American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)

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American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) — Dietary Guidelines

15 Sep 2020

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How well do dietary guidelines by American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) align with those by Plant-Based Organizations like ACLM, PCRM, PBHP (UK), Plantrician Project, DFN, and PAN? Do they endorse a vegan or plant-only food system?

Sources: How to Prevent Cancer: 10 Recommendations by AICR (2018).

Sources: (A) Setting Your Table to Prevent Cancer (The New American Plate) at AICR website, and (B) The New American Plate vs. MyPlate: What’s the Difference? at AICR website (2021).

Sources: AICR's Foods that Fight Cancer™ and Foods to Steer Clear Of, Explained at AICR website (2023).

AICR (American Institute of Cancer Research) periodically publishes guidelines for cancer protection. In 2018, they outlined 10 recommendations:

What do we see? Six recommendations pertain to what we put in our mouths! Five are negative (what NOT to do); one is positive (what to do). The positive recommendation encourages us to consume a plant-based diet!

Source: AICR's 10 Recommendations are explained in detail in this 92-page document: WCRF - AICR Recommendations (2018). A summary is available here: 10 guidelines for cancer prevention.

(2020) New American Plate

AICR has also published New American Plate (2020) showing 4 plates.

Source: New American Plate: Setting Your Table to Prevent Cancer by AICR.

When it comes to animal products, AICR says, "Fish, poultry, and occasionally red meat is used as a complement, adding a bit of flavor and extra substance to the meal.

The first plate is called 'The Old American Plate' with steak, buttery mashed potatoes & peas. The third plate is 'The New American Plate'. An excerpt from the article:

"At the center of the New American Plate is a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans. These foods are rich in fiber, vitamins, and other natural substances called phytochemicals that help keep you in good health, and protect against cancer. They are also naturally low in calories."

The last plate is called 'Another Option'; it shows a one-pot-meal — a plant-based stir fry! For this plate, AICR says,

"Fish, poultry, and occasionally red meat is used as a complement, adding a bit of flavor and extra substance to the meal.

AICR's Foods That Fight Cancer

Interestingly, AICR has also published a list of foods that fight cancer!

Source: AICR's Foods that Fight Cancer™ and Foods to Steer Clear Of, Explained

What did I notice?

Plant foods: One pic has whole grains, 2 pics have beans, 2 pics have nuts & seeds, 2 pics have beverages, and 19 pics show fruits & veggies (F&V). Do fruits & veggies have the highest concentrations of those cancer fighting vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients? [I wish they had 1 or 2 pics for top anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric, ginger, cloves & rosemary too.]
Animal foods: Not a single pic shows any animal products like meat, fish, eggs, milk or dairy products.
Macronutrient extracts: Not a single pic shows macronutrient extracts like sugars (carbohydrate extracts) or oils (fat extracts).
Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs): No pic shows ultra-processed foods.

More Info

AICR 10 Recommendations and their food plates encourage us to dial down our intake of animal products and boost our intake of plant foods. They also encourage us to reduce our intake of processed foods. Put together, they are pointing us at both directions: Plant-Based (more plants, less animal products) and Whole Foods (foods in their natural form, not processed). But what exactly is the relationship between AICR Recommendations and Whole Food Plant-Based guidelines?

See AICR: 10 Recommendations, AICR: New American Plate and How Effective Are AICR Guidelines?. Also see ACS Dietary Guidelines (ACS stands for American Cancer Society).

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