The moment people discover (after a diagnosis) that they have cancer, they start thinking fear, they start thinking expensive. It is actually the believe of many that the cost of treating cancer is expensive, and for this reason cage themselves indoor and die on silently. In reality, it is discovered that the greatest weapon ever in the human battle against cancer is something not far-fetched. We actually need not look ahead. With just a little look around we'll find them resting in hearts and bellies of some foods/fruits. Here are some everyday fruits/foods which can help curb cancers to a very great
extent:
1. CARROTS:
Carrots greatly provide cancer carotids like beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A, when required by the body. 1 cup of carrot juice, 2 sweet potatoes, 16 dried apricots and 4 cups of red cherries will each provide 25mgs. The best-known carotenoids, such asbeta-carotene and lycopene, have long been considered potentially powerful weapons against cancer by reducing damage to cells by oxidative stress.
2. EGG YOLK:
Egg yolk helps supply the body with folic acid. This helps the human DNA to replicate properly and protect it during radiotherapy. 400 micrograms is a recommended amount. Folate, biotin, niacin and vitamin B6 are all B vitamins that help in the fight against cancer. Egg yolk, greens and whole grains are the best sources of these nutrients.
3. BROCCOLI:
All cruciferous veggies (e.g cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth. Broccoli helps fight breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers. The more broccoli, the better, research
suggests so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.
4. BERRIES:
All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Berries help fight colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers.
5. GARLIC:
It is a truly wonderful food. It seems to act to stop the spread of cancer in a number of ways, for example by stopping blood supply forming for tumours. Garlic has a number of active ingredients. It contains phytochemicals like selenium, tryptophan and sulphur based active agents that attack cancer cells. These phytochemicals have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines (carcinogens formed in the stomach and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative. Two or three raw cloves ofgarlic per day will really help a long way.
6. MUSHROOMS:
There's an enormous body of research evidence now that shows how 'medicinal' mushrooms (Shiitake, Maiitake, cordyceps etc) boost the immune system and fight cancer. Even the button mushroom has cancer
fighting ingredients.
7. TOMATOES:
Tomato fruit is one of the best dietary sources of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red colour. And that's good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study in Nutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year. Tomatoes generally prevent endometrial cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and stomach cancer. The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes, since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.
9. GREEN TEA AND BLACK TEA:
Green tea and black tea contain certain antioxidants known as polyphenols (catechins) which appear to prevent cancer cells from dividing. Green tea is best, followed by our more common black tea (herbal teas do not show this benefit). According to a report in the July 2001 issue of the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, these polyphenols that are abundant in green tea, red wine and olive oil, may protect against various types of cancer. Dry green tea leaves, which are about 40 percent polyphenols by weight, may also reduce the risk of cancer of the stomach, lung, colon, rectum, liver and pancreas, study findings have suggested.
10. SOY PRODUCTS:
Soy products like soy milk and tofu contain several types ofphytoestrogens – weak, nonsteroidal estrogens that could help prevent both breast and prostate cancer by blocking and suppressing cancerous changes. There are a number of isoflavones in soy products, but research has shown that genistein is the most potent inhibitor of the growth and spread of cancerous cells. It appears to lower breast-cancer risk by inhibiting the growth of epithelial cells and new blood vessels that tumors require to flourish and is being scrutinized as a potential anti-cancer drug. However, there are some precautions to consider when adding soy to your diet. Eating up to 4 or 5 ounces of tofu or other soy a day is probably ok, but research is being done to see if loading up on soy could cause hormone imbalances that stimulate cancer growth. As a precaution, women who have breast cancer or are at high risk should talk to their doctors before taking pure isoflavone powder and pills, extracted from soy.
Other cancer fighting foods/fruits which are not mentioned above include: Apples, Cherries, Coffee, Cranberries, Flaxseed, Grapefruit, Legumes (Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils), Squash (Winter), Walnuts, Whole
Grains, Dark Green Leafy, Vegetable, Grapes and Grape Juice.
NOTE: No single food or food component can protect you against cancer by itself. But strong evidence does show that a diet filled with a variety of plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans helps lower risk for many cancers. The bottom-line is this, "the easiest, least-expensive way to reduce your risk for cancer is just by eating a healthy diet," says Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon, PhD, MPH, RD, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute.
REFERENCES:
* WebMD
* CANCERactive
* American Institute for Cancer Research
* HEALTH
* CARE2
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