Want Some Cancer Advice That Actually Holds Up? Here It Is...

Ever found yourself at the grocery or the vitamin store wondering what leafy green or supplement could actually stop cancer at your doorstep and not be just some marketing hype?

No problem if you say "yes," because it's something we've all problem done for the simple reason that there's so many "do this, not that" signals coming at us, it gets downright confusing.

To get some straight answers, Smart Senior Daily tracked down Dr. Pablo Prichard, a board-certified surgeon and co-founder of Vincere Cancer Center (not to mention the host of NBC’s Forever Young), who told us the answer is simpler than most people expect – much simpler...

"Cancer isn’t a single moment — it’s a process. And that means what you do day in and day out matters more than any one ‘superfood" he said.

What actually lowers cancer risk

Prichard then laid out five things that he's found that he's found proven to lower cancer risk

1. Eat more plants — consistently, not perfectly
This one is as close to "no fail" as you can get.

Proof? Ok – the American Institute for Cancer Research found that people who consumed diets high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables were linked to lower colorectal cancer risk. Simple as that.

“These foods contain compounds that help block cancer-causing processes at a cellular level,” Prichard explains.

2. Cut back on processed meats
Another one that easily rolls off the tongue of nutrition scientists.

The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen. That means hot dogs, ham, sausages, corned beef, and beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces should be hands-off as best you can.

“It’s not about fear — it’s about long-term exposure,” Prichard says.

3. Keep your weight in a healthy range
When it comes to weight, we should stop thinking about how we look and think more about how much of a risk it is to our overall biological health.

Says who? Says the American Cancer Society, who links excess body fat to at least 13 cancers.

Prichard told Smart Senior Daily this: “Metabolic health plays a bigger role than most people realize.”

4. Rethink alcohol — even moderate use matters
This is where many people are surprised – probably because we've all been told that a glass or two of wine every day might be ok.

But, in its research, the National Cancer Institute confirmed alcohol actually increases risk for several cancers — even at low levels.

Prichard: "From a cancer standpoint, less really is better."

5. In addition to ultra-processed foods, watch your intake of sugary drinks
A newer but growing concern brought on by a hefty 2018 study in the journal BMJ (summarized by the National Institutes of Health) which determined that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with increased cancer risk.

“Chronic inflammation creates an environment where cancer is more likely to develop,” Prichard says.

Don't believe the hype

Do detox juices remove cancer toxins? N-o, no.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says there’s zero evidence detox diets remove toxins. Zero.

Why, Dr. Prichard?

“Your liver and kidneys already do that job,” Prichard says.

And “Alkaline diets” don’t change your cancer risk, either.
That stuff you hear about diet changing our body pH in a cancer-relevant way? The American Institute for Cancer Research notes that it doesn't meaningfully do that.

Raw food diets aren’t superior to other diets
Another misconception. You can eat all the raw celery, kale, radishes, tomatoes, etc. all day and night, but you can't find any major cancer group that recommends raw-only diets for prevention. Instead, the nod goes to cooking which they feel can improve nutrient absorption.

The bottom line

If this all sounds familiar, that’s because it is: the same habits that support heart health and longevity show up here in cancer prevention, too.

“The goal isn’t perfection,” as Prichard bottom-lined things. “It’s consistency.”