Healthy Lifestyle

From soybean to spring onions to green tea, research has pointed out the powerful role food and beverages play in cancer. Driving home that point is research in medical journals such as the Haematology/ Oncology Clinics of North America, which indicate that between 35 and 50 per cent of colorectal cancers could have been prevented by proper nutrition.

“With an understanding of this relationship, healthcare givers should try to incorporate diet counselling in the management of cancer survivors,” said Ms Chang Yok Ying — a senior pharmacist with the National Cancer Centre Singapore.

Different foods have been found to have various effects on the body.

Soybean
Recent findings have found that a compound called genistein in soy may actually promote the growth of some estrogen-sensitive tumours and even reduce the efficacy of a widely-used oral medicine for breast cancer treatments called tamoxifen.

“However, additional studies are needed to determine who will or won’t benefit from dietary intervention strategies using soy,” Ms Chang said.

Carbonated beverages
Some researchers found that carbonated soft drinks may raise the risk of cancer of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth and the stomach).

Carbonated drinks contain carbonic acid. Chronic intake of these drinks will make the stomach content more acidic.

Patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease are known to have a higher risk of developing
esophageal cancer because the wall of the esophagus is thinner than the stomach wall. Hence, they become prone to ulcer formation when corroded by the acidic content of the stomach during reflux.

“(Consequently), these ulcers may develop into cancerous lesions,” said Ms Chang. So even while there may not be any clinical trials to confirm this, there is a logical link between carbonated drinks and esophageal cancer, she added.

Garlic, spring onions and leek
The same compounds responsible for this category of vegetables’ pungent smell and flavour possess anti-cancer properties. However, when they are cooked, the nutrients are lost, said Ms Chang.

Fast food
Fast food is usually deep-fried. As a result, these foods have trans-fats (which clog arteries and raise “bad” cholesterol levels) and free radicals (that damage otherwise healthy cells in your body). This is believed to increase the risk of cancer.

Additionally, acrylamide is formed when proteins or carbohydrates are baked, grilled or fried. Acrylamide is believed to be carcinogenic (cancer causing).

Green tea
In a new study, a major antioxidant-like compound in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate, inhibited the growth and reproduction of esophageal cancer cells. This was reported by researchers at Harvard Medical School and V A Boston Healthcare System.

“Meanwhile, studies investigating green tea consumption and the risk for colorectal cancer showed varying results,” said Ms Chang. In other words, there was no conclusive result as some tests showed a co-relation
between green tea consumption and a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Other tests have indicated otherwise.

A word of caution though — excessive intake of green tea by someone who has a blood clotting disorder or someone who consumes the drug warfarin, may increase the risk of bleeding.

Barbecued and processed meat
Fancy barbecuing your meat? Maybe it’s not such a good idea after all.

“Charred protein present in barbecued meat contains a compound called benzyne — known to be carcinogenic,” said Ms Chang. Processed meat may not be a good alternative either.

Three months ago, Reuters reported that a diet containing lots of processed meat such as sausages and hot dogs raises the risk of pancreatic cancer. This result was based on a seven-year, multi-ethnic survey involving 190,545 people.

The researchers found that those who ate more processed meat — 40 grams a day or more — were 67-per-cent more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than those with a lower intake.

How you can help it …
So, what should you do to ensure your diet will keep cancer at bay?

Ms Chang noted that scientific discovery usually starts with observatory studies, followed by laboratory studies. The findings are then confirmed by human clinical trials.

So even while much of this information is interesting, research is still in the pre-clinical stage.

“(But even then), one would do well to pay heed to trends exhibited in these preclinical studies and to avoid intake of food items that have been proven to increase the risk of carcinogenesis (cancer-causing
agents),” Ms Chang said.