Anti Cancer Diet

Executive Summary

Around 141 million new cancer cases are diagnosed every year, most of which develop from the less economically developed parts of the world. The variation in cancer across the globe and its relative plasticity is strong evidence of the importance of environmental factors in determining patterns of cancer around the world. Therefore, it is preferable to represent nutrition as a critical factor underlying the cause of increasing cancer cases showing variability globally. Diet and activity are the two main components representing dynamic and complex clusters of exposures that vary both within and between people and over time. Diet plays a vital role in cancer management because they are the source of important physiologically functional components. Vitamin A, E, and trace minerals contribute to cancer protection.

Large amounts of dietary fibres and other dietary components are associated with a high intake of grains, vegetables, and fruits, reducing the chances of colon cancer and breast cancer. Other natural products are used as an anticancer diet. Combining all the above evidence proves that dietary patterns are healthy and reduce cancer risk, which is proposed as an emerging medical prescription. Dieticians or specialists recommend Anticancer nutritional guidelines to prevent cancer and reduce cancer risk.

Also Read: Anti-Cancer Foods

Introduction

Cancer is considered the second most common cause of increasing death rates across the globe. Around 141 million new cancer cases are diagnosed every year, most of which develop from the less economically developed parts of the world. The WHO has predicted that 236 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed every year by 2030, with a significant increase in less economically developed regions. The typical cancer types show substantial variations in cancer patterns as per the economic status. The low-income countries have an increasing number of cases of infection-related cancers such as cervix, liver and stomach cancer. The most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in higher-income countries is prostate, while in less affluent areas, cancers of the oesophagus or stomach are most common. Breast cancer is most common among women in higher- and lower-income countries, but cervical cancer is prevalent in lower-income countries.

The global variation in cancer patterns is not fixed in time and place. When populations migrate to different parts of the world, the cancer patterns alter within two generations to conform to that of their host country. The variation in cancer across the globe and its relative plasticity is strong evidence of the importance of environmental factors in determining patterns of cancer across the world. Therefore, it is preferable to represent nutrition as a critical factor underlying the cause of increasing cancer cases showing variability globally.

Diet and activity are the two main components representing dynamic and complex clusters of exposures that vary both within n and between people and over time. Nutrition and foods are related to about 30% of cancer cases. Several studies represent the association between functional foods and cancer reduction cases (Kuno et al., 2012). Diet plays a vital role in cancer management because they are the source of important physiologically functional components.

Several associations have been found between saturated fat intake and the incidence of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. The information of alcohol more significant than 40 g per day results in a risk to the oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, and larynx as alcohol interacts synergistically with smoking to increase risk. Large amounts of dietary fibres and other dietary components are associated with a high intake of grains, vegetables, and fruits, reducing the chances of colon cancer and breast cancer. Insoluble grain fibre shows a more significant association with decreased cancer risk than soluble grain fibre. Vitamin A, E, and trace minerals contribute to cancer protection. The intake of meat and animal products, products rich in animal fats and oils and often cooked at high temperatures, increases cancer incidence, mainly for colorectal, stomach, and prostate cancer. Dietary patterns depend upon regular intake of fruit, vegetables (primarily garlic and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbages, broccoli, brussels sprout and wasabi) and, by consequence, the intake of aliments rich in selenium, folic acid, vitamins (B-12 or D), and antioxidants such as carotenoids and lycopene play a protective role in cancer onset for reducing the risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer and 6070% of prostate cancer and 4050% of lung cancer (Donaldson, 2004).

Combining all the above evidence proves that dietary patterns are healthy and reduce cancer risk, which is proposed as an emerging medical prescription (L?c?tu?u et al., 2019). The best diet patterns can reflect several characteristics of an ideal healthy diet.

Significance of diet in cancer prevention

Diet is considered one of the most critical factors for the formation and prevention of cancer. Therefore, there is a need to achieve dietary goals to reduce cancer risk. The American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund revealed that almost 30-40% of all cancer types are prevented by appropriate diets, physical activity, and maintenance of proper body weight. Several studies have explained the importance of specific food or nutrients for determining their effect on tumour formation and regression or some other endpoint of cancer at a particular site within the body.

Diet has a significant impact on health, while caloric restriction and fasting have predicted benefits for disease prevention and longevity. Strong epidemiological associations have been represented between obesity and cancer, whereas healthy diets help in reducing cancer risk. The intake of a diet based on plant foods like vegetables, whole grains, beans and fruit and following some basic guidelines have effectively reduced cancer risk. The anticancer diet includes a plant-dependent diet that provides fibre intake to the body along with other vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants. Dietary interventions have resulted in improved outcomes in cancer treatment. Also, diet interventions have shown efficacy in overcoming the side effects caused by cancer treatment. The anticancer diet consists of high-content food of phytochemicals with potent anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The food is an anticancer diet with the properties capable of blocking precancerous cells from developing into malignant cells by interfering directly with tumour cells and by preventing the generation of an inflammatory microenvironment that would sustain the progression of the tumours.

Foods and nutrients with anticancer properties

Researchers have implicated that the use of natural products has been effective in improving the survival rate of cancer patients. Several countries are adopting the anticancer diet, which consists of food materials of dietary vegetables, medicinal herbs, and their extracts or components to prevent or treat cancer. Anticancer diets have been developed consisting of food products adding positive health benefits (Chen et al., 2012). Anticancer diets provide health benefits beyond essential nutrition, and the foods of anticancer diets are similar to conventional foods and are consumed in the form of a regular diet. The food components of an anticancer diet provide the body with the required amount of vitamins, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates,& Lowry, 2014). The diet includes ingredients or natural constituents in conventional, fortified, enriched, and enhanced foods. Several naturally occurring compounds are found in food, mainly the antioxidative compounds in plants or their extracts and essential oils, representing potential chemopreventive factors (Sporn & Suh, 2002).

Some of the common anticancer foods and nutrients have been discussed below:

• Flaxseeds: It is a sesame-like seed that contains soluble fibre, alpha-linolenic acid (a form of healthy omega-3 fatty acid), and is the richest source of lignans involving phytoestrogens that function as antioxidants. The use of flaxseed has reduced the number and growth of breast tumours.
• Soy: Exposure to soy in the adolescent phase of life helps women protect themselves from the risk of developing breast cancer. It is effective in lowering cholesterol.
• Garlic: It is considered a cancer-fighting food. Several studies have confirmed that intake of more garlic results in reducing the risk of cancer development such as the oesophagus, stomach, and colon cancer.
• Berries: It consists of powerful antioxidants that hinder the naturally occurring process in the body generating free radicals responsible for cell damage. Therefore, berries are considered the healing food for cancer.
• Tomatoes: It is effective in protecting against prostate cancer in men. It protects the DNA in cells from any damage that leads to cancer risk. It consists of a high concentration of an effective antioxidant called lycopene absorbed by the body, evolving into a cancer-fighting food.
• Cruciferous vegetables: These consist of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower which are considered cancer-fighting foods. The components in the veggies help protect from the free radicals that damage the DNA of the cells. It also protects from cancer-causing chemicals helping to reduce tumour growth and enhancing cell death.
• Green tea: the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis consist of antioxidants known as catechins which show efficacy in preventing cancer in several ways involving the protection of free radicals from cell damage. The presence of catechins in tea effectively reduces the tumour size and reduces the growth of tumour cells. Hence, drinking green tea has lowered the risk of cancer development.
• Whole grains: They contain many components that lower cancer risk, mainly fibre and antioxidants. Intake of more whole grains lowers the risk of colorectal cancer, making them a top item in the category of foods to fight cancer. Oatmeal, barley, brown rice, whole-wheat bread and pasta are all the components of food used as whole grains.
• Turmeric consists of an ingredient called curcumin that helps reduce cancer risk. Curcumin can inhibit several types of cancer and helps in slowing the spread of cancer (metastasis).
• Leafy green vegetables involve spinach and lettuce, which are considered good sources of the antioxidants beta-carotene and lutein. Collard greens, mustard greens, and kale are other food components of leafy green vegetables that contain chemicals that limit the growth of some types of cancer cells.
• Grapes: It is considered a rich source of an antioxidant called resveratrol that inhibits the growth of cancer cells from growing and spreading.
• Beans: It contains fibre that helps in reducing the risk of cancer. It also has antioxidant properties.

Other sources of the anticancer diet with essential components for cancer prevention are represented below:

Anticancer dietary guidelines

Dieticians or specialists recommend Anti-cancer dietary guidelines for the prevention of cancer and reduce the risk of cancer. Some of the smart-eating policies as having been discussed below:

• Limiting the alcohol consumption and intake of foods with folic acid is recommended.
• Exercise regularly and reduce the intake of fat and sugar in food.
• Varieties of fruits and vegetables with about 1/2 cup every nine times a day are recommended. One cup of dark green vegetables and one cup of orange fruit and vegetables are recommended.
• Intake of fish and fish products is recommended two to three times a week while replacing with meats which contain high saturated fats.
• Intake of beans involving soybean products is essential, which is recommended three times a week to take the place of red meat and as a source of folic acid, fibre, and various phytochemicals.
• Several servings of whole-grain foods each day are recommended.
• Substitutes for foods with low calories, fat, and higher nutrients involving fibres should be recommended.
• Lean meats and low-fat dairy products and substitute canola and olive oil for butter, lard, and margarine high in trans fats are chosen.

Common Questions Patients Ask

1. What is an anti-cancer diet?

An anti-cancer diet is designed according to the calorie and nutritional requirements of each individual to reduce inflammation. The foods prescribed in this diet will help the individual meet the protein and energy requirements. This will not only help reduce the risk of cancer but also help boost immunity and improve general well-being.

2. How to incorporate a healthy diet into a budget?

A healthy diet does not necessarily have to be expensive. Make small changes to your diet by replacing wheat and wheat products with millet, quinoa or brown & red rice. Focusing on a plant-based diet along with seasonal fruits and vegetables can ensure the consumption of essential nutrients. You may opt for healthier options such as herbs to boost immunity, and spices such as turmeric and pepper.

3. Does a vegetarian diet decrease the risk of cancer?

Vegetarians have been associated with a lower risk of cancer. This is because plant-based foods are rich in phytochemicals and fibre, which can reduce the risk of cancer. However, simply being a vegetarian does not reduce the risk of cancer if the diet does not contain adequate nutrients. If a non-vegetarian person follows a balanced diet, that person might have less chance of developing cancer than a vegetarian.

4. What are the common mistakes that people tend to make in dietary habits during cancer?

Most people are unaware of the impact of diet on cancer. And so most people give less importance to the diet during treatments which can, in turn, impact the overall health and decrease the efficiency of the treatment. However, a good cancer diet will include appropriate macronutrients, micronutrients and calories as well.

5. How to differentiate good fats and bad fats?

There are always good fats the patients can include in their diet. However, animal meat is mostly rich in trans fats which must be avoided. Highly saturated fats are also unhealthy fats. Good healthy fats are generally found in fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines are sources of Omega 3 fatty acids.

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