5. Dietary and Nutritional Factors: Food’s Silent Dance with Myeloma
It’s said, “You are what you eat.” But how far does this statement hold when it comes to serious conditions like multiple myeloma? Diet and nutrition have long been studied for their roles in a plethora of diseases. The truth is, what we consume daily might have intricate links with the health of our plasma cells.
Consumption of certain foods has been associated with inflammatory responses within the body. Processed foods high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats can exacerbate inflammation. Chronic inflammation, in turn, creates an environment conducive to the proliferation of rogue cells, possibly acting as a primer for conditions like multiple myeloma.
In contrast, certain micronutrients like selenium, found in Brazil nuts, and vitamin D, synthesized upon sun exposure, have properties that may offer protective effects against cancer. Their deficiency, then, could serve as an indirect catalyst, nudging the body closer to a myeloma diagnosis.
There’s also the link between red meat and cancer. While primarily associated with colon cancer, some studies hint at a potential relationship between excessive red meat consumption and multiple myeloma. Charred meats, in particular, contain compounds which, when ingested frequently, might promote cancerous growth. (5)
