Liver Cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Data released by the World Cancer Research Fund International show that more than 780,000 cases of liver carcinoma were recorded globally in 2012. According to the American Cancer Society, over 40,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with liver cancer, and almost 29,000 people will die from the disease in the United States alone in 2017. And, Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa account for about three-quarters of liver cancer cases worldwide. Liver cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for 600,000 deaths annually.
According to Dr. Samuel So, director of the Liver Cancer Program and the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University in California,
"Every 30 seconds, one person in the world dies of liver cancer, which is totally preventable."
While not all agree on the causes of rising liver cancer rates worldwide, studies do point to a simple liver cancer risk reduction strategy; Eat your veggies. A 2014 study has shown that regular consumption of large servings of vegetables decreases the risk of developing liver cancer.
Vegetables Reduce Liver Cancer Risk
The findings of this study published in the Journal of Clinical Research on Hepatology and Gastroenterology in 2014 were based on analysis by a team of researchers from the School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China. In this study, the research team reviewed nutritional and clinical data extracted from 1 cohort and 8 case-control studies that examined 136,425 subjects and 1,349 cases of liver cancer. They observed that subjects with high dietary intake of vegetables had slim chances of developing liver cancer compared to those who hardly ever or did not consume diets rich in vegetables. The researchers concluded that high dietary ingestion of vegetables may inhibit the development and growth of cancerous cells in the liver. Why am I not surprised?
Vegetables Should Be Part of Every Healthy Diets
If vegetables are not on your list of favorite foods, then you may need to begin a little taste buds adjustment program. Start to include vegetable in two meals daily. Veggies really are a must for every healthy diet. In addition to giving your taste buds a pleasant sensation when you consume them, they also supply the body with plenty of essential nutrients required to maintain proper body functions and to fight off diseases, such as liver cancer.
Additional Information:
(1) The Alarming Truth About Liver Cancer
(2) Liver Cancer Statistics Worldwide
(3) Consumption of vegetables may reduce the risk of liver cancer