This site is inspired by the work of David Servan-Schreiber and scientific literature on nutrition and cancer prevention. It does not replace medical advice and does not constitute a treatment.

What to reduce

These foods and behaviors promote a pro-tumor environment. The good news: each one has a positive and accessible alternative.

💡 Positive approach — never guilt-inducing

Diet

🍭

Refined sugars & high glycemic index

High risk

Cause spikes in insulin and IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor) — growth factors that are directly pro-tumor. They create a 'fertile ground' for tumor development.

Examples

  • •White or brown sugar
  • •Excess honey
  • •Maple syrup, corn syrup, dextrose
  • •Soda, industrial fruit juices
  • •White bread, pastries, cakes
  • •Refined sweetened breakfast cereals
  • •Mashed potatoes
  • •White rice (except basmati/Thai)
  • •Overcooked pasta

Replace with

  • ✦Fresh fruit
  • ✦Whole-grain flours and cereals
  • ✦Traditional sourdough bread
  • ✦Brown rice, quinoa, bulgur
  • ✦Legumes (lentils, chickpeas)
🧈

Pro-inflammatory fats

High risk

An excess of omega-6 (industrial vegetable oils) disrupts the omega-6/omega-3 ratio (currently 15–20:1 in the West instead of 4:1). Omega-6 are converted into inflammatory molecules that 'feed' tumors.

Examples

  • •Sunflower, corn, and soy oils (high in omega-6)
  • •Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated margarines
  • •Hydrogenated oils in industrial products
  • •Conventional meat and dairy products (intensive farming, high omega-6)

Replace with

  • ✦Extra-virgin olive oil
  • ✦Flaxseed oil (omega-3)
  • ✦Organic butter (in moderation)
  • ✦Omega-3 enriched margarines
🥩

Conventional meat and dairy products

Moderate risk

Feeding animals intensively with omega-6-rich grains alters the composition of their fats. Growth hormones found in some conventional dairy and meat products stimulate pro-tumor IGF receptors.

Examples

  • •Conventionally farmed meat
  • •Conventional dairy products (too high in omega-6)
  • •Industrially farmed eggs

Replace with

  • ✦Organic meat or omega-3-enriched labels — in small quantities
  • ✦Organic dairy products
  • ✦Organic eggs
  • ✦Fatty fish (sardines, mackerel, salmon)
  • ✦Plant proteins (legumes, tofu)

Environment

🧪

Endocrine disruptors & chemical products

High risk

Certain chemical products present in our daily lives mimic estrogens (xenoestrogens) or disrupt the hormonal system, which can promote the progression of existing tumors.

Examples

  • •Bisphenol-A (BPA): polycarbonate plastics, plastic kettles, microwave containers, canned food
  • •Phthalates in cosmetics (DBP, DEHP)
  • •Parabens in cosmetics and hair care products
  • •Aluminum in antiperspirant deodorants
  • •Perchloroethylene from dry cleaning
  • •Pesticides and chemical insecticides
  • •Household products containing alkylphenols

Replace with

  • ✦Glass or ceramic containers for the microwave
  • ✦Natural deodorants without aluminum
  • ✦Organic cosmetics without parabens or phthalates
  • ✦Air out dry-cleaned garments
  • ✦Natural insecticides (essential oils, boric acid)
  • ✦Eco-friendly household products (white vinegar, baking soda)
📱

Cell phones — precautions

Moderate risk

The radiofrequencies from cell phones were the subject of a hearing in the U.S. Congress. The precautionary principle recommends limiting direct exposure to the brain.

Examples

  • •Phone held to the ear during long conversations
  • •Phone in the pocket near reproductive organs
  • •Heavy use by children

Replace with

  • ✦Use speakerphone or a wired earpiece
  • ✦Keep the phone away from the body when not in use
  • ✦Text messages rather than long calls
  • ✦Limit use by children

Mental & Emotional

😰

Chronic stress & feelings of helplessness

High risk

Chronic feelings of helplessness — more than acute stress — activate biological pathways that promote inflammation and tumor growth. They suppress the immune defenses against cancer.

Examples

  • •Rumination and repetitive anxious thoughts
  • •Unresolved trauma
  • •Social isolation
  • •Feeling of loss of control over one's life
  • •Chronic depression

Replace with

  • ✦Mindfulness meditation (20 min/day)
  • ✦Heart rate coherence (5 min × 3/day)
  • ✦Yoga, qigong, tai chi
  • ✦Social support and close relationships
  • ✦EMDR therapy for old traumas
  • ✦Regular physical activity

Behavior

🛋️

Sedentary lifestyle

Moderate risk

A lack of physical activity maintains high levels of insulin, IGF, and estrogens — all favorable to tumor growth. It also weakens immune defenses.

Examples

  • •Less than 20 minutes of daily activity
  • •Prolonged sitting at a desk
  • •Exclusive use of motorized transport
  • •Physical activity only on weekends

Replace with

  • ✦30 min of walking × 6 days/week (minimum for breast cancer)
  • ✦Cycling, swimming, yoga — any regular activity
  • ✦20 min of sunlight per day (vitamin D)
  • ✦Stairs, walking commutes

Every small change counts

You don't need to be perfect. Gradually reducing these factors, replacing them with their alternatives, creates an increasingly unfavorable environment for tumor development.