Week of January 2, 2006
American Institute for Cancer Research
Q: Will a lowfat diet reduce the chance of breast cancer returning?
A: A large national study called the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) showed that women who reduced the fat in their diets to about 33 grams a day had 24 percent less breast cancer recurrence than women who consumed an average of 51 grams of fat a day. The reduction in fat could be the reason for the drop in breast cancer recurrence since saturated fat has been found to promote cancer development in laboratory studies. The women who reduced their fat consumption generally switched to lower-fat versions of cheese, meat, salad dressings and sweets. They also ate less bakery items, doughnuts, ice cream and packaged snack foods. Their reduction in cancer risk, however, could be the result of other factors. In other lowfat diet studies, people who cut back on fatty foods consumed more vegetables and fruits. In addition to increasing a person’s intake of fiber, antioxidant vitamins and protective phytochemicals, a lowfat diet has the potential to reduce calories (since fat is the most concentrated source of calories) and lower a person’s blood sugar load. Regardless of what diet change decreases the risk of cancer returning, a lowfat diet is a strategy worth trying. Keep in mind that a poorly balanced lowfat diet may not produce the same benefit. Furthermore, although WINS did not study the effect of exercise or weight loss, research strongly suggests that a smart cancer-protection strategy should include daily exercise and weight control.
Q: Should I make wheat germ a part of my healthy diet?
A: A quarter cup of wheat germ, the center portion of a grain of wheat, provides almost a third of the total daily recommended amount of vitamin E. It’s also a good source of folate, fiber and several other vitamins and minerals. And its pleasant, nutty flavor tastes great as a topping for yogurts, cereals, salads, or casseroles. However, none of these qualities make wheat germ an essential part of healthy eating. Despite what you might read or hear from some sources, no individual food by itself creates a healthful diet. Instead of thinking of single foods, you should focus on eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans in abundance.
Q: How much fat should be in the milk for my children?
A: The answer depends on the age of your children and the composition of their diet. Babies between the ages of one and two should drink whole milk. They need the calories from the extra fat. The concentration of protein and minerals in lower-fat milk is also too much for their immature kidneys to handle. After age two, reduced-fat (2 percent), lowfat (1 percent) and nonfat (skim) milk are all reasonable choices, depending on your children’s individual needs and the fat content of the rest of their diet. The total amount of fat and saturated fat in your children’s diet should be the deciding factor. If much of your children’s diet includes fairly high-fat foods, then 1 percent or skim milk could help keep their total fat and calorie consumption from rising too high. On the other hand, if their diet contains mostly lowfat foods prepared with little added fat, then 2 percent milk may be suitable. Children in families that serve meals that are quite low in fat may need the extra calories from reduced-fat milk for adequate growth.
# # #
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) offers a Nutrition Hotline online at www.aicr.org or via phone 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, MondayFriday, at 1-800-843-8114. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will respond to your email or call, usually within 3 business days. AICR is the only major cancer charity focusing exclusively on how the risk of cancer is reduced by healthy food and nutrition, physical activity and weight management. The Institute’s education programs help millions of Americans lower their cancer risk. AICR also supports innovative research in cancer prevention and treatment at universities, hospitals and research centers across the U.S. Over $75 million in funding has been provided. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International. All active news articles
Nutrition Wise
Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDNAmerican Institute for Cancer Research
Q: Will a lowfat diet reduce the chance of breast cancer returning?
A: A large national study called the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) showed that women who reduced the fat in their diets to about 33 grams a day had 24 percent less breast cancer recurrence than women who consumed an average of 51 grams of fat a day. The reduction in fat could be the reason for the drop in breast cancer recurrence since saturated fat has been found to promote cancer development in laboratory studies. The women who reduced their fat consumption generally switched to lower-fat versions of cheese, meat, salad dressings and sweets. They also ate less bakery items, doughnuts, ice cream and packaged snack foods. Their reduction in cancer risk, however, could be the result of other factors. In other lowfat diet studies, people who cut back on fatty foods consumed more vegetables and fruits. In addition to increasing a person’s intake of fiber, antioxidant vitamins and protective phytochemicals, a lowfat diet has the potential to reduce calories (since fat is the most concentrated source of calories) and lower a person’s blood sugar load. Regardless of what diet change decreases the risk of cancer returning, a lowfat diet is a strategy worth trying. Keep in mind that a poorly balanced lowfat diet may not produce the same benefit. Furthermore, although WINS did not study the effect of exercise or weight loss, research strongly suggests that a smart cancer-protection strategy should include daily exercise and weight control.
Q: Should I make wheat germ a part of my healthy diet?
A: A quarter cup of wheat germ, the center portion of a grain of wheat, provides almost a third of the total daily recommended amount of vitamin E. It’s also a good source of folate, fiber and several other vitamins and minerals. And its pleasant, nutty flavor tastes great as a topping for yogurts, cereals, salads, or casseroles. However, none of these qualities make wheat germ an essential part of healthy eating. Despite what you might read or hear from some sources, no individual food by itself creates a healthful diet. Instead of thinking of single foods, you should focus on eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans in abundance.
Q: How much fat should be in the milk for my children?
A: The answer depends on the age of your children and the composition of their diet. Babies between the ages of one and two should drink whole milk. They need the calories from the extra fat. The concentration of protein and minerals in lower-fat milk is also too much for their immature kidneys to handle. After age two, reduced-fat (2 percent), lowfat (1 percent) and nonfat (skim) milk are all reasonable choices, depending on your children’s individual needs and the fat content of the rest of their diet. The total amount of fat and saturated fat in your children’s diet should be the deciding factor. If much of your children’s diet includes fairly high-fat foods, then 1 percent or skim milk could help keep their total fat and calorie consumption from rising too high. On the other hand, if their diet contains mostly lowfat foods prepared with little added fat, then 2 percent milk may be suitable. Children in families that serve meals that are quite low in fat may need the extra calories from reduced-fat milk for adequate growth.
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) offers a Nutrition Hotline online at www.aicr.org or via phone 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, MondayFriday, at 1-800-843-8114. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will respond to your email or call, usually within 3 business days. AICR is the only major cancer charity focusing exclusively on how the risk of cancer is reduced by healthy food and nutrition, physical activity and weight management. The Institute’s education programs help millions of Americans lower their cancer risk. AICR also supports innovative research in cancer prevention and treatment at universities, hospitals and research centers across the U.S. Over $75 million in funding has been provided. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International. All active news articles