Fruit and Vegetable Consumption May Reduce Risk of Cervical Cancer

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer in women. Nearly 14,000 American women received a cervical cancer diagnosis in 2022. It is the third most frequent gynecologic cancer diagnosis in America. Even more shocking is that HPV may be responsible for 99.7% of these diagnoses.

Most doctors and health experts recommend that young women and girls get the HPV vaccine before engaging in sexual activity. Then it can protect them from the devastating effects of high-risk HPV infectionsif they contract them.

Many factors play a role in reducing the risk of cervical cancer in women. For instance, getting the HPV vaccine as young as possible will go a long way in protecting a woman. Health experts say girls from ages 9 to 14 should receive two doses of the vaccine to maximize their protection against HPV and cervical cancerbefore entering their sexually active years as teenagers and young adults.

But other factors play a major role in the risk of cervical cancer development, such as pregnancy history, smoking, obesity, age, and diet. In fact, most health experts have found clear evidence linking nutrition and diet to the risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer development. A healthy diet of regular fruit and vegetable consumption can help a woman’s immune system eradicate an HPV infection before it causes cervical cancer to develop.

According to numerous medical studies, a poor diet with few fruits and vegetables will make it more difficult to eliminate an HPV infection, thereby doubling the risk of cervical cancer development. Researchers have found that consuming specific micronutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carotenoids, and folate can make it easier for the immune system to eradicate an HPV infection and is an excellent HPV diet.

Women should avoid the typical Western diets comprising high trans fats, saturated fats, sodium, salt, and added sugars because they stimulate chronic inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation makes it more difficult for your immune system to manage an HPV infection successfully.

The Mediterranean diet is better because it contains beans, vegetables, fish, fruits, and healthy fats. Medical studies also show that consuming antioxidants like zeaxanthin, beta carotene, carotenoids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and AHCC supplements will prevent cervical cancer growth, especially in women who smoke.

Therefore, the medical evidence overwhelmingly shows that good nutrition and diet can help stop the development and growth of cervical cancer.