Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Author at MedFitNetwork

Foods for Cancer Prevention

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/7 December 2021/ All MFN blog/

Despite a wealth of scientific data, most people remain unaware of how they can reduce their risk of developing cancer. According to a study released in 2008, only 5-10 percent of cancer cases are linked to genetics; the remaining 90-95 percent stem from environment and lifestyle factors and are potentially preventable. Twenty-five to 30 percent of cancer cases are due to tobacco use, and about 1 in 3 cases are due to food choices. These numbers continue to rise.

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute compared cancer rates and deaths linked to risk factors such as red and processed meat intake, overweight, and low intake of fruits, vegetables, and dietary fiber. During that year in the United States, 42 percent of cancer cases and 45 percent of cancer deaths were linked to avoidable risk factors such as excess body weight. Factors within our control, like diet and exercise, are largely accountable for cancer outcomes.

Download the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Fact Sheet, Foods for Cancer Prevention, to read the rest of this article. Feel free to download and share this free resource.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, headquartered in Washington, DC. Our efforts are dramatically changing the way doctors treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer. By putting prevention over pills, doctors are empowering their patients to take control of their own health.

Fact sheet shared with permission from PCRM. Click here to view other PCRM Fact Sheets.

Food and Arthritis

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/8 November 2021/ All MFN blog/

Millions of people suffer from painful and swollen joints caused by arthritis. Unfortunately, health care providers often don’t discuss diet change with patients who have arthritis. This is likely because older research, which tested diets with dairy products, oil, poultry, or meat, showed little benefit. Current research shows that foods can play a substantial role in arthritis.

Different Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a gradual loss of cartilage and overgrowth of bone in the joints, especially the knees, hips, spine, and fingers. More than 32 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, and risk increases with age. The condition usually develops gradually and can cause pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which affects more than 1.3 million Americans, is a more aggressive form of arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease that causes painful, inflamed joints and can result in permanent damage. RA is one of medicine’s mysteries. The disease does not appear in medical reports until the early 1800s, and some suspect that a virus or bacterium may play a role by setting off an autoimmune reaction. Certain genes can also make people more likely to develop RA.

The Role of Diet

Diet and RA. While not all research has found a connection, multiple studies show that dietary changes can help relieve RA symptoms. For example, one study looked at the effects of a very-low-fat vegan diet on people with RA. After only four weeks, people had less morning stiffness, RA pain, joint tenderness, and joint swelling. A study published in Rheumatology found a gluten-free, vegan diet improved the signs and symptoms of RA. And a systematic review concluded that fasting followed by a vegetarian or vegan diet might be useful in the treatment of RA.

Download the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Fact Sheet, Food and Arthritis, to read the rest of this article. Feel free to download and share this free resource.

Fact sheet shared with permission from PCRM. Click here to view other PCRM Fact Sheets.

Diet and Alzheimer’s Disease

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/15 October 2021/ All MFN blog/

Studies show that risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is greater in people who consume high amounts of cholesterol, saturated fat, and excess calories and low amounts of fiber, vegetables, and fruits. Just as saturated fat and cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels and form plaques, plaques in the brain compromise blood flow to important parts of the brain.

Cholesterol and Heart Disease | Fact Sheet from PCRM

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/1 October 2021/ All MFN blog/

Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease daily, with an average of one death occurring every 37 seconds. In 2018, roughly one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 20 had some type of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, heart failure, and/or stroke), and one out of every seven deaths in the United States was due to coronary heart disease alone.

Breast Cancer: How To Reduce Your Risk | Fact Sheet from PCRM

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/23 September 2021/ All MFN blog/

A healthy diet and lifestyle can lower your risk of getting breast cancer.

These four simple tips can boost your health in other ways, too!

Choose Plant-Based Foods

Healthy foods from plants (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans) can lower your breast cancer risk in several ways. They are often low in calories and high in fiber. This helps you feel full and lose weight if needed.

High-fiber, low-fat diets can also help reduce estrogen levels. Lower estrogen levels can lower your risk of breast cancer. A recent study showed that eating less fat and more fruits, vegetables, and grains could help protect breast cancer survivors, too. Packed with nutrition, plant-based diets can also reduce the risk of other diseases, like diabetes and heart disease. For the best nutrition, eat a variety of plant foods each day. Be sure to include a good source of vitamin B12, too, such as a supplement. Keep salt intake low, but when you do use salt, choose the iodized kind.

Fill up on veggies.
Not only are they healthy, but some have cancer-fighting nutrients. Try adding broccoli, collard greens, or cabbage to meals.

Eat more soy.
Tofu, soy milk, and edamame may help protect against breast cancer. Studies show that women who eat more soy have a lower risk of breast cancer. Soy foods may help protect women who’ve already had breast cancer, too.

Avoid processed meats.
Hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and lunch meats have been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. Swap in healthy plant-based proteins like beans, tofu, or nuts instead.

Download the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Fact Sheet, Breast Cancer: How To Reduce Your Risk, to read the remaining 3 tips! Feel free to download and share this free resource.

Fact sheet shared with permission from PCRM. Click here to view other PCRM Fact Sheets.