According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a nutritious diet can reduce your cancer risk. That makes eating right one of the easiest, not to mention the most delicious, ways to reduce your risk for a disease that is often preventable. But how exactly does diet lower cancer risk?

The American Cancer Society estimates that excess body weight is responsible for about 8 percent of all cancers and roughly 7 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States. A healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and lean protein can help people lose weight and keep the weight off once it's gone, thereby reducing cancer risk.

Unhealthy foods and oversized portions can contribute to feelings of fatigue. Such feelings can make it hard to get off the couch and exercise. While the ACS acknowledges that more studies are necessary to determine the link between sedentary behavior and cancer risk, various studies have shown links between physical activity and reduced cancer risk. For example, a 2016 meta-analysis of 10 cohort studies published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that individuals who were the most physically active had a 19 percent lower risk of stomach cancer than those who were least active. By eating healthier foods and controlling their portions, people may discover they have more energy to get up and exercise, reaping all the rewards that such activity has to offer, including a lower risk for cancer.

Another way certain foods can help you fight cancer is by bolstering your immune system, making it more capable of fighting disease. A strong immune system is a vital ally in the fight against cancer.