Preserving Tradition, Preventing Cancer: A Narrative Review of the Traditional Mexican Diet as a Framework for Cancer Risk Reduction.

Authors

Isaura Del Valle-Domínguez, Eduardo Rios-Garcia, Cittim B Palomares-Palomares, Maria T Bourlon, Paula Cabrera-Galeana, Luis Lara-Mejía, Salvador Alonso Martinez, Paola Valdez-Sandoval, Carlos González-Nuñez, Hector Gil-Mejía, Marcela Hernández-Ortega, Oscar Arrieta

Published in

Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands). Volume 81. Issue 3. Jul 10, 2026. Epub Jul 10, 2026.

Abstract

The Traditional Mexican Diet (TMexD) is a culturally rooted, plant-forward dietary pattern derived from Mesoamerican agriculture and culinary practice, built on minimally processed staples-maize-based preparations, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Characteristic techniques such as nixtamalization and fermentation alter starch structure, mineral availability, and gut microbial activity. Through these effects, the pattern shapes metabolic responses relevant to carcinogenesis. This narrative review clarifies defining features of the TMexD across Mexico's regional diversity and synthesizes epidemiologic evidence from Mexican and Mexican-heritage populations linking closer alignment with the TMexD to favorable lipid and insulin profiles and lower markers of inflammation. Site-specific observations suggest inverse associations for multiple cancers, with the most direct evidence for breast and colorectal cancer, supportive component-level evidence for gastric cancer, and indirect evidence for lung and prostate cancer. Convergent mechanistic pathways include improved insulin/IGF signaling, modulation of oxidative stress and bile-acid metabolism, short-chain fatty acid production that reinforces mucosal integrity, and enhanced immune surveillance; traditional dishes contribute additional phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. We also examine how globalization, migration, acculturation, and urban food environments influence access to heritage staples and day-to-day practice of the pattern, noting that some regional staples remain robust while others are declining. Although definitions of "traditional" vary and measurement of preparation methods is inconsistent across studies, the convergent epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence positions the TMexD as a credible, culturally concordant framework for cancer prevention in contemporary Mexican and diaspora settings.

PMID:
42429890
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Jul 2026.

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