Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

In 2007, 7.6 million people died from cancer worldwide, but a new study by World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research reveals better diets, more exercise and controlling weight is enough to stifle global cancer rates. Calling cancer “mostly preventable” researchers found 43% of colon and 42% of breast cancer in the U.K., 45% of bowel and 38% of breast cancer in the U.S., and other cancers, like prostate and pancreas, could be avoided with healthier lifestyles and diets consisting of more fruits and vegetables and less meat and dairy; Reuters reports

No real shocker here. Foods high in saturated fat, i.e. meat and dairy, are constantly being linked to cancer, like adenocarcinomas and carcinoid tumors in the small intestine, disease progression after prostate cancer surgery, and dioxin, a toxic compound found butter and cheese, is a prominent risk-factor for cancer. So don’t be like this dope and ignore everything and only eat bacon for a month!

Now, flip the script for a second, fruits and vegetables have the opposite effect on cancer. Recently, research determined sulforaphane, a chemical found in green veggies like broccoli, induces enzymes that protect against cancer and eating 28 servings of vegetables a week can cut the risk of prostate cancer by 33%. And fruits, like pomegranates, are packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants.

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Vitamin D supplements may reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition causing the immune system to attack the central nervous system. Disease onset occurs in young adults and affects 350,000 people in the United States, but new findings in the journal PLoS Genetics reveal giving infants vitamin D may “switch on” certain genes and lower overall risk of multiple sclerosis; NutraIngredients reports.

Our bodies convert ultraviolet rays from the sun into vitamin D and vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium, leading to stronger bones and less risk of osteoporosis. And getting sufficient vitamin D has been linked to lower risk of prostate cancer and hypertension.

Actually in 2006, Harvard researchers also determined higher levels of vitamin D may protect against multiple sclerosis.

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Turns out that big greasy steak is not so manly after all! New research in the American Journal of Pathology claims lower cholesterol levels may inhibit the growth of prostate tumors. To examine the connection, researchers fed mice a high-fat diet as well as the cholesterol-lowering drug Zetia, which blocks the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine, and data revealed reducing cholesterol may halt tumor angiogenesis, i.e. new blood vessel growth associated with tumors; via EurekAlert!

Actually, in July scientists determined men who eat lots of burgers, steak and cheese—all loaded with cholesterol-raising saturated fat—were nearly twice as likely to experience prostate cancer progression and another study found mice eating less fat were 27% less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Now, all this is no reason to go on Zetia. Zetia has not been shown to reduce heart attacks and strokes. In stead, eat fruits and vegetables. Veggies knock out prostate cancer, heart attack, stroke and more!

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Heart disease is the number one killer in the United Kingdom, accounting for 1 in 3 deaths, prompting the nation’s Food Standards Agency to launch an advertising campaign encouraging citizens to consume less saturated fat. The new health initiative will focus on moms and women ages 45 to 60, and include posters, digital marketing and television and press ads. Currently, adults in the U.K. eat 20% more than the recommended maximum levels of saturated fat, too much butter, chips and cheese; FoodNavigator explains.

Dr. Fuhrman recommends avoiding saturated fat. It raises cholesterol, causing heart disease. In this video, this poor guy ate a diet mostly compromised of saturated fat, a lot of ghee, clarified butter, and without emergency surgery he would have died.

And don’t forget, saturated fat has also been linked to cancer, such as prostate, ovarian and small intestine cancer.

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Pancreatic cancer is a killer. But veggies kill back! New findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows glucosinolates, a phytochemical found in broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and other green vegetables, help fight pancreatic cancer. Our bodies metabolize glucosinolates into isothiocyanates. And exposing cancer cells to benzyl isothiocyanate kills them by reducing STAT-3 protein, which promotes the survival and rapid reproduction of cancer cells; Nutraingredients explains.

Green vegetables are prime cancer-fighters. The phytochemicals in foods like kale, bok choy, collard greens, arugala, and watercress halt the growth of breast cancer, inhibit the progression of lung cancer, cut the risk of colon cancer and phytonutrients also prevent toxins from damaging our DNA.

And in July, a report came out showing isothiocyanates help protect against prostate cancer too.

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Last spring, researchers determined lowering cholesterol cuts risk of prostate cancer. And now, a new study in Urology claims a diet rich in vegetable protein and low in saturated fat, dairy products and animal protein, boosts prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biological marker for prostate cancer, resulting in slower PSA-doubling time and better quality of life. Scientists examined 36 men with prostate cancer, placing some of them on a vegetable-based diet, resulting in these men reporting more indicators of increased quality of life; Reuters reports.

Fruits and vegetables are serious cancer fighters! Eating foods like watermelon, tomatoes, pomegranate, green vegetables, red peppers and berries halt the development of prostate cancer, unlike saturated fat which increases prostate cancer risk.

Oh, and Dr. Fuhrman points out that PSA testing does not accurately detect prostate cancer if you are over 60 years old. So start eating veggies now!

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