The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

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“Our diet usually contains both inhibitors and enhancers of cancerous cells. Inhibitors found in the diet include antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E, and phytochemical e.g. lycopene which is found in tomatoes. Dietary enhancers may be the fat in red meat or other substances found in grilled meat.”

The big 'C', everyone knows someone who has had it and survived or sadly lost their battle to it. It scares a lot of people and the common consensus is that if you are diagnosed you most likely will not survive your battle with this deadly disease. 

But what is Cancer? Your body is made up of cells that your body works hard to replenish as they move through their lifecycle. Your cells are constantly dying and new cells are made to replace them. Cancers occur when the cells that are made mutate and do not function in the way the body instructed it to. Normally, your immune system is able to recognize when these cells go rogue and get rid of them before they can do any damage.

Unfortunately, sometimes for reasons that scientists are yet to discover, these cells are able to evade the immune system and grow and reproduce to become tumors. These tumors usually disrupt the regular functions of the body and the host will feel symptoms. Sadly sometimes these symptoms are felt too late, and these tumors have been able to travel around the body and replicate all over causing serious problems. The extent to which these cells have traveled around the body, taken up residence, and are causing damage, will determine what stage the cancer is classified as, so a tumor that has not had the chance to spread elsewhere, will be stage 1.  The earlier the tumor is detected the quicker it can be removed and the higher your likelihood of surviving. 

Nutrition has been proven to help in the fight that the body is able to put up whilst undergoing treatment for cancer and is said to modify the progress of cancer. It does so, by affecting the processes that allow it to become advanced in an individual. Nutrition is also affected by the different procedures that an individual with cancer undergoes e.g. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Treatment usually has severe side effects such as vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion. All these will affect the nutrition status of the victim. 

Our diet usually contains both inhibitors and enhancers of cancerous cells. Inhibitors found in the diet include antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E, and phytochemical e.g. lycopene which is found in tomatoes. Dietary enhancers may be the fat in red meat or other substances found in grilled meat.

Here is some more information on how you can strategize and weaponize your diet to help survive your cancer battle or try to prevent it altogether. Further research will go a long way in helping you to plan meals that you will be confident will give you the best chance to thrive.

Weight and Physical Activity 

Being overweight or obese appears to increase the risk of cancer occurrence.  Little or no physical activity, high energy intake, and large body mass are associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer in men and women. There is a great benefit in regular physical activity in the reduction of the risk of breast and colon cancer.

Diet 

• Fat

Diets high in fat also tend to be high in calories and this contributes to obesity. This in turn is associated with an increased risk of cancers at several places in the body. Certain types of fats, for example, those in red meats and dairy products have been found to increase the risk of developing prostate, breast, and lung cancer.

• Protein

Diets high in protein are also high in meat and fat and low in fiber. This is one of the environments in which cancers occur frequently. So by paying attention to the dietary requirements and practicing moderation, you can and should still have a diet that includes protein, but ensure that you add fiber and try to consume protein foods with low-fat content. 

• Soy

A soy-containing diet may be protective against breast cancer especially if the soy diet is consumed before reaching adulthood. However, for women who have already been diagnosed with Estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, soy-containing foods may be harmful. The research surrounding soy is ever-evolving and you should definitely do independent research on this food before consuming it.

• Fiber

Fiber is said to have a lowering effect of colorectal cancer, however with this type of cancer family history should also be considered. Having a high fiber diet should always be encouraged unless you have some medical reason not to. The addition of fiber to a meal usually results in lower instances of overeating and higher feelings of fullness.  

• Fruits and Vegetables

Cancer prevention organizations recommend eating a minimum of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day to effectively reduce one's risk of developing cancer. These may be, raw and fresh vegetables, leafy green vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, for example, broccoli and cabbage, lettuce, and raw and fresh fruits.

• Alcohol

Alcohol consumption is associated with increased cancer risk. The main part of socializing is casually consuming alcoholic drinks and this point is not meant to discourage that, moderation as always is the key. Abuse of any substance will create the environment for your body to start doing things it should not be doing, such as creating tumors. We all should try to achieve balance and give the body the things it needs to carry out its functions effectively. 

• Tea

A study found that regular drinking of green tea and other sources of polyphenols may reduce the risk of stomach cancer. There are many websites that offer creative ways of using green tea in your diet. Further research is definitely required.

Scientists have been researching cancer for quite a while and have yet to come up with a definitive answer to the causes. This is why you will see an article frequently informing you with another link between something, whether an environmental situation, a type of food, a food preparation method, a substance thought previously to be harmless, and if you were to sit and study this ever-growing, ever-evolving list, you would be crippled with anxiety. Diet and exercise are two things that we can control that have been proven to give you a fighting chance against this awful disease. So I encourage you to do your research and develop your own personal program to maintain your health. Feel free to look around this blog for more in-depth content about the substances that make your diet and even how to create a diet plan with what you have. 

And finally let us not forget about genetics, if your family members have been diagnosed with cancer, the likelihood of your doing all these preventive actions and still being diagnosed is high, this is where health screening and vigilance with your health comes into play. Do not neglect your health, you need to have an intimate relationship with your body and make note of things that feel 'off'. This is honestly the way many people become diagnosed. 

Let me know what strategies you are thinking of adopting to help keep you healthier longer.