Although meat is often labeled as a major culprit in cancers of the esophagus, lung, pancreas,
stomach, colon, breast and prostate, research has shown that other animal proteins, such as the
casein found in milk, can promote cancer development as well. A 2007 study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that the consumption of dairy products affects the
biological pathways associated with cancer development and spread.^92 After following participants
for 65 years, the researchers discovered that a diet rich in dairy products during childhood nearly
tripled the risk of colorectal cancer in adulthood.
It's not just the chemicals found in the animal-centric diets most Americans eat that promote cancer
growth and spread, but also what this type of diet lacks. According to Dr. Fuhrman, cancer is
essentially a "fruit and vegetable deficiency disease."^93 Plant foods, such as whole grains, legumes,
vegetables, and fruits, contain nutrients and other compounds that offer a measure of protection
against cancer.^94 Without these protective nutrients and phytochemicals, the body is more
vulnerable to cellular damage that can lead to cancer.
People who eat the most fruits and vegetables cut their risk of developing cancer in half,^95 while
those who consume high levels of whole grains reduce their risk by 20-50%.^96
The bottom line is:
Meat, other animal products, and fatty foods significantly increase the risk of developing
cancer at many different sites in the body; High-fiber, high-phytochemical plant-based nutrient-rich diets greatly reduce this risk.Heart Disease
A plant-based diet prevents many of the major risk factors linked to the development and
progression of cardiovascular disease, including excess body weight/fat, high blood pressure, high
Uribarri J, Cai W, Sandu O, Peppa M, Goldberg T, Vlassara H. Diet-derived advanced glycation end products are major
contributors to the body’s AGE pool and induce inflammation in healthy subjects. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2005;1043:461-466.
(^92) van der Pols JC, Bain C, Gunnell D, Smith GD, Frobisher C, Martin RM. Childhood dairy intake and adult cancer risk: 65-y
follow-up of the Boyd Orr cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86(6)1722-1729.
(^93) Pugliese G. Prevent Cancer, You Need Nutrients. http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/cancer-prevent-cancer-you-
need-nutrients.html. February 19, 2008.
(^94) World Cancer Research Fund. Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: A global perspective.
Washington, DC: American Institute of Cancer Research, 2007.
(^95) Steinmetz K, Potter J. Vegetables, fruit and cancer, I. Epidemiology. Cancer Causes Control. 1991;2(suppl):325-357.
(^96) Jacobs DR, Marquart L, Slavin J, et al. Whole-grain intake and cancer: an expanded review and meta-analysis. Nutr
Cancer. 1998;30:85-96.