Although 1 in every 5 men and 1 in every 6 women worldwide develop some sort of cancer during their lifetime, those who are diagnosed are living longer than ever, thanks to early detection and screening, vaccinations, and improvements in treatment. However, even for cancers that have effective treatments, prevention has the greatest potential to reduce the prevalence of cancer in the general population.
Research has shown that diet has a substantial impact on the development of cancer. A person's diet can drastically affect many aspects of their health, including their risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. There are many foods that contain beneficial compounds that could help prevent cancer.
Foods That Prevent Cancer
There is no specific food that can prevent you from cancer. However, the appropriate balance of foods may help make a difference. At mealtimes, include at least two-thirds plant-based foods and no more than one-third animal protein. A diet filled with a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and other plant foods helps lower the risk for many cancers. In laboratory studies, many individual vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals demonstrate anti-cancer effects. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, this "New American Plate" is essential to the fight against cancer. Examine the best and worst options for your plate.
Include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and pulses (legumes) like beans and lentils in your regular diet. There is strong evidence that eating whole grains and foods high in dietary fibre protects against colorectal cancer, as well as weight gain, overweight, and obesity, which raises the risk of numerous cancers.
Here we’ve listed some of the foods that may lower your risk of cancer, have a look at foods that reduce cancer:
#1. Fighting Cancer With Color
Coloured vegetables and fruits are loaded with cancer-fighting nutrients, so the more colourful they are, the more nutrients they contain. Consume a variety of vegetables, usually dark green, red, and orange vegetables.
Dark green leafy vegetables like mustard greens, spinach, lettuce, kale, chicory, and chard have an amount of fibre, folate, and carotenoids. These nutrients may aid in the prevention of cancers of the mouth, lungs, skin, larynx, pancreas, and stomach.
#2. Broccoli
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, kale, and cauliflower, contain phytochemicals called glucosinolates, which are linked to cardiovascular disease and produce protective enzymes that are released when you chew the raw veggie, rupturing the cell walls.
Broccoli and its cousins are most protective against cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, colon, bladder, liver, neck, head, mouth, oesophagus, and stomach as it contains sulforaphane, a plant compound present in cruciferous vegetables that may have potent anti-cancer properties.
#3. Beans
Beans are rich in fibre, which some studies have found may help protect against colorectal cancer. One study followed 1,905 persons with a history of colorectal tumours and found that those who ate more cooked, dried beans tended to have a lower chance of tumour recurrence. So, eating some servings of beans every week may increase your fibre intake and lessen your risk of cancer.
#4. Strawberries
Strawberries and raspberries contain phytochemicals known as ellagic acid. This powerful antioxidant has the potential to fight cancer in different ways at once, including deactivating certain cancer-causing substances and reducing the growth of cancer cells.
#5. Carrots
Carrots are one of the easiest veggies to eat and are high in disease-fighting nutrients. They contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant that may protect cell membranes from toxins and decrease cancer cell growth. Carrots also include vitamins and phytochemicals that may protect the breast, mouth, throat, larynx, oesophagus, and stomach from cancer.
#6. Tomatoes
Whether it's the lycopene -- the pigment that gives tomatoes their red colour -- or something else isn't clear. However some studies revealed that tomatoes reduced the risk of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer, studies also suggest that processed tomato products such as juice, sauce, or paste increase the cancer-fighting potential.
#7. Tea's
Even though the evidence is still spotty, tea, usually green tea, may be a powerful cancer fighter. In laboratory studies, green tea has delayed or prevented the development of cancer in the liver, breast, colon, and prostate cells. It also had a similar effect on lung tissue and skin. And in some longer-term studies, tea was associated with lower risks for bladder, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.
#8. Spinach
Spinach is high in carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which removes unstable molecules known as free radicals from the body before they cause damage. They're present in spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, and some research suggests they may protect against oral, oesophagal, and stomach cancer.
#9.Garlic
The main component in garlic is allicin, which has been shown to kill off cancer cells in multiple test-tube studies. Several studies have found an association between garlic intake and a lower risk of certain types of cancer.
If your family has a history of cancer, adopting minor changes to your food and lifestyle now can have a huge impact on your long-term health. If you've already been diagnosed with cancer, eating healthy food can help support your mood while also strengthening your body during this difficult time. If you have any concerns regarding a cancer diet then you can contact any top cancer hospital in India or contact us at Cancer Therapy India
