FAQs - Food and Diet

See also our Frequently asked questions about Exercise and Your Health!

1. General dietary advice for reducing the risk of cancer.
2. What are the links between obesity and cancer?
3. Are there certain foods that will help reduce the likelihood of developing cancer?
4. How might I best increase my fruit and vegetable intake?
5. What should I know about fish consumption and cancer risk?
6. Can garlic help prevent cancer?
7. Does alcohol increase cancer risk?
8. Can red wine help prevent cancer?
9. How does cooking meat affect cancer risk?
10. What are the chronic health effects of drinking contaminated water?
11. Does drinking coffee cause cancer?
12. References

General dietary advice for reducing the risk of cancer:

Eat a diet that is as plant-based as possible (more fruits, vegetables and legumes).

When at all possible, eat organic and antibiotic-free food. This will reduce the level of pesticides and added hormones in your food.

Avoid diets high in fat because they have shown evidence of an increased likelihood of developing cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, and the lining of the uterus (the endometrium).

What are the links between obesity and cancer?

Some studies have reported links between obesity and cancers of the gallbladder, ovaries, and pancreas. Obesity and physical inactivity may account for 25 to 30% of several major cancers-colon, breast (postmenopausal), endometrial, kidney, and cancer of the esophagus.

Are there certain foods that will help reduce the likelihood of developing cancer?

Yes, there are. Some of the best cancer-fighting foods are known as The Baker's Dozen

How might I best increase my fruit and vegetable intake?

There are a lot of good ways to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

What should I know about fish consumption and cancer risk?

Fish can pose considerable health risks when contaminated with substances such as metals (e.g., mercury and lead), industrial chemicals (e.g., PCBs) and pesticides (e.g., DDT and dieldrin). Some of those contaminants have been linked to cancer. People should vary the types of fish they eat to reduce the likelihood of exposure to toxins.

The health benefits / drawbacks of eating fish vary according to the species:

Details can be found at Oceans Alive.

Can garlic help prevent cancer?

A host of studies provide compelling evidence that garlic and its organic allyl sulfur components are effective inhibitors of the cancer process. 28 of 37 observational studies in humans using garlic and related allyl sulfur components showed some cancer preventive effect. The evidence is particularly strong for a link between garlic and prevention of prostate and stomach cancers. Since all of these studies have been observational, these findings have not yet been verified in clinical trials.

Does alcohol increase cancer risk?

Yes.
Alcohol consumption is an established cause of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, and breast. Risk increases substantially with intake of more than 2 drinks per day. Regular consumption of even a few drinks per week has been associated with an increased risk (30-50%) of breast cancer in women.

Alcohol consumption combined with tobacco use increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, larynx, and esophagus far more than either drinking or smoking alone.

In some studies, the role of alcohol abuse in the formation of tumors in the colon has been evaluated and found that it promotes the development of DMH-induced colon cancer.

Women who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and who drink just one drink a day double their chances of developing breast cancer, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Can red wine help prevent cancer?

Possibly.
Although consumption of large amounts of alcoholic beverages may increase the risk of some cancers, there is growing evidence that the health benefits of red wine are related to its nonalcoholic components.

Polyphenols found in red wine have been found to have antioxidant properties. Research on these has shown that they may help inhibit the development of certain cancers.

Recent evidence from animal studies on resveratrol, a type of polyphenol, suggests this anti-inflammatory compound may be an effective chemopreventive agent in three stages of the cancer process: initiation, promotion and progression.

Research studies published in the International Journal of Cancer show that drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half and that the protective effect appears to be strongest against the most aggressive forms of the disease.

How does cooking meat affect cancer risk?

Cooking certain meats at high temperatures creates chemicals that are not present in uncooked meats. Experimental studies have shown that meats cooked at high temperatures contain heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are mutagenic and carcinogenic in animals.

You can reduce your exposure to these chemicals by varying methods of cooking meats; microwaving meats more often, especially before frying, broiling, or barbecuing; and refraining from making gravy from meat drippings. You should also refrain from eating any charred pieces of meat, as these too contain chemicals suspected of being carcinogenic to humans.

What are the chronic health effects of drinking contaminated water?

The drinking water contaminants that can have chronic effects are chemicals (such as disinfection by-products, solvents, and pesticides), radionuclides (such as radium), and minerals (such as arsenic). Examples of the chronic effects of drinking water contaminants are cancer, liver or kidney problems, or reproductive difficulties.

Does drinking coffee cause cancer?

Many studies are currently underway examining the relationship between coffee and cancer development. Some data show that consumption of caffeinated coffee, tea with caffeine, or caffeine was not associated with incidence of colon of rectal cancer, whereas regular consumption of decaffeinated coffee was associated with a reduced incidence of rectal cancer. Other studies have also found that coffee consumption was not associated with breast cancer incidence.

One peer-reviewed publication demonstrated a higher prevalence of coffee drinking among bladder cancer cases than controls. Further investigation is needed on this topic.

References

1. American Cancer Society. 2006. Fact Sheet: Alcohol and Cancer. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
2. American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). n.d. Foods that Fight Cancer. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
3. Chen WY, Colditz GA, Rosner B, Hankinson SE, Hunter DJ, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Speizer FE. 2002. Use of postmenopausal hormones, alcohol, and risk for invasive breast cancer. Annals of Internal Medicine 137(10): 798-804.
4. D'Avanzo B, LaVecchia C, Franceschi S, Negri E, Talamini R, Buttino I. 1992. Coffee consumption and bladder cancer risk. European Journal of Cancer 28(8-9): 1480-4.
5. Hayashi N, Tsutsumi M, Fukura M, Yano H, Tsuchishima M, Takase S. 2007. Effect of chronic dietary ethanol consumption on colonic cancer in rats induced by 1,1-dimethylhydrazine. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 31(s1): S72-6.
6. James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute. 2000. Prostate cancer and diet. Prostate Cancer Update, V.
7. Michels KB, Holmberg L, Bergkvist L, Wolk A. 2002. Coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and breast cancer incidence in a cohort of Swedish women. Annals of Epidemiology 12(1): 21-6.
8. Michels KB, Willett WC, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci E. 2005. Coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and incidence of colon and rectal cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 97(4): 282-92.
9. National Cancer Institute. 2004 Mar. 16. Obesity and Cancer: Questions and Answers. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
10. National Cancer Institute. 2004 Sep. 15. Heterocyclic Amines in Cooked Meats. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
11. National Cancer Institute. 2002 Dec. 6. Tea and Cancer Prevention. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
12. National Cancer Institute. 2002 Nov. 27. Garlic and Cancer Prevention. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
13. National Cancer Institute. 2002 Nov. 27. Red Wine and Cancer Prevention. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
14. Oceans Alive. Environmental Defense Network. 2005. Best & Worst Seafood Choices. Accessed 2007 10/15/2007.
15. Petaschnick J. 2006 May 11. Good News: Diet can Help Prevent Cancer. Healthlink, Medical College of Wisconsin. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
16. Tavani A, Pregnolato A, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Talamini R, Franceschi S. 1997. Coffee and tea intake and risk of cancers of the colon and rectum: A study of 3,530 cases and 7,057 controls. International Journal of Cancer. 73(2): 193-7.
17. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2007 Sep. 12. What are the Health Effects of Contaminants in Drinking Water?. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.
18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. 2006 July 12. Safe Handling of Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices. Accessed 2007 Oct. 23.
19. World Health Organization. 2006 Feb. Fact Sheets: Cancer. Accessed 2007 Oct. 15.

To inquire about Center for Environmental Oncology activities, please send an e-mail to envonc@upmc.edu or call 412-623-3375.