A Look at the Power of Plants Can a Vegan Diet Prevent Cancer?
One of the pillars of holistic health is the idea that food is nature’s medicine. But while no one is arguing the fact that fruits and vegetables are good for you, there is plenty of debate about just how good they are. Can the right diet cure a cold? Counteract the flu? Prevent cancer? Many vegans, vegetarians, and other plant- based eaters say yes. The cancer question has been on the minds of an increasing number of researchers in the last 30 years. Because cancer afflicts roughly 38% of the U.S. population, it’s an urgent problem and an ever-fluctuating area of study. However, in the last decade, scientists have reached a tentative consensus on the impact of diet on cancer prevention, and it’s a feather in the cap of holistic health. First, let’s get this straight: Going vegan isn’t a surefire way to prevent cancer, and it certainly can’t cure it. But studies do show that sticking to a plant-based diet — and specifically cutting out meat — lowers your risk of cancer. According to Lindsey Wohlford, a dietitian with the
MD Anderson Cancer Center, this is in part because plant-based foods contain phytochemicals, which boost the immune system. Plant-based foods also a great source of fiber, which lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and helps regulate the bowels. As she put it, “Meat just doesn’t do that.” A comprehensive study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that dietary factors are estimated to be responsible for 35% of all cancer cases, and that most studies have found vegetarian diets are “modestly cancer protective,” reducing risk by 10–12%. Studies also link red and processed meats to eight different cancer types and claim the risks meat poses are amplified when it’s fried, grilled, or barbecued. According to the studies, these processes form potentially carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines. The American Institute of Cancer Research recommends a plant-based diet for cancer prevention but doesn’t ask Americans to ditch meat and dairy entirely.
Instead, the website claims that as long as you stick to “moderate to small” amounts of animal-based foods, you can have your meat and decrease your cancer risk too.
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