Could you improve your chances of avoiding cancer if you ate the right food? Some studies show that there is a correlation between diet and some types of cancer. Here's a quiz to find out how much you know about the latest research.
1 The Polish Women's Health Study found that women who ate at least four servings weekly of raw or lightly cooked cabbage as children were 72 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate 1.5 servings or fewer. True or false?
2 A recent study shows that men who eat three servings of broccoli a week are 41 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer. True or false?
3 Flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, which seem to inhibit colon cancer. True or false?
4 A Japanese study of 57,000 participants found that people who ate the most pumpkin had lower rates of gastric, breast, lung and colorectal cancers. True or false?
5 Foods that end in "erry" such as raspberry, cherry, blueberry and strawberry, contain anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce cell damage that can lead to cancer. True or false?
6 Raspberries are lower in fiber than most other berries. True or false?
7 White mushrooms have no cancer-fighting benefits. True or false?
8 In one Finnish study, men who frequently ate onions were 60 percent less likely to develop lung cancer. True or false?
– Gwen Schoen, Bee food writer
Source: "7 Foods Proven To Fight Cancer," article by David Grotto in the July edition of Bottom Line Personal newsletter. Grotto is founder and president of Nutrition Housecall, a family nutrition program in the Chicago area. He is on the scientific advisory board of Men's Health magazine.
Answers: 1) True; 2) True; 3) True; 4) True; 5) True; 6) False; 7) False. In some studies, white button mushrooms appear to suppress prostate cancer cells. 8) True
