to research a massive two-thirds of bowel cancer cases could be prevented by eating, drinking and living well.
The Mediterranean Diet has recently been found by the World Cancer Research Fund to reduce the risk of contracting one of the most dangerous forms of breast cancer by 40 per cent. The same study also found a strong relationship between weight gain around the waist and incidence of womb cancer.
The evidence for meat consume is that the risks is greater for a diet heavy in processed meat than having good-quality lean steak a couple of times a week. The latter will provide all the eight essential amino acids our bodies need for growth, brain development, healthy bones and endorphins. The real problem is thus processed meat, not meat in itself.
Alcohol is also a key factor in increasing the risk of breast cancer. We should aim to drink no more than two units per day for men and one for women.
About dairy products, the findings are conflicting. Recent research shows a higher intake of calcium can protect against bowel cancer, but some early research also suggests there could be a link between dairy intake and the risk of developing prostate and ovarian cancers. A link between breast cancer and dairy products has been suggested, possibly because of the saturated fats they contain, or contaminants such as pollutants and other environmental toxins, but there is no clear evidence to support this.
Another theory is that dairy products might, in fact, help protect against breast cancer due to increased calcium in the diet. But again, more research is needed. The latest official advice is that dairy should make up no more than 8 per cent of your daily diet.
Sugar doesn't make cancer grow faster. All cells, including cancer cells, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy, but giving more sugar to cancer cells doesn't speed their growth. Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar doesn't ''starve'' them.
There is some evidence that eating large amounts of sugar is associated with an increased risk of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, developing in the first place: This is linked to weight gain and diabetes.
Again, it's more a matter of quality and quantity of the nutrient we eat than the nutrient in itself. A few fresh dates will be an asset for your organism, where a sugary snack will be a poison.
It can't be stressed enough that eating plenty of fresh foods is proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers, including mouth, throat, stomach and lung. The antioxidants they contain help reduce the impact of free radicals, the damaging molecules linked to cancer.
What we put into our body has a profound effect, with many forms of cancers linked to diet and weight gain. For example, according to research a massive two-thirds of bowel cancer cases could be prevented by eating, drinking and living well.
The Mediterranean Diet has recently been found by the World Cancer Research Fund to reduce the risk of contracting one of the most dangerous forms of breast cancer by 40 per cent. The same study also found a strong relationship between weight gain around the waist and incidence of womb cancer.
The evidence for meat consume is that the risks is greater for a diet heavy in processed meat than having good-quality lean steak a couple of times a week. The latter will provide all the eight essential amino acids our bodies need for growth, brain development, healthy bones and endorphins. The real problem is thus processed meat, not meat in itself.
Alcohol is also a key factor in increasing the risk of breast cancer. We should aim to drink no more than two units per day for men and one for women.
About dairy products, the findings are conflicting. Recent research shows a higher intake of calcium can protect against bowel cancer, but some early research also suggests there could be a link between dairy intake and the risk of developing prostate and ovarian cancers. A link between breast cancer and dairy products has been suggested, possibly because of the saturated fats they contain, or contaminants such as pollutants and other environmental toxins, but there is no clear evidence to support this.
Another theory is that dairy products might, in fact, help protect against breast cancer due to increased calcium in the diet. But again, more research is needed. The latest official advice is that dairy should make up no more than 8 per cent of your daily diet.
Sugar doesn't make cancer grow faster. All cells, including cancer cells, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy, but giving more sugar to cancer cells doesn't speed their growth. Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar doesn't ''starve'' them.
There is some evidence that eating large amounts of sugar is associated with an increased risk of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, developing in the first place: This is linked to weight gain and diabetes.
Again, it's more a matter of quality and quantity of the nutrient we eat than the nutrient in itself. A few fresh dates will be an asset for your organism, where a sugary snack will be a poison.
It can't be stressed enough that eating plenty of fresh foods is proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers, including mouth, throat, stomach and lung. The antioxidants they contain help reduce the impact of free radicals, the damaging molecules linked to cancer.