Anti-Cancer Nutrition 101: Seven Cancer-Fighting Diet Tips

Point #2: Eat nutrient-rich carbohydrates and avoid refined starches and sugars

Carbohydrates are a key macronutrient, for the body converts them into glucose, its favorite source of fuel. However, some types of carbohydrate are more beneficial than others, and some are downright unhealthy.

All vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains contain a significant proportion of carbohydrates. When they are whole and unprocessed, they also contain a wide range of important nutrients and plant chemicals that keep us healthy and can help to protect us from cancer. We should eat these daily.

Refined carbohydrates are another matter. They largely consist of starch that is devoid of nutrients – “empty calories” in other words – and this can increase our cancer risks in various ways:

• For one, the absence of cancer-protective plant chemicals means that our body has fewer resources to defend itself against rogue cells that may grow into tumors.
• In addition. sugar and refined starches contribute to weight gain, and as scientists have found, body fatness is a key cause of several cancers.
• Moreover, eating sugar and refined carbohydrates triggers the production of hormones that may promote cancer. When we eat sugar or refined flour our blood-sugar (glucose) level rises. To stabilize this, our pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. This also acts as a growth factor for tumor cell proliferation and is accompanied by the release of another hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), that is thought to further stimulate cell growth and inhibit spontaneous cancer cell death (apoptosis).

So, it’s important to distinguish between “bad” carbohydrates (refined and nutrient depleted, they push blood-glucose levels sharply higher and trigger IGF-1 production) and “good” carbohydrates (they are nutrient-dense and high in fiber, and don’t boost blood-glucose levels as sharply).

As a general rule of thumb, sugar, sweetened foods and drinks and any foods made from white flour (cakes, cookies, candies, white bread, crackers, French fries, etc.) should be avoided.

On the other hand, healthy carbohydrates are found in:

• Non-starchy vegetables and fruits (particularly the non-tropical fruits: apples, pears, oranges, grapefruits, peaches, plums, apricots, berries, etc.)
• Legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils, whole and split dried peas, etc.)
• Nuts, seeds and whole grains (brown rice, buckwheat, wild rice, quinoa, barley, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, etc.)

**Learn more about Anti-Cancer Nutrition: Sugar, Carbohydrates and Insulin 101**

Point #3: Be careful about the types of fat you eat; avoid “bad” fats, seek out “good” fats

Fat is necessary for health, but again, it is important to differentiate between healthy and harmful fats.

Studies suggest that diets higher in unhealthy fats:

• Increase the risk of developing cancer (especially more aggressive cancers) and cancer progression
• Suppress the immune system and increase inflammation in the body
• Increase the risk of dying from numerous cancers (i.e. breast, prostate, colorectal, lung).

“Bad” fats include trans fats (found in partially and fully hydrogenated fats and frying oil) and fats high in omega-6 fatty acids (such safflower, sunflower, corn, soy or cottonseed oil).

Both trans fats and omega-6 fatty acids are thought to promote inflammation in the body, which can fuel the growth and spread of cancer cells. They can also block the body’s utilization of healthy fats, such as omega-3-rich fish oils.

Animals fed with omega-6-rich grains such as soy and corn generally produce eggs, milk and meat that are also rich in these fats; for this reason, avoid factory-farmed animal foods and seek out, wherever possible, meat, milk and eggs from grass-fed and free-ranging animals.

Healthier fats include:

• Monounsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and canola oil, and
• Polyunsaturated fats, especially those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found in  fatty, cold-water fish (such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, anchovies, herring); eggs, milk and meat from farm animals fed omega-3 rich feed or from wild animals; flaxseeds, walnuts, walnut oil, canola oil, and green leafy vegetables.

To ensure an adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids, aim to eat oily fish two to three times a week. These fish are high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids: cod, sablefish, salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. Smaller fish (i.e. sardines, mackerel, and anchovies) & wild salmon have less mercury and PCBs (a toxin) than bigger fish like tuna, swordfish and shark, which should generally be avoided.

Consider taking omega-3 supplements if you do not eat fish regularly

• Learn more about omega-3 fatty acid supplements here. 
• Find out how safe your fish-oil (omega-3) supplement is here.

**Learn more about Anti-Cancer Nutrition: Fats 101**

Point #4: Limit the amount of meat in your diet, make sure it’s top-quality, prepare it with care, and avoid processed meat

The consumption of processed and red meat is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Several factors may contribute to this:

• Corn and soy-fed animals (unless the package says otherwise, they were most likely fed corn or soy) are higher in pro-inflammatory omega 6-fatty acids and saturated fats.
• Many commercially-raised, non-organic, animals are subjected to growth hormones to produce larger and faster growing animals. These growth hormones may stimulate cancer cells as well.
• Processed meat (e.g. bacon, bologna, hot dogs, ham, deli meats) contains added nitrates which are converted into potentially cancer-causing nitrosamines in the gut.
• Cooking red meat at high temperatures can produce other cancer-causing compounds, so rather than flash-frying or barbecuing, gentle braising or stewing are safer cooking methods.
• The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends limiting cooked red meat consumption to 18 oz (equivalent to 24 oz raw meat) a week, and avoiding processed meats altogether. (See here for more details.)

Point #5: Limit the amount of dairy products in your diet.

Dairy is a controversial topic in the cancer context: critics claim that growth factors, hormones, saturated fats and pesticide residues in milk increase cancer risks, whereas defenders argue that in particular calcium and vitamin D in cows’ milk have a protective effect.

According to the AICR, milk probably decreases the risk of colon cancer and possibly that of bladder cancer, but diets high in calcium from milk and dairy products increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Milk is not indispensible to human health; indeed, many populations do not consume milk at all because their bodies cannot produce the enzyme needed to digest it, and they are nonetheless healthy! Calcium can be obtained from many other sources: small fish eaten with their bones (e.g. whole canned sardines), meat (when rendered on the bone in stews and broths), green leafy vegetables, nuts and legumes.

When consuming dairy, why not take our cues from the Mediterraneans? Here, dairy is usually eaten in small portions – almost as a condiment rather than a major food group. Milk by the glass is rarely consumed, and the most popular dairy products include fermented curds and cheeses made from goats’, ewes’ and occasionally cows’ milk (e.g. kefir, yogurt, halloumi and feta cheese).

When you do eat dairy products, seek out the highest quality possible, made with milk from pastured organic cows. Moreover, try replacing dairy with non-dairy options such as almond, hazelnut or soy “milk” and yogurt, which can easily be used to replace cow’s milk in most recipes.

Point #6: Limit The Amount of Alcohol You Consume

Did you know that consuming even small amounts of alcohol increase your risk of certain cancers?

The ethanol in alcoholic drinks contributes to several common cancers, including those of the breast, mouth and throat and esophagus; some research also links it to liver and bowel cancer. The risk of some alcohol-related cancers is even greater in smokers.

Therefore the AICR recommends that if alcohol is consumed at all, it should be limited to two drinks a day for men and one for women. The AICR defines “one drink” as half a pint/250ml of normal strength beer or cider; a small (1oz/25ml) measure of spirits, or one small (4fl oz/125ml) glass of wine.

Point #7: Avoid Cancer-Causing Chemicals

Some foods may contain cancer causing substances, and although these are usually present in trace amounts only, it’s best to reduce your exposure to them wherever possible.

As mentioned above, some carcinogens are found in meat cooked at high temperatures (e.g. barbecued or flame-grilled). Marinating meat with spices and herbs can help reduce the formation of these compounds, as does slowly cooking meat at low temperatures. Meats preserved with nitrites, smoked meat and fish may also contain carcinogenic compounds and are best avoided.

Another diet-related risk factor emanates from so-called aflatoxins, toxic substances produced by moulds or fungi and found on cereal grains, legumes, seeds and nuts (especially peanuts) stored in warm, damp conditions. According to the AICR, exposure levels are low in Europe and Australia, higher in the US and high in many low-income countries – especially tropical regions with a warm, damp climate, poor storage facilities and incomplete aflatoxin monitoring.

To reduce potential aflatoxin exposure, buy grains and nuts (particularly corn or peanuts) from reputable sources, store them in a dry, cool place (ideally the refrigerator or freezer) and do not keep them for more than a few months before eating.

Another potentially problematic compound is bisphenol-A (BPA). It is used to make plastic containers and the linings that coat the insides of food and drink cans and is thought to act as a “xenoestrogen” – a substance that acts like estrogen and thereby may stimulate hormone receptors on cell membranes. Moreover, even at weak concentrations BPA has been shown to block the effects of several commonly used chemotherapy agents on breast cancer cells.

Experts disagree at which concentrations BPA may be dangerous, but until more is known about safe levels, we’re best-off minimizing our exposure to BPA. This can be done by:

• buying fresh, unpackaged foods and preparing meals from scratch;
• buying or storing food in glass or stainless steel, rather than plastic containers;
• feeding babies with glass, rather than plastic bottles;
• drinking water from glass or stainless steel bottles rather than plastic;using ceramic, glass or metal bowls to prepare food (esp. if you use a microwave oven.)
• instead of a plastic water kettle, use an old-fashioned enamel or stainless steel stove-top kettle.