Cancer. It’s a word that the world dreads. Even if you don’t personally know anybody who has suffered from this terrible disease, you have definitely heard of many sad cases throughout the world. The sad and scary part is that it has become so common in recent times.
Almost anyone can be a victim to this disease, no matter how you’ve chosen to lead your life. In such a scenario, it can never hurt to be careful. Cancer fighting foods do exist, and though no single food or component can protect you against cancer itself, it has been found that a variety of foods can help us lower the risk of developing the disease.
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Prevention is better than the cure, you see? So bring prevention to your kitchen and update your grocery shopping list with these foods that fight cancer.
Suggested read: 15 cancer causing foods you need to avoid – NOW!
1. Broccoli & family
Some of the best anti-cancer foods are the cruciferous veggies. These include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and the like. All of them consist of anti-cancer properties, but broccoli wins hands down. Though all these veggies protect you from radicals that might damage your DNA, broccoli is the only one that has a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body’s protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals. It also targets cancer stem cells – those that aid in tumor growth. So, this is one ingredient that your salads and pizzas shouldn’t miss out on.
2. Berries
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Berries feature on the list of the top anti-cancer foods. They contain cancer-fighting phytonutrients, and you should especially seek out black raspberries in particular because they consist of a high concentration of anthocyanins, a substance that slows down the growth of premalignant cells. This way, no new blood cells are formed and nothing is feeding the tumor in question. Half a cup of berries a day will definitely keep the cancer away.
3. Tomatoes
That’s right, this juicy fruit is one of the best sources of lycopene. It is what gives the tomatoes their red hue. This is something that has been found to be helpful in stopping endometrial cancer cell growth. Some researchers are even saying that consuming these red favorites can help protect men from prostate cancer. Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce – how does that sound for kicking cancer’s butt?
4. Walnuts
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One of the best breast cancer fighting foods is the walnut. Walnuts are known to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, which slow down their growth. So, a handful of walnuts during the day should keep you healthy. You could also try out recipes that involve walnuts. How about eating some apple and walnut cake or brownies to fight against cancer?
5. Garlic
Regular inclusion of garlic in your diet lowers your risk of certain cancers, especially the ones that strike your digestive organs like the esophagus, stomach, and colon. Not only does it make your food more delicious, these pungent bulbs will keep the cancer-causing substances away from your body, or help keep the cells from multiplying. Maybe a clove a day should be good enough.
6. Beans
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When it comes to cancer fighting foods, beans are generally and unfairly left out of the picture. Black and navy beans, and even red kidney beans, have antioxidants and fibers that help reduce the risk of cancer. Eating beans at least once or twice every week will keep the cancer away.
7. Green tea
Tea has antioxidants called catechins that help keep away substances that can damage your cells. These catechins can shrink tumors and reduce tumor cell growth. Both green and black teas consist of catechins, but you’ll get more antioxidants from green tea, so you might want to add at least a cup of this to your everyday diet.
Suggested read: 10 household essentials that can cause cancer
8. Whole grains
Whole grains contain components like fiber and antioxidants that might help lower your risk of cancer. Studies show that almost half a million people who consume more whole grains are more likely to lower their risk of colorectal cancer. There are so many items that you can include in your whole grains diet – oatmeal, barley, bread, and even whole wheat pasta for that matter.
9. Turmeric
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Turmeric is well-loved by Indians, and for good reason. This amazing spice, a staple in Indian curries, consists of an ingredient called curcumin that might be useful in reducing the risk of cancer. Curcumin can inhibit a few kinds of cancer cells and slow down the spread of cancer. It is easily available and can be used in plenty of recipes and cuisines.
10. Leafy greens
There is a reason parents go crazy on their children when they skip out on the greens. Leafy green vegetables like spinach and lettuce are good sources of the antioxidants – beta-carotene and lutein. These help limit the growth of cancer cells as well as providing other health benefits.
11. Grapes
If you like red grapes or even red wine, then including them in your diet should be an easy task. They are a rich source of an antioxidant called resveratrol, which helps in keeping cancer from spreading and has been found to lower the risk of prostate cancer in men. A bunch of it or a glass of wine, maybe twice a week, should be good enough.
12. Avacados
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These are known to be rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks substances in the body by blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats. They also contain more potassium than bananas. It is also believed that avocados are useful in treating viral hepatitis (a cause of liver cancer). So, say yes to this amazing fruit! You could consider having the juice every morning for breakfast.
13. Citrus fruits
They are deliciously tangy and are the best source of Vitamin C. But these fruits, especially oranges and lemons, contain limonene that stimulates cancer-killing immune cells that break down cancer causing substances, nipping cancer in the bud. Some fresh juice every morning along with your breakfast should be easy to manage.
14. Figs
These apparently have a derivative of benzaldehyde, a substance that is believed to be highly effective in shrinking tumors. They also contain vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which may help manage your appetite and improve weight loss efforts. It’s healthy and kills cancer, so definitely add it to your grocery list.
Suggested read: Sugar causes breast cancer, suggests new study
15. Flax seeds
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Not many people are aware of this, but flax seeds contain lignans, which may block or suppress cancerous changes. Flax also has high omega-3 fatty acid content, which may reduce your risk of colon cancer and various heart diseases. You definitely need to include flax in your diet.
Now that you know what to eat, you should learn about the cancer causing foods that you should avoid eating. Animal fats, cheese, butter and the like are all linked to obesity, another factor that can lead to cancer. Of course, having them once in a while won’t kill you, but make sure that you don’t eat too much of any of these. So, if you’re the one living off junk food or food from the fast food chains, then maybe it’s time you pull up your socks and pay attention to your health.
Either way, you now know what to eat and what to avoid. So, there you have them all. Obviously there are more to the list, but these are the main cancer fighting foods that you need to add on to your grocery basket. Let’s beat cancer!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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