Free cancer prevention and survival cooking course begins

The Cancer Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing cancer prevention through education and research, is offering a free, eight-session cooking course designed to help people prevent and survive cancer through proper diet and nutrition. "The single easiest and best thing most of us can do to prevent cancer or its recurrence is to eat right," says Jennifer Reilly, R.D., a senior nutritionist for The Cancer Project. "More than a third of all cancer deaths in this country are due to poor diet."

The Rx for better health? It's a low-fat vegetarian diet. Load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, Reilly says; they're naturally low in fat, chock-full of fiber, and filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals. Cut down on fatty foods and added fats and oils, particularly saturated fats, which have been linked to an increased risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Look for healthy substitutes for dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, which have been implicated in the occurrence of breast and colorectal cancers.

The challenge, Reilly said, is not only to teach people which foods are good for them, but also to show them how to make the foods taste good. Each class centers on important cancer-nutrition topics as local chef Sandy Baker guides students through the preparation of tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes.

The class lineup is: September 18, Fueling Up on Low-Fat Foods; September 25, Favoring Fiber; October 2, Discovering Dairy Alternatives; October 9, Replacing Meat; October 16, Planning Healthy Meals; October 23, Antioxidants and Phytochemicals; October 30, Immune-Boosting Foods and November 6, Maintaining a Healthy Weight. Classes run from 3 to 5 p.m., at Gilda's Club Rochester, 255 Alexander Street, Rochester.

For information, visit www.CancerProject.org or call 202-244-5038.

© September 9, 2007 - Westside News Inc.