Cancer and Diet: Beating the Odds

In 2004, there were over half a million cancer deaths in the United States. This was the nations second leading cause of death exceeded only by heart disease. Scary, I know. While the incidence of cancer death has decreased over the last few years, it has been at a painstakingly slow rate.

We all know that tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of cancer. In fact 30% of cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to smoking, chewing tobacco and snuff. However, a much lesser known fact is just as many or more cancer deaths may be the result of nutrition and lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of physical activity.

So what can be done?
With the nationwide epidemic of obesity, the situation seems all but hopeless. Lack of proper nutrition causes obesity, heart disease and now cancer? But there is good news. Numerous studies and years of research have identified some cancer fighting foods that may help prevent the growth of carcinogenic cells.

Fruits and Vegetables. Oh come on. Like you didn’t know this one was coming? Research shows that in addition to all the other benefits of eating your greens, certain fruits and vegetables have cancer fighting properties.

· Tomatoes. The lycopene in tomatoes may prevent prostate and pancreatic cancers in men.

· Cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower have all been noted to benefit people genetically proned to lung cancer.

· Berries and red grapes. Not only are these yummy, they have cancer fighting properties too!

· Onions. One study concluded that just one portion of onion per week reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 14%. Also, two onions per week were shown to reduce cancer of the larynx by 56%, ovarian cancer by 43% and cancer of the kidneys by 25%.

· Garlic. This one seems to be the wonderfood in cancer fighting. Virtually every cancer site studied seemed protected by high intakes of garlic, including the esophagus and the prostate.

· Carotenoid rich green leafy vegetables and root vegetables as well as vitamin A, beta-carotene and alpha-carotene have all been associated with a reduced risk of stomach cancer.

Calcium
In addition to all the osteoporosis benefits, researchers now believe that calcium may help prevent cancers of the colon and rectum. Some effects included retardation of the growth of cancer cells in the colon and binding to carcinogenic bile. Studies have shown those who take calcium supplements have 1/3 less risk of adenomas, which are the benign tumors associated with colorectal cancer.

Omega-3s
These little wonderkins are found in fatty fish like salmon and are linked to a 40% lower risk for colorectal cancer. Researchers believe that omega-3’s work much like aspirin in that they inhibit COX2, an enzyme associated with inflammation in the body and cancer development. People who take fish oil supplements also show a risk reduction of 40% in non Hodgkin lymphoma.

While research on the cancer fighting effectiveness of these food items is ongoing, there are other well-documented reasons to integrate them into your diet. So just eat them already!