Good news, you can eat anything. Bad news you are still not allowed to eat too much. Yesterday, for the first time, the National Cancer Institute (Inca) in France and the Directorate General of Health has issued a statement on nutrition and cancer prevention(1).
Obesity is the one word finding as to the greatest contributing factor: the balance. "No food is anticancer or pro cancer. It is scandalous that we must eat something, and it stigmatizes other foods," insisted Professor Dominique Maraninchi, President of the Inca. Exit therefore rosemary and ginger, touted by the oncologist David Servan-Schreiber. "As for alcohol, it is false to say that two glasses (a day) are healthy. It is never true," says Dominique Maraninchi. More seriously: "We have to stop and separate prevention and treatment. Today, two cancers are preventable, but this is not the same as avoidable. When I see that a few oncologists prescribe to their patients do this or don’t eat that, yes, there are things that can be done, but a different approach is needed for prevention”. Hence this booklet documents research, carried out from almost 7 000 studies published around the world, designed by 200 scientists, it attempts to define the links between consumption such as foods and cancer.

Let’s start with the bad news, namely the factors that increase the risk. The lobbies will be annoyed with the fact that the first on the list is wine: drinking is fun, and whatever the amount drunk, it's not terrible. "The consumption of alcoholic beverages is associated with an increased risk of several cancers: mouth, pharynx and larynx, colon, breast and liver, ranging from 9% to 168% per glass (drunk per day)" according to the Survey. Everyone needs to find their balance. In the same sort of general way, being overweight and obesity should be avoided; loosing weight when you are overweight is probably the best form of prevention. In France, 3% of adults are overweight and 1.2% categorised as obese.

Entering into the details of our plates we know and it is confirmed, we should not abuse the red meat and sausages. "The risk of colorectal cancer increases by 29% per 100 g of red meat consumed per day, and 21% per serving of 50 g of meats per day." Similarly, the consumption of salt taken increases the risk of stomach cancer. Two thirds of men and a quarter of women have higher intakes of salt than (the recommended) 8 grams per day, which is quite excessive. More troubling, it is necessary to avoid dietary supplements based on beta-carotene this shows an increased risk of lung cancer.

Breastfeed. So what? "Eat balanced. And for the rest, be physically active. Exercise at least 5 times a week at thirty minutes per day, or if you prefer 3 days per week twenty minutes, but with a physical activity of higher intensity. Between sessions, do not hesitate to eat fruits and vegetables. "Their consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cancers of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus, stomach, and lung." Finally, for mothers, it is good to breastfeed. "This significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer before and after menopause."

In short, the recommendations of balanced nutrition, without too much excess, and without bad habits a little wine every day, with a pinch of salt systematically. Finally, our experts have prepared a questionnaire to catch up. Milk causes there cancer? Do Phyto-oestrogens protect you? Some cooking methods they increase the risk? Coffee gives he is cancer? And additives such as sweeteners, preservatives, colorants, what happens? What about red wine? Protège-t-il? As for pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, is that they constitute a risk? To all these questions, one answer is no.

(1) Nutrition and cancer prevention, published by the Inca, Nacre. Available online sante.gouv.fr. (In French)