Nutrition for Cancer Prevention and Control: A Review of Dietary Risk Factors and Protective Measures

Abstract

Dietary management is one of the top research interests in the field of human cancer, but due to the heavy focus of cancer studies mainly on detection and medical treatment, the role of nutrition in prevention has generally received little research attention, and standards of care in cancer treatment do not effectively consider diet-based interventions as either an alternative or a complementary practice. It is generally believed that an unbalanced diet, unhealthy dietary patterns, and the consumption of nutrient-deficient foods contribute to the occurrence of various cancers. In contrast, adequate consumption of healthy, natural foods rich in essential nutrients may reduce the risk of cancer and help cancer patients better recover from the adverse effects of medical treatments. However, little is known about how dietary interventions interact with cancer. This study aims to provide an overview of several major dietary cancer risk factors and protective measures, as well as nutritional recommendations for the management of this disease. Moreover, based on the Warburg hypothesis, several potential dietary interventions have been identified to help maintain nutritional balance and reduce cancer risk. The findings of this study suggest that a balanced healthy diet with alkalizing and anti-inflammatory properties may be effective for maintaining certain aspects of health and reducing the risk of developing cancer. Further research should be performed to explore whether such dietary interventions could have an impact on the incidence or development of cancer.