|
|
CANCERS AND NUTRITION Introduction Cancer develops when certain body cells grow uncontrollably. Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly, systematic way. In an adult stage body, while most body cells divide to replace dying cells and to repair injuries, cancer cells continue to grow and divide instead of dying. They continue to live and to form new abnormal cells. There are many kinds of cancers, but they all start the same way, by out-of control growth of abnormal cells (“What is Cancer?”). According to “Eating Right to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Cancer,” cancer is the second leading cause of death; one in every four deaths in the United States is from cancer. However, by eating nutritious food, you can reduce your risk of developing cancer (“Eating Right to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Cancer”). Nutrition and physical activity both play major roles in the prevention of cancers. This paper will focus on how to prevent risk of cancers by monitoring nutrition intake and physical activity. Background There are both controllable and uncontrollable risk factors that cause cancers. Some uncontrollable factors include genetic and inherited components, like a family history of breast cancer and immune system disorders. A body’s immune factor refers to the natural ability to protect from foreign cells developing in the body. Examples of immune risk factors are aging and infection (including HIV infection). Environmental factors which are known to cause various cancers consist of exposure to radiation and sun, water, and air pollution. (Whitney 618). Some of these may be controllable. Controllable factors causing cancers include the excessive use of alcohol, use of tobacco, too much use of tanning beds, and over-exposure to sun. Lack of physical activity and bad nutrition also can raise the risk of cancers (Whitney 618). Let us look at some of bad nutrition that will cause the various cancers? Bad nutrition Fatty acids - Fatty acids can promote cancers. More specifically, linoleic acid and the omega-6 fatty acid of vegetable oils enhance cancer development in some animals (Whiney 618). Dietary fat and Consumption of Red Meat - High-fat diets have been associated with increase in the risk of cancers of the colon and rectum, prostate, and endometrium. Dietary fat may be high risk, determined by the total amount of fat, the particular type of fat (saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated), the calories contributed by fat, or some other factors associated with high-fat foods.
|
