Expert Says Diet Rules Can Fight Cancer -- But Use Reason
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Do certain foods cause cancer, or is it the way you're preparing those meals?
Have you cut out sugar because you heard it makes cancer cells grow faster?
JoAnna Zammiello, a clinical oncology nutritionist at the Philadelphia-based Cancer Treatment Centers of America, says cutting out food groups doesn't make sense.
"Sugar feeds every cell in your body, and we need it to live," she explains. "We definitely recommend getting rid of the sources that don't give you much nutrition, such as cakes and cookies, but eliminating fruits and vegetables that also contain healthy forms of sugar is not recommended because they do contain so many cancer fighting properties."
She says eating raw fruits and vegetables is beneficial because they contain antioxidants.
On the other hand, she points out, processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, and sandwich meats have been linked to cancer, so it's best to avoid them.
March is National Nutrition Month.
