Oral cancer includes the cancer of the mouth and throat and is an ever growing disease. There are already a number of people who are suffering from this horrible cancer. The most common causative agents of oral cancer are alcohol and smoking, but these are not the only causes of oral cancer. Other factors that are as important are a virus called HPV 16, which is a strain of human papilloma virus, as well as genetics and diet. While people can’t do anything about their genetics, they can definitely do something about all the other factors and lower the risk of occurrence of oral cancer. Today we will talk about the diet factor and how it is linked to not only oral cancer but other cancers as well.
Diet is the first and easiest way to a healthier body including the mouth. Over 50 years, the relationship of diet and and all cancers, including oral cancer is closely observed. It was noted that people who eat plant-based food, whole grains and natural food are less-likely to get cancer. As the philosopher Socrates said, you have to make food your medicine and your medicine should be your food. You do not need to take drugs if you know what to eat and you keep a healthy diet.
What are the chemicals that can trigger oral cancer?
Carcinogen is the collective term for cancer triggering substances. One of such substances known to be a carcinogen are called Nitrosamines. As modern life demands speed in all aspects of movement including food preparation, instant and preserved alternatives are made available. Processed meat contains nitrosamines to keep it preserved, especially used in meets like hot dogs, ham and bacon. Beer, cheese byproduct, and other salty preserves contain this, also. The effect of nitrosamines is that they damage the DNA make up of our cells and this damage causes our cells to alter and become cancer producing.
Another way that the DNA can be damaged is by “free radicals”. These are molecules that are unstable and produced by normal cellular functions. The best way to prevent these free radicals to cause cancer is to have a good dose of anti oxidants in the body. Remember, prevention is the key.
Foods that can prevent oral cancer
Substances like natural phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins A and C are said to be cancer fighters. Fruits and vegetables are great diet options if you want to stay healthy. There is a synergistic effect of the combination of fiber, mineral and vitamin essentials. This means that while OTC supplements can be helpful to get the daily vitamin and anti-oxidants needed, the synergistic effect is not achieved. Carotenoids are the main anti-oxidants which give that orange and red color to the vegetables and fruits. The fibers that come with the natural food is also an important dietary factor. Prevention of any type of cancer is to eat a balanced natural diet as described here.
American Cancer Society has said that one-third of all 500,000 cancer deaths are attributed to poor diet and exercise. Habitual intakeof fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer in all parts of the body. Avoiding HPV 16 means maintaining healthy sexual practice (safe sex). Vaccination can help lessen the incidence of HPV 16 cancers. Tobacco cessation and reducing your intake of alcohol is very important as well. Also maintaining your regular checkups with your dentist and physician are very important in the prevention and early detection of oral cancer and other cancers. If you follow the above suggestions, you will reduce your risk of developing cancer tremendously.
Watch this video on HPV
In conclusion, prevention is the most impostant factor in establishing good health and avoiding diseases.
By: Ladan Zinati
By: Ladan Zinati
Avoid Oral Cancer With Your Diet | St James Dental Group
August 8, 2013[…] Read about how you can prevent oral cancer with your diet […]
Edith
August 9, 2013I was unaware that foods like hot dogs had chemicals that could lead to oral cancer. I will have to watch my diet for those nitrosamines. Fortunately, I don’t smoke and already eat many foods with anti-oxidants. I won’t have to change my diet too much.
admin
August 11, 2013Edith, it’s great that you are aware of the importance of keeping a good diet. If you do the minor changes like eating hot dogs or anything with nitrosamines, then you are on your way to a better health.
jeremy
August 14, 2013so I was wondering if you could elaborate for me the reasons why alcohol causes oral cancer?
and you where talking about how diet can help dramatically decrease the risk of oral cancer (as well as all other cancers)I was thinking about wheatgrass. I was reading an article about the effects of wheat grass and one was that it was a cancer fighting agent due to it containing 98 of the 102 earth elements and 90% xylem. do you know of this being true?
admin
August 18, 2013Jeremy, in regards to reasons why alcohol causes cancer: In our bodies, alcohol (ethanol) is converted into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde. It can cause cancer by damaging DNA and stopping our cells from repairing this damage. Also, Alcohol makes it easier for the tissues of the mouth and throat to absorb the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco. This is one reason why people who drink and smoke multiply the damage they receive and have especially high risks of cancer.
I hope that helps. In regards to wheatgrass, I don’t know a lot about it, but I know that it has lots of benefits for te body and one being that it contains cancer fighting agent.
Lyn
August 14, 2013Wow, that’s so crazy… If only everyone was aware that what we eat really does effect our health. Thank you for posting this article. I’ll be making a bigger effort to make sure my family eats healthier and avoids nitrosamine preservatives.
admin
August 18, 2013Lyn, you are very welcome. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting.
Derrick Quick
August 18, 2013I never knew the chemicals in certain foods could cause oral cancer. This article gives me another reason to stay healthy by eating right and exercising regularly!
admin
August 21, 2013Hi Derrick. I am glad this article on prevent oral cancer with your diet gave you more reasons to stay healthy.
Kim
August 19, 2013I watched the video on HPV and can’t thank you enough for including this information. Like many, I guess I just thought smoking and other forms of tobacco caused oral cancer. I plan to learn more about the vaccine.