Eating vegetables and fruits may protect you from stomach cancer -- the second deadliest cancer worldwide, a new study found.
Previous studies on the role of diet in causing stomach cancer have focused on past dietary habits, leaving the role of ongoing dietary intake unknown. A new study focused on the continuing dietary habits of 40,000 Japanese men and women from 1990 to 2000.
At the end of the study, 404 participants had developed stomach cancer. Researchers compared the diets of those who developed cancer with those who did not, after adjusting for known risk factors of stomach cancer such as age, smoking and drinking.
Individuals in the top 20 percent of the group in terms of weekly fruit and vegetable consumption had a 25 percent lower risk of developing stomach cancer than those in the bottom 20 percent.
Consumption of all fruits and vegetables seemed to lower the risk of cancer, however certain types were more beneficial. Participants who ate "white" vegetables, including cucumber and Chinese cabbage, a minimum of one day a week had a 52 percent lower risk of developing stomach tumors than those who did not.
Those who ate "yellow" vegetables, such as carrots, at least one day a week decreased their risk by 36 percent, while eating fruit at least once a week lowered the risk by about 30 percent.
Researchers concluded that eating even small amounts of fruits and vegetables might lower the risk of stomach cancer.
International Journal of Cancer;102:39-44
Just one more organ system, in addition to those mentioned below, that is positively influenced by vegetables. Many people will want to assume that much of the benefit is due to the fruits, but please recognize that this is not the case.
The bulk of the benefit is from the vegetables. If the fruits we consume were similar to the Paleolithic types rather than the massive mutant fruits we consume today then it is likely that fruits would be comparable to vegetables, but they are not. The fruits that come closest to the earliest fruits are berries, which are relatively high in fiber and low in sugar. However, it is possible to overeat berries so be cautious here.
Everyone should eat as many vegetables as possible within the boundaries of their metabolic type, or unique biochemical individuality.
For example, an Eskimo simply can't eat as many vegetables as a Peruvian Indian can. Not only would they feel poorly but they'd likely develop a ravenous appetite matched only by their sweet cravings, along with who knows what other degenerative process and emotional imbalances.
The best way to determine how many vegetables your body requires is by finding out your metabolic type. You could do this by taking a simple test which is outlined in my new book, Total Health Program. It's important to remember that certain vegetables are better for certain nutritional types. For instance, I am a protein nutritional type and broccoli pushes my biochemistry in an unhealthy direction, so knowing what type I am helps me to avoid certain vegetables. However, the DIM found in broccoli is also in other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, which happens to be good for protein types.For more on vegetables, see my "Recommended Vegetables List" in my newly updated Nutrition Plan.
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