The role of fruit and vegetable consumption in preventing cancer.
EPIC Study
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Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
What about this, though? “Fruit and vegetables have little effect”; “Eating [veggies] Doesn’t Stop Cancer.” Here’s the study they’re talking about: “Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Overall Cancer Risk” [in the EPIC study]. Here’s the data.
For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a large apple officially weighs 223 grams. So, compared to people eating about less than an apple a day, those eating one or more had a 5% decrease in overall cancer risk across the board. And those who ate the most fruits and vegetables had 11% lower risk.
Here’s the conclusion: the study supports the notion of a modest cancer-preventive effect of high intake of fruits and vegetables. But what about those headlines? They made it sound like fruits and veggies didn’t offer any protection. It’s not that fruits and vegetables didn’t prevent cancer in the study; it’s just how “modest” the preventive effect was.
The bottom line is we can’t eat a standard Western diet, and just add a few fruits and vegetables, and expect to be cancer-proof. We have to fundamentally change our diets.
Still, even if we’re living off burgers and doughnuts, a 5% drop in overall cancer risk means that an apple a day may keep 1 in 20 cancers away. That’s not too bad. I mean, how much does an apple cost? One and a half million Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year. This study suggests that if we all ate lots of fruits and vegetables, 168,000 cancers could be prevented every year in the United States. 168,000 cancers. If that’s modest, I’ll take it.
And they were counting like iceberg lettuce as a vegetable. It would have been interesting to see what some of the more powerful fruits and vegetables could do—berries, citrus, garlic, greens. And of course, there are lots of other health reasons to eat fruits and vegetables, besides just cancer.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
Image thanks to Ali Karimian via flickr
Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
What about this, though? “Fruit and vegetables have little effect”; “Eating [veggies] Doesn’t Stop Cancer.” Here’s the study they’re talking about: “Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Overall Cancer Risk” [in the EPIC study]. Here’s the data.
For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a large apple officially weighs 223 grams. So, compared to people eating about less than an apple a day, those eating one or more had a 5% decrease in overall cancer risk across the board. And those who ate the most fruits and vegetables had 11% lower risk.
Here’s the conclusion: the study supports the notion of a modest cancer-preventive effect of high intake of fruits and vegetables. But what about those headlines? They made it sound like fruits and veggies didn’t offer any protection. It’s not that fruits and vegetables didn’t prevent cancer in the study; it’s just how “modest” the preventive effect was.
The bottom line is we can’t eat a standard Western diet, and just add a few fruits and vegetables, and expect to be cancer-proof. We have to fundamentally change our diets.
Still, even if we’re living off burgers and doughnuts, a 5% drop in overall cancer risk means that an apple a day may keep 1 in 20 cancers away. That’s not too bad. I mean, how much does an apple cost? One and a half million Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year. This study suggests that if we all ate lots of fruits and vegetables, 168,000 cancers could be prevented every year in the United States. 168,000 cancers. If that’s modest, I’ll take it.
And they were counting like iceberg lettuce as a vegetable. It would have been interesting to see what some of the more powerful fruits and vegetables could do—berries, citrus, garlic, greens. And of course, there are lots of other health reasons to eat fruits and vegetables, besides just cancer.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
Image thanks to Ali Karimian via flickr
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EPIC Study
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Content URLDoctor's Note
For more on fruit/vegetable consumption and cancer risk, check out these videos:
Preventing Breast Cancer By Any Greens Necessary
Apple Skin: Peeling Back Cancer
Which Fruit Fights Cancer Better?
Which Dietary Factors Affect Breast Cancer Most?
And check out my other videos on cancer.
For more context, check out my associated blog posts: Breast Cancer Stem Cells vs. Broccoli; Fighting Inflammation With Food Synergy; and Poultry Paunch: Meat & Weight Gain.
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