Reduce risks of childhood cancer by eating right and avoiding pesticides


By Rochelle Davis,
Executive Director, Generation Green

Cancer seems like one of those age-related diseases that won’t affect you until late in life. But cancer can affect young adults and children too. In fact, young children may be more susceptible to cancer-causing agents because their cells are rapidly proliferating as they grow. Their protective detoxifying systems may also be less developed than those of adults. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), about 8,500 American children were diagnosed with cancer and 1,700 died from the disease in 1998 (the latest figures available).

While the causes of cancer are complex, NCI epidemiological studies indicate an association between exposure to pesticides and cancer in children. In the period from 1973 to 1995, 53% of brain tumors and other nervous-system cancers in children age 0-4 were associated with environmental exposures such as pesticides and radiation.

To help reduce your child’s cancer risk, avoid using pesticides in and around your home. It also helps to eat more cancer-fighting foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains. These plant foods are the top sources of anti-cancer compounds such as beta-carotene, indoles, and sulforaphane. For the best cancer protection, focus on cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, chard, mustard greens, rutabagas, and turnips. Try the recipe for Bow-Ties with Broccoli and Chickpeas (below) to get a little more cancer-fighting broccoli into your family’s diet.


The Generation Green monthly column previews the forthcoming Generation Green Cookbook. It provides articles, features and recipes to help parents become educated about children’s environmental health issues, and to make fun, healthy foods for their children. Generation Green is a nonprofit organization that helps parents protect children from harmful effects of toxins in foods, homes and the world in general. Learn more at www.generationgreen.org



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