Diet and Your Cancer Risk
Many of us are aware that diet plays a multitude of roles in the development of cancer. But did you know that what you don’t eat is as important as what you do eat? Through our diets, we can be exposed to substances that initiate cancer (carcinogens), or to substances that either enhance or inhibit the growth of the cancerous cells. This includes factors that influence our immune system as well as those that have a direct effect on cancer cells. Here are some of the dietary factors related to cancer.
Initiate Cancer:
- Bad fats such as saturated fat and trans–fat found in partially hydrogenated oils.
- Alcohol.
Cancer-protective:
- Vegetables and fruit.
- Good fats like olive oil and food sources of Omega-3 fats (found in fish, walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed).
- Soybeans and foods made from soy.