Support PCRM This #GivingTuesday Donate Now close alert Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine For Clinicians For Medical Students For Scientists About Us Search Submit Search DONATE Main navigation GOOD NUTRITION HEALTH TOPICS ETHICAL SCIENCE OUR RESEARCH NEWS WAYS TO GIVE 21-Day Kickstart Food for Life Classes Plant-Based Nutrition FAQ Vegan Starter Kit Recipes Nutrition for Athletes Pregnancy Nutrition for Kids Universal Meals Carbohydrates Fiber Omega-3 Protein Soy Cholesterol Dairy Chicken Eggs Processed Meat Vegan Diets and the Nutrition for Clinicians Healthy Communities Nutrition Programs & Policies Take Action Find A Doctor Health Topics Alzheimer’s Arthritis Asthma Breast Cancer Cancer Colorectal Cancer Coronavirus Diabetes Gut Bacteria Healthy Bones Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Migraines Ovarian Cancer Prostate Cancer Weight Loss Ethical Science Ethical Education and Training Advanced Trauma Life Support Combat Trauma Training Emergency Medicine Training Surgery Training Paramedic Training Animals in Medical Research Heart Failure Experiments in Animals Alzheimer’s Disease Research Without Animals Early-Career Researchers Animal Testing and Alternatives Animal-Free Antibodies Chemical Testing Reform Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Training on New Approaches Human Tissue Research Take Action Our Research Hot Flashes Study Recruitment News The Exam Room Podcast Dr. Barnard's Blog Health and Nutrition News Ethical Science News Good Science Digest Good Medicine Media Center News Releases Dr. Barnard's Books Cancer Reducing Cancer Risk With a Plant-Based Diet More than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. The Physicians Committee has two cancer-fighting goals. First, we aim to make cancer prevention a top priority. Second, and just as important, we want to improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed by offering comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and there is an urgent need for a new direction in battling this disease. That’s why the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has created materials specifically for cancer prevention and survival. The more naturally colorful your diet is, the more likely it is to have an abundance of cancer-fighting compounds. The pigments that give fruits and vegetables their bright colors—like beta-carotene in sweet potatoes or lycopene in tomatoes—help you fight cancer. Plant foods also contain fiber, which helps remove excess hormones that could lead to breast and prostate cancer. Fiber also quickly removes waste from the digestive system, which helps prevent colorectal cancer. Avoiding meat and dairy products allows you to sidestep potential risks. Grilling meat—including chicken and fish—produces carcinogens. Red and processed meats—like bacon and hot dogs—contain harmful substances that lead to colorectal cancer. Dairy products have been linked to prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers. Vegan diets focus on plant foods. WHY? SHOULD I VEGAN DIETS FOCUS ON PLANT FOODS. Research shows a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes can prevent certain types of cancer. X CLOSE Fill up on fiber. WHY? SHOULD I FILL UP ON FIBER. Plant-based foods rich in fiber help remove excess hormones through the intestine and out the door as wastes. X CLOSE Boost immunity with beta-carotene. WHY? SHOULD I BOOST IMMUNITY WITH BETA-CAROTENE. Foods rich in beta-carotene like carrots, winter squash, spinach, and kale improve immunity. X CLOSE Limit high-fat foods. WHY? SHOULD I LIMIT HIGH-FAT FOODS. High-fat diets increase estrogen levels linked to cancer growth. X CLOSE Avoid meat and dairy. WHY? SHOULD I AVOID MEAT AND DAIRY. Animal-products like meat and dairy lack fiber and may contain cancer-promoting compounds. X CLOSE Low-fat, plant-based diets improve survival. WHY? SHOULD I LOW-FAT, PLANT-BASED DIETS IMPROVE SURVIVAL. Vegan diets limit saturated fat linked to shorter survival after diagnosis. X CLOSE “ Basing our diets around plant foods (like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans), which contain fiber and other nutrients, can reduce our risk of cancer. ” World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention Recommendations TWEET Foods for Cancer Prevention Learn More BLOG 7 Ways a Vegan Diet Fights Cancer “Basing our diets around plant foods (like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans), which contain fiber and other nutrients, can reduce our risk of cancer.” – World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention Recommendations BLOG Cancer Survivors Pay It Forward With Food for Life Instruction EXAM ROOM PODCAST The Diet to Prevent and Survive Cancer | Dr. Shireen Kassam DID YOU KNOW? Sweet potatoes are high in cancer-preventing beta-carotene. <p>Sweet potatoes are high in cancer-preventing beta-carotene.</p> Learn More. BLOG 7 Ways a Vegan Diet Fights Cancer HEALTH AND NUTRITION NEWS American Cancer Society Calls for More Plants, Less Red and Processed Meat EXAM ROOM PODCAST One Day to Wellness: Nutrition, Cancer, and Erectile Dysfunction RESOURCE Breast Cancer RESOURCE Colorectal Cancer RESOURCE Ovarian Cancer RESOURCE Prostate Cancer Join the Kickstart Prevention starts today. Join the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart. 21-Day Kickstart Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Get Updates Email image/svg+xml .st0{fill:#FF0000;} .st1{fill:#FFFFFF;} .st2{fill:#282828;} Footer Main Navigation Ethical Science Our Research News Take Action About Us Footer Utility Navigation Events Shop Contact Media Center Barnard Medical Center Careers Recursos en Español ©2021 Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine PCRM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID 52-1394893 Footer Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Use