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Can Food Cause or Cure Cancer? Here’s What We Know

Written by: Consultant Dietitian Ng Pee Chien

Cancer is defined as a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body [1].

Today, cancer is more common and widely talked about, often with myths spreading through word of mouth, viral social media posts, or advice from self-proclaimed, non-certified nutritionists and dietitians. In this article, we’ll address some of these myths and help provide clearer insights for you.

“Acidic” Diets Cause Cancer or “Alkaline” Diets Prevent Cancer

People often hear that alkaline diets—consisting of alkaline water, natural foods, and supplements—can prevent or treat cancer. These diets typically include foods and drinks with a pH between 7 and 14. While it’s true that fruits and vegetables included in alkaline diets are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients and can benefit your health, the human body tightly regulates its internal pH, regardless of diet [2].

Excess acids or alkalis are simply excreted through urine with the help of the kidneys, which helps maintain the body’s pH [3]. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to significantly change the body’s internal pH through food alone [2]. Moreover, cancer cells—and normal cells—cannot survive in environments that are overly alkaline. The normal blood pH in the human body is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45. Deviations outside this range can indicate serious health problems and can be life-threatening [2]. Currently, there is no scientific evidence supporting a link between alkaline diets and cancer prevention [4].

Does Sugar “Feed” Cancer?

“Sugar” refers to many molecules, including glucose and fructose—naturally found in fruits and other carbohydrate sources like rice, bread, and noodles. Our digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is then used for energy by all cells—cancerous and healthy alike [3].

Cancer cells tend to grow faster than normal cells and thus use more glucose, but this does not mean sugar directly causes cancer. Rather, the concern lies in the excessive intake of added sugars, which can lead to obesity. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of at least 13 types of cancer [5]. It’s important to limit added sugars but not necessary to avoid natural carbohydrate-rich foods like whole grains and fruits.

Does Red Meat Cause Cancer?

Yes, there is evidence linking red and processed meat to an increased risk of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer [6]. Processed red meats—such as bacon, ham, sausages, and salami—are preserved by curing, salting, smoking, or adding chemical preservatives. These often contain more nitrates and nitrites than fresh meat [7], which are added to prevent bacterial growth such as Clostridium botulinum [8]. These compounds can convert into nitrosamines, which have carcinogenic effects [9].

According to the Cancer Council of Australia, it’s recommended to limit red meat intake to no more than 65–100g of cooked red meat per week [10]. Cooking methods also matter: grilling, charring, or barbecuing meat at high temperatures can produce harmful substances like heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These may increase cancer risk [6]. Marinating meat before cooking can help reduce the formation of these compounds. As healthier alternatives, consider fish, poultry, or plant-based proteins like tofu, tempeh, and legumes.

Do Soy Products Cause Cancer?

No, soy products do not cause cancer. On the contrary, they may reduce the risk of hormone-related cancers such as prostate and breast cancer [11]. Soy contains isoflavones, compounds that exhibit anti-cancer properties. These include lengthening the menstrual cycle, modifying estrogen metabolism, and inhibiting cancer cell growth in the body.

Isoflavones are often misunderstood as estrogen-like compounds. However, they act as selective estrogen receptor modulators—when estrogen levels are low, isoflavones mimic its function; when estrogen levels are high, they block estrogen from binding to its receptors. This dual role helps regulate estrogen activity and may reduce the risk of hormone-related cancers [12]. Additionally, isoflavones have been shown to inhibit DNA polymerase II, tyrosine protein kinase, and mitogen-activated kinases—enzymes involved in cell proliferation—thus promoting apoptosis (programmed cell death). Examples of soy products include tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy milk.

Is Flaxseed Good for Cancer Prevention?

Yes, flaxseed has shown protective effects, particularly against colorectal cancer [13]. It is a functional food rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, α-linolenic acid (ALA), and fiber—all of which are known for their antioxidant and anti-tumor properties [14]. ALA also provides anti-inflammatory effects [15] and has been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation in animal studies, particularly in high-estrogen breast cancer models [16].

Higher fiber intake is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer [17], and a large intervention trial also showed that high-fiber diets may lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence by influencing hormone metabolism and elimination [18,19]. You can incorporate flaxseed into your diet in various ways: mix it into smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, overnight oats, or fruit parfaits; add it to salads or use it in baking by substituting part of the flour, butter, or margarine.

Conclusion

There are many widespread cancer myths in the community, often lacking scientific basis. Before believing or sharing such claims, make sure to understand the underlying mechanisms and refer to credible sources.

Reference List

  1. What is cancer? [Internet]. National Cancer Institute. 2007 [cited 2022 Mar 19]. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
  2. Alice RD. The alkaline diet: Another cancer and diet claim [Internet]. American Institute for Cancer Research. 2010 [cited 2022 Mar 19]. Available from: https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/another-cancer-and-diet-claim-the-alkaline-diet/
  3. Childs O. Don’t believe the hype – 10 persistent cancer myths debunked [Internet]. Cancer Research UK – Cancer News. 2014 [cited 2022 Mar 19]. Available from: https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2014/03/24/dont-believe-the-hype-10-persistent-cancer-myths-debunked/
  4. Fenton TR, Huang T. Systematic review of the association between dietary acid load, alkaline water and cancer. BMJ open. 2016 Jun 1;6(6):e010438.
  5. Obesity and cancer [Internet]. Cdc.gov. 2021 [cited 2022 Mar 19]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/obesity/index.htm
  6. Meat, poultry, eggs and fish [Internet]. Org.au. [cited 2022 Mar 19]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/diet-and-exercise/food-and-nutrition/meat-poultry-eggs-and-fish
  7. Kaithwas G, Mukherjee A, Chaurasia AK, Majumdar DK. Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Linum usitatissimum L.(flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil.
  8. Pierce JP, Natarajan L, Caan BJ, Flatt SW, Kealey S, Gold EB, et al. Dietary change and reduced breast cancer events among women without hot flashes after treatment of early-stage breast cancer: subgroup analysis of the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living Study. Am J Clin Nutr [Internet]. 2009;89(5):1565S-1571S. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2009.26736F.
  9. Gaskins AJ, Mumford SL, Zhang C, Wactawski-Wende J, Hovey KM, Whitcomb BW, et al. Effect of daily fiber intake on reproductive function: the BioCycle Study. Am J Clin Nutr [Internet]. 2009;90(4):1061–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2009.27990
  10. Position statement – Meat and cancer prevention [Internet]. Org.au. [cited 2022 Mar 19]. Available from: https://wiki.cancer.org.au/policy/Position_statement_-_Meat_and_cancer_prevention
  11. Applegate CC, Rowles JL, Ranard KM, Jeon S, Erdman JW. Soy consumption and the risk of prostate cancer: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients [Internet]. 2018;10(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10010040
  12. Kim I-S. Current perspectives on the beneficial effects of soybean isoflavones and their metabolites for humans. Antioxidants (Basel) [Internet]. 2021;10(7):1064. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox10071064
  13. DeLuca JAA, Garcia-Villatoro EL, Allred CD. Flaxseed bioactive compounds and colorectal cancer prevention. Curr Oncol Rep [Internet]. 2018;20(8):59. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11912-018-0704-z.
  14. Calado A, Neves PM, Santos T, Ravasco P. The effect of flaxseed in breast cancer: A literature review. Front Nutr [Internet]. 2018;5:4. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00004
  15. Erdinest N, Shmueli O, Grossman Y, Ovadia H, Solomon A. Anti-inflammatory effects of alpha linolenic acid on human corneal epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci [Internet]. 2012;53(8):4396–406. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-9724
  16. Truan JS, Chen JM, Thompson LU. Flaxseed oil reduces the growth of human breast tumors (MCF-7) at high levels of circulating estrogen. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2010;54:1414–21.
  17. Wolk A. Potential health hazards of eating red meat. J Intern Med [Internet]. 2017;281(2):106–22. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joim.12543
  18. Crowe W, Elliott CT, Green BD. A review of the in vivo evidence investigating the role of nitrite exposure from processed meat consumption in the development of colorectal cancer. Nutr. 2019 Nov;11(11):2673.
  19. Karwowska M, Kononiuk A. Nitrates/nitrites in food-risk for nitrosative stress and benefits. Antioxidants (Basel) [Internet]. 2020;9(3):241. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox9030241
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