Fruits and Veggies Everyday Keep Cancer at Bay?

Growing up my parents always stressed the importance of eating my fruits and vegetables. I never really knew why, but I did it so that I could get dessert after dinner. Last week while looking at my food log as well as my peer’s I realized that none of us really ate fruits or vegetables. Whenever I am in the dining hall I always try to grab a piece of fruit. However the variety is usually pretty slim. The staples as far as fruit goes are tasteless apples and bruised bananas. Vegetables I have noticed are always soaked in butter, which defeats the purpose of vegetables. So I can see why no one is really eating his or her fruits and vegetables. However a couple years ago I remember hearing of a study that said eating fruits and vegetables could lower the risk of cancer. However a recent study shows that this may not be the case.

In the article Study Further Erodes Evidence for Eating Fruits and Vegetables to Prevent Cancer Mike Mitka reported on the recent findings. It was once believed that by consuming fruits and vegetables could reduce your risk of cancer by as much as fifty percent. However recent studies are now showing that this might not be the case. Mitka reported Paolo Bofetta, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and deputy director at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City as saying, “Our interpretation of the results is that there is a reduction in cancer risk for high intake, but the magnitude is not as big as previously thought” (pg. 2127). According to Mitka this doesn’t mean that this is an excuse to skip fruits and veggies altogether. As it turns out fruits and vegetables do contribute to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes. Eating fruits and veggies helps you maintain a lower weight, which contributes to the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes, among other benefits.

However this study isn’t to say that fruits and veggies don’t contribute to a lower risk of cancer, it just isn’t as high as once reported. According to Mitka “researchers found that increasing fruit and vegetable intake by 200 g daily was associated with a 3% reduction in cancer risk. A medium-sized apple weighs about 300 g, while a serving of broccoli weighs about 100 g” (pg.2127). So while this isn’t as much as once thought it is still a reduction in one of the most feared and deadly diseases.

Even though eating fruits and vegetables may not reduce your risk by fifty percent, there are still other health advantages. Eating the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables helps you maintain a healthy weight, which in of it self leads to many health benefits. The study did say that by eating healthy and minimizing junk food mixed with regular exercise is the recipe for an increased life span. So next time while I am at the dining hall I will try a little harder to seek out fruits and vegetables that are more appealing. After all it could just help me live a healthier and longer life.

Works Cited:

Mitka, Mike. "Study Further Erodes Evidence for Eating Fruits and Vegetables to Prevent Cancer." American Medical Association 303.21 (2010): 2127-2128. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://jama.jamanetwork.com/data/Journals/JAMA/4515/jmn0602_2127_2128.pdf>.