PLANT-HEAVY DIETS MORE FIRMLY LINKED TO LOWER CANCER RATES IN NEW STUDY

A new large-scale study strengthens the link between plant-based diets and a reduced risk of cancer.

Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research analyzed nearly 80,000 cancer-free individuals from the Adventist Health Study, tracking their diets and cancer outcomes over 7.9 years.

Vegetarians had a 12% lower overall risk of cancer and an 18% reduced risk for several medium-frequency cancers, including melanoma, lymphoma, and pancreatic cancer.

Subgroups such as vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians also showed meaningful reductions, with vegans experiencing a striking 24% drop in overall cancer risk.

A Nature Microbiology study earlier this year revealed that plant-heavy diets shape gut microbes in ways that may reduce colon cancer risk-even among omnivores who were seen for colorectal, stomach, and lymphoproliferative cancers. While the evidence isn’t conclusive for all cancer types, the study found no increased cancer risk linked to vegetarian diets. Experts caution that diet is only one part of the cancer prevention puzzle-physical activity, weight control, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol also matter.

Source: science_sphere

RESEARCH PAPER

Fraser, Gary E et al, “Longitudinal associations between vegetarian dietary habits and site-specific cancers in the Adventist Health Study-2 North American cohort”, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 122, Issue 2, 535 – 543