Stopping Cancer Before It Starts: The American Institute for Cancer Research's Program for Cancer Prevention (Paperback)

~ American Institute for Cancer Research (Author) "Because cancer can be prevented!..." (more)
Key Phrases: other dietary micronutrients, protein energy foods, stopping cancer, United States, Global Perspective, Nutrition Facts (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"A growing body of scientific evidence clearly shows that most cancers can be prevented, not through new medical breakthroughs or miracle drugs, but simply through the way we live," writes the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), which has been conducting cancer research and education programs since 1982. "Researchers now estimate that 60 percent to 70 percent of all cancers are directly linked to the foods we eat and related lifestyle factors, including smoking, exercise, and obesity." Stopping Cancer Before It Starts distills the research findings into changes you can make to reduce your risk. Does exercise have to be 30 minutes of aerobics? Does protein increase cancer risk? What's the big deal about fiber? What is a serving of fruits and vegetables, anyway? Each chapter topic or subtopic ends with "the take home message" which helps you translate the information into action. Plenty of self-tests and charts personalize the information. The book ends with 100 recipes to help you "go for the adventure" of expanding your healthful-food repertoire. Intriguing recipes include Carrot and Red Lentil Pâté, Kidney Bean and Quinoa Chowder, Confetti Meatloaf (made with ground turkey), Sicilian Spaghetti with Swordfish, and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms (stuffed with kasha, potatoes, and onion). Unfortunately, nutritional breakdown is skimpy, including only calories and fat grams. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly

Balanced and sensible, this volume provides a clear and informative introduction to cancer; it contrasts cancer facts and fictions, then reviews optimal lifestyle choices for disease prevention. Its recommendations: regular physical movement (not necessarily formal "exercise") and the maintenance of energy equilibrium, a less well-known but potentially powerful strategy that requires persons to eat only enough calories to maintain their basal metabolic rate. The book's final two segments offer a general discussion of how to mitigate cancer risk by eating properly, as well as specific recipes and menus. Though the menu section is hardly comprehensive and the book sometimes offers more detail about the mechanics of biochemistry than a reader may need, it is notable for its combination of scientific accuracy with common sense and warmth. Throughout, it presents heartening evidence that most cancers are not caused by either irreversible genes or single lethal toxins but rather by a combination of forces that typically take decades to produce malignancy and can be halted at many points along the way. In fact, the AICR argues that, while there is no single miracle cure, healthy lifestyle choices and a varied, nutritious diet play a powerful part in stopping the disease before it starts. In the end, the authors emphasize, "for most of us, much of our cancer destiny is in our own hands." (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press (April 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312254679
• ISBN-13: 978-0312254674
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #751,152 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid, sensible approach to reducing cancer risk., January 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stopping Cancer Before It Starts: The American Institute for Cancer Research's Program for Cancer Prevention (Hardcover)

The American Institute for Cancer Research has long been known as a leader in the field of diet, nutrition and cancer. This new handbook for cancer prevention presents findings from some of the latest research in this field and translates it into practical actions anyone can take for lower cancer risk.

While most of the basic advice may seem fairly common sense (eat more fruits and vegetables, avoid being overweight, stay physically active) the unfortunate truth is that too few people actually practice most of it. This book provides a good insight into the role that various factors, such as diet, exercise and obesity, play in cancer prevention. It combines solid information with practical ideas for making lifestyle changes for lower cancer risk. According to the book, more than 375,000 cases of cancer in just the U.S. could be prevented through simple dietary and lifestyle changes.

The book also provides a wide range of recipes that illustrate how to prepare foods that are not only helpful in lowering cancer risk, but that are also interesting and exciting eating.

No book can lower cancer risk -- that result can only happen when a reader absorbs the advice and makes practical changes. But this book provides a good source of reliable information, plus a lot of very practical advice to help make the process much easier.