Maintaining a balanced diet is fundamental to our health, and its impact on the prevention of diseases such as cancer is crucial. According to the European Code Against Cancer, adopting healthy eating habits and controlling body weight can reduce the risk of developing cancer by up to 18%.
Diet plays an essential role in the initiation and development of several types of tumours, such as colon and breast cancer. In fact, studies estimate that up to 40% of cancers in men and 60% in women are related to diet. This is because certain foods can influence cellular processes, inflammation and other biological mechanisms that may promote cancer development.
What is the food do they favour an anti-cancer diet?
A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and healthy fats, such as those from nuts and olive oil, is key. These foods contain antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals that help strengthen the immune system and protect cells from damage that could lead to cancer.
On the other hand, it is important to moderate consumption of red and processed meats, foods high in refined sugars, saturated fats and salt, as they have been shown to increase the risk of cancer in some cases.
In addition to food quality, maintaining a healthy body weight is another decisive factor. Being overweight and obese is closely linked to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast, colon, liver and kidney cancers. This is because excess body fat can alter hormone levels and promote chronic inflammation, which in turn promotes tumour development.
In short, a balanced diet is not only essential for our overall health, but also a key factor in reducing the risk of cancer. Adopting healthy eating habits, together with body weight control, may be one of the best decisions we make to protect ourselves against this disease. As mentioned in the European Code Against CancerA healthy life starts with what we put on our plate.
