Diet and Nutrition
The role of diet in the development of cancer has not been clearly established. Most studies now show that a diet high in fats does not increase one's risk of getting cancer. However, a diet low in fats and high in fiber, reducing the amount of meat and dairy products, sugar, processed foods, alcohol and caffeine in your diet, and increasing the amount of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits is recommended for your general good health.
Eating foods that nourish your body will strengthen your ability to cope with illness, infection and stress, and enhance your self-esteem.
A nutritious diet is important to maintaining a strong immune system and general good health. Eating foods that nourish your body will strengthen your ability to cope with illness, infection and stress, and enhance your self-esteem. Cooking and eating well is a way of taking responsibility for your health and reminding yourself that you are committed to caring for your body.
Books -- available at bookstores and health food stores -- discuss the relationship between diet and health. Increasingly, cookbooks and restaurant menus are available for people who want to eat low-fat meals, live a vegetarian lifestyle or follow a diet of natural, whole foods.
If you decide to make sweeping changes in your diet, you will probably want to do some careful research before doing so, and consult a qualified nutritionist or other certified health practitioner.
Making changes in eating, and in other life-style habits, takes time and may require exploration and experimentation until you find what feels right for you. It's a process so be patient with yourself. Set reasonable goals that you are likely to meet. Trying to follow a regime that you find too time-consuming, costly or rigid may not advance your goal of feeling better.
What role does soy play in breast cancer?
A topic that has been brought to the forefront in recent years is the relationship between soy products and breast cancer. To read an article on the topic, take a look at the Winter 2005 issue of Lifeline.
