A nutrient-rich diet plays a significant role in lowering the risk of cancer. According to oncologists, you should eat a minimum five servings of vegetables and fruits daily to maintain a healthy weight. Various plant-based foods are rich in special compounds and phytonutrients that significantly help prevent cancer. Try to include various vegetables and fruits in your diet, especially the following superfoods, to avert cancer.
Foods that Fight with Cancer Cells:
Garlic
Various studies revealed that those consume more garlic are less prone to develop various types of cancers, particularly in digestive organs like stomach, esophagus and colon. Components in garlic can obstruct your body’s cancer-causing substances from working or block cancer cells from multiplying. Though the exact amount of garlic that you should eat to prevent cancer is unknown, eating a clove per day can be useful.
Broccoli
The group of cruciferous vegetables which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale etc. carries cancer-fighting attributes. But amongst these, only broccoli contains a significant amount of sulforaphane – a highly powerful compound that improves the production of protective enzymes of the body and flushes out the cancer-causing substances. A recent study conducted by the University of Michigan revealed that sulforaphane also helps in detoxification of cancer stem cells, which aid in tumor development. This healthy and tasty vegetable helps to fight liver, breast, prostate, lung, bladder, skin and stomach cancers.
Berries
In the process of tasty smoothie making, role of berries is almost incomparable with other fruits. Apart from satiating your taste buds with tasty juice, berries also have powerful antioxidants that counteract harmful free radicals. Berries contain fiber, folate, vitamin C, vitamin A, flavonoids and ellagic acid, which help avert cancer. These components also decelerate the growth of cancer. Though you can include blackberries, blueberries, strawberries or any of your favorite berries in your anti-cancer diet, blueberries are particularly more powerful than their other counterparts. Blueberries contain a significantly higher concentration of anthocyanins that decelerate the development of premalignant cells. Berries help to fight esophageal, oral, colon and skin cancers.
Tomatoes
These are considered as the best source of lycopene – an antioxidant, which is the main reason behind the tomatoes reddish hue. Lycopoene inhibits the development of endometrial cancer cells. Cooked tomatoes provide the highest benefits because the amount of lycopene (absorbable by the body) gets increased by the heating process. You can make your diet more delicious by adding whole-wheat pasta along with marinara sauce to it while decreasing the risk of cancer. Tomatoes help fight lung, endometrial, stomach and prostate cancers. Apart from fighting cancer, lycopene helps lower risks of macular degenerative disease and heart disease, in addition to decreasing inflammation throughout the body.
Green Tea
Green tea contains high amount of catechins that can help avert cancer in various ways. According to studies, catechins can contract tumors and lower tumor cell development. According to popular belief, great tea, as an anti-cancer agent, provides the following benefits:
- Boosts energy levels, health and overall well being.
- Fights cancers and improves the immune system.
- Helps gain control over cancer and its treatment, to some extent.
- Detoxifies the body
- Treats cancer when conventional treatment fails to provide a possible cure.
Beans
Unlike certain vegetables and fruits that are widely considered as superior sources of antioxidants, beans have remained unrecognized for years. But the fact is that some beans, especially black and navy beans, are excellent sources of antioxidants. According to the American Cancer Society, having a fiber-rich diet may help lower the risk of cancer. Thus, beans – as a source of fiber, should be included in your diet. Try to add a serving of half a cup of beans a couple of times a week to your normal rotation of vegetables to reduce the risk of colon and breast cancers.
Turmeric
This simple, most commonly available orange-colored spice has been used in almost every Indian cuisine from the ancient times. The primary active ingredient of turmeric – curcumin may reduce the risk of cancer. Laboratory studies, performed on some animals, revealed that curcumin can hinder the development of some types of cancer cells, slow the expansion of cancer and shrink tumors. Turmeric is now considered amongst the extraordinary superfood spices with anti-cancer properties. It contains a vast assemblage of palpable health benefits that include prevention of cirrhosis and potential to cause cancer cell death.
To summarize…
The development of malignancy in our body is a long-term occurrence that originates at the cellular level and is usually diagnosed after a number of years. According to most scientists, cancer might be much easily prevented than cured. Various studies revealed that diet plays a significant role in cancer developments and approximately thirty percent of malignant cases are believed to be related to the patient’s diet. In short, diet is undoubtedly the best and simplest tool we’ve that we can use to shield ourselves from developing cancer. The above mentioned superfoods, easily available in organic markets or grocery stores, contain cancer-fighting properties starting from antioxidants that counteract the harm induced by free radicals to powerful phytochemicals. Thus, including them in our diet will help us fight the losing battle against cancer effectively. It’s important to note that a single component in a certain superfood isn’t capable enough to provide you with all cancer-fighting benefits. Instead, you’ve to plan your diet to include all these superfoods in a rotational manner to gain complete benefits vis-à-vis the battle against cancer.
