Eating a wide variety of food may reduce the risk of gastrointestinal cancers, according to research funded by the World Cancer Research Fund network* and published in the European Journal of Cancer.
Little is known about how eating a wide variety of food species, also known as food biodiversity, may benefit our health or affect our cancer risk. Food species refer to a distinct type of plant or animal, such as wheat, chicken, or salmon. For example, salmon, mackerel, and tuna are all separate food species, even though they share some biological traits and belong to the same food group. Similarly, rocket, lettuce and spinach count as separate food species, even though they are all leafy green vegetables. However, chicken and a chicken’s egg belong to the same food species even though they are different types of food.
This study is the first to examine how the number of different food types consumed, measured as Dietary Species Richness (the number of species an individual consumes per year) affects the risk of the following gastrointestinal cancers:
- Oesophagus
- Throat
- Stomach
- Bowel
- Colon
- Rectum
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
- Liver
The study followed 450,111 cancer-free adults in 9 European countries from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort for 14 years. The researchers, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, found that individuals with the most diverse diets, by including more food species in their diet, had a 23% lower risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers compared with those with the least variety. The risk decreased by 6% for every 10 extra species per year added to their diet. People can do this by including more variety in the types of fruit and vegetables they eat, for example, choosing to eat local and seasonal fruit and vegetables of different colours.
Food biodiversity includes eating different types of food that provide the necessary nutrients for maintaining health. Investigating food biodiversity is important because it has the potential to benefit public health and sustainable food systems.
Dr Helen Croker, our Assistant Director of Research and Policy, said: “Diets have become more limited in the types of foods eaten and they are often high in fat, sugar and salt. However, for cancer prevention, it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced and varied diet with plenty of wholegrains, pulses, vegetables and fruit.”
Dr Helen Croker
This study is particularly interesting because it looks at the number of different foods people eat and the impact it can have on their cancer risk, in particular gastrointestinal cancers. More research is now needed to confirm these findings and further explore the link between dietary diversity and cancer prevention.
Dr Inge Huybrechts
This study shows how a more diverse diet, including a large variety of species, could lower the risk of gastrointestinal cancers, emphasising the importance of eating a wide variety of foods. The idea behind a diverse diet consisting of many types of plants and animals species may provide essential nutrients for the body while also strengthening ecosystems, making them more resilient, productive, and sustainable.
This study was funded by Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds based in the Netherlands, as part of the World Cancer Research Fund International network.
A bowel cancer diagnosis during lockdown shocked our supporter Claire Burlison to the core. But following surgery, she’s now living beyond cancer and trying to follow our Recommendations.
A cancer diagnosis can be devastating for anyone. But when you’re young, energetic – and the world is in the grip of a global pandemic – it’s even harder.
“I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2020,” says Claire, “which came as a shock as I’m only in my 40s. Before that, I assumed my irritable bowel syndrome was just getting worse. It was only when I got sharp stomach pains and ended up in A&E that I found out I needed surgery.
“I was expecting bad news, but it still knocked me for six when they phoned and told me I had bowel cancer,” she adds.
Although bowel cancer – like most cancers – is more prevalent in older adults, it’s sadly increasingly common in younger people. Researchers are trying to find out why. Fortunately for Claire, doctors found that the cancer hadn’t spread. Now, having been cancer-free for over 2 years, she’s trying to follow our Recommendations in her daily life to reduce the risk of cancer returning.
Conscious eating
Claire limits alcohol and is much more aware of what she eats – checking food labels to see what’s really in the food she’s buying, and dramatically reducing how much red and processed meat she eats, because of the strong links to bowel cancer.
Exercise is also important for people living beyond cancer – with both physical and mental benefits. For Claire, staying active comes naturally as she is the founder of the international dance phenomenon Clubbercise. Blending simple but effective dance, toning and combat moves, Clubbercise is a workout with a difference aimed at all abilities. The atmosphere is more nightclub than gym, as people dance together in a darkened room with low lighting and flashing LED glow sticks.
Know the symptoms of bowel cancer
Claire says she’s “proud to still be here supporting Bowel Cancer Awareness Month”, which takes place in April every year.
“Thankfully, my cancer was caught early and I’m fine now but many people aren’t so lucky. I’ve lost friends to this terrible disease and I’m keen to raise awareness to help others. If you notice any changes to your bowel habits that last more than a couple of weeks please see your doctor straight away – it could save your life!”
Get the lowdown on bowel cancer
What does our research say about how you can prevent the disease?
