Introduction
Eating healthy is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. A new study has found that certain eating habits can significantly lower your risk of developing cancer. The study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, looked at the eating habits of over 1,000 people and found that those who ate certain foods were less likely to develop cancer. The study found that eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins was associated with a lower risk of cancer. Additionally, avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks, and fried foods was associated with a lower risk of cancer. This article will discuss the best eating habits to lower your cancer risk, as well as what foods to eat and what to avoid.
The Best Eating Habit to Lower Your Cancer Risk, New Study Says — Eat This Not That
A new study published in the journal Cancer Research has found that certain eating habits can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer. The study looked at the diets of over 1,000 people and found that those who ate a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in processed meats, had a lower risk of developing cancer.
The study found that the best eating habits to lower your cancer risk include eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Eating a diet low in processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, and sausage, was also associated with a lower risk of cancer. Additionally, the study found that eating a diet high in fiber, such as beans, lentils, and oats, was associated with a lower risk of cancer.
The study also found that eating a diet high in plant-based proteins, such as nuts, seeds, and tofu, was associated with a lower risk of cancer. Eating a diet low in red and processed meats, such as beef, pork, and lamb, was also associated with a lower risk of cancer.
The study concluded that following a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in processed meats, is associated with a lower risk of cancer. Eating a diet high in plant-based proteins, such as nuts, seeds, and tofu, and low in red and processed meats, such as beef, pork, and lamb, is also associated with a lower risk of cancer.
These findings suggest that following a healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in processed meats, is an important step in reducing your risk of developing cancer.
While there are certain foods that can potentially cause cancer as well as foods that you should avoid if cancer runs in your family, it now turns out that eating a diet that’s low in meat or a diet that’s totally meat-free can lower the risk of cancer, according to a recent study that was published in the BMC Medicine journal.
Researchers from the University of Oxford took a look at data that was collected from 2006 to 2010 by the UK Biobank. The information came from over 472,000 adults who were between the ages of 40 and 70 years old at the time.
While noting how many participants ate meat and fish, the researchers compared that with instances of cancer while also taking various other health and lifestyle factors into consideration. They found that eating meat five times a week or less frequently resulted in a lower risk of cancer.
As EurekAlert! notes, “the overall cancer risk was 2% lower among those who ate meat five times or less per week, 10% lower among those who ate fish but not meat, and 14% lower among vegetarians and vegans, compared to those who ate meat more than five times per week.”
“There is substantial evidence that has been collected over the years supporting that a low-meat or meat-free diet reduces the overall risk of not only cancer but of heart disease, diabetes, and other comorbidities,” Marissa Perrotta RDN, owner of Plantable Nutrition & Wellness, tells Eat This, Not That!.
“Meat contains certain carcinogens that may increase your risk of cancer,” Perrotta notes while saying that, “in general, meat and animal products are higher in saturated fat and cholesterol,” so “when meat is the main focus of a diet, the risk of heart disease and other health-associated risks are increased. While a diet high in meat and animal products is not the cause of cancer, it may increase the risk if you have any family history of cancer and underlying comorbidities.”
If you reduce the amount of meat in your diet, you’re also likely consuming more plant-based meals.
“A diet that’s rich in plants (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes) is associated with lower risks of cancer and comorbidities because plants contain a variety of antioxidants and phytochemicals that help protect you from free radicals (agents that increase cancer risk),” Perrotta says.
To find out more about why you might want to eat less meat, be sure to read 6 Reasons You Should Stop Eating Meat Right Now.
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