Cancer-Fighting Food Recommendations from the World's Leading Cancer Organizations
Modify your diet to decrease your cancer risk
Cancer will affect you or someone you know. 40-50% of people in developed nations will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. It is a leading cause of death in the world, responsible for 1 out of every 6 mortalities. However, the medical community estimates that 30-50% of all cancers can be prevented through lifestyle choices, such as avoiding known cancer-causing habits, foods, and substances, as well as adopting known cancer prevention tactics. An easy step that can be taken to decrease cancer risk is through proper nutrition, which is often a major overlooked concern. Every single one of us consumes food daily, and therefore learning what foods should and should not be eaten, and modifying our diets accordingly, can alter our susceptibility to cancer. In this article, we will review nutrition instructions for cancer prevention from major cancer institutes and societies, and provide recommendations that you can follow to reduce your cancer risk. Among major cancer organizations, there is little consistency in the amount of information they provide. Some provide food suggestions, quantities, frequencies, examples, and reasoning, while others provide a single sentence, or nothing at all. There is no uniformity on how their webpages are laid out, which makes it difficult to access information. This article summarizes the recommendations collected from all these agencies to provide easy access and an overview of the top cancer prevention nutrition guidelines. Guidelines are summarized for all food groups: fruits & vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. They are further detailed; for example, protein was divided into types of meat, the way the meat is cooked, soy, and plant-based foods. Additionally, there is mention of salt, sugar, supplementation, and alcohol. Recommended amounts and frequencies are noted (if they were provided) and quantities have been standardized for comparison. These recommendations are compatible with a variety of diets and are consistent with healthy-eating and anti-aging benefits. To reduce your cancer risk to the best of your abilities, we have provided nutritional guidelines to meet either the compiled “minimum” or “aggressive” prevention diet recommendations from the major cancer organizations.
Getting Started (Minimum Recommendations)
A variety of fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains should be consumed daily. Fiber and whole food consumptions should take up a larger percentage of daily intake. Red and processed meats should be limited to 12-18 ounces per week. Plant-based food consumption should be favored when possible. Hydration is encouraged. Trans fats, foods high in fat, starches, and sugar should be limited or substituted with unsaturated fats and omega-3s. No more than two alcoholic drinks should be consumed per week.
Aggressive Recommendations
If the dietary goal is to switch to eating habits that result in the lowest chance of cancer, the following are the most aggressive recommendations across the major cancer centers. Fruits, vegetables, fibers, wholegrains, seeds, and water should be increased in diet. The average adult should consume 2.5 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables each day. The fruits and vegetables should be a variety of colors. They should consume 30 grams of fiber each day. When it comes to grains, 1.5 to 3 cups should be consumed each day, and ½ of this should be whole grains. Adults should drink 8 to 12 cups of water every day. When it comes to meat, poultry and fish should be chosen over red meat. Lean meats should be chosen. Red meat should be limited to 12-18 ounces (340-510 g; ~1.5-2.25 cups) per week. Each serving should be limited to 3 ounces (85 g; ~0.375 cups). Processed meat should be avoided completely. Meat should not be prepared at high temperatures that result in charring and instead should be baked, grilled, or cooked at low temperatures. Plant-based proteins are preferred over animal meats. 1.5 to 3 cups of beans should be consumed weekly. Up to 50 milligrams of soy isoflavones can be consumed daily, and whole soy foods should be consumed. Sugar should be limited to 100 calories out of every 2000 calories consumed. No more than 5 to 6 grams of salt should be consumed per day. Heavily processed foods including processed meats, and refined carbohydrates, trans fats, alcohol, and tobacco should be avoided completely. Eating out should be limited. In general, a plant-based diet should be emphasized, and supplements should not be used to substitute whole foods.
Explanation, Tips, and Examples
Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables have phytonutrients, antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Many of the cancer centers indicate that varying the color of vegetables and fruits in diet will vary the phytonutrients that are consumed. It is recommended that saturated fats and sugar are not used to add flavor to fruits and vegetables. Instead, yogurt, heathy oil, and herbs are recommended. If fruits are preferred in liquid form, whole fruits and vegetables should be blended into smoothies to avoid increasing levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor from concentrated juicing, which can be cancer-causing. Juices are often high in sugar, do not contain as much fiber, and will not satisfy hunger. Fiber: Fiber is important as it slows digestion and reduces the feeling of hunger, resulting in less weight gain. Being overweight or obese increases cancer risk, and therefore fiber is encouraged in diet. Vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are all good foods that contain fiber. It is recommended that an increase in consumption be implemented gradually. Whole wheat is encouraged. Whole Foods: It is better to eat whole foods as they retain more of their nutrients than processed foods. Furthermore, it reduces inflammation which can be a cause of cancer. Whole grains: Whole grains are a source of fiber, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, dietary carbohydrates. Examples include brown or wild rice, whole wheats, oats, barley, quinoa, buckwheat, and rye. Seeds: Seeds provide macronutrients, fiber nutrients and phytonutrients. Ground flaxseed is a good source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and lignans, which could help against cancer. It is important to not take flaxseed with other medications, or if there is a history of bowel obstruction. A doctor should be consulted in those cases. Hemp seeds can be a good source of plant-based protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, calcium, and zinc. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium, copper, and manganese. Sunflower seeds are a good source of copper, magnesium, selenium, vitamin B1 and vitamin E. Protein: The body uses protein to grow cells, repair tissue, and preserve the immune system. Protein can come from meat or plant-based alternatives. Organizations recommend choosing poultry and fish over red meats, avoiding processed meat, and keeping the temperature at which meat is prepared on the lower end. Portioning: A plate should be divided by plant-based and animal-based foods. 2/3 of the plate of a meal should be plant-based foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. The remaining 1/3 of the plate can be animal-based protein, seafood, poultry, dairy, and sometimes lean red meat.
Confusing Issues
Dairy: There is no general recommendation; some forms of cancer may possibly increase with dairy while others may possibly increase with the lack of dairy. Meat versus plant-based: The Mayo Clinic states that eliminating meat can possibly prevent 1/3 of cancers, which suggests that cutting out meat entirely and substituting it with plant-based options is recommended for protein intake. On the other hand, the World Cancer Research Fund International states that their recommendation is not to eliminate meat completely as it is a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. They do express that these nutrients can be sourced from plant-based diets, so meat is not necessary. The consensus, however, is to limit red and processed meats, and to avoid charred meats. Organic Foods: There is no evidence for organic foods providing more nutritional value than non-organic foods. The nutritional benefit gained from eating fruits and vegetables outweighs the risk of eating non-organic. Nonetheless, everyone is encouraged to wash their fruits and vegetables regardless of whether they are organic or not.
Summary
Recommendation | Amount | Explanation and Tips |
Vegetables | 3 cups/day | Nutrient-rich. Prefer organic, but wash thoroughly regardless. |
Fruits | 2.5 cups/day | Nutrient-rich. If juiced, blend whole fruits. Organic not necessary, but wash thoroughly. |
Grains | 1.5 to 3 cups/day (half wholegrains) | Whole grains offer fiber, vitamins, and minerals. |
Fiber | 30 grams/day | Reduces hunger and slows digestion. Increase intake gradually. |
Protein | Varies (lean meats and plant-based proteins preferred) | Necessary for cell growth and tissue repair. Limit red and processed meats, avoid charring. Plant proteins can replace meat. |
Fats | Avoid trans fats due to cancer risk. | |
Water | 8 to 12 cups/day | Supports overall health. |
Dairy | Recommendations vary. Adjust based on individual needs. | |
Foods to limit | Red meat: 12-18 ounces/week, Sugar: 100 calories out of 2000 calories, Salt: 5 to 6 grams/day | Limit red meat, sugar, and salt for a healthier diet. |
Foods to avoid | Processed meat, refined carbs, trans fats, alcohol, tobacco | All linked to increased cancer risk. |
Up to half of cancer cases are preventable with the proper lifestyle choices, with a large and often overlooked factor being diet and body mass index. An excellent baseline diet covering the recommendations from all the major cancer organizations would be to follow the cumulative instructions in our minimum or aggressive recommendations. Generally, the top cancer organizations recommend increasing fruits, vegetables, fibers, whole grains, seeds, and water intake. Red meats, sugar, and salt should be limited, and one should avoid heavily processed foods (including processed meats, refined carbohydrates, trans fats), alcohol, and tobacco. Home-cooked meals are also favored. The recommendations listed are consistent with most organizations' recommendations for overall health and anti-aging benefits as well as personalized prevention plans. To have your institution recommendations included or to modify the recommendations presented from your institution email info@anticancer.ca. Subscribe for future work that will include recommendations for specific cancers, which often help us understand categories such as dairy. We will also feature the reasoning and evidence behind certain recommendations, and reviews of primary research papers and randomized clinical controlled trials that investigate specific nutrients and supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are foods that have been shown through scientific research to reduce cancer risk. These foods that fight cancer should NOT be a substitute for any cancer fighting treatment, such as treatment used to reduce tumor growth or to stop cancer cells, from a licensed medical professional. Instead, these foods that fight cancer should complement your cancer fighting strategy. They provide potential health benefits and reduced risk.
The minimal recommendations should be followed as a start to lower your risk of developing cancer by modifying you’re eating habits and diet. The aggressive recommendations should be followed if you want to lower your risk of developing cancer to as low as possible. It is also recommended that you follow the aggressive recommendations should you be genetically predisposed to or more likely to develop cancer. We hope that these recommendations provide you with a great starting point as prevention is a key step to fight cancer.
We began with the largest cancer institutions and societies but have slowly incorporated additional information. Not all institutions/societies have information for every category.
Different experts may focus in on different studies, clinical trials, peer reviewed studies, or other scientific references. They may place emphasis on data that was performed at their specific institute, so they know that it is reliable. Even when experts focus on the same studies, clinical trials, and peer reviewed sources, the interpretation of the data could be different. Scientific interpretation is often influenced by an individual’s specific background and experiences, as well as how restrictive they decide to make their recommendations. Thus, our compilation has minimal and aggressive recommendations as simple guides for you to follow to make sure you have your bases covered.
Yes, the recommendations are applicable for decreasing risk of prostate cancer. For recommendations more specific to prostate cancer, see our Prostate Cancer article.
Yes, the recommendations are applicable for breast cancer. For recommendations more specific to breast cancer, see our Breast Cancer article.
Yes, the recommendations are applicable for colon cancer and colorectal cancer. In the future, we will be providing more diet recommendations colon cancer and colorectal cancer. Johns Hopkins states the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as to limit red meat and avoid processed meat. This an example of the overlap between the recommendations for lowering the risk for cancer in general and colorectal cancer specifically. In future articles, we will discuss clinical trials and peer reviewed studies and generate a list of what nutrients and supplements you should or should not consume to decrease your risk of developing colorectal cancer even more precisely.
Yes, please see our Nutrient Database for specific cancer fighting foods.
We will develop additional articles regarding cancer research about foods that fight cancer and foods that have the potential to generate a reduced risk. The potential interactions between various nutrients and cancer cells will be discussed. These foods that fight cancer should NOT be a substitute for any medically recommended cancer fighting treatment. Instead, foods that fight cancer should complement your anticancer strategy.
Yes, there are specific examples. In terms of vegetables and fruits, leafy green vegetables should be consumed and in addition the more variety of colours that are consumed in diet, the more variety of phytonutrients that the body absorbs. It is recommended that whole foods are preferred over seeking nutrients from supplements such as beta carotene, folic acid, and vitamin C. A diet rich in these nutrients is more beneficial than eating the supplements themselves. Whole foods are always preferred over any form of processed foods, especially in terms of processed meat. Future articles will discuss randomized controlled trials and evidence for specific nutrients. Remember: do NOT use nutrition to substitute for any cancer fighting treatment recommendations from a licensed medical professional. Instead, these foods that fight cancer should complement your cancer fighting strategy.
Whole foods are preferred over supplements; we will have future articles discussing possible supplementation.
Medical and dietary restrictions come first. The cancer fighting recommendations are generally flexible and allow for a variety of choices to adapt to your needs. For cancer fighting meal examples that might fit your personal restrictions, see our personalized meal planner.
No. Cancer is a complex disease. Research papers often evaluate the effects of different chemicals on cancer cells grown on a dish at much higher concentrations that can be safely achieved in the human body. Further, there are many differences between cancer cells of the same type, and even differences among the different cancer cells within the same person.
References
- Cancer risk statistics. Cancer Research UK. Published May 13, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/risk
- Lee S. Cancer statistics at a glance. Canadian Cancer Society. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://cancer.ca/en/research/cancer-statistics/cancer-statistics-at-a-glance
- Cancer. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
- Nutrition: How to Make Healthier Food Choices | AAFP. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/0601/p721-s1.html
- Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk - Mayo Clinic. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention/art-20044816
- Lee S. Eat more veggies fruit and fibre. Canadian Cancer Society. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/reduce-your-risk/eat-well/eat-more-veggies-fruit-and-fibre
- Staff DF. What is a Balanced Diet? Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Published February 21, 2019. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2019/02/what-is-a-balanced-diet/
- MSK CATCH Nutrition Plan | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/msk-catch-nutrition-plan
- Diet. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.mdanderson.org/prevention-screening/manage-your-risk/diet.html
- Diet - Istituto Europeo di Oncologia. Accessed January 12, 2023. http://www.ieo.it/en/Patient-Care/Lifestyle/Diet/
- Eat a Diet Rich in Whole Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, and Beans. American Institute for Cancer Research. Accessed December 20, 2022. https://www.aicr.org/cancer-prevention/recommendations/eat-a-diet-rich-in-whole-grains-vegetables-fruits-and-beans/
- Colon Cancer Prevention. Published August 26, 2021. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/colon-cancer/colon-cancer-prevention
About This Article
First Published | April 10, 2023 |
Last Updated | June 15, 2023 |
Author | Ashiana Sunderji |
Fact Checkers and Co-Authors | Aria Panchal and Courtney Leung |
Illustrator | Supriya Saha |
Reviewer and Supervisor | Kenneth W. Yip |
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