Cancer is now the fourth leading cause of death in India. So the most pressing question today is—what are you doing to lower your risk?
In Food Matters: The Role Your Diet Plays in the Fight Against Cancer, Dr Shubham Pant asks you to ‘focus on the mundane solutions’. Oncologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, he recommends eating a good diet, staying a healthy weight and other lifestyle interventions to keep cancer at bay. Citing case studies, Dr Pant also suggests how patients diagnosed with and recovering from cancer can best manage their nutritional needs. Intensively researched and featuring simple and delicious recipes, Food Matters tells you everything that you need to know about cancer and diet.

“Food is intimately linked to our health. Many cancers are attributed to lifestyle choices and we are in a position to take control of our health and well-being. This book details on what you can do today to alter your risk of cancer and also provides critical nutritional tips including recipes for cancer patients undergoing therapy, survivors and their caregivers.” - Dr Shubham Pant

Here is a conversation we had with Dr Pant about his book and its subject -

1) Why do you think food matters? Why more so now than ever?

Shubham Pant: There has been a shift in eating patterns in India with the introduction over the past decades of processed, high calorie, low nutrition content food. This is leading to an explosion in non communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. 

2) Is it possible to eat well/clean when everything around is so polluted/comprised?

Shubham Pant: While finding reliable food sources can be challenging at times, we can make simple changes like decreasing intake of sugar to stay healthy. 

3) Is eating the right food more preventive than curative as a measure?

Shubham Pant: Food in addition to lifestyle measures can help in preventing non communicable diseases. 

4) What are some basic tips you'd suggest to someone wanting to start a clean/good food journey?

Shubham Pant: Read the book :)) The most important first step is to get a food diary going that will help you understand what you actually consume in a day/week/month to get a baseline of food consumption. 

5) What are the three main things to watch out for when planning a preventive diet?

Shubham Pant: Sugar (less), vegetables (more) and most important consistency (find the right food balance and stick to it).

6) Nowadays everyone is talking about superfoods and it's become a crowded confusing space. What is your advice for someone boggled by all the info and barrage of exotic sounding/difficult-to-procure superfoods? 

Shubham Pant: There is a paragraph in the book dedicated to so called "superfoods". Consistency is the key and we should, not be swayed by the latest "trending" food. 

7) In your book, what will the reader find when it comes to setting his plate and palate right? Any top highlights from your book?

Shubham Pant: Yes: focus on the mundane instead of the "sexy" food fad. In addition, this book provides critical nutrition tips for patients who are going through cancer therapy and survivors who have finished cancer therapy. 

8) In a developing country where diabetes, cancer and such ailments are on epidemic scale, and sourcing fresh and quality food is challenging, do you think a collectively conscious approach is possible?

Shubham Pant: Yes. It is important we take our health seriously and devote time and energy towards eating right. There are a lot of easy solutions that you can do now  like cutting down of processed foods, sodas, eating "junk" food  and others which are mentioned in the book. It is important to remember the old adage "Health is Wealth"! 

To find out more, get a copy of the book here - https://www.amazon.in/FOOD-MATTERS-Plays-Against-Cancer/dp/9390351464