Know the connection between what you eat and how it can affect your odds of getting cancer and even your health while you undergo cancer treatment.

1. Cancer and Diet – What’s the Connection
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Simple lifestyle changes, like a healthy diet,
could prevent 30 to 50% of all cancers. Diet can play a vital role in increasing your immunity and even
help you successfully go through cancer treatment.
Food that can Increase Cancer Risk
Sugar and Refined Carbs
Processed foods that are high in sugar, low in fibre and nutrients and a diet that increases blood glucose
levels -can increase the risk of cancer, like stomach, breast and colorectal cancers. High levels of insulin
can lead to the growth of abnormal cells and can cause cancer. For eg. increased cancer risk among
diabetes patients. So to protect against cancer, people should avoid food items high in sugar, refined
carbs and items that boost insulin levels.
Processed Meat

2. Processed meat means meat that has been preserved by adding salt, by curing or smoking. Some
examples are -ham, bacon, hot dogs, salami and pre-cooked meat (meat that is sold in a semi-cooked
form). 20 to 50% of people who consume processed meat are at risk to have colorectal cancer.
Additionally, red meat intake also increases cancer risks by 19-21%.
OverCooked Food
Cooking at high temperatures, such as grilling, frying, broiling and barbecuing, will produce harmful
compounds, this can cause inflammation and develop cancer and other diseases. Foods high in fat and
protein like red meat, certain cheeses, fried eggs, butter, cream cheese, mayonnaise, oils and nuts can
cause cancer. To minimise cancer risk, avoid burning food, instead try steaming, boiling and marinating
food.
Dairy

3. Dairy consumption may increase prostate cancer. Intake of whole milk is risky because of the high
content level of calcium, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) or estrogen hormones from pregnant cows- all
these are linked to prostate cancer.
Obesity – Overweight
Apart from smoking, obesity is another risk factor for cancer worldwide. It can cause cancers like–
oesophagus, colon, pancreas, kidney and breast cancer after menopause.

4. Obesity causes cancer in three ways:
1) Excess body fat leads to insulin resistance. So cells cannot take glucose properly and the cells divide
faster.
2) Obese people have higher levels of inflammatory cytokines in their blood and cells divide faster.
3) Fat cells increase estrogen levels and increase breast and ovarian cancer after menopause in women.
Foods that Contain Cancer Fighting Properties
There is no such special food that can prevent cancer. Eating a balanced diet can reduce up to 70% risk
and can help in recovery from cancer. Certain foods can fight cancer by blocking blood vessels.
Cancer Fighting Food Groups are:
Vegetables
Higher consumption of vegetables is a lower risk of causing cancer.

5. 1) The vegetables are– broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cooked drumstick and neem.
2) Tomatoes and carrots decrease the risk of prostate, stomach and lung cancer. Carrots have a variety
of medicinal properties and reduce the risk of breast, colon, rectum and lung cancers.
3) Green vegetables, garlic and onions reduce stomach, prostate and colorectal cancers.
4) In these fruits and vegetables Vitamins A, C and E are found and reduce the risk.
Fruits

6. Fruits also help to prevent cancer.
Amla, jackfruit and pomegranate -have high levels of nutrients and protect against cancer.
Three servings of citrus per week reduce stomach cancer.
Intake of vegetables and fruits regularly protects against cancer and can reduce lung cancer, stomach,
oral cavity, colon, pancreas and pharynx cancers.
There are two types of fibres -soluble and Insoluble fibres. Soluble fibres are found in fruits and
vegetables and oats. This reduces the risk of colon cancer. On the other hand, Insoluble fibres are found
in wheat and rice. Insoluble grain fibre decreases the risk of cancer than soluble fibres.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) suggests that healthy persons must take 20 to 30g of dietary fibre
every day.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds protect certain cancers and also reduce the spread of cancer cells. Men with prostate cancer,
if they take 30gms of ground flaxseeds daily, it lowers the cancer growth, similarly for women with breast
cancer. Flaxseeds provide all the nutrients necessary. Flaxseeds also reduce metastasis and tumour
growth rate.
Spices
1) Cinnamon has anti-cancer properties and can prevent 60% of the cancer cells from spreading.
2) Turmeric, 4gms of turmeric can reduce cancerous lesions in the colon by 40% for patients who are
receiving treatment.
Beans and Legumes
Beans and legumes (root vegetables) are high in fibre and protect against colorectal cancer.

7. Nuts
64% of people who eat nuts are at low risk of getting certain cancers.
Consumption of Olive oil, garlic and fish help in reducing cancer risk.
Precautionary Measures
Diet is one of the most important factors for the formation and prevention of cancer. For this, two dietary
goals have to be followed
1. In the total calories taken the fat content should not be more than 30%.
2. The consumption of carbohydrate and fibre rich foods should be doubled by increasing fruit and
vegetable to five servings per day.
Apart from these for alcoholic beverages, the dose is less than 40g per day. Vitamin C and Vitamin E
should also be taken.
Foods to be Taken by Cancer Patients
Right food should be taken by a cancer patient-
1)Vegetables: Tomatoes, carrots, peas, pumpkin, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourd and
green leafy vegetables.
2)Fruits: Oranges, bananas, kiwi, peaches, mangoes, pears, strawberries, guava, figs, apricots, prunes
and raisins.
3)Proteins: Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, nuts, dried beans, dals, peas, soy foods.
4)Carbohydrates: Rice, noodles, chapati, whole grain bread, pasta, oats, corn, potatoes, beans and dairy
products and honey.
Awareness: With the increasing number of patients surviving cancer due to early detection and better
treatments, there is a growing interest in people to change their lifestyle and diet to reduce the long term
effects of cancer. They are aware that a healthy diet, with limited intake of high-calorie foods, red meat
and processed meats can help prevent cancer. They are aware that the Internet and books provide a lot
of information regarding cancer and diet connection. Counselling by the treating doctor also helped a
number of patients. So, patients are aware that what one eats is really important for cancer patients, that
body needs enough calories and nutrients to stay strong.
Before Treatment: Even before treatment starts, the patient must focus on healthy foods. Planning also
helps.

8. During Treatment: Though one may not feel hungry, they should drink plenty of liquids all day; water,
fresh fruit juice and stay hydrated. Have small healthy snacks. Soup also helps. Before chemotherapy,
have a snack or small meal right before the session, this helps to keep nausea away.
The best is to stick to a balanced diet with lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat
dairy. Also limit sugar, caffeine, and salt and alcohol consumption.