by The popularity of plant-based foods is increasing – there’s no doubt about it. In the US, research in 2020 found that about 23 percent of US consumers have previously made meat products vegan. And in the same year, another report found that a whopping 94 percent of Americans are willing to increase their consumption of plant-based foods.
Many of these people are driven by environmental concerns (animal agriculture is a major driver of emissions and deforestation), and some are concerned about animal welfare (billions of animals are farmed around the world). But others are increasing their intake of plant-based foods for their potential health benefits.
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Many believe that following a diet based mostly on whole foods can reduce the risk of developing diseases, including certain types of cancer. And there is certainly a growing body of research that supports this idea. But, it is important to note, food is not a cure for cancer. And there is no guarantee that just because you eat a certain way, you will not develop cancer. That said, Australian dietitian and food and nutrition doctor Shy Vishnumohan, Ph.D., told VegNews that a plant-based diet can be a “valuable component” in reducing the risk of some types of cancer. reduce development.
“Switching to a plant-based diet can be a wise choice to reduce the risk of certain cancers,” she explained. “However it is important to remember that multiple factors contribute to cancer risk, including genetics, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors.”
“It’s just one part of a bigger picture of health. Life is like a deck of cards – while there is no magic bullet that will ensure 100 percent immunity, making healthy plant-based food choices can be powerful and stack the deck in our favor,” said Vishnumohan.
But what cancers might be affected by following a plant-based diet? We looked at some of the research, and three types come up consistently: prostate, colorectal and breast. Here, we take a closer look at some of the studies on each.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system that produces seminal fluid for sperm. According to the American Cancer Society, current research suggests that approximately one in eight men with male reproductive systems will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. On average, this diagnosis occurs around 66 years of age.
Again, at the moment, there is no way to completely guarantee the prevention of prostate cancer, but in general, research suggests that exercise and following a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables (such as whole food, plant- established) help to reduce the. risk.
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One study, published in Journal of Urology in the year 2021, examined more than 47,200 men for up to 28 years and found that a higher consumption of plant-based foods was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in men with male reproductive systems under the age of 65. However, less than one percent of the study participants followed a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, so the researchers were unable to assess the risk for those who ate zero animal products.
Another study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2022, it was found that regular consumption of cow’s milk could lead to a 60 percent higher risk of prostate cancer. According to the researchers, who evaluated more than 28,700 Seventh Day Adventists for five years for the study, this could be because prostate cancer is responsible for hormones, and, of course, there are hormones in cow’s milk.
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Although lead investigator Gary Fraser noted that more research is needed to establish a definitive link between dairy consumption and increased cancer risk, he added that “Our findings add important weight to other evidence linking dairy products, other than calcium non-dairy, as a variable. risk factor for prostate cancer.”
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer refers to cancer that started in the colon or rectum and can also be called colon cancer, rectal cancer, or bowel cancer, depending on its origin. The risk of colorectal cancer is the same for everyone, regardless of gender. According to the American Cancer Society, the risk is about one in 23 for people with a male reproductive system and about one in 26 for people with a female reproductive system.
According to Anne Kennard, DO, FACOG, “colorectal cancer risk can be greatly influenced by diet,” and there is a lot of evidence to support this. “Bacon, sausage, and other cured and processed meats are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as group 1 carcinogens,” she explained to VegNews. “Which puts them in the same category as tobacco and asbestos.”
“The WHO has also categorized fresh red meat as group 2A, which suggests that it is probably carcinogenic to humans,” she said. “In addition, the Global Burden of Disease Project has estimated that diets high in red meat may be responsible for 50,000 cancer deaths per year worldwide.”
In 2022, another study from Tufts University and Harvard University strongly associated processed meat consumption with colorectal cancer. “Processed meats, most of which fall into the category of ultra-processed foods, are a strong risk factor for colorectal cancer,” Lu Wang, lead author of the study, said in a statement.
“Ultra-processed foods are also high in added sugars and low in fiber, which contributes to weight gain and obesity, and obesity is a well-established risk factor for colorectal cancer,” she continued.
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Later, in February 2023, research also suggested that vegan meat based on fungi (such as from the Quorn brand, for example) could actually help to keep colorectal cancer at bay. To reach this conclusion, the study authors examined urine and stool samples of 20 male adults between the ages of 18 and 50, once when they ate red and processed meat, and then again when they switched to vegan meat based on fungi. .
“The study showed that this dietary change significantly reduces genotoxicity and increases beneficial gut microbes,” said lead researcher Daniel Commane, PhD. “Our findings therefore suggest that this high-fibre protein source provides a good alternative to meat in the context of gut health and may help reduce the long-term risk of bowel cancer.”
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast. It is more common in cisgender women, but cisgender men, transgender women, and non-binary people can also suffer from it. According to the American Cancer Society, it is responsible for about one in three female cancers, and usually affects people over the age of 45 (but a small number of people still develop breast cancer before this age). .
Again, like all forms of this disease, there is no miracle behavior that ensures you will not get diagnosed with breast cancer. But there are some behaviors that can help reduce your risk by limiting alcohol, regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet. “A plant-based diet can reduce the incidence of breast cancer, the most common cancer diagnosis among women,” says Kennard. “With benefits noted specifically for diets including vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes.”
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And there is research to back this up. In 2022, for example, one study suggested that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could help reduce the risk of breast cancer by 14 percent in postmenopausal women. To reach their conclusions, the researchers (from the University of Paris-Saclay) tracked more than 65,000 postmenopausal people in France and their diets for more than 20 years.
“These results highlight that increasing consumption of healthy plant foods and decreasing consumption of less healthy plant and animal foods may help prevent all types of breast cancer,” Sanam Shah, lead author of the study, said in a statement.
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Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on the south coast of England.
