What Do You Know About Nutrition and Cancer?

Eating enough fruits and vegetables may help prevent several types of cancer. These include cancers of the mouth and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum, larynx, lung, ovary, bladder, and kidney.

Limiting how much red meat and other high-fat animal products you eat may lower your risk for certain cancers. Several studies have linked eating red meat to colorectal cancer.

Vitamin C, vitamin A, and carotenoids are antioxidants. People who get these antioxidants by taking dietary supplements do not get the same protection. To prevent cancer, it's best to get antioxidants from foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The ACS says that eating large amounts of preserved meats such as lunch meat, ham, and hot dogs may raise the risk for colorectal and stomach cancers.

The ACS says that more studies are needed to see if dietary fiber can help prevent cancer. Fiber is found in grains such as breads and cereals. It's also found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Dietary fiber does lower your cholesterol levels. Lower cholesterol levels cut your risk for heart disease.

Cruciferous vegetables are related to the cabbage family. Other cruciferous vegetables are Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Eating these vegetables may lower your risk for colorectal cancer.

This hasn't been proved, the ACS says.

Drinking red wine and other alcoholic beverages may lower your risk for heart disease. But alcohol raises the risk for cancers of the mouth, esophagus, liver, and breast, the ACS says.