An Eating Plan For Cancer Prevention, Straight From The EWG

By now, we all know that a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can protect against a host of illnesses—from heart disease to diabetes to, yes, even certain cancers.

In honor of Cancer Prevention Month, the Environmental Working Group just released a deep-dive into what exactly you should be eating to mitigate your risk. Perhaps unsurprisingly, their cancer defense diet is high in fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts and legumes, and low in red and processed meats, sugar and salt. The recommendations go a step further to describe how we should be pairing and preparing our food, and that's where things really get interesting.

"While certain individual foods and nutrients may be linked to decreased cancer risks, there are also strong hypotheses that it’s the synergies between the nutrients and phytochemicals in foods that are probably of the greatest benefit," says Curt DellaValle, Ph.D, an EWG senior scientist.

Studies show that the nutrients in different foods protect against different hallmarks of cancer—the characteristics that make cancer cells so harmful. The carotenoids in tomatoes and leafy greens protect cells from damage, while the anthocyanins in berries can promote healthy cell regeneration1. Adding more variety to your diet will harness more of these benefits, so don't restrict yourself to a monotonous routine. And this doesn't just mean taking more supplements, since high doses of these nutrients can actually impair your body's ability to fight infection.

In order to take advantage of all the nutrients our food has to offer, you can also become more intentional with how you prepare your meals. The carotenoids in those tomatoes? You can maximize their bioavailability by cooking them in healthy fats. And eating anthocyanins-rich berries fresh, right before a meal can help your body uptake more of their benefits.

Preparation

Preparation