Fasting and Eating for Health by Joel Fuhrman; Neal D. Barnard Page A
Authors: Joel Fuhrman; Neal D. Barnard
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fat in the diet.
In Japan, until about 50 years ago, less than 10 percent of calories came from fat,25 compared to 40 percent in the American diet, even in the 1940s.
Today, however, the Japanese eat more and more meat, fat, and fast foods.
Predictably, the rate of breast cancer as well as other cancers in Japan is rapidly increasing.26 Similar findings have been made within the United States. For instance, studies comparing vegetarian to nonvegetarian groups show much less cancer among vegetarians, especially those avoiding dairy products.27
American Children Produce Too Much Estrogen and Androgen Increased quantities of dietary fat cause an array of negative effects on immune function. The link between higher fat intake and the increasing occurrence of common cancers has been well established for years.28,29 The link between fat and breast cancer is also explained because it is well known that breast tumors 34
are fueled by estrogens.30 When women eat a low-fat diet, their estrogen level drops quickly.31 Fats not only increase the amount of circulating estrogens in the body, but also increase the biologic activity of the estrogen. A heightened estrogen level through life eventually takes its toll — as a cause of menstrual difficulties and increased bleeding, and as an important cause of breast cancer.
This effect of estrogen on the development of breast cancer is also indicated by the fact that women who mature early, as measured by when menstruation begins, face increased risk of developing breast cancer.32 Sexual maturation is dependent on circulating estrogen levels. Ominously, the onset of menstruation has been occurring at a younger and younger age in western societies during this century.33 The average age in the United States is now about 12 years.
According to the World Health Organization, the average age at which puberty began in 1840 was about 17.34
The early development of breast tissue and the early stimulation of this tissue with high levels of estrogen is unprecedented in the history of the human race.
This unnatural stimulation of breast tissue occurs before and during the teenage years, setting the groundwork for breast cancer later on. Feeding our children a plant-centered diet predominating in wholesome natural plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is probably the most important thing we can do to prevent them from getting breast cancer as adults. We are finally realizing that the diet we are raised on early in life has profound, far-reaching effects on our later health.
As modern young Japanese have adopted our ways of eating high amounts of fatty foods and more animal products, their age of onset of menses has gradually fallen over the last 50 years from 16 to 12.5 years.35 The onset of early maturity is an ominous sign both in males and females. As with estrogen in women, heightened levels of androgens in men at a young age set the stage for the development of prostate cancer later on.
Excess Fats Promote Cancer, While Plant Nutrients Protect Us Comparing various populations around the world, the death rates of most cancers, especially the most common — breast, colon, and prostate—are directly proportional to the dietary fat intake.36 Dietary fat not only retards the general effectiveness of the immune system, but also encourages the absorption of carcinogens. For example, when the carcinogens in cigarette smoke are absorbed through the lung tissue, the carrier vehicle for their absorption is the fat in the blood. On a low-fat diet the body is less able to absorb and transport carcinogens. Smokers on a high-fat diet have a higher incidence of lung cancer than smokers on a lower fat diet. When we look at the diets of those who contract lung cancer and never smoke, we find a lack of fresh and raw fruits and vegetables.37
It is important to note that a diet composed primarily of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables is high in vitamins A, C, and E and high in beta carotene
In Japan, until about 50 years ago, less than 10 percent of calories came from fat,25 compared to 40 percent in the American diet, even in the 1940s.
Today, however, the Japanese eat more and more meat, fat, and fast foods.
Predictably, the rate of breast cancer as well as other cancers in Japan is rapidly increasing.26 Similar findings have been made within the United States. For instance, studies comparing vegetarian to nonvegetarian groups show much less cancer among vegetarians, especially those avoiding dairy products.27
American Children Produce Too Much Estrogen and Androgen Increased quantities of dietary fat cause an array of negative effects on immune function. The link between higher fat intake and the increasing occurrence of common cancers has been well established for years.28,29 The link between fat and breast cancer is also explained because it is well known that breast tumors 34
are fueled by estrogens.30 When women eat a low-fat diet, their estrogen level drops quickly.31 Fats not only increase the amount of circulating estrogens in the body, but also increase the biologic activity of the estrogen. A heightened estrogen level through life eventually takes its toll — as a cause of menstrual difficulties and increased bleeding, and as an important cause of breast cancer.
This effect of estrogen on the development of breast cancer is also indicated by the fact that women who mature early, as measured by when menstruation begins, face increased risk of developing breast cancer.32 Sexual maturation is dependent on circulating estrogen levels. Ominously, the onset of menstruation has been occurring at a younger and younger age in western societies during this century.33 The average age in the United States is now about 12 years.
According to the World Health Organization, the average age at which puberty began in 1840 was about 17.34
The early development of breast tissue and the early stimulation of this tissue with high levels of estrogen is unprecedented in the history of the human race.
This unnatural stimulation of breast tissue occurs before and during the teenage years, setting the groundwork for breast cancer later on. Feeding our children a plant-centered diet predominating in wholesome natural plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is probably the most important thing we can do to prevent them from getting breast cancer as adults. We are finally realizing that the diet we are raised on early in life has profound, far-reaching effects on our later health.
As modern young Japanese have adopted our ways of eating high amounts of fatty foods and more animal products, their age of onset of menses has gradually fallen over the last 50 years from 16 to 12.5 years.35 The onset of early maturity is an ominous sign both in males and females. As with estrogen in women, heightened levels of androgens in men at a young age set the stage for the development of prostate cancer later on.
Excess Fats Promote Cancer, While Plant Nutrients Protect Us Comparing various populations around the world, the death rates of most cancers, especially the most common — breast, colon, and prostate—are directly proportional to the dietary fat intake.36 Dietary fat not only retards the general effectiveness of the immune system, but also encourages the absorption of carcinogens. For example, when the carcinogens in cigarette smoke are absorbed through the lung tissue, the carrier vehicle for their absorption is the fat in the blood. On a low-fat diet the body is less able to absorb and transport carcinogens. Smokers on a high-fat diet have a higher incidence of lung cancer than smokers on a lower fat diet. When we look at the diets of those who contract lung cancer and never smoke, we find a lack of fresh and raw fruits and vegetables.37
It is important to note that a diet composed primarily of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables is high in vitamins A, C, and E and high in beta carotene
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