Cancerproject.org

Have you noticed ads on the radio touting a vegetarian approach to help prevent cancer? It's the type of bold approach that I think the industry could benefit from as a part of its portfolio of messages. Here is a link to the The Cancer Project, which has sponsored some radio ads I've heard. From the Web site:

What we eat and how we treat our bodies on a daily basis have a very powerful effect on our health and quality of life. Although cancer can affect many different parts of the body, the foods that prevent cancer and deter cancer growth are generally the same. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes all have important nutrients and other cancer-fighting substances like phytochemicals and pectin that strengthen immune function and destroy cancer-causing substances before they cause harm. Research has shown that people who eat a diet free of animal products, high in plant foods, and low in fat have a much lower risk of developing cancer.

Here is what the organization says about itself:

The Cancer Project has two main goals: First, we aim to make cancer prevention a top priority. Just as important, we want to improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed by providing comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy.

With over one million people being diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year—and many more cases in other countries across the globe—there is an urgent need for a new direction in battling this disease. The Cancer Project provides classes, books, video programs, fact sheets, brochures, and other educational materials on cancer prevention and survival. We also conduct clinical research studies to investigate dietary issues and publicize the need for cancer prevention and the value of healthy diet changes. The Cancer Project’s hands-on nutrition classes have become incredibly popular, helping cancer survivors and their families learn new tastes and easy food preparation skills. Staff members are regularly interviewed by the media and often give public lectures.

For more information about The Cancer Project, please e-mail info@cancerproject.org.

An independent, separately incorporated affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, The Cancer Project advances cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research. The Cancer Project began in 1991 as a program of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2004. All gifts are tax deductible.

TK: Some claim that this group and others cherry pick research implicating red meat as a cancer risk when the real focus should be on obesity as a cancer risk. At a minimum, however, the fresh produce the industry can tout a vegetarian message as a dietary approach to reduce overweight and obesity.