Can you Reduce your Cancer Risk?

Many people know what they need to do to reduce their risk of diabetes or even heart disease. But what about cancer? What if there was a simple way to substantially reduce your risk of this feared disease?

Have a look at this fascinating study¹ which gives us some of the answers. It shows three simple methods that can reduce our risk of cancer. In this study using just two of these methods reduced the risk of cancer by nearly half and using all three reduced the risk by over 60%. The good news is that they are simple and easy to put into practice.

The study was done in five European countries over five years. There were 2,157 participants, all with an age of over 70 and with an average age of 74.9. The treatments were Vitamin D 2000 iu daily, marine fish oil 1 gram daily (this was an algae based rather than fish oil supplement) and a simple home strength exercise program (SHEP). Most of the participants were already active and many took small doses of Vitamin D (but below 800 iu daily).

What they found that taking Vitamin D reduced the risk by 24%, Omega 3s reduced the risk by 30% and the exercise program reduced the risk by 26%.

But when two of the treatments were combined the risk was reduced by much more, in fact, by nearly half. To be specific the combination of Vitamin D and Omega 3s reduced the risk by 44%, exercise and vitamin D reduced the risk 44% and exercise and Omega 3s reduced it by 48%. However, when all three were combined the cancer risk was reduced by 61%.

Should we be surprised by these impressive results? Probably not. Numerous studies have shown exercise helps to both prevent cancer and reduces cancer mortality in those with cancer, so these results could have been anticipated.

We also know cancer risk falls with higher levels of Vitamin D. The youtubes by Professor Cedric Garland on cancer and vitamin D are an excellent source of information on this topic. A study by Sharon McConnell published in PLOS One in 2018 found those with a blood level of 150nmol/l (which is at the top of the normal range) had an 82% lower incidence of breast cancer. Personally, I would regard 2000 iu of Vitamin D (used in this study) as a low dose. I have seen several people taking 2000 iu daily who have had low blood levels, even though many people have good levels with this dose. The evidence strongly suggests we should aim at blood levels near the top of the normal range, and this dose may not be enough to do this.

There is less data on Omega 3s but we do know patients with cancer, especially breast cancer, have low levels of Omega 3 and Omega 3s are known to inhibit cancer cell growth so perhaps we should not be surprised that these reduce cancer risk.

At the moment cancer is increasing in all age groups, especially the young, so protecting ourselves is crucial. Here we have a very easy and cheap way to reduce the risk of cancer. Of course, no remedies will give 100% protection because we have to factor in toxicity. However, the right foods and supplements will help. A range of other compounds can reduce the cancer risk.  My book Curing the Incurable gives lots of information on the foods and the many natural compounds that inhibit cancer. And the more you take the better the protection, as you can see demonstrated in this study. Also see my leaflet on “foods that prevent cancer” and “cancer“.

• Combined Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and a Simple Home Exercise Program may reduce Cancer Risk among active Adults aged 70 and older: A Randomized Control Trial. https://doi.org/10.3389/fragi.2022.852643