Nutrition and Cancer

Dietary habits are thought to contribute to approximately 30% of all cancers. However, this relationship depends on diet composition, genetics, and type of cancer. Overall, there is no single diet that is perfect for everyone. The diet and cancer interrelationship is complicated by the daily consumption of literally thousands of essential and nonessential bioactive food components. These food components come from plants, animal products, edible fungi, and gastrointestinal bacteria, which may have similar, synergistic or antagonistic interactions.

During the past 30 years, mounting evidence has helped define appropriate eating behaviors for the general public. Many authoritative research bodies, including the National Cancer Institute, the American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund, and the American Cancer Society, have identified nutrition-related risks for cancer and made nutritional ...