Cancer

Disease

Foods That May Help

Foods linked to Cancer in the research literature.

WalnutsReduces risk of
In PREDIMED study, eating more than 3 servings/week appeared to cut risk of dying from cancer in half
Source: How Not to Age
Whole GrainsReduces risk of
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis: whole grain consumption reduces cancer risk
Source: How Not to Age
FenugreekProtects against
Fenugreek may possess potent anticancer properties in vitro
Source: How Not to Die
Green TeaReduces risk of
Topical green tea in ointment form results in 100 percent clearance of genital warts in more than half of patients. Tea consumption is associated with decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Source: How Not to Die
Broccoli sproutsReduces risk of
quarter-cup per day
Broccoli sprouts are an exceptionally rich source of sulforaphane. The sulforaphane content per gram is 20-100 times higher than in mature broccoli.
Source: How Not to Die
TurmericReduces risk of
quarter teaspoon daily
Curcumin-free turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities (Aggarwal et al. 2013); whole turmeric may be better than curcumin alone
Source: How Not to Die
FenugreekReduces risk of
Fenugreek is a naturally occurring edible spice identified as an anticancer agent (Shabbeer et al. 2009)
Source: How Not to Die
CoffeeReduces risk of
Coffee consumption is associated with reduced risk of cancers per meta-analysis (Yu et al. 2011)
Source: How Not to Die
BeansReduces risk of
Cancer prevention with beans
Source: How Not to Die
BroccoliReduces risk of
Broccoli for cancer prevention, DNA damage prevention, immune boost, and liver detox
Source: How Not to Die
AmlaReduces risk of
Amla (Emblica officinalis) is a wonder berry in the treatment and prevention of cancer (Baliga & Dsouza 2011)
Source: How Not to Die
KimchiProtects against
Fermented cabbage or 'kimchi' has been reported to have anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-obesity and anti-ageing properties; effects on HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells reported
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
ChickpeasReduces risk of
Chickpea contains lectins and agglutinins which can be anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti-obesity in nature
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Coriolus Versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushroom)Protects against
Coriolus may exhibit increased immunomodulation and thus be useful in inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
MushroomsProtects against
Mushrooms regulate the immune system and contain anticancer compounds.
Source: Young Forever

Compounds That May Help

Bioactive compounds linked to Cancer in the research.

Vitamin DReduces risk of
Vitamin D3 did seem to reduce risk of dying from cancer, though effect was small (supplement 250 people for a year to prevent a single cancer death)
Source: How Not to Age
Dietary fiberReduces risk of
Source: How Not to Age
SulforaphaneProtects against
Sulforaphane is a promising anticancer agent formed almost exclusively in cruciferous vegetables, responsible for liver detox enzyme boosting and targeting breast cancer stem cells
Source: How Not to Die
Salicylic AcidProtects against
Vegetarians have higher blood levels of salicylic acid, the active anti-inflammatory component of aspirin, which may come from the fruits, vegetables, and spices they eat. This may contribute to the lower cancer rates among plant-based eaters.
Source: How Not to Die
ChlorophyllProtects against
Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin attenuate DNA damage from aflatoxin. Effects of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin on low-dose aflatoxin pharmacokinetics in human volunteers showed reduced absorption.
Source: How Not to Die
Omega-3 fatty acidsReduces risk of
Omega-3 fatty acids show benefits in prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer and metabolic syndrome
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Beta-caroteneProtects against
Beta-carotene provides effective protection against cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Caffeic AcidProtects against
Caffeic acid from coffee beans, tea, red grapes has anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, antiviral activity
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
SeleniumProtects against
Selenium, antioxidant, reduces risk of cancer; found in Brazil nuts, mushroom, spinach, brown rice, seafoods, meat, dairy
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Vitamin CProtects against
Vitamin C from citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, spinach, cabbage provides effective protection against cancer
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
ButyrateReduces risk of
Butyrate reduces propensity towards cardiovascular diseases and cancers
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
CurcuminReduces risk of
Curcumin has anticancer effects
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
AntioxidantsProtects against
Antioxidants give protection from oxidative stress which helps in prevention of heart diseases, cancer, arthritis, stroke
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
ApigeninProtects against
Apigenin is a promising natural product for reducing the impact of senescent cells on age-related diseases such as cancer
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
CarnosineProtects against
Carnosine is a pluripotent agent acting as antioxidant, anti-glycator, heavy metal chelator, and apoptosis modulator; used against cancer, neurodegeneration
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
ResveratrolProtects against
Combination of resveratrol and curcumin was found to enhance autophagy, modulate apoptosis and provide protection against cancer both in vitro and in vivo
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
CurcuminProtects against
Combination of resveratrol and curcumin enhances autophagy, modulates apoptosis and provides protection against cancer
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
ChrysinProtects against
Chrysin exhibits antiproliferative activities; antineoplastic effect studied in cancers of lung, breast, colon, cervix, stomach, melanoma, and liver
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE)Protects against
CAPE-rich extract from honeybee propolis cause toxicity to cancer cells selectively.
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Withaferin AProtects against
Wi-A has strong anticancer potential, shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, metastases and EMT processes through multiple mechanisms including inactivation of NFκB, collapse of vimentin, oxidative stress in ER and mitochondria.
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Epigallocatechin gallateReduces risk of
Source: Young Forever
LycopeneReduces risk of
Source: Young Forever
Beta-caroteneReduces risk of
Source: Young Forever
IsothiocyanatesProtects against
Source: Young Forever
Indole-3-CarbinolProtects against
Source: Young Forever
AnthocyaninsProtects against
Source: Young Forever
EGCGProtects against
Source: Young Forever
GenisteinProtects against
Source: Young Forever
Benzoic Acid and Cinnamic AcidProtects against
Source: Young Forever
OleuropeinProtects against
Source: Young Forever
Vitamin D3Protects against
Source: Young Forever

Risk Factors

Foods and compounds that may contribute to Cancer.

IGF-1
Higher IGF-1 associated with increased risk of breast (nearly 5x in premenopausal women), colorectal, and prostate cancer. Facilitates every step from transformation to metastasis. | Cancer-promoting growth hormone; its reduction through fasting causes differential protection of normal vs cancer cells | Higher IGF-1 levels associated with breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer risk
Source: How Not to Age
Neu5Gc
Source: How Not to Age
IGF-1
Higher IGF-1 induced by higher animal protein intakes; lower-carb diners suffered significantly higher cancer death risk potentially due to higher IGF-1
Source: How Not to Age
Methionine
One of the universal hallmarks of cancer is methionine addiction (the Hoffman effect). Limiting methionine can slow cancerous tumor growth.
Source: How Not to Age
Casein
Rats on 20% casein diet developed 75% more precancerous lesions than those on 5% casein diet
Source: How Not to Age
Alcohol
Comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis shows alcohol consumption increases site-specific cancer risk; even light drinking increases cancer risk
Source: How Not to Age
Acrylamide
Acrylamide in foods forms when starchy foods are fried or baked at high temperatures (Lineback et al. 2012)
Source: How Not to Die
Processed Meat
Processed meat is a cancer-risk food; nitrosamines and heme iron in processed meat contribute to cancer risk
Source: How Not to Die
IGF-1
People with Laron syndrome have reduced IGF-1 signaling (hence the dwarfism phenotype) but are at lower risk for cancer and diabetes.
Source: How We Age
Acrylamide
Deep fried starchy foods such as potato chips form cancer-causing acrylamide
Source: Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Ethanol (Alcohol)
Ethanol is a potent carcinogen
Source: Outlive
Red Meat
Attia discusses meat and cancer epidemiology in the index but notes that nutritional epidemiology is confounded; quotes that it is 'a scandal' (Crowe 2018)
Source: Outlive
IGF-1
IGF-1 is the reason reduced protein intake may be an important component of anticancer diets.
Source: The How Not to Age Cookbook
IGF-1
High IGF-1 associated with 2x+ increase in breast, prostate, and other cancers
Source: The Longevity Diet
Protein
High protein diet before age 65 associated with 3-4x increase in cancer mortality
Source: The Longevity Diet
Saturated fat
Source: The Longevity Diet
Sugar
Overactivation of mTOR by sugar and starch can cause cancer.
Source: Young Forever
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
Early evidence from animal models that NAD+ may fuel growth of some cancers in test tube
Source: Young Forever

Biological Mechanisms

Contributes toInflammaging
Senescent cells can also promote tumors by increasing proliferation, cell motility, and differentiation of neighboring cells.
Contributes toHyperinsulinemia
Insulin resistance is associated with huge increases in cancer risk (up to twelvefold)
Contributes toVisceral Fat Drives Inflammation
Visceral fat is linked to increased risk of both cancer and cardiovascular disease

Recipes That May Help

Sources

How Not to Age
How Not to Die
How We Age
Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity
Outlive
The How Not to Age Cookbook
The Longevity Diet
Young Forever