Epidemiological studies estimate that nearly 15 percent of worldwide cancers are associated with microbial infection; this may include cervical cancer and the HPV1 virus, bowel cancer and inflammatory bowel disease due to bacterial dysbiosis and stomach cancer secondary to H. Pylori infection. All of these infectious agents are associated with an inflammatory response in the body.
One way the immune system deals with these invaders is to release free radicals that kill the invading viruses and bacteria. However, these free radicals can also damage to the DNA of healthy cells. These cells either repair themselves or die. If a large number of cells die in an area secondary to an infection there is an inflammatory mediated response that may lead to tumour growth.
Many other cancers may be the result of long term chronic irritation and inflammation such as in smoking and lung cancer or chemical toxicity (xenoestrogens) and breast cancer. Once again there is DNA damage, inflammation, cell death and tumour growth.
Eventually these tumours are capable of releasing inflammatory chemicals that can maintain their growth, such as by initiating the growth of new blood vessels that feed further tumour growth.
I’m not going to present an “anti cancer” diet today, but I am going to suggest that sugar could be a contributing cause to cancers. Cancer loves sugar is a statement that seems to get banded around. Cancer cells appear to use a combination of lots of sugar and specific proteins to ignore cellular instructions to die and keep growing. Plus we know that people who consume more omega 3 fats, antioxidants and fibre suffer less from cancer. So by eating a diet that is anti-inflammatory such as a diet rich in oily fish, fruits and vegetables may protect you from cancer. Tomorrow I’ll discuss cancer and diabetes and present some other anti-inflammatory foods. Stay tunes.
