Carcinogens and the Relation of Cancer to Diet

Cancer describes a total of more than 100 diseases, which together represent the second leading cause of mortality in the world and in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society, with [Page 174]heart disease being the single most common cause of death. In an increasingly sedentary world with a growing reliance on automotive transportation and access to processed, high-caloric food, people living in industrialized and developing nations may best reduce their chances of experiencing cancer by increasing their physical activity levels and eating a more nutritious diet. In fact, what people eat on a regular basis may be the single most common source of exposure to carcinogens, or chemicals that can cause cancer. Dietary choices can also lessen cancer risk by interfering with ...