Did you know that certain foods have proven cancer fighting properties? Some work before the cancer even starts, others may help you to fight off cancer once it starts (not that you should only treat cancer with food!)
Cancer has dozens of different causes from radiation to viruses. However, the general mechanism of cancer is that the normal cells in your body or organ start to divide without stopping, forming a tumor.
Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The cancerous tumor can then metastasize. That means that cancerous cells break off and float around looking for a new body part to settle in.
Check out these seven foods that can help you in the cancer fight.
1. Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli)
Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, turnips, etc.) have a lot of great health benefits. They are rich in vitamin C, E, B9, and K, carotenoids, and minerals. They can lower your risk of heart related conditions.
In particular, broccoli contains sulforaphane. This compound has shown great potential in the lab at reducing the size of breast and prostate cancer cells and are linked to a reduction in colorectal and colon cancer.
Eat it raw or steamed for maximum benefit.
2. Carrots
A carrot a day beats an apple a day for keeping health risks at bay! They are good for your eyes and are carrots are linked to decreased risk of stomach cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia. Carrots are rich in carotenes (antioxidants) that counteract free radicals (particles linked with cancer and every day life). They are great in the fight against heart disease and diabetes and boost your immune system.
Eat them raw or steamed or juiced.
3. Beans
Beans are a great source of nutrients and fiber. That fiber may help lower your risk of colorectal cancer. Start with dried beans, soak them for at least 5 hours, and cook. They are great for your heart, may fight depression, lower your blood pressure, and help you lose weight.
With all that going for beans, it is worth adding ½ a cup a day to your diet. Just don’t add lard to them and watch the over salting.
4. Berries
Berries (blueberries and strawberries in particular) are a terrific source of antioxidants. Whether you eat them fresh, frozen, freeze dried, or in an extract, berries are a great health food. Results have been seen in colorectal cancer, oral cancer, esophageal cancer, and even in reducing cancer markers in your body.
They are also great for fighting depression, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels. And they taste great! Just don’t smother them in cream and sugar for maximum health benefits.
5. Certain Spices
Herbal medicine has long used spices. Science is finally catching up. Garlic, cinnamon and turmeric are cancer fighters.
Garlic contains allicin, known to kill test tube cancer cells. Humans eating more garlic have less stomach cancer and colorectal tumors. Crush and swallow a clove a day or add to your cooking.
Cinnamon is anti-inflammatory that may lower risk of head and neck cancers and reduce tumor size.
Turmeric, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, shows promise in colon, lung, breast, prostate, and head and neck cancers.
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are a miracle oil. Good for practically everything (lower blooding pressure, fight depression, increase energy levels, improving eye sight…), omega-3s also have cancer fighting properties. Omega-3s are found in fatty fish (think salmon), flax seeds, some oils like olive, and omega3 rich eggs, among other sources.
Omega-3s are linked to lower digestive tract cancers, colorectal, prostate, breast cancers, lowered markers, and smaller tumors. Cook with olive oil, sprinkle flax seed on food, and don’t fry your fish.
7. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are full of a carotenoid called lycopene. Eat them raw or cooked or even powdered to protect against prostate, pancreatic, mouth, neck, and lung cancers. Lycopene appears to prevent cell damage that may lead to a tumor and appears to limit metastasis and tumor growth.
Combining tomatoes and broccoli appears to boost the cancer fighting properties of both. Adding a bit of olive oil increases absorption of lycopene dramatically. In addition, tomatoes may help fight depression and boost your immune system.
Conclusion
Hippocrates, the “father of modern medicine” said “Let food by thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” Some 2500 years ago, the man was on to something.
Foods can fight cancer, one of the two leading killers of Americans. Add good foods like the seven listed above to help your body fight off cancer and aid you through cancer treatment.
You might not be able to completely cure cancer with food but helping your body to be healthier can only help you. And… stop eating the bad stuff like trans fats (hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils) and artificial anything.
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