There is no doubt that cancer has become a common household topic. As with so many other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, diet plays a large role in the prevention of cancer. Research consistently points to a healthy diet, including certain foods and food groups, as key to lowering cancer risk in young and old alike.
If lowering your risk of cancer is a high priority, a good resource is the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Our partners at the AICR regularly provide research updates and lifestyle tips to help you and your family minimize your risk and navigate a cancer diagnosis.
The first step in reducing your risk of cancer and many lifestyle diseases is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise. Studies continually point to a healthy lifestyle as the best preventative medicine. When it comes to cancer, according to the most current research and AICR, sticking to a mostly plant-based diet is a great strategy. Your diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes and lean protein.
In particular, focus on adding foods like these to your diet to get the most bang for your nutritional buck:
- Dark leafy greens
- Berries
- Garlic
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Flaxseed
- Lentils and similar legumes
Find more foods like these on the AICR website here. Start reducing your cancer risk today with the best food choices at home and eating out.