US News and World Report published its latest rankings of diets on the best ones for health, including for weight loss, diabetes and heart health. But with an estimated 1.6 million new cancer cases in 2016, the rankings missed an important category: cancer prevention.
AICR – along with that of other major health organizations – now clearly recognize that diet plays an important role in reducing risk for many common cancers.
AICR’s New American Plate is our nominee for Best Cancer Prevention Diet. AICR Recommendations for Cancer Prevention offer clear guidance on how diet affects cancer risk and the New American Plate is a model for putting those recommendations into practice.
In addition to helping lower risk for many types of cancer, the New American Plate (NAP) meets the other criteria for Best Diet rankings.
Easy to follow: Just look at your plate, 2/3 or more filled with plant foods; 1/3 or less with animal foods.
Nutritious & safe: A diet rich in vegetables, beans, whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds provides plenty of nutrients, fiber and health-promoting phytochemicals to for optimal health. No elimination of food groups necessary.
Effective for weight loss: By focusing on including minimally processed foods, avoiding sugary beverages and foods with added fats and sugar, the New American Plate plan offers full plates with fewer calories.
Preventing diabetes and heart disease: NAP is derived from our evidence-based recommendations which takes into account guidelines from other major health organizations. A healthy plant-based diet, with limited red meat and alcohol, and focused on lower calorie foods helps lower risk for many chronic diseases.
You can learn how to follow the New American Plate and put all of our recommendations into practice – sign up for our New American Plate Challenge beginning in February.
Keep in mind that a diet with 1/3 animal products has 1/3 less fiber and antioxidants than a 100% plant based diet since animals have virtually none of these. That’s a pretty dramatic difference. I know, really hard to do but seems to offer the best cancer protection.
Great tips! I also wish to follow this guidelines. Since these recommendation are for the health experts, I am sure that it has a very high accuracy level. I wish more people can see this post so that they are also aware what kind of food and the amount of food they should eat every meal. I know that this is not the only way to help my body prevent cancer but I am adding this on my diet. Thanks!