The Benefits of Nuts for Cancer Prevention

Abstract

The American Cancer Society estimates 101,420 new cases of colon cancer and 44,180 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States this year (American Cancer Society, 2019). Colorectal cancer remains the third leading cause of death from cancer in both sexes, with approximately 51,020 deaths expected this year (American Cancer Society, 2019). And disturbingly, although the overall death rate has dropped, the death rate for younger people (aged 55 or younger) has increased 1% per year from 2007 through 2016 (American Cancer Society, 2019). These statistics are sobering to me, as this is a cancer that is largely preventable through rigorous screening. It is one of the cancers we can successfully do something about. And yet, we still see colorectal cancer. For this reason, I am always interested in data that show variables that may reduce colorectal cancer and death in patients with this disease.