Foods to Fight Cancer

Embracing a diet that includes nature’s medicine is the best alternative to prevent the deadly disease of cancer. The nature’s medicine includes nothing but green vegetables and fruits. A healthy diet will prevent the occurrence of cancer and the resulting need to undergo aggressive chemotherapy treatments.

The relation between prevention of cancer and diet may seem unrealistic to some people. Most of us consider the incidence of cancer and other fatal diseases as unavoidable and leave it to fate to decide. But the fact is that simple lifestyle modifications and diet changes can have a big role in preventing the ‘Big C’.

Having control over your health by embracing foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and polyphenols could mean a drastic change. Shift to plant-based diet that contains abundant sources of anti-cancer compounds. Following are listed some of the very effective cancer-fighting foods.

Foods To Fight Cancer

Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous veggies include cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cress, bok choy, broccoli, kale and similar green leafy vegetables. Research evidences suggest that a judicious intake of these vegetables in daily diet results in lower risk for colorectal, lung and stomach cancers.

Cancer Fighting Foods

Indole-3-carbinol in these veggies transforms cancer-promoting estrogen into a more shielding type and thus prevents the incidence of breast cancer. Some components in broccoli sprouts, for instance, phytochemical sulforaphane, help in fighting colon and rectal cancer.

Carrots

Carrots are rich in Beta-carotene, which not only improves eye sight but also help in preventing cancer.

A compound called falcarinol in carrots is found to be very effective in fighting lung, throat, stomach, intestine, prostate and breast cancers.

Garlic

Garlic contains allium coumpounds that are said to improve the activity of immune cells that battle cancer.

It is better to eat the whole clove rather than garlic supplements to get the effect. Garlics are very effective in preventing stomach, esophagus, and breast cancer.

Green Tea

Green tea is rich in antioxidant properties, and hence fights cancerous cell developments.

The flavonoids in green tea are very effective in preventing colon, liver, breast, melanoma, ovarian, bladder and prostate cells cancers.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms contain powerful components such as polysaccharides that enhance immunity system.

Beta Glucan and lectin successfully fight the development of cancerous cells and prevents them from proliferating. Mushroom extracts are traditionally given to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Japan.

Tomatoes

Lycopene, a powerful chemical present in tomatoes, is effective in fighting prostate, ovarian, and cervical cancer.

Lycopene is an anti-oxidant that combats harmful free radical element in the body. Vitamin C in tomatoes also thwarts cellular damage.

Folic Acid

A judicious intake of foods that contain folic acid or folic acid supplements are known to prevent cancer.

Folic acids helps in the formation of fresh cells and maintain red blood cells health. Citrus fruits and dark, green leafy vegetables are rich sources of folic acid.

High Fiber Foods

High-fiber foods are a necessary ingredient in our daily diet to prevent the incidence of colorectal, esophageal, and liver cancers. High-fiber foods help in protecting the colon. Include whole-grain cereal, oatmeal, whole grain bread, high-fiber vegetables, etc in your diet to get sufficient fiber content. Green peas, spinach, corn, broccoli, and potatoes are fiber-rich veggies.

Include foods that are rich in vitamin A and C, and vitamin E and selenium in your daily diet. Vitamin E is commonly found in wheat germ, nuts, and seeds. Seafood, meat, and cereals are enriched with selenium.

Lifestyle changes are required along with healthy diet to fight cancer in natural way. Quit smoking and drinking, and do regular physical exercise. Avoid marinated foods, fried and processed foods, excess red meat etc. As Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine aptly stated, “Let your food be your medicine.”