Researchers have tried to find a correlation between cancer and our diets for decades. That could mean some cancers could be preventable by adopting a healthier diet and lifestyle compared to the current medical model where the disease is treated. Although the medical community thinks more research is needed, a study conducted with 70,000 U.S. volunteers found that those who don’t eat meat had a lower rate of cancer than meat eaters. Furthermore, those with vegan diets (not eating animal bi-products like meat, fish, and dairy) had the lowest cancer rate of any diet (per Mayo Clinic).
Similarly, a 2021 study by the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the World Health Organization, and the Imperial College in London analyzed the effects of meat, dairy, and processed sugar on the bodies of 318,686 females, over a year. The study concluded that these inflammatory-inducing foods increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer by up to 12%. On a smaller scale, with more alarming statistics, a study by the International Journal of Epidemiology found that consuming a glass of high-fat dairy can increase women’s chances of breast cancer by more than 50%.
Although these studies are promising, convincing Americans to stop eating meat is problematic. The American diet is centered around animal bi-products, with the average person consuming 274 pounds of beef annually. In addition to a plant-based diet, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine suggests limiting alcohol, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight to minimize cancer risks.