Cancer Cancer Screening and Prevention

Nutrition for Cancer Prevention

Summary & Participants

More and more you hear people talking about the link between cancer and diet. But how do you know which foods are best? Find out how to protect yourself from cancer.

Medically Reviewed On: August 04, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: More and more you hear people talking about the link between cancer and diet.

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION: I actually do feel that there are certain foods that we could eat that actually could either stave off cancer or maybe even help us recover if we already have had cancer.

ANNOUNCER:The American Cancer Society agrees and suggests we choose most of our foods from plant sources while keeping high fat animal foods to a minimum. Experts also recommend increasing our intake of antioxidants, substances that may protect our cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals.

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION: Antioxidants are kind of like powerhouses that help to fight disease and they actually can be protective and help preserve your body.

ANNOUNCER:But which foods are best? The answer lies in choosing a colorful menu.

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION: Think of yourself as being an artist and you want to paint a very colorful picture. Look at the deep purple of blueberries, the red of strawberries, the orange of sweet potatoes, the deep green of spinach.

ANNOUNCER:Variety is not only the spice of life; it’s also the key to a strong anti-cancer diet.

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION: If you just think about having variety and color in all of those types of foods, you have a much greater chance of having a variety of nutrients in your diet and these powerful antioxidants that actually could be cancer-fighting.

ANNOUNCER: And what about alcohol?

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC SSOCIATION: When it comes to drinking alcoholic beverages, having something like red wine is much better for you than having something like hard liquor, because there are a lot of antioxidants in wine itself. If you don't drink at all, then I don't know that it's necessarily something that you should add to your diet.

ANNOUNCER:Of course, a good diet is not the only important part of a healthy lifestyle.

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION: It's so important to exercise and to watch your weight. Try to be as close to ideal weight as possible. Balance, variety, moderation, those are the key factors when it comes to cancer prevention.

ANNOUNCER:So create a colorful work of art in your grocery cart – it could help keep you healthy! Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.