The Relationship Between Cancer and Food

Is it possible to avoid cancer by a proper diet of healthy foods? In other words, are there ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer through what we eat? While eating healthy and avoiding a lot of processed foods, the risks of cancer may be slowed, but science has yet to prove that there is a valid relationship between what, and how, one eats and the onset of cancer. While, just like cigarettes, there may be some carcinogens in poorly prepared foods, the advent of cancer cells is usually a far different origin. Still, by taking certain precautions and a healthy diet, the onset and progress of cancer cells may be slowed.

Among the most important precautions in terms of diet is avoiding obesity. " Over the past decades, obesity and related metabolic consequences have been recognized as contributory risk factors for some types of cancers. Thus, obesity prevention is increasingly recognized as an important factor in cancer prevention" (Uauy and Solomons, 2134S). The authors claim that starting even with infants and small children, avoiding "fattening" foods, especially the McDonald's type of fast food, may be a key to at least reducing (if not eliminating certain cancer risks. Again, it is obesity that is a major risk factor: "Given the strong evidence for nutrition (diet and physical activity) as a determinant of cancer risk, enabling the establishment of a healthful cancer-preventing diet and active living early in life is a public health priority" (Uauy and Solomons 2145S). This is not to claim that Big Macs cause cancer. It is merely scientific observation that eating too much, and too many fattening foods, may lead to increasing risks of cancer in adults.

Of course, there are continuing studies which try to find diets, or specific foods, which may slow certain cancers. One recent study using whole tomato diets in patients with some fort of prostate cancers was encouraging: " Tomato diet significantly increased overall survival ("Prostate cancer" 703). One must note here that the findings were about survival of those who had prostate cancer, not about how tomatoes prevented the disease.

Because cancer is all too often linked with other diseases or illnesses- from heart problems to diabetes and/or rheumatoid arthritis, certain dietary precautions that encompass more than one possible health risk is often recommended. Despite some fish whose mercury levels tend to be higher than normal, increasing fish consumption by most people may well reduce certain cancer risks= as long as it is not merely diet that is considered. At the same time, certain scientific investigations also seem to point at red meat as a sometime "villain": "(I)t's red meat in particular, along with processed versions such as bacon and salami, that's been in the bull's-eye of recent research. Eating too much red meat has been linked to chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes and cancer, as well as simply a higher risk of dying sooner rather than later" ("The Heat" 4).

In nearly all research conducted into the correlation of food and diet and cancer, food alone is never the only challenge. In many instances it is the cumulative life-style, combining healthy diet with exercise, reducing or eliminating smoking and alcohol use are included. Also, there are continuing investigations into the value of certain vitamins. One of these in clearer focus is Vitamin D: "Recently researchers became aware of vitamin D's other, perhaps more important, potential benefits. These include prevention of diabetes and heart and vascular disease as well as many types of cancer and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus" (Yerkovich 12).

The initial question- whether food and diet can really prevent cancer- still has been lacking a very definitive answer that is applicable to anyone at the risk of getting cancer in his or her lifetime. Every week, it seems, another headline tells you what you should or shouldn't eat to avoid being diagnosed with one or another form of cancer. There are regularly featured articles by dieticians and non-profit associations which suggest people eat more fruits and vegetables. One recent study even suggested that such a diet might ward off lung cancer . One article, according to Deborah Kotz' article in USNews Health, claims that you should avoid soft drinks if you don't want to die of pancreatic cancer . Wine is good for your heart, but may increase your risk of breast cancer , others suggest. "And who wouldn't be willing to give up the Diet Coke or chardonnay to sidestep the disease we fear most? It you took action based on research published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine , you might find yourself forgoing hamburgers and chicken wings and embracing soy burgers, tofu, and peanut butter instead" (Kotz 1). Ms. Kotz writes that this study found that an Atkins-style diet that emphasized vegetable protein over animal protein lowered the risk of cancer . But all things considered, how much do dietary changes really matter in terms of cancer prevention ? "'Right after smoking, diet ranks right up there as the No. 2 modifiable risk factor,' says Demetrius Albanes, a senior investigator and medical epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute. 'Twenty-five percent of cancers can be related back to eating practices." (Kotz 1).

One major problem that Americans who are health conscious and concerned about what and how they eat still face is the great number of diets that are often popular with all sorts of promises for better health but are radically different in just how well they perform what they promise. Perhaps one of the most popular diets to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer in recent years is the so-called Atkins diet. However, there have been problems discovered: " 'You can have the initial Atkins-type of low-carb diet, which is loaded with sausages, bacon, steaks, and you can have healthy versions of the low-carb diet with more vegetable- or plant-based protein and fat,' said Dr. Frank B. Hu, senior author of a study in the Sept. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine" (Gardner 1). According to this article, researchers examines both versions of low-carb diets and found that the impact of the two were drastically different. "'Those who follow the animal-based low-carb diet have an increased risk of total mortality and cancer mortality in particular,' said Hu, a professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston" (Gardner 1).

Given these diverse and distinctly different approaches to what is and what may not be healthful as far as preventing or slowing the cancerous diseases many humans are likely to have invade their bodies, it would seem that the best idea would be to consult with one's doctor and a recommended dietician to specifically organize a healthful regimen tailored specifically to that individual. Therefore, there can be no single positive answer to the question about food and cancer prevention. While there are foods and food groups and vitamin supplements which may help, still there is no single definitive means of ascertaining that specific foods prevent cancer.

References:

Gardner, Amanda: " Low-Carb Diets Heavy on Meat May Raise Health

Risks" USNews Health, Sept. 6, 2010

Kotz, Derborah: " Cancer Prevention: Rethink Your Diet as Well

as Your Smoking" USNews Health, Sept. 10, 2010

"Prostate Cancer; New findings from T. Pannellini and co-authors

in the area of prostate cancer published" Atlanta GA:

Obesity, Fitness and Wellness Week : Nov 27, 2010 . pg. 703

"The Heat is on Red Meat" New York: Tufts University Health and

Nutrition Letter Nov 2010 . Vol. 28, Iss. 9; pg. 4

Uauy, Ricardo and Solomons, Neal: " Diet , Nutrition, and the

Life-Course Approach to Cancer Prevention" Bethesda MD:

The Journal of Nutrition : Dec 2005 . Vol. 135, Iss. 12S

pg. 2934S

Yerkovich, Stephen: "Vitamin D and You" Phoenix: PN

Nov 2010 . Vol. 64, Iss. 11; pg. 12