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Eating to Prevent Cancer

By: Patricia Jett, M.D.

Can you prevent cancer by watching what you put in your mouth? Researchers are discovering that eating certain foods – and avoiding others – can reduce your risk of getting certain types of cancer.

‘Good’ and ‘bad’ foods

People who eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains and beans tend to get less cancer. That may be because those foods are high in antioxidants — chemicals that fight the cell damage that leads to cancer. Besides fresh produce, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables have many of the same important nutrients. Be mindful of canned goods, as they may contain more salt.

On the other hand, if you eat a lot of fat, sugar and refined carbs (like white bread), you’re more likely to gain weight and become obese. Obesity is linked to several types of cancer, so it’s important to keep your weight low. Try to limit your carb intake to < 30 grams per serving.

Are you at a healthy weight? Check your Body Mass Index (BMI).

Some healthy eating tips:

  • Try to eat at least 2 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables every day, and get a variety of types and colors. Be adventurous; try something new!
  • Choose whole-grain products, such as breads, pastas and brown rice, instead of those with refined grains. Quinoa anyone?
  • Avoid high-calorie processed foods and sugary beverages like soda, sweet tea, and juice-flavored drinks. Also watch those flavored waters – read your labels.
  • Reduce your intake of processed meats such as bacon, sausage, lunch meats and hot dogs.
  • Choose fish and poultry instead of red meat. If you eat red meat, choose lean cuts and smaller portions.
  • Try to drink at least 64 oz. of water a day.

Watch out for alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol is also linked to several types of cancer. All types — beer, wine, and spirits — seem to raise your chances. Limit yourself to one drink a day (1.5 oz. liquor, 5 oz wine, or 12 oz beer) if you’re a woman and two drinks a day if you’re a man.

Besides healthy eating, physical activity is important for reducing your cancer risk. Learn more from the American Cancer Society.

 

Dr. Patricia Jett is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and practices in MPCP’s Annapolis office. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her residency program in Family Practice at Franklin Square Hospital Center.

Maybe Not So Safe: New Evidence On E-Cigarettes

When e-cigarettes were introduced in the U.S. in 2006, they were promoted as a safer alternative to smoking. Users inhale nicotine-infused vapor, without the mix of carcinogenic chemicals found in regular cigarettes.

E-cigarettes and vaporizers (which produce large, fluffy clouds of vapor) have gained popularity among current and former smokers, as well as those who have never smoked, including teenagers. The idea that e-cigarettes are safe is so widespread that some smokers are switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

Since e-cigarettes are relatively new, there isn’t much research linking them to specific diseases. However, most doctors would probably agree that sucking clouds of nicotine-laden vapor (propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin) into your lungs is probably not a good idea.

But now, two recent studies suggest e-cigarette users risk harming their airways, suffering bacterial infections, and compromising their immune system.

Airway inflammation: In experiments with mice, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System found that mice exposed to e-cigarette vapors were more likely to suffer inflammation of their airways. They also observed that e-cigarette vapor appeared to make bacteria – including the antibiotic-resistant MRSA “superbug” ─ more dangerous. Twenty-five percent of mice infected with MRSA died after exposure to e-cigarette vapor, compared to zero mice that weren’t exposed. In fact, the vapor seemed to make bacteria thrive.

The study did not link e-cigarette vapor to specific diseases. However, scientists noted that some of the physiological changes observed in the mice are also found in the airways and blood of cigarette smokers, while other changes are found in people with cancer or inflammatory lung diseases.

Bacterial infection: In a second study, researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health exposed mice to e-cigarette vapor and then subjected them to Streptococcus pneumoniae, bacteria responsible for pneumonia and sinusitis, or the virus for Influenza A.  Mice exposed to e-cigarette vapor were significantly more likely to develop compromised immune responses to both the virus and the bacteria, which in some cases killed the mice.

Since e-cigarettes have not been fully studied, it isn’t known what their long-term effects may be, but public officials aren’t waiting to find out. At least 38 states place restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, and more than 100 cities have prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in public places. Also, the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has proposed regulating them as tobacco products.

More research is needed, but the two studies cited in this article do suggest that e-cigarettes are not the safe alternative to smoking people once thought they were.

Patricia Jett, M.D.Dr. Patricia Jett is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and practices in MPCP’s Annapolis office. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her residency program in Family Practice at Franklin Square Hospital Center.