Booklet helps people find out the truth behind food and cancer
Do you want to know if you should avoid red meat, soya, alcohol, gluten, sugar, and artificial sweeteners? Do new trends like vitamin infusions work? Are special diets and organic foods beneficial in preventing and treating cancer?
A recent survey of over 1,000 Irish cancer survivors reported more than half (56%) felt confused by nutrition information available in the media and offered by people around them. Almost 4 in 10 (37%) were following, or had tried, alternative diets from restricting certain foods to herbal remedies, juicing or detoxes, and 3 in 10 (32%) reported avoiding specific foods like processed meat or dairy.
In response to the lack of scientific based information available to cancer patients and the public interested in the link between diet and cancer, and the sometimes-dangerous alternative diets that people experiment with, Breakthrough Cancer Research and UCC have published a new booklet that delves into ‘The Truth Behind Food and Cancer’. It was released last week at the Irish Association for Cancer Research annual conference.
Written and compiled by senior cancer/oncology dietitians Dr Aoife Ryan, UCC, and Clodagh Scannell RD, along with consultant medical oncologist Dr Derek Power and research nutritionist Michelle Hanna BSc, UCC, it provides accurate information on fad diets that have not yet been proven to be safe or effective in the prevention or treatment of cancer.
It exposes the most common myths and misconceptions around the links between food and cancer, and offers simple explanations and advice based on medical evidence.
Some of the topics covered in ‘The Truth Behind Food and Cancer’ include the lack of link between consuming soya or dairy and cancer. They also cover the use of vitamin and mineral supplements, vitamin infusions, superfoods and organic food and the effects of restricting sugar.
Other areas addressed include intermittent fasting, alkaline diets, juicing and detoxing, Gerson therapy, coffee enemas, apricot kernels and vitamin B17, and alternative treatment centres. The booklet also contains simple advice on eating well and top tips during chemotherapy and cancer treatment, along with recipes and nourishing meal suggestions.
One of the authors Clodagh Scannell said: “Today there is a lot of misinformation in the media and the aim of this resource is to provide people who have been diagnosed with cancer accurate and reliable information that is backed up by scientific evidence. I hope this resource will bring some clarity to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer and reassure them that nutrition does not need to be over-complicated.”
Prof. Michaela Higgins, President of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO) said: “It is very important to let your care team know if you are considering a change to your diet or taking supplements, as some of these may impact your treatment or cause harm. ISMO are happy to endorse this helpful, free resource.”
Louise Reynolds, Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, said: “We are thrilled to endorse this new booklet which provides simple explanations based on scientific evidence.”
Elaine Tierney, Cancer Survivor, said: “No jargon, no nonsense, straight up, accessible advice from experts without an agenda. Invaluable for those of us going through and beyond active treatment. I know this booklet will also be so useful for people and carers looking for evidence-based advice to support and help loved ones diagnosed with cancer.”
The advice in this booklet comes from evidence-based sources including the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research. Recommendations made by these organisations are endorsed by the WHO. Production of the booklet was supported by Breakthrough Cancer Research.
Free copies can be obtained in local hospitals and cancer support centres, or by contacting breakthroughcancerresearch.ie.