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A recipe for healthy skin and hair is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of skin cancer, according to a new study.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also found that a diet low in sugar, saturated fats and sodium and high in fresh fruits and vegetables could lower the risk by about 40%.
“We think it’s important to focus on foods that are good for your health,” said lead researcher, Dr. Andrew S. Bensinger, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, Davis.
The researchers studied more than 4,000 people with skin cancer who had been diagnosed in a clinical trial.
They used an online questionnaire that asked about their lifestyle habits and health history.
They also collected a list of healthy foods.
The results showed that people who ate a balanced diet and were regular users of their vitamin supplements and herbs had a lower risk of developing skin cancer compared to those who did not.
The findings also showed that those who ate vegetables, fruits and fish had a higher risk of contracting the disease.
“The main message here is that it’s really important to follow a balanced, healthy diet,” Dr. Bensen said.
“We think there are many other ways to make the healthiest diet possible, including eating foods that people like to eat.”
Dr. Bentsinger said the findings may also be applicable to the broader population.
He said, “We know that if you are eating a healthy diet, you’re going to have a lower overall risk of cancer than someone who’s eating a very low-quality diet.”
He said that a low-sugar diet, with a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates and protein, was important for reducing skin cancer risk, especially for those who are at increased risk of other cancers.
He said, “People who are eating very little sugar are at higher risk than people who are consuming a lot of sugar, and people who eat a lot less fruit and vegetables, and have a balanced health diet.”
Dr Bensingers study also looked at the link between sugar and cancer.
“People were found to have more skin cancer in areas where they ate more sugar,” he said.
Dr. S. N. Rao, a professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and a member of the study, said,”I think this is an important study, and it’s not an entirely surprising finding,” Rao said.
“The fact that it was published in a major medical journal, and the fact that we were able to identify that there were associations between sugar intake and skin cancer makes it really intriguing and useful.”
