Prime Highlights:
- A Harvard-trained doctor recommends four simple food replacements to lower rising cancer risk among young adults.
- These include replacing sweetened drinks, lowering alcohol consumption, choosing lean proteins, and opting for whole grains.
Key Facts:
- Sweetened drinks increase early-onset colorectal cancer risk by 32%.
- Alcohol consumption can raise women’s breast cancer risk by 10%.
- Processed meats and red meat are linked to colon and breast cancers.
Key Background :
Stanford- and Harvard-educated gastroenterologist Dr. Sethi has raised the alarm for growing instances of cancer in adults, particularly at the ages 30-40. With cancer becoming the second largest global killer with more than 2 million cases projected to strike in the United States alone by 2025, prevention is largely attributed to change, specifically through change in diet by Dr. Sethi.
He suggests four simple food swaps that are simple to implement and functional. The first is the replacement of seltzer water instead of energy drinks and fizzy drinks. Regular consumption of these has been shown to be associated with a 32% increased risk of contracting early-onset colorectal cancer, the most widespread type of cancer globally. Diet, family history, exercise, and age all contribute to its causation.
Second, Dr. Sethi talks about the health hazards of alcohol. As per the World Health Organization, there is no safe amount of alcohol intake. Two to three alcoholic beverages every day for women can expose them to 10% increased risk of developing breast cancer. He recommends not using alcohol and drinking mocktails when socializing on a trip out.
Third, he recommends substituting red and processed meats such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausages with lean protein such as chicken, turkey, or fish. They are linked with higher rates of colon and breast cancer. Cancer is avoided by eating lean meats without compromising nutrition or taste.
Finally, he recommends changing refined grains such as white pasta and bread to whole grains such as millet, whole wheat, and quinoa. Whole grains contain very high fiber content with minimal stomach sensitivity and are also likely to curb cancer risk through keeping the body with the ideal gut microbiomes composition and alleviating inflammation.
In short, Dr. Sethi explains how plain eating habits play an enormous part in determining the long-term medical impact. Although the changes are tiny, if they were undertaken each day, they would help minimize cancer hazards by a colossal amount.
