New Study: Sustainable Diet Protects Against Cancer
Sustainable nutrition not only has a positive impact on the environment but also significantly reduces the risk of cancer. This is demonstrated by a comprehensive systematic review involving research teams from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The results were published in the journal EClinicalMedicine of the Lancet publishing group.
19 Studies Evaluated
For the analysis, data from 17 studies between 1983 and 2022 were considered. A total of 19 effect estimates on the question of the relationship between sustainable nutrition and cancer were included in the evaluation. The studies encompassed the health data of around 2.2 million individuals.
The core statement of the researchers: Those who eat sustainably have a seven percent lower risk of developing cancer. The effect is even more pronounced in terms of mortality: the likelihood of dying from cancer decreases by twelve percent according to the analysis.
Double Benefit: Health and Environment
"Investigating the impact of sustainable nutrition on cancer is of crucial importance," write Marina Kasper from the University of Regensburg and her co-authors, including Tilman Kühn from MedUni Vienna. The study situation demonstrates the double benefit: sustainable nutrition protects both the environment and human health.
However, the research team advocates for improved methods. The studies used so far have been methodologically very heterogeneous. Standardized survey approaches could lead to even more reliable statements in the future.
Plant-Based Nutrition Still Underrepresented
According to calculations by a committee of the journal The Lancet, the number of diet-related cancer cases worldwide increased by eight percent between 2016 and 2021. In Western industrialized nations, about 20 percent of cancer deaths are associated with unhealthy diets – particularly with a low proportion of plant-based foods.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.