Genetic screening to find a predisposition to disease is now becoming down-right commonplace. Remember in 2013 when Angelina Jolie disclosed her decision to undertake a double mastectomy upon her discovery of the BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation? Now is a good time to review some basic fundamentals about gene expression, in light of our new choices in cancer prevention.
Let’s explore a couple of points. One is that these genes are not common in the human genetic makeup. Very few women have them to begin with. According to The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2% or less of American women do. Secondly, and this is what is so empowering: diet and lifestyle choices are fundamental to the expression of these genes, as with any and all genes associated with disease. So a question we must ask ourselves is why breast cancer is so common now, in the past few decades, and not previously, in the hundreds of thousands of years of human evolution, since the human genetic code has not changed significantly.
Cancer is the outcome of many factors at play, and no matter how much genetics play, diet has a big effect in preventing, promoting, and halting the progression of the disease, as well as in recovery and recurrence. Though we may have a predisposition for a certain disease, for instance possessing the BRCA1/BRCA2 genes, there are very few diseases, particularly cancer, which can be attributed to these predispositions alone. In his bestselling book The China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell explains how “genes need to be expressed” in order for them to participate in disease formation, and nutrition can affect this:
“Genes give us our predispositions. We all have different disease risks due to our different genes. But while we will never know exactly which risks we are predisposed to, we do know how to control those risks. Regardless of our genes, we can all optimize our chances of expressing the right genes by providing our bodies with the best possible environment – that is, the best possible nutrition.”1, p.235
Dr. Campbell puts it this way in his fourth Principle of Food and Health:
“Genes do not determine disease on their own. Genes function only by being activated, or expressed, and nutrition plays a critical role in determining which genes, good and bad, are expressed.” 1, p 233
So we can encourage the internal environment in which genetic predisposition for disease can take hold, or we can encourage the internal environment in which our body can fight mutated cells or damaged DNA, with proper nutrition. What encourages cancer growth? Breast cancer, as well as ovarian Cancer, is directly related to levels of female hormones in the blood.1, p. 3 Consuming dairy, meat or any animal foods increases the risk of these cancers by adding animal hormones to our body as well as stimulating the activity of those already there. Fiber-rich foods (plant foods) also play an important role in prevention. High-fiber, low-fat diets reduce serum estrogen, which is known to be associated with breast cancer risk. 9 A large study of postmenopausal women found that those whose diet included the most fiber had the lowest risk of breast cancer.
So the take-home message here is that we have control; more control than what a very limited discussion on individual genes may lead us to assume. This should be empowering news; hopeful news, because we can all eat better. Basing a diet on barley stews and vegetables and brown rice pilaf as opposed to steaks and chicken nuggets does not seem very drastic. Though it may take commitment, it holds no risks, and will likely add health, vitality and joy to life. There is no preventative medical procedure or intervention that can come close to such claims!
Article By: Kathy Pollard, MS
Sources:
- Campbell, T. Colin and Campbell, Thomas M. II. The China Study. BenBella Books. Dallas, TX 2006.
- Hawrylewicz EJ, Huang HH, Kissane JQ, et al. “Enhancement of the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)a nthracene (DMBA) mammary tumorigenesis by high dietary protein in rats.” Nutr. Reps. Int. 26 (1982): 793–806.
- Hawrylewicz EJ. “Fat-protein interaction, defined 2-generation studies.” In: C. Ip, D. F. Birt, A. E. Rogers and C. Mettlin (eds.), Dietary fat and cancer, pp. 403–434. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1986.
- Huang HH, Hawrylewicz EJ, Kissane JQ, et al. “Effect of protein diet on release of prolactin and ovarian steroids in female rats.” Nutr. Rpts. Int. 26 (1982): 807–820.
- Haenszel W, and Kurihara M. “Studies of Japanese Migrants: mortality from cancer and other disease among Japanese and the United States.” J Natl Cancer Inst 40 (1968): 43–68.
- Higginson J, and Muir CS. “Epidemiology in Cancer.” In: J. F. Holland and E. Frei (eds.),Cancer Medicine, pp. 241–306. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger, 1973.
- Elliott R, and Ong TJ. “Nutritional genomics.” Med. Journ. 324 (2002): 1438–1442.
- Tavernise, Sabrina. The Health Toll of Immigration. The New York Times. Sunday, May 19, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/health/the-health-toll-of-immigration.html?pagewanted=all
- Campbell, TC. Diet Matters: Clarifying the Link Between Breast Cancer and Eating Patterns. https://nutritionstudies.org/diet-matters-clarifying-link-breast-cancer-eating-patterns/
