A doctor has shared the three foods he believes everyone should include in their diet to help reduce the risk of cancer.
With over 385,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the UK – and one in two people likely to develop the disease at some point in their lives – many of us are worried about how cancer may affect us. While Cancer Research UK states that 62% of cancer cases are not preventable, there are steps we can take to lower our risk, including maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol intake.
In a TikTok video captioned “What a doctor eats,” Dr Tim Tiutan – a board-certified internal medicine physician who treats cancer patients – shared the foods he would recommend incorporating into his diet.
Lentils
First, Dr Tiutan identified lentils as an “underrated yet highly nutritious food” that is rich in protein and fibre – both of which are associated with a lower risk of cancer. According to Signature MD, consuming lentils and other pulses can reduce our risk of cancer in several ways.
“Beans and lentils contain numerous phytochemicals that slow or prevent damage to the DNA, the basis of cancer,” the website explains. Fibre is also associated with a lower risk of digestive cancers such as colon cancer.
Cruciferous vegetables
Dr Tiutan went on to highlight the health benefits of cruciferous vegetables, stating: “They’re high in various nutrients like sulphorophanes, which studies suggest are cancer-fighting compounds.” This group of veggies, including broccoli, kale, cauliflower, bok choi, cabbage and rocket, are so packed with nutrition that one doctor even asked if they had been “blessed by God” due to their nutritional content.
In a previous TikTok, Dr Robert G DeBease said: “They protect the liver. They’ve been shown to reduce liver fat accumulation and improve your body’s ability to burn fat. They also help create liver-detoxifying enzymes to remove harmful estrogen, environmental toxins and heavy metals.”
Olive oil
While oils can be a contentious topic in health discussions, olive oil is recognised for its heart-healthy fats and health-promoting properties when consumed in moderation. “It’s pretty much the only oil I eat or cook with,” he said.
“It’s lower in saturated fat, it’s full of antioxidants, and it’s an integral part of the Mediterranean diet.” He praised the Mediterranean diet, known for its use of seasonal vegetables, lean meats and healthy fats, as “the most evidence-based and sustainable diet out there.”
A study spearheaded by Hunter College in New York has indicated that specific olive oils may have the capacity to obliterate human cancer cells. The research summary revealed: “Previous studies demonstrated that a component found in some olive oils-oleocanthal-has this cancer-killing power,” and further clarified, “The new study demonstrates that olive oils rich in oleocanthal are powerful enough to kill cancer cells, while oleocanthal-poor olive oils are not.”
Although more investigation is needed to confirm the true potency of olive oil against cancer cells, its anti-inflammatory benefits are already well-established.