| "It would seem, therefore, that the majority of | | | | diets, would do more than medicine will ever do |
| human cancer is potentially preventible."-The | | | | by intervention to lower the cancer rate." (Target: |
| Causes of Cancer. | | | | Cancer) In that case, what foods can help stave |
| "A patient's life-style and willingness to participate | | | | off cancer? |
| in the healing process can significantly affect the | | | | One government health agency recommends that |
| course of his or her health."-Holistic Medicine. | | | | your diet should provide at least 25-35 grams |
| HOW can cancer be beaten? We are going to | | | | (about one ounce) of natural fiber a day. This |
| examine what is being done to cure the disease | | | | helps to keep the intestines naturally cleaned. But |
| or to fend off its ravages. However, an adage | | | | how do you get fiber in your food? Eat plenty of |
| says that prevention is better than cure. So let us | | | | fruits, vegetables, peas, beans, and whole-grain |
| first consider the possibilities of prevention through | | | | bread and cereals. Eat foods such as potatoes, |
| diet. | | | | apples, pears, and peaches with their skins on. |
| Can Diet Make a Difference? | | | | Vegetables from the cabbage family may also |
| Is it possible that some of the food we eat could | | | | reduce risk of colon cancer. |
| trigger cancer? The book Malignant Neglect states: | | | | Another recommendation is to avoid animal fats. |
| "The high rates of colon and breast cancer in the | | | | Poultry and fish are recommended over red |
| United States have been attributed in good part | | | | meat. If you do choose meat, then make sure it |
| to diet." So, what you eat over the years can | | | | has little fat on it or in it. Choose low-fat or |
| influence the possibilities of a cancer being initiated. | | | | skim-milk dairy products. Include foods that |
| Thus the person interested in good health should | | | | contain vitamins A and C, such as the dark green |
| be discriminating in what he or she eats and | | | | leafy vegetables-broccoli, kale, spinach, chicory, |
| drinks. | | | | watercress, beets, and even dandelion greens! |
| Diet also includes the liquid intake. Since alcohol | | | | Another good food color revealing vitamins A and |
| abuse can lead to various cancers, the obvious | | | | C is yellow-orange: vegetables-carrots, sweet |
| counsel is to drink only in moderation. But what do | | | | potatoes, pumpkins, squash; |
| the doctors consider to be "moderation"? The | | | | fruits-apricots, cantaloupes, papayas, |
| answer may surprise many who believe they are | | | | peaches, pineapples, and melons, to name just a |
| moderate drinkers: "Two or fewer drinks a day, | | | | few. |
| especially if you smoke." (Diet, Nutrition & Cancer | | | | Diet, Nutrition & Cancer Prevention also states: |
| Prevention) By this definition, if you take more | | | | "The evidence is growing that eating too much |
| than two drinks a day, in this cancer-prevention | | | | fat (both saturated and unsaturated) may |
| context, you are no longer moderate. | | | | increase your chances of getting cancers of the |
| The vital point is that we can do something about | | | | colon, breast, prostate, and endometrium [lining of |
| cancer if we individually take preventive action. | | | | the uterus]." Then what is the conclusion? That |
| But what is needed for preventive measures to | | | | your diet can make a difference in many cancers. |
| have an impact on the public? Cancer surgeon | | | | What other products should we avoid if we want |
| Blake Cady put it bluntly: "A public education | | | | to minimize the risk of cancer? Although this may |
| program that would. . . wean people off high-fat | | | | not be a popular recommendation with some, we |
| meats toward lower fat, toward lower-cholesterol | | | | have to examine the role of tobacco. |