WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015ABIDING FAITH CHRISTIAN CHURCH

NUTRITION AND CANCER

CANCER DEFINED

•A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth

HOW CANCER ARISES

•Changes to genes that control how cells grow and divide• Inherited• Environmental exposures

RISK FACTORSRISK FACTOR: ANY ATTRIBUTE, CHARACTERISTIC OR EXPOSURE OF AN

INDIVIDUAL THAT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEVELOPING A DISEASE OR INJURY

ALCOHOL

• Clear association between alcohol consumption and development of:• Head and neck cancer• Esophageal cancer• Liver cancer• Breast cancer• Colorectal cancer

• Clear association between alcohol consumption and decreased risk of:• Renal cell (kidney) cancer• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

ALCOHOL (CONT.)

• Alcohol increases cancer risk by:• Damaging DNA • Metabolite = acetaldehyde, ROS

• Impairing breakdown and absorption of nutrients• Including vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E

• Increasing blood levels of estrogen, a sex hormone linked to breast cancer• Liver malfunction, impaired estrogen breakdown, and

increased estrogen production (aromatization)

• May contain carcinogens• nitrosamines, asbestos fibers, phenols, hydrocarbons

possibly introduced during fermentation & production

CANCER CAUSING SUBSTANCES

• Aflatoxins• Exposure source = old moldy nuts• Association: Increased risk of liver cancer

• Aristolochic Acids• Used in some anti-inflammatory herbal products• Association: Increased risk of upper urinary tract and bladder

cancer• Arsenic• Exposure sources = tobacco, contaminated water• Association: Increased risk of bladder, skin, lung, digestive

tract, liver, kidney, and lymphatic cancers• Cadmium• Exposure source = tobacco, contaminated foods• Association: Increased risk of lung cancer

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION(CHRONIC INFLAMMATION = PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH A

PART OF THE BODY IS RED, SWOLLEN, HOT, OR PAINFUL)

• Chronic inflammation can lead to DNA damage• Chronic inflammation can stem from:• Infections that don’t go away• Abnormal immune reactions to normal tissues

(autoimmune conditions)• Conditions such as obesity

• Certain cases of chronic inflammation can be ameliorated by a change in diet

DIET• Alcohol• Clear evidence for causing cancer

• Artificial Sweeteners• No clear association with cancer in humans

• Charred meat• High consumption of well-done, fried, or barbequed meats

associated with increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer

• Antioxidants (e.g., vitamins A, C, E, etc.)• Insufficient evidence for protection or treatment in humans

• Calcium• May provide some protection against colorectal cancer

• Garlic• Consumption associated with reduced risk of certain cancers

• Tea• Inconclusive findings

HORMONES

• Estrogens are known human carcinogens• Carcinogen = a substance capable of causing cancer in

living tissue

OBESITY(OBESITY = A CONDITION IN WHICH A PERSON HAS AN ABNORMALLY HIGH AND

UNHEALTHY PROPORTION OF BODY FAT; BODY MASS INDEX ≥ 30 KG/M2)

• Associated with increased risk of:• Esophageal cancer• Pancreatic cancer• Colorectal cancer• Breast cancer (after menopause)• Endometrial cancer• Kidney cancer• Thyroid cancer• Gallbladder cancer

OBESITY (CONT.)

• How Obesity May Promote Cancer:• Fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen and

leptin• Obese people often have increased levels of insulin and

insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which may promote tumor development

• Obese people often have chronic sub-acute (low-level) inflammation

TOBACCO

• Leading cause of cancer and death from cancer• More than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke• 2500 of which are known to be harmful• 69 of which can cause cancer, including:

• acetaldehyde, aromatic amines, arsenic, benzene, benzoalphapyrene, beryllium, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, chromium, cumene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, nickel, polonium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, vinyl chloride

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• Avoid or minimize alcohol consumption• Avoid use of tobacco products• Minimize consumption of charred meats• *exposed to high heat for prolonged periods

• Adopt a diet high in fresh plant foods and low in sugary/processed foods in order to combat obesity• Adopt an active lifestyle to combat obesity• Aim for at least 30 min – 1 hr of exercise 3 to 5 times per

week