How does diet affect cancer risk?
Several dietary factors may affect cancer risk. Type of food is one factor. Diets that include plenty of plant foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans, which are rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals and other phytochemicals, may reduce risk for some types of cancer. In addition, some studies have linked a diet high in animal products such as red meat with an increase in cancer of the colon and prostate. Obesity is another risk factor for cancer that is affected by diet. Consuming more calories than you need can lead to obesity. Physical activity has a doubled impact here — it not only helps reduce the risk for obesity, it also independently helps reduce the risk for developing certain cancers. Cooking certain meats at high temperatures creates chemicals such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that are not present in uncooked meats. These chemicals may increase the risk for cancer. Researchers have identified 17 different HCAs that form when amino acids, the building b
