High-fat diet raises cancer risk

It’s long been a tenet of good nutrition that too much fat and animal protein can clog the arteries and raise cholesterol. A new study by Yale researchers found that such a diet also increases the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.

The study reaffirmed another mantra of dieticians and nutritionists—consumption of high-fiber fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes and cauliflower is associated with a lower risk of NHL.

“An association between dietary intake and NHL is biologically plausible because diets high in protein and fat may lead to altered immunity, resulting in increased risk of NHL,” said Tongzhang Zheng, Sc.D., associate professor of epidemiology (environmental health). Zheng was the principal investigator of the study of Connecticut women, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology earlier this year. “The antioxidants found in vegetables and fruits may result in a reduced risk of about 40 percent.”