Smartfood Program

Epidemiologic and experimental evidence shows that only a small proportion of cancers are inherited; environmental factors are the most important cause of genetic change.
These factors include food toxins such as mycotoxins or alcohol, as well as smoking, infectious agents, radiation, drugs, industrial chemicals and pollutants.
Thus, habits (including a healthy diet) aimed at minimizing exposure to these carcinogens are known to protect against tumorigenic mutations.

More recently, certain dietary patterns and physical activity have been shown to prevent cancer and other age-related diseases by altering the function of some genes (belonging to the longevity genetic pathways) and inhibiting the accumulation of fat, which increases the risk of cancer. This means that a healthy environment can reduce our chances of developing cancer.
In this context, nutrition is an extraordinary tool for preventing cancer and other age-related diseases.

By leveraging our existing networks, the Smartfood Translational Research Program aims to improve nutrition on multiple levels.

Potential benefits of the program include:

• Increase understanding of the relationship between diet and longevity.
• Motivating positive behavior change.
• Increase awareness of major risk factors.
• Promoting health and encouraging active, healthy aging.
• Effectively teach primary prevention strategies.
• Reduce health care costs.
• Elucidate the mechanisms involved in disease susceptibility.