Health Education and life Competencies II

Name: Tshiamo (RTJ) Motaung

Student number: 202205475
Task: Persuasive writing
Date of Submission: 10 September 2022
Module code: MHEL012
Group: BSc 1 ( Biotechnology)
Lecture Name: Dr Prema Nair
Topic: Does diet play a role in the aetiology and prevention of Cance? Agree or Disagree?

Department of Language Proficiency

Diet plays a key role in the aetiology and prevention of Cancer.

In spite of significant advances in treatment, cancer is still one of the leading causes of
death in much of the world. And generally, the diet has been indicated to have a
significant impact on health, fasting and caloric restriction which can putatively prevent
several diseases. A healthy diet has also been shown to reduce cancer risk, and obesity
is associated with cancer epidemiologically. The evidence indicates that diet
intervention may benefit cancer patients across multiple factors, including reducing
toxicity, improving chemotherapy efficacy, and reducing complications in the long run
despite the paucity of data. We will look into the various ways in which diet has
been/can better cancer treatment outcomes, as well as hormonal, metabolic, and
immune/inflammatory effects of diet. Consequently, this critical but complex adjunctive
treatment strategy also needs to be further examined as research has evidently shown
that it has a significant impact on cancer prevention and reduction.

According to Cheryl L (2020, 245) "It can be taken into account that the risk of being overweight
is increased in women who have gone through menopause, including breast cancer (in
postmenopausal women), colon and rectal cancer." , endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer,
kidney cancer and many other diseases". Dowdell J (2020: 253) concluded that “excess weight,
inactivity, alcohol consumption and poor diet account for about 18% of all cancer cases and
about 16% of all cancer individuals who’ve been deceased. Therefore, dietary choices can help
prevent many chronic diseases that increase the risk of cancer. Therefore, reducing the
consumption of alcoholic beverages that cause cancers of the mouth and esophagus, liver and
breast (postmenopausal) reduces the potentiality of cancer occurring. In addition, eating a diet
rich in whole grains, fruit, of and pulses or seeds like beans and lentils which are the main
sources of people's daily meals is also a productive way to combat carcinoma. T.H. Chan (2020:
270) states that “eating whole grains protects fight colorectal cancer, and eating foods containing
protein and fiber protects against weight gain and obesity which are notoriously known to
increase the risk of many cancers. Limit consumption of red and processed meat; this meat
category is inclusive of all mammalian muscle meats, beef, veal, pork, lamb, lamb, horse and
goat”. Chavarro J, (2021:16.17) states that research evidence is strongest for colorectal cancer,
where “the risk of colorectal cancer increases 16% for every 50g/day processed meat
consumption. and 12% for every 100g of red meat/day ". However, Chavarro J, (2021:16.17)
recommends that" because meat can be an important source of nutrients, especially protein, iron,
zinc and vitamin B12, Minimally processed red meat should be limited, but not completely
avoided. However, poultry and seafood in general are better sources of protein and many other
healthy nutrients”. Very little, if any, processed meat should be overconsumed. Same goes for
many junk foods. And with the few mentioned detrimental food choices , this largely show how
diet plays an important role in cancer risk, and it's not just genetic abnormalities that may be the
main cause of cancer.

Some people may argue that certain main factors generate cancer and that some other factors,
such as diet, are negligible sources of causing cancer. Roomi MW et al (2016:1036) conclude
that “a great degree of cancer propagation across a family group or lineage is conducive to solely
genetic abnormalities being passed down generations. One abstract state “that some primary
triggers of cancer can be accredited to certain environmental or behavioral sources that an
individual is exposed to” (Bhanap B et al, 2018: 10-17). In addition, American local research
conducted by Kalinovsky T et al (2016: 135-144) suggested that “there are certain viruses that
can have the ability to become building blocks leading towards the formation of cancer without
any vector proliferation”. The oppositions are inaccurate on all three factors they have put
forward.

Harakeh S (2019: 2163) clarifies that “there are certain foods that commonly accelerate the
possibility of activating the cancerous cells, which were initially dormant genetic abnormalities
such as, highly processed foods (fast foods e.g. Pizza) and more”. Singletary K and Milner J
(2018:1603) affirm that “the environment in which one has exposed to often mildly plays a
factor in the arising of cancerous cells because by homeostasis once body often adapts to their
surrounding as a safety mechanism”. Sheweita SA and Tilmisang AK (2022:50) clarify that even
though some viruses do play a role in generating cancer, they will never exist without being
transported by vectors which can only be found from food sources which they attach to for
movement in their host”. All three partialized claims by the opponents thus can be disregarded.

In the context of cancer prevention for human health, the new nutrient synergy approach
illustrates the need for a new approach that incorporates multiple health benefits of food
components. Comprehensive evaluations of the health effects of chemical additives used in food
production and processing are urgently needed, especially when multiple interactions are
involved, such as synergy and antagonistic interactions. The advantage of natural diet-based
approaches is that they are non-toxic, well tolerated, and have very few side effects. As adjuncts
to conventional chemo- and radiation therapies, these therapies are becoming more accepted, and
their therapeutic potential should be explored to aid in reducing the potency of certain factors
causing cancer in societies. This reasoning hence indicates that Dietary choices can and often do
vastly play a primal factor in cancer risks an individual may be susceptible to.

Reference list:
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