Several dietary factors appear to affect the risk of cancer. The type of food is one factor. Diets rich in plant foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans may reduce risk for some types of cancer such as oral and esophageal cancers. In addition, some studies have linked a diet high in animal products such as red meat with an increase in cancer of the colon and prostate. Recent research, however, indicates the potential link between red meat and colon and prostate cancer can be explained by many other diet and lifestyle factors and needs to be investigated more thoroughly.
Obesity is another risk factor for cancer that is affected by diet.
Consuming more calories than you need can lead to obesity. The strongest evidence points to a well-balanced diet high in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. They are also rich in other substances including antioxidant vitamins and minerals and other phytochemicals that may play an important role in reducing cancer risk. For example, lycopene, a carotenoid found abundantly in tomato based foods, has been found to have potent antioxidant properties that appear to be particularly effective against prostate cancer. The role of dietary fat in the development of cancer, if any, is still unclear.