Food and lifestyle are important factors in cancer prevention. Cancer cases are multiplying each year, and the media is only starting to talk about the correlation between lifestyle and cancer risks. Everyone knows that smoking increases risks of developing lung cancer, among others but few people know that some of the foods they eat regularly could be as life threatening as smoking is. On the other hand, some foods really help to protect us against carcinogens.
8 cancer fighting foods
Garlic: Garlic contains compounds that can prevent tumor formation in the colon, lowering colon cancer risks.
Nuts: All nuts contain protective compounds like folic acid, and magnesium. Peanuts, in particular, could help preventing endometrial and colorectal cancers in women.
Flaxseed: Ground flaxseed is rich in lignans, a substance that acts like an antioxidant. This compound is known to help in breast cancer prevention.
Cruciferous vegetables: Cruciferous vegetable family includes cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Those vegetables contains a specific antioxidant that could inhibit the growth of cancer cells, especially lung, liver, colon and breast cancers.
Orange-colored fruits and vegetables: Vegetables like sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and mangoes contains high levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that may help prevent the damage to cell membrane that leads to cancer.
Grapes: The potent antioxidant found in red wine is also found in red and purple grape. This special antioxidant, resveratrol, has been shown to slow the growth of cancer cells.
Dark leafy greens: Very rich in various vitamins and minerals including folate, leafy greens help repair damaged DNA that’s vulnerable to cancer.
Beans: Beans are a healthy meat substitute and cutting back on red meat also lowers your overall cancer risk. Many beans and lentils also have various antioxidants that help to lower cancer risks even more.