According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the world's leading cause of death. As such, it isn't surprising that there are innumerable "miracle treatments" that claim to reduce the risk of cancer. Lifestyle changes, supplements, you name it--chances are, someone claims that it reduces cancer susceptibility. But which ones can you trust? Don't be too quick to commit the bandwagon fallacy!
Recently, I stumbled upon a review paper that surprised me.
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/science/article/pii/S0002822396002738
Their miracle treatment? Vegetables. Apparently, eating more vegetables may reduce the risk for certain types of cancer. Vegetables contain substances that may have the ability to block the beginning of cancer progression. For example, some veggie-based chemicals increase the activity of enzymes that detoxify harmful cancer-causing compounds in the body.
However, not all people believe that eating more vegetables help us fight cancer. The authors of two other articles believe that--for studies showing that veggies reduce cancer risk by a few percent--these health benefits are purely caused by chance. They say that fruits and veggies help to prevent cardiovascular disease, but not necessarily cancer.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/eating-vegetables-doesnt-stop-cancer/
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/04/fruits_and_veggies_prevent_can.html
First, I see much more empirical data behind the first review article compared to the following two articles in the newspapers. Second, the main claims of the argument against vegetables aren't refutable, either. What do you think? Regardless of whether or not vegetables will reduce my risk of cancer--I'm going to keep eating them no matter what! I think we can all agree that vegetables are good for us. At least, that's what my mom always told me! And mother is always right...right?
First off, increasing your vegetable intake drastically, strictly for lessing your chances of getting cancer, in my opinion, is a little preposterous. Although I do agree that there are beneficial nutrients in fruits and vegetables that the body should be consuming regularly to stay healthy. I am skeptical though that vegetables significantly decrease your risk of cancer. I would like to know exactly what in fruits and vegetables is potentially decreasing your risk of cancer. Pinpointing that vegetables decreases cancer causing agents, I think, is minuscule compared to the countless causes of cancer, many of which are undiscovered anyway. On a side note, like you, I will continue to consume fruits and vegetables regardless!
I found your blog particularly interesting because I have had some background experience with the whole "Does eating fruits and vegetables help reduce your risk of cancer?" But more towards my personal experience, "Does eating fruits and vegetables help treat cancer?" I knew someone who was fighting colon cancer for a number of years, and he tried eating very healthily for a time. He consumed all the right foods, especially fruits and vegetables. He would even drink pure organic carrot juice which literally turned his hands and feet orange. Unfortunately, this healthy diet did not work. Maybe he was already too far along with his cancer, or maybe eating fruits and vegetables really do not help treat cancer at all. We may never know. At least we know they are healthy for the body, give us energy, and taste great!
The centent is clear and easy to read. Can you provide us with more experiment or at least data indicating whether eating fruits and vegetables help reduce the risk of cancer ? By the way, I think eating fruits and vagetables is somehow good to our health. Think about those old monks in Indiaļ¼
Good use of pictures and a catchy title. This was the first post I clicked on because I was intrigued with the title and wanted to find out what the article was about. Good links to other articles as well.
I really like all your pictures, links, and your topic in general. I agree with you when you say that there are a ton of different things that supposedly help cure cancer. One time on the news someone mentioned that eating raw meat can possibly help reduce cancer. I think eating vegetables is a lot more reasonably. I really like how in your last paragraph you put things into psychological terms, and all-in-all you made this article easy to read and interesting as well as a little bit entertaining. well done.
Cancer always has been and always will be the most stubborn disease. Researchers are constantly on the job devising ways to try and diminish it for good. I agree that by a person choosing to eat more vegetables they are also simply choosing to live a healthier lifestyle, which in turn means they will be least susceptible to a majority of health risks. There is no one definite thing to eat or drink to prevent one from getting cancer, but living a healthy lifestyle is one of the many things one can do to simply try and lead a less risky life.
I don't know how manufacturer's are just OK with making jokes of such a serious sickness. There are such a ridiculously large number of products that claim to reduce your chances of getting cancer. I don't understand why Health departments aren't on them about making such claims. There are so many people dieing from cancer, and claiming to reduce their family's chances of getting it is just rude.
I, too, find this to be quite disturbing. I don't get how people can use a person's desire to be healthy against them like that. It is not right and should not be allowed. I hope someone cracks down on the manufactures out there that are falsely advertising their products. It is a serious disease and should be treated as such.