WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 ABIDING FAITH CHRISTIAN CHURCH NUTRITION AND CANCER

CANCER DEFINED A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth

HOW CANCER ARISES Changes to genes that control how cells grow and divide Inherited Environmental exposures

RISK FACTORS RISK FACTOR : ANY ATTRIBUTE, CHARACTERISTIC OR EXPOSURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEVELOPING A DISEASE OR INJURY Age Alcohol Cancer-causing substances Chronic inflammation Diet Hormones Immunosuppression Infectious Agents Obesity Radiation Sunlight Tobacco

ALCOHOL Clear association between alcohol consumption and development of: Head and neck cancer Esophageal cancer Liver cancer Breast cancer Colorectal cancer Clear association between alcohol consumption and decreased risk of: Renal cell (kidney) cancer Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

ALCOHOL (CONT.) Alcohol increases cancer risk by: Damaging DNA Metabolite = acetaldehyde, ROS Impairing breakdown and absorption of nutrients Including vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E Increasing blood levels of estrogen, a sex hormone linked to breast cancer Liver malfunction, impaired estrogen breakdown, and increased estrogen production (aromatization) May contain carcinogens nitrosamines, asbestos fibers, phenols, hydrocarbons possibly introduced during fermentation & production

CANCER CAUSING SUBSTANCES Aflatoxins Exposure source = old moldy nuts Association: Increased risk of liver cancer Aristolochic Acids Used in some anti-inflammatory herbal products Association: Increased risk of upper urinary tract and bladder cancer Arsenic Exposure sources = tobacco, contaminated water Association: Increased risk of bladder, skin, lung, digestive tract, liver, kidney, and lymphatic cancers Cadmium Exposure source = tobacco, contaminated foods Association: Increased risk of lung cancer

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION ( CHRONIC INFLAMMATION = PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH A PART OF THE BODY IS RED, SWOLLEN, HOT, OR PAINFUL) Chronic inflammation can lead to DNA damage Chronic inflammation can stem from: Infections that don’t go away Abnormal immune reactions to normal tissues (autoimmune conditions) Conditions such as obesity Certain cases of chronic inflammation can be ameliorated by a change in diet

DIET Alcohol Clear evidence for causing cancer Artificial Sweeteners No clear association with cancer in humans Charred meat High consumption of well-done, fried, or barbequed meats associated with increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer Antioxidants (e.g., vitamins A, C, E, etc.) Insufficient evidence for protection or treatment in humans Calcium May provide some protection against colorectal cancer Garlic Consumption associated with reduced risk of certain cancers Tea Inconclusive findings

HORMONES Estrogens are known human carcinogens Carcinogen = a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue

OBESITY ( OBESITY = A CONDITION IN WHICH A PERSON HAS AN ABNORMALLY HIGH AND UNHEALTHY PROPORTION OF BODY FAT; BODY MASS INDEX ≥ 30 KG/M 2 ) Associated with increased risk of: Esophageal cancer Pancreatic cancer Colorectal cancer Breast cancer (after menopause) Endometrial cancer Kidney cancer Thyroid cancer Gallbladder cancer

OBESITY (CONT.) How Obesity May Promote Cancer: Fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen and leptin Obese people often have increased levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which may promote tumor development Obese people often have chronic sub-acute (low-level) inflammation

TOBACCO Leading cause of cancer and death from cancer More than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke 2500 of which are known to be harmful 69 of which can cause cancer, including: acetaldehyde, aromatic amines, arsenic, benzene, benzoalphapyrene, beryllium, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, chromium, cumene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, nickel, polonium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, vinyl chloride

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS Avoid or minimize alcohol consumption Avoid use of tobacco products Minimize consumption of charred meats *exposed to high heat for prolonged periods Adopt a diet high in fresh plant foods and low in sugary/processed foods in order to combat obesity Adopt an active lifestyle to combat obesity Aim for at least 30 min – 1 hr of exercise 3 to 5 times per week