29. Diet and Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Diet and Colorectal Cancer Prevention

     Research shows that diet and exercise provide powerful protection against colorectal cancer according to a recent report by the American Institute of Cancer Research and the Scotland-based Worldwide Cancer Research.

     “This report demonstrates that there is a lot people can do to dramatically lower their risk" says Edward L Giovannucci, Professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

      The report shows a clear relationship between eating whole grains daily and a reduction in colorectal cancer risk. The more you eat, the lower the risk. Eating three servings a day reduces the risk by a remarkable 17 percent; a useful addition to a 'Stop Cancer' diet!

   Evidence confirms the known fact that overweight and obesity adds noticeably to the risk not only to colorectal cancer but also to a plethora of other cancers, as does the lack of regular exercise.

     The report points to emerging evidence that a diet with fish, and fruit and non-starchy vegetables high in vitamin C help to provide cancer prevention. However it strengthens the link between colorectal cancer and over-consumption of red or processed meats.“

      As research continues to emerge for these factors, it all points to the power of a plant-based diet, says Alice Bender, AICR Director of Nutrition Programs.

     “Replacing some of your refined grains with whole grains and eating mostly plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables and beans, will give you a diet packed with cancer-protective compounds and help you manage your weight, which is so important to lower risk. 

     “When it comes to cancer there are no guarantees, but it’s clear now there are choices you can make and steps you can take to lower your risk of colorectal and other cancers,” she points out.

Ian MacWatt

Further Reading

     AICR eNews New colorectal cancer report

     AICR  Foods That Fight Cancer

     Diet and Lifestyle with CCT   Cancer Prevention through Diet

20. Obesity and Cancer: New Moves in UK

 

     Bad diet has recently overtaken smoking as the biggest single cause of the 40% of lifestyle-linked avoidable illness the service treats. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England has said.  He added: “Smoking still kills 80,000-plus people a year, smoking is still a huge problem. But it turns out that diet has edged ahead.”                              

     His comment came as he announced the introduction of a sugar tax on high sugar drinks and snacks sold in hospital cafes and vending machines to help tackle the “national sugar high”. Sugar addiction is increasingly ruining children's and adults'  health through obesity, itself a station on the direct line to a number of cancers.

     Simon Stevens also upped the stakes in TV Chef Jamie Oliver’s campaign to bring in a sugar tax by urging ministers to take radical action against obesity, including forcing food firms to strip sugar out of their products, as part of an unprecedented assault on bad diet.Obesity is known to be associated with increased risks of the following cancer types, and possibly others as well:

• Esophagus (throat)
• Pancreas
• Colon and rectum
• Breast (after menopause)
• Endometrium (lining of the uterus)
• Kidney
• Thyroid
• Gallbladder

     Studies in USA have shown a direct link between obesity and cancer. The percentage of cases attributed to obesity varied widely for different cancer types but was as high as 40 % for some cancers, particularly uterine cancer and esophageal adenocarcinoma, (throat cancer to you and me).

     A projection of the future health and economic burden of obesity in 2030 estimated that continuation of existing trends in obesity will lead to about 500,000 additional cases of cancer in the United States by 2030. This analysis also found that if every adult reduced their weight by roughly 1 kg (or 2.2 lbs) for an adult of average weight, this would prevent the increase in the number of cancer cases and actually result in the avoidance of about 100,000 new cases of cancer.

     While these figures relate to US studies, a similar pattern has emerged in the UK. Cancer prevention through appropriate lifestyle and diet choices is always a better, and safer, option than contracting life-threatening cancer, lengthy 'slash, burn and poison'  (invasive surgery, radiography and chemotherapy) treatment and possible cure.

Further Reading
Examiner    Sugar,  Obesity and Cancer Risk
Medical News Today  How quitting sugar impacts onbody weight
Guardian NHS and need for sugar tax