Vegetarian

Is a mostly vegetarian diet really the best for cancer prevention?

It’s a question we get asked a lot. And the answer is a bit more nuanced than you might think.

First off, you can think of it this way: there are certain foods that feed cancer cells and others that starve them

Obviously you want to be eating more of the foods that starve cancer…and less of the foods that feed them.

Some things that cancer cells love:

  • Sugars
  • Saturated fat
  • Cholesterol
  • Insulin
  • Growth hormones

Based on this list, we can start to see why meat can cause a problem

Saturated fat and cholesterol are both common in meat – especially red meat. When you eat meat your body actually produces more insulin. And on top of that, there are the growth hormones that are released from meat.

The Science of Food & Cancer Prevention

I’ll let our cancer expert & research scientist, Alex Rolland, explain more about the scientific reasons behind what you should be eating and why

The Benefits of Veggies

On the flip side, vegetables contain a type of fibre that’s super helpful in creating a healthy gut microbiome. As I mentioned in a recent email, your gut microbiome plays a big role in preventing cancer! Yogurt and other fibre-heavy foods can help with this, too.

Plants also contain phytochemicals that play a role in regulating the genes involved in cancer. So certain foods – such as cruciferous vegetables, spices, and berries – can even activate tumor suppressor pathways.

This is all to say that, generally speaking, eating more veggies and less meat – particularly less or no red meat – is a very good idea for cancer prevention.

Alex encourages people to include some healthy meat (like lean organic chicken breast) once or twice per week for a balanced diet.

Your Food Choices Need to Work for YOU!

Of course, ultimately, your diet needs to feel right for you and fit with your personal lifestyle needs. Knowing the science behind how certain foods impact cancer can help you make the best choices for you and your loved ones.

At CTOAM, we approach nutrition the same way we approach cancer treatment: using the newest evidence-based medical science and personalizing it for each person

If you’d like to get a customized science-based diet for your specific cancer case, just reply to this email and we’ll get started designing your personalized nutraceutical diet right away.

Until next time, stay safe and eat well.

Published by on September 30, 2020