Cancer Risks - What 's NOT on your plate matters more

Tanya Zilberter. PhD

Epidemiological studies have not supported some of the popular hypotheses concerning life style and cancer

The fact bits are based on the materials of Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Food and Cancer Prevention , Ede, The Netherlands

"FOODS MAY PROVIDE THE OPTIMAL MIX OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND THE BEST POLYPHARMACY AGAINST THE EMERGENCE OF MALIGNANT CLONES." (Cancer Lett, 114(1-2):1-341 1997).

Fiber? Fasting?

• 
  Wheat bran compared to cellulose is a better cancer protector. Most effective it is in combination with 30% energy restriction diet, decreasing the colon cancer incidence to 58%
  
• Epidemiological studies have not supported some of the popular hypotheses concerning life style and cancer
• 
  High fat diet does not increase risk for breast cancer. There is no higher risk of many cancers if you drink coffee or use artificial sweeteners

Calorie quantities Children who overeat and exercise too little are at higher risk of cancers, especially of the breast and prostate ones

Obesity again Obesity in adult life is an important cause of cancers of endometrium, breast, colon, kidney and gallbladder

Two drinks a day... Although modest drinking does seem to reduce the risk of heart disease, drinking that little causes higher risks of breast, colon and rectal cancers

...or more: Large quantities of alcohol, especially in smokers, increase risks of cancer of upper respiratory and digestive tracts, as well as liver cancer

What is NOT in a diet

Skimping on vegetables and fruits is a significant contributor to many different kinds of cancer for reasons that are not completely known

"White Death" and hot drinks

Salt appears to be a significant contributor to stomach and pharyngeal cancers. So do too hot beverages

How about electromagnetic danger?

It seems that these fields have to be a million times more energetic before they can cause a cancer-inducing genetic mutation. Epidemiological link between power lines and leukemia most probably is due to socio-economic reasons characteristic for the inhabitants

Aftermath

60% of all cancer deaths in the US are due to diet
30% smoking
3% alcohol
3% sedentary life style
2% radiation, mostly from natural sources
1% food additives, mostly salt