Eating Well May Prevent Cancer.
by Dr. Richard Beliveau, QMI Agency
April 26, 2010
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The arrival of long, sunny days is a sure sign that summer is upon us.

While it is always tempting to sit in the sun and sizzle, it is important to be careful to avoid too much exposure and risk developing skin cancers.

In addition to sunscreen, recent studies have suggested that certain foods can also participate in the prevention of these formidable cancers.

There are two main types of skin cancer: non-melanoma, basal cell carcinoma reaches the deep layers of the epidermis; and the melanoma, malignant tumours that are formed by the cells that produce the melanin, the skinÕs pigment.

Statistically, 90% of non-melanoma cancers and 66% of melanomas are caused by excessive sun exposure, a statistic that gets even higher for people with fair skin. Despite numerous campaigns to warn people about the potential dangers of the sun, the incidence of these cancers has dramatically increased in Canada, with the number of cases having doubled between 1970 and 2000.

The negative impact of the sun is the result of the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays found in solar light. Even if the UVB rays account for only 5% of the total amount of ultraviolet light emitted by the sun, the UVB rays remain very dangerous carcinogens because they provoke genetic mutations in skin cells and create an inflammatory environment that allows cells to mutate into cancerous ones.

Beneficial Foods

Because skin cancer relies on the same mechanisms as cancers found in other organs, it should not be too surprising that food items with a reputation for slowing down the progression of certain cancers are equally active against skin cancer. For example, many studies have shown that the addition of green tea to an animal’s diet prevented skin cancer, a protective effect that is in large part the result of the preventative action of the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

The high antioxidant content of certain fruits could also help prevent skin cancer. For example, pomegranate and grape extract can block skin cell inflammation caused by UVB rays and prevent the resulting development of skin lesions.

Certain types of molecules found in large quantities in vegetables can also reduce the production of free radicals by the UVB rays.

The best example is the carotenoids, which are responsible for giving many plants their orange, yellow or red colour. Studies have shown that a diet rich in foods with high quantities of carotenoids caused an increased presence of these molecules in the skin and thus a better protection against UV rays.

Of all carotenoids, the lycopene, a compound found in large quantities in tomatoes, is far and above the most efficient when it comes to neutralizing free radicals caused by UV rays.

For example, a study has shown that daily consumption of tomato paste is associated with an approximately 30% increase in the degree of protection for the skin against the sun. It also resulted in a significant increase in collagen levels, another crucial factor in maintaining the skin’s integrity.

A recent study shows that certain vegetables, such as onions and broccoli, could also play a frontline role in the prevention of skin cancer. In fact, a polyphenol called luteolin found in high quantities in these vegetables can interfere with cellular processes that are activated by UVB rays and consequently interfere with the resulting inflammatory process, thus reducing tumour growth.

So while sun blocks remain the best weapon to protect ourselves from skin cancers, a diet rich in these aforementioned nutrients can actively participate in this prevention as well.

Once again, an amazing example of the impact our diet can have on our health.