20/04/2026
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined in the United States. Which dietary factors may play a role in our cancer risk?
🔴 Foods we should avoid:
Processed meats are cancer-causing, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. The risk of colorectal cancer is 18% higher for every 50 grams eaten a day, which is about one hot dog, two breakfast links, or two slices of Canadian bacon or ham. Processed meat may also increase the risk of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
🟢 Foods we should eat more of:
A high-fiber diet (one with more than 50 grams a day) is beneficial not just for our overall gut health, but for chronic disease prevention, too. When our friendly gut flora ferment fiber, they produce beneficial compounds like butyrate, which appears to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Fiber may also help improve cholesterol, immune function, and blood sugar control, as well as lower blood pressure, reduce cancer risk (specifically colon and breast cancer), and more.
Fiber is found in whole, unrefined plant foods, such as beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
✅ Overall lifestyle:
Up to 71% of colon cancer cases appear to be preventable through simple diet and lifestyle changes. In addition to eating more fiber and cutting out processed meats, not smoking or drinking alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular exercise may be beneficial for colon cancer prevention.
See our colon cancer videos see.nf/switchdiets and see.nf/preventcoloncancer to learn more.
Visit AICR for even more cancer prevention tips: see.nf/4uSHOLe
PMID: 31198660, 29949327, 22063824, 28450127, 25382817, 25919227, 19857053, 26757481, 104901, 27916707, 10977102
