Is nutrition directly correlated with overall health? This centuries-old question has been asked by patients and medical professionals worldwide. While skeptics have criticized fad diets and conspiracy theories on the subject, data, personal stories, and scientific evidence have, over the years, shown an interesting correlation between what we put in our bodies and how we feel.
Below are three health conditions Americans face every day; conditions in which nutrition plays a surprising — and alarming — role.
Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly two million Americans were diagnosed with cancer in 2020, and over 600,000 died from the disease. While there is no evidence to show that nutrition can cure cancer, data does show that regular consumption of certain foods can raise cancer risks in some individuals.
According to the World Health Organization, processed meat such as deli meats, cured bacon, and hot dogs are classified as Group 1 carcinogens — meaning they create a cancer risk similar to cigarette smoking. Additionally, red meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc.) was described as a Class 2A carcinogen, which the WHO describes as “probably carcinogenic.” This data was formed following the evaluation of over 800 studies by scientists worldwide.