Your Diet Can Reduce Cancer Risk

Did you know that your diet can help reduce your cancer risk?  There is no single magic bullet, but rather a combination of foods working together that helps lower your risk.  The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) stated that when it comes to cancer risk, diet does matter.

They suggest eating an overall healthy diet that will not only protect against cancer, but also cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.  Evidence supports that your diet plays an important role in some types of cancer than in others.  Below are some suggestions of healthy foods to include in your diet:

• Diets high in whole grains and other foods containing fiber protect against colorectal cancer.
• Diets high in carrots, squash, and other foods containing carotenoids reduce the risk of mouth, pharynx, and larynx cancers.
• Diets high in non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuces, and beans protect against esophageal cancer.
• Cutting processed meat out of the diet, and moderating red meat intake to no more than 18 ounces (cooked) per week, reduces colorectal cancer.
• Foods high in vitamin C probably lower the risk of esophageal cancer.
• Foods high in lycopene probably lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Reference:  Health & Nutrition Letter, Tufts University, September 2014, Best Food Choices to Reduce Your Cancer Risk, p.1.

Should I Try A Detox Diet?

Detox cleanses seem to be all the rage these days, but are they really necessary?  Simply put, no.  To further explain, there has been no evidence to support that these diets provide any detoxification effects.  Remember, we as humans already have a wonderful organ that does this for us, our liver.  

Another thing to touch upon is that the popular juice diets that supposedly cleanse the body are extremely low in calories and nutrients, in which case could contribute to muscle wasting.  And, consuming only liquids that are very low in calories can lead to light headedness, low energy, and an inability to concentrate.  Lastly,  after following a detox diet for a few days will most likely cause you to be so hungry that you rebound and overeat.

The bottom line here is that if you are interested in naturally detoxing your body start by including more fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet, drinking more plain water, and cutting out processed foods.  You will then see how much better your body feels.


Reference:  Fooducate.com, Pro Tip: "Should I Invest in a Detox Cleanse?", August 18, 2014.

Welcome to our "Food for Thought" Blog! 

We are excited to share nutritional information, tips and motivational topics here and we encourage everyone to share their experiences as well to help others along their weight loss journey!

Here's some Monday Morning Motivation:

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” ~Michael Jordan