What health condition do you fear most? If you are like most people, you answered “cancer”.
Cancer is associated in people’s minds as a painful, drawn-out illness that is devastating to your body and also takes a huge toll on your loved ones and friends. Many people mistakenly believe that cancer is uncontrollable. Evidence proves this viewpoint wrong. The foods you eat may assist in preventing cancer. Certain foods may also improve the condition of current cancer patients.
Medical case study after case study gives examples of patients who have successfully beat cancer, defying their prognosis, and eating the right foods was a big part of these success stories. For many years, researchers have studied the role nutrition plays in the prevention of cancer. Today, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), the biggest cancer research group in the United Kingdom, is a vocal proponent of the idea that between 35 and 70 percent of cancer is related to unhealthy diets. On the other hand, eating a healthy diet that is rich in superfoods like blueberries, almonds, and salmon may lower your risk of many cancers.
Cancer fighting foods share many of the same properties, such as a high amount of phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants. Phytochemicals are found naturally in plants and are responsible for the color of blueberries and the smell of garlic. Fiber, or roughage, is the indigestible portion of plants. Antioxidants are molecular components of certain foods that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, which can damage cells.
Here are some examples of how foods with these three properties can help prevent cancer:
Lycopene
Lycopene is a phytochemical found in tomatoes. According to studies done by the American Cancer Society, foods with a high concentration of lycopene may lower the risk of prostate cancer as well as other cancers. The link between lycopene and cancer is still being studied.
Berries
Berries are rich in phytochemicals that have also been proven to assist in the prevention of cancer. The phytochemicals in the berries trigger antioxidant reactions. These antioxidant reactions act to neutralize the damage done to your body’s cells by cancer.
Red wine
Red wine has two polyphenols known as catechins and resveratrol. Both of these polyphenols help protect against cancer by slowing down the growth of cancerous cells.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a superfood that inhibits the progression of hormone-sensitive cancers. These include breast and ovarian cancers.
Garlic
Garlic, Several expensive studies have been conducted to see if garlic and garlic extracts can reduce the risk of cancer. Several of these studies support the notion that garlic and garlic extracts are effective at fighting several forms of cancer.
Fiber-rich foods
Fiber-rich foods such as legumes (beans) have been shown to alleviate inflammation in the colon, which in turn is linked with the reduction of colon cancer.
More research is needed to further understand what foods that prevent cancer and how they work. For now, it is important to know that the foods you eat can influence whether you develop cancer. In particular, foods rich in phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants can help inhibit the growth of many cancers.
