In fact, one out of every four people now alive will have some form of this disease. That means there is a good chance that a close friend, relative, or you yourself, are battling or have battled cancer. The good news is that nearly half of all cancer deaths can be prevented with early detection and treatment. While some cancers are hereditary, the American Cancer Society estimates that one-third of cancer deaths in the United States is due to dietary factors, another third to cigarette smoking. For example, cured and pickled foods contain nitrites that can be changed into carcinogens in the stomach.
Promoters favor the growth of cancer once initiation has taken place.
For example, foods high in fat or alcohol seem to provide the kind of environment a cancer cell needs to grow, multiply, and spread. Preventors help defeat cancers after initiation has taken place. For example, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains seem to be able to destroy carcinogens and halt cancer development. While many questions about dietary relationships and cancer remain unanswered, a number of studies have shown definite links between certain cancers and the foods we eat. Knowing this allows us to reduce risk through dietary practices.