Cancer is something no one wants to hear. Food plays a significant role in preventing cancer and if you know the right foods to eat, it can significantly decrease your chances of getting any form of cancer. Not all cancers are preventable, but many are.
What Causes Cancer?
Cancer is a term used for diseases that affect the body’s cells, which grow abnormally and interfere with biological functions. At times these cells divide without control and at other times they invade tissues where they shouldn’t be present. If not stopped, these errors accumulate until finally, serious effects occur, which may lead to death if not treated well by the medical world. In most cases, environmental factors such as pollutants from cigarettes, smoke, or air-borne toxins from industrial waste have caused cancer. Viruses have also been known to cause cancer, as with hepatitis B and cervical cancer which can be prevented by a vaccine.
Cancer rates are increasing every day and this is one of the most serious health threats that everyone should be concerned about. The good news is there are several ways people can reduce their cancer risks not just through eating but by exercising more and changing other habits such as drinking alcohol in excess or smoking cigarettes. In this article, we will look at 10 foods to help prevent cancer from occurring in your body.
What follows are the 10 best foods for preventing cancers:
Garlic
Garlic can be used as a medicine for many common ailments, including various forms of cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma, oral cancer, and prostate cancer. It is an excellent source of antioxidants that are needed to protect the body from free radical damage. Garlic also contains small amounts of selenium and vitamin C, which increase its effectiveness against cancers.
Green tea
Green tea has many health benefits including cancer prevention. Its active ingredient is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). Studies have shown that this compound inhibits the growth of tumors in breast, lung, liver, and stomach cancers, among others. It also helps induce apoptosis (cell death) among moles which causes skin cancer while avoiding healthy cells by acting on specific molecular targets on these cells only. These molecular targets are known as pro-apoptotic proteins which can activate the death signal that cells use to self-destruct. Also, green tea contains antioxidants that protect the body against free radicals and reduce cell damage.
Broccoli
Broccoli is an excellent source of fiber that assists in food digestion and prevents constipation by softening or bulking stool, preventing waste buildup or blockage in the digestive tract. It also provides vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, iron, and calcium, among other nutrients that are beneficial for good health. Broccoli is rich in minerals, including selenium, which helps slow down cell division, reducing the risk of cancerous growths while its sulforaphane content boosts enzyme production that aids in the body’s detoxification process.
Carrots
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which acts as antioxidants to free up space for good bacteria to grow in your gut while also preventing bad bacteria from growing. With improved nutritional intake, the immune system is boosted, which helps fight off infections and strengthens the body to become more resistant to diseases, including cancer. Carrots are rich sources of vitamin C and K plus fiber and they contain potassium too, which regulates blood pressure, while some studies have linked their consumption with the improvement of eye health and reduced risk of macular degeneration, among other benefits.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes provide a wealth of nutrition, especially when cooked or processed, otherwise it would be hard for some people to get enough lycopene from it. For example, through cooking tomato products such as ketchup or spaghetti sauce, they enrich the lycopene content much more than in raw tomatoes, which makes this very beneficial food for cancer prevention. In particular, studies have shown that their consumption reduces human prostate cancer risks while other forms of cancer, including colon and breast cancer, are also reduced with increased intake of tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich sources of vitamins A and C, plus potassium and fiber.
Walnuts
Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce arthritis pain, while walnut oil has been found to be helpful in treating psoriasis (an autoimmune skin disease). They also help lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart diseases. Walnuts contain a compound that helps fight off free radicals that damage cells and DNA causing cancer because it boosts the immune system, which enables it to recognize and destroy abnormal cells before they become cancerous. They are rich in antioxidants which protect the body from free radical damage and vitamins E, B1, B2, calcium, copper, and magnesium, among many others.
Onions
Onions contain chromium, which helps control blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes, while onions also contain quercetin, a flavonoid found in the outer layers of the vegetable which has anti-inflammatory properties. Those who suffer from arthritis can benefit from its antioxidant content while onions are also good for cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which reduces the risk of heart disease. Studies have linked onion intake with reduced risk of stomach cancer and tumor growths that are inhibited, among other benefits.
Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi fruit contains vitamin E, folate, and fiber among other nutrients that offer a wide range of health benefits, ranging from helping lower the risk of heart disease to reduced chances of developing asthma among other benefits. Its high levels of antioxidants prevent cellular damage while Kiwifruit contains a compound called lutein that provides protection against eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The vitamin C in the fruit boosts immunity while folate assists in brain function and production of red blood cells.
Cranberries
Cranberries are rich in flavonoids that prevent the formation of kidney stones aside from protecting the body from heart diseases and cancer. Studies have found that cranberry extracts inhibit the growth of leukemia cells, while other studies link cranberries with a reduced risk of ovarian and gastric cancers, among others. They also reduce inflammation, thus preventing arthritis, while their antioxidant content prevents damage to colon cells, hence reducing colorectal cancer risks.
Blueberries
Similar to cranberries, blueberries are also rich in antioxidants that protect the body from cancer-causing free radicals while their anthocyanin content protects brain cells against damage. They are especially helpful in improving memory and mental alertness as well as reduce the risk of heart diseases by lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels among other benefits. Like other berries, blueberries also contain acid, which reduces cancer risk while its anti-inflammatory properties can help ease pain associated with arthritis.
Preventing cancer is way better than fighting cancer. First, you must eat healthy and exercise daily. Next, get enough rest and sleep to keep your body and increase energy levels for the day. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol too much (in excess) because these would only make your conditions worse, especially if they contain nicotine or toxins that might damage cells.
Lastly, if you feel like there is something wrong with your body even though all lab test results come back normal, go see a doctor immediately or better yet, ask them to do some further tests just to be safe about it. Cancer doesn’t have symptoms at first, so you wouldn’t know when it starts unless it gets more aggressive. Studies have shown that more than half of those who die from cancer did not know that they had it until it was too late. So if you have risk factors for cancer, do your part and take care of your body the right way to minimize risks-and never leave things up to chance.
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