Using food as your medicine discusses how nutrition impacts cancer. It notes that cancer rates are increasing globally and lifestyle factors like diet account for 90-95% of cancer cases. A plant-based diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer risk by 40-64% and mortality by 1/3 by supporting the body's natural defenses and reducing inflammation. Specific foods like red meat and saturated fats may promote cancer while phytonutrients in plants like broccoli act as antioxidants and detoxifiers. Maintaining a balanced, mostly plant-based diet with moderate protein and calories can help prevent and fight cancer development and progression.

1. Using food as your medicine
By Jo Gamble BA (hons) Dip CNM
MFNTP MBANT

2. Let food be your medicine and medicine
be your food
Hippocrates

3. The need for action
• As a cause of death in the developed world, cancer is
only surpassed by cardiovascular disease
• Globally the number of people with cancer is
projected to double by 2030
• Currently, more than one in 3 people will develop
cancer in their lives!
(WCRF 1997, WCRF 2007, NS 2008)

4. Understanding Cancer
• Before understanding the impact of nutrition
on cancer, it is first important to understand
the biochemical and physiological
determinants of the disease.
• Cancers are as a result of the interaction of
genetics, epigenetics and environment of the
individual.
• Cancer is a chronic disease

5. What is cancer?
• Healthy cells: balance between growth and
programmed cell death is tightly regulated
Cancer cells are cells that grow and divide at
an unregulated pace.

6. Environmental and chemical
carcinogens
• People are continuously exposed exogenously to
varying amounts of chemicals that have been shown to
have carcinogenic or mutagenic properties.
• In the case of a solid tumour there is a 20-40 year
interval from the time of exposure of an individual to a
chemical or viral carcinogen until the clinical detection
of a tumour.
• By the time a tumour is apparent, cancer cells have
aquired the ability to divide where normal cells ought
not, to invade adjacent cellular architectures, to
metastasize and to kill the host.

7. Cancer is a preventable disease
• Only 5-10 % of all cancer cases can be attributed
to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90-
95% have their roots in the environment and
lifestyle.
• The lifestyle factors include smoking, diet,
alcohol, obesity, infectious agents, environmental
pollutants and radiation
• Of all cancer-related deaths; 25-30% are due to
tobacco, 30-35% diet, 15-20% infections, 10-20%
obesity, 4-6% alcohol, 10-15% others, which
includes environmental and radiation.

8. Good news we are in control
World Cancer Research Fund: high fruit and vegetable intake may
reduce cancer incidence by 40- 64 %
US National Research Council: high fruit and vegetable intake may
reduce US cancer rates and mortality by 1/3, roughly equivalent to
the reduction in mortality from infectious diseases brought about
by improved hygiene and better healthcare during the 19th century
In the November 2010 issue of Nutrition and cancer, a study
indicated that women who consumed a greater amount of
vegetables and seafood were 86% less likely to be diagnosed with
breast cancer

9. Good news we are in control
• Newest Research:
through good nutrition we can also improve
survival rates of people with some cancers by
calming down the genes responsible for
cancer growth!
(Ornish et al. 2005, Ornish et al. 2008, Saxe et al. 2006)

10. Support goals
Primary goals
• Support tumourcidal effects of treatment
• Reduce side effects of treatments
• Support overall wellness
Secondary goals
• Support immunity
• Reduce tumour promoting factors
• Inhibit metastasis and tumour progression
• Promote appropriate apoptosis

11. How diet can affect cancer

12. Initiation-dietary carcinogens
- aflatoxins (found in mouldy food)
- heterocyclic amines (meat cooked at very high temperatures)
- N-nitroso compounds (in some spoiled foods, protein foods,
cured meat)
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (products of combustion
found in cooked foods, smoked foods and dark beer)
these chemicals can start a cancer process by creating cancer
cells
(World Cancer Research Fund 1997; NRC 1982)

13. Diet-red meat
• Heavy consumption of red meat is a risk factor
for several cancers, especially those of the
gastrointestinal tract, but also for colorectal,
prostate, bladder, breast, gastric, pancreatic and
oral cancers.
• The hetrocyclic amines produced during the
cooking of meat are carcinognic. Charcoal
cooking and/or smoke curing of meat produces
harmful carbon compounds such as pyrolysates
and amino acids which have a strong cancerous
effect.
Anand P et al, Cancer is a preventable disease that requires major
lifestyle changes. 2008

14. Diet: Fats and sugars
• Saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids and
refined sugars and flour present in most foods
have also been associated with various cancers (1)
• Epidemiologic studies suggested a positive
association between dietary fat and colon cancer.
(2)
• Frequent consumption of sugar and high-sugar
foods may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer
by inducing frequent postprandial hyperglycemia,
increasing insulin demand, and decreasing insulin
sensitivity. (3)
(1) Anand P et al, Cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes. 2008
(2) Reddy, B Dietary Fat & Colon cancer. Chemistry & material science vol 27 no 10 807-813
(3) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol 84 No 5 1171-1176 Nov 06

15. © CNM; by Gosia Desmond MA, MBS, BSc
Nut Med Jo Gamble BA (hons) Dip CNM
-
-excess fat - ↑ insulin, ↑ estrogens, ↑ oxidative stress, ↑ inflammation
-excess protein -↑ insulin, ↑ IGF-1,
-excess calories- ↑ insulin, ↑ IGF-1, ↑ oxidative stress, ↑ inflammation
- excess Omega 6 EFA- ↑ oxidative stress, ↑ inflammation
(Becci et al, 1979; Wood et al, 1983; Newberne and Rogers, 1986; Poirier et al, 1986;
Kritchevsky and Klurfeld, 1987; Pariza, 1987; Sawada et al, 1990; Birt et al, 1992; Newmark and
Lipkin, 1992; Wattenberg, 1992; Yuspa, 1994; Heber et al. 2006 )
Dietary Tumour Promoters:

16. © CNM; by Gosia Desmond MA, MBS, BSc
Nut Med Jo Gamble BA (hons) Dip CNM
-
- insulin- promotes cancer cell proliferation and decreases
apoptosis
- estrogens- induces cancer cell proliferation
- oxidative stress- can act as cancer initiator and promoter
- inflammation- strong association between chronic inflammation
and cancer (mechanisms: promoting proliferation of cancer cells,
formation of cancer blood vessels?-not entirely understood)
- IGF-1- potent growth factor for many cancer lines
(Heber et al 2006)
Metabolic Tumour Promoters:

17. Colon Cancer Risk-increases by 10% if you drink 1
glass of wine daily
Colon Cancer Risk-increases by 25% if you drink 2
glasses of wine or 1 pint of beer daily
Drinking as little as one pint of beer or one large glass of wine a day
increases risk of breast cancer by more than 7%.
Mouth, Oesophagus, Larynx, Throat Cancer-↑ 168% risk with 1 glass of
wine/d
(World Cancer Research Fund 2007; Riboli et al 2002; American Cancer Society 2007; Cancer
Research UK 2009a)
Alcohol

18. Obesity/Excess Body Fat and
Cancer

19. Convincing Evidence Colon, Prostate, Breast
Endometrial, Kidney, Esophageal
Ovary, Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma,
Leukemia, Multiple myeloma ,
Pancreas, Oesophagus ,
Possible Gallbladder
Increase in Risk Cancer Associated with Obesity
(Source: National Cancer Policy Board 2003; Pan et al 2004)

20. consumption of milk increases blood levels of IGF-1, which
has been associated with increased prostate and breast
cancer risk
Dairy and Cancer-Possible Mechanisms
(Chan et al. 1998)

22. © CNM; by Gosia Desmond MA, MBS, BSc
Nut Med Jo Gamble BA (hons) Dip CNM
-folic acid (reducing likelihood of DNA damage)
-antioxidants (preventing oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, which
compound DNA damage in tumor promotion)
-phytochemicals (various mechanisms)
- low-fat plant-based diet (various mechanisms, see above)
(World Cancer Resarch Fund 1997, Wattenberg 1985)
© Gosia Desmond MA, MBS, BSc Nut Med
Tumour Anti- Promoters:

23. © CNM; by Gosia Desmond MA, MBS, BSc
Nut Med Jo Gamble BA (hons) Dip CNM
Promotion-Protection
estrogens;
Insulin
growth factors (IGF-1)
inflammation
downregulation of oncogenes
upregulation of tumour
suppressor genes
(World Cancer Research Fund 2007; Heber 2006; Ornish et al 2008; Saxe 2006)
low fat; high fibre
adequate protein
adequate calories
whole plant foods
O6: O3 ratio 2:1
Physical activity

24. immune
stimulants
Phytonutrients
act as
antiproliferative
agents
antioxidants
promote synthesis of
detoxification enzymes
(Omenn 1995; Talalay et al 1995; Wattenberg 1970; Engwerda et al 2001; Zawa and Duve 1997; Fotsis
et al 1993)
angiogenesis
inhibitors

25. Phytonutrients
• new evidence: official guidelines –’5 a day’
is not enough!!!
• US National Cancer Institute: five is just the
bare minimum.
• men-at least 9 servings
• women –at least 7 servings
• children-at least 5 servings

26. -onions
-kale
-grape
-citrus fruit
-apple
-pear
-powerful inhibitors of many cancers including
human breast cancer cells
(So et al 1996; Guthrie and Carroll 1998)
Phytonutrients –Flavonoids:

27. broccoli,
brussel sprouts,
cabbage,
cauliflower,
Chinese cabbage,
cress,
daikon,
kale
kohlrabi
turnip
potent carcinogen detoxifiers –inducers of detoxification enzymes
(Zhang and Callaway 2002)
Phytonutrients –Flavonoids:

28. Other anticancer substances:
-sulphur compounds of garlic (tumour growth inhibition;
cancer formation inhibition)
-folic acid (fruits and vegetables; DNA protection)
-beta sitosterol (fruits and vegetables; tumour growth
inhibition)
(Fleischauer and Arab 2001; Awad et al 1996; Duthie 1999)
Other anti-cancer nutrients:

29. stimulates
immune
response
Low fat plant
based diet
lowers IGF-1
full of
antioxidants
promotes synthesis of
detoxification enzymes
lowers insulin
lowers estrogens
lowers AGE,
oxidative damage
minimizes
carcinogen exposure
low in Omega 6
creates powerful
anti-cancer
environment
Low Fat Vegan Diet Full of Unprocessed Plants

30. Balancing Your Plate
Divide your plate into 3 sections:
50% is vegetables, salad
25% is mixed whole grains or starch
25% is protein source – poultry, fish, beans, soy
products
Protein
Whole
grains
Veggies

31. Lifestyle Change is a Journey
It takes 45 days to change a habit
or incorporate a new one
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Live your life as if your health depends on it…
because it does!

32. What are the main components of
a wellness diet?
• Water 2 liters of hydrating fluid daily
• Well balanced macro nutrients throughout the
day
• High levels of micro nutrients
• Avoidance of anti-nutrients

33. Macro nutrients
• Complex carbohydrates
• Protein
• Essential fats

34. Complex carbohydrates
• Whole meal bread
• Whole meal pasta
• Brown rice
• Oats
• Beans and lentils
• Root vegetables

35. Protein
• Eggs
• Fish
• Poultry
• Meat
• Beans and lentils
• Nuts and seeds
• Tofu
• Quinoa

36. Essential fats
• Oily fish
• Nuts and seeds
• Avocados
• Cold pressed oils
• Olives

37. Anti-oxidants
• Have been studied individually and collectively
for their potential to enhance physical
performance.
• Prevent exercise induced muscle tissue
damage
• Fight against chronic diseases such as cancer,
cardio-vascular disease, strokes

38. Hydrating fluid
2 litres of hydrating fluid each day:
* Water
* Herbal tea
Avoid dehydrating fluids
* tea/coffee
* Alcohol
* fizzy drinks

39. Avoid anti-nutrients
• Aspartame
• Trans fats
• Refined carbohydrate
• Processed foods
• Sugar

40. "The wise man should consider that health is the
greatest of human blessings. Let food be your
medicine." - Hippocrates

41. Jo Gamble BA (hons) Dip CNM mBANT