Chronic inflammation plays a certain role in the development of cancer.
Our daily diet can be divided into “pro-inflammatory food” and “anti-inflammatory food” according to certain standards, which can affect the occurrence and development of some cancers by promoting or inhibiting the inflammatory microenvironment in the body.
There are probably only two or three steps from inflammation to cancer!
Relevant studies have shown that the inflammatory environment in the body is an important risk factor leading to various cancers. Many cancers occur on the basis of chronic inflammation, such as:
Smoking → tracheitis → silicosis and lung cancer
Gastritis → Helicobacter pylori → stomach cancer
Chronic ulcerative colitis → colon cancer
Chronic hepatitis → liver cancer
In addition, continued inflammation can lead to cell death and proliferation, giving cancer an opportunity. Some types of diet can cause persistent inflammation and even accelerate the development of cancer.
Expert doctors point out that chronic inflammation is a long-term disease that can develop gradually over months or years. Some diseases can adversely affect the immune system, leading to repeated or persistent low levels of inflammation in the body, and this “chronic low-grade inflammation” is linked to your health. According to research, chronic low-grade inflammation can cause DNA damage, which may lead to cancer, such as colon, lung, stomach, esophagus and breast cancer.
It’s not just that cancer is linked to diet. In April 2021, a review of 15 meta-analyses of 4 million people found that a pro-inflammatory diet increased the risk of 27 chronic diseases and early death. Researchers found strong evidence linking pro-inflammatory diets to heart attacks, premature death, cancers of the bowel, pancreas, respiratory and oral cancers and depression.
So what is a pro-inflammatory diet?
Pro-inflammatory diet: the long-term consumption of foods that may increase the level of inflammation in the body;
Anti-inflammatory diet: Foods that help reduce inflammation levels.
Researchers at the University of South Carolina examined 1943 similar studies and published a dietary Inflammation Index (DII) in 2014, which quantifies the anti-inflammatory versus pro-inflammatory effects of a diet.
Generally speaking, the general “pro-inflammatory diet” is more sweets, high fat food, refined carbohydrate food, processed meat and so on, and the “anti-inflammatory diet” is more vegetables and fruits, whole grains, deep sea fish, olive oil and so on.
Avoid these “pro-inflammatory” diets!
Foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates
This is not only limited to sugar, but also includes refined carbohydrates containing a large amount of starch such as white rice, steamed bread, white bread, cake and biscuits. Blood glucose rises quickly after eating. High blood glucose levels can easily promote the growth of bacteria and viruses, and at the same time promote the release of insulin and adrenaline, leading to increased inflammatory factors in the body and aggravating inflammatory responses.
Fatty foods, fried foods
A study published in the June 2017 issue of the Journal of Lipid Research found that when mice were fed a high-fat diet, cells in the small intestine responded in the same way as a viral infection, triggering the production of certain immune molecules and leading to systemic inflammation.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016), each of us should consume 25 to 30 grams of cooking oil per day. In fact, according to the 2012 Chinese Nutrition and Health Survey, the average daily fat intake of Chinese residents is 80 grams (33.1% of total energy intake), and the average daily edible oil intake of urban and rural residents is 43 grams, far more than the recommended amount.
Red meat, processed meat
The study, “Dietary Nutrition and Inflammation-Cancer Risk,” found that the digestion of red meat produces large amounts of ferrous ions and n-nitroso compounds, which trigger the carcinogenesis of cells by inducing cross-links between complementary base pairs of DNA in the case of repeated inflammation.
Therefore, it is recommended to eat more white meat and less red meat and processed meat. Shi Hanping, director of the gastrointestinal surgery department at Beijing Shijitan Hospital, said that people can reduce their intake of red meat and processed meat to no more than five times a week. Increase the proportion of non-processed meat such as fresh meat and white meat such as chicken, duck, goose and fish in total meat intake.
Eat as many “anti-inflammatory” foods as possible!
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fiber as well as vitamin C, beta carotene and polyphenols, most of which are great antioxidants and help reduce the body’s inflammatory response.
Published in 2021 in chongqing medicine research progress of relationship between the dietary inflammation index and cancer “is mentioned, a case-control study of 460 patients with laryngeal cancer shows that, to increase anti-inflammatory diet intake, such as rich in dietary fiber and bioactive substances of fruits and vegetables, reducing the intake of proinflammatory diet such as Fried foods or processed foods that are rich in saturated fat, Can reduce the risk of throat cancer.
Autumn and winter to eat more fruits and vegetables. Wang Kai, an attending physician in the nutrition department of Hebei Provincial People’s Hospital, said it is best to focus on dark vegetables and leafy vegetables, while fruits can be seasonal apples, oranges, bananas and pears.
Whole grain
Whole grains are a good source of dietary fiber. “The relationship between dietary nutrition and inflammation – cancer risk” points out that dietary fiber can be combined with carcinogens, absorb heterocyclic amines, improve the intestinal epithelial tissue hyperplasia, maintain the integrity of intestinal epithelial cells. Helps lower levels of certain inflammatory cytokines.
Currently recognized whole grains are wheat, barley, rice, oats, rye, corn, millet.
fish
Eat fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel regularly, which are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
tea
Tea polyphenols are rich in tea, which is also a kind of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance.
Some condiments
Curry, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, rosemary and thyme. These foods are loaded with natural anti-inflammatory substances such as curcumin, of which curry and ginger are good.
