Role of consumption of plant foods in preventing cancer (a review)

Cancer development, or carcinogenesis, requires a series of cellular changes. No single gene causes cancer. It is a multi step process caused by accumulated errors in the genes that control cellularprocesses. One genetic mutation may allow a single trait (such as increased survival) to be acquired by a lineage of cells, and descendants of these cells may then acquire additional genetic mutations. However, cancer only develops when several genes are altered that confer growth and survival advantages over neighboring normal cells.Many dietary factors can affect cancer risk: types of foods, food preparation methods, portion sizes, food variety, and overall caloric balance. Cancer risk can be reduced by an overall dietary pattern that includes a high proportion of plant foods(fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans); limited amounts of meat, dairy, and other high-fat foods; and a balance of caloric intake and physical activity.The evidence is particularly strong that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of colon cancer. Greater consumption of vegetables, fruits, or both together has also been associated with a lower risk of lung cancer. Fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer risk whether or not people smoke. Scientists do not yet know which of the nutrients or other substances in fruits and vegetables may be protective against cancer. The principal possibilities include specific vitamins and minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals -carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenes, sterols, indoles, and phenols- that are present in foods of plant origin. How fruits and vegetables exert their protectiveeffects constitutes an active area of scientific inquiry. Grains are an important source of many vitamins and minerals such as folate, calcium, and selenium, all of which have been associated with a lower risk of colon cancer. Beans are excellent sources of many vitamins and minerals, protein, and fiber. Beans are legumes, the technical term for the family of plants that includes dried beans, pinto beans, lentils, and soybeans, among many others.Until more is known about specific food components, the best advice is to eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Healthful diets contain six to 11 standard servings of foods from this group each day

کلیدواژه ها:

Lung Cancer ، Colon Cancer ، Cancer Prevention ، Lifestyle and Cancer ، Nutrition and Cancer