Try These Top Six Foods That Can Prevent Cancer (517 words)

While some people develop cancer because of their genetic predisposition for the disease, a good percentage of cancers are indirectly caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Lack of exercise, smoking, and eating a poor diet can increase the risk of developing cancer even if one does not have a family history of it. If you want to lessen the chances of getting this dreaded disease, you might want to know about these top six foods that prevent cancer.

Vegetables. The best vegetables to fight off cancer include your cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and green leafy vegetables such as spinach. They have lots of antioxidants which help keep your cells healthy. Aside from being loaded with vitamins and minerals, these vegetables are also high in fiber, which helps prevent the development of colon and stomach cancers. It has been noted that people who typically consume more fiber have a lower incidence of cancers in the gastrointestinal tract. The best places to get vegetables are from organic farms as chemical fertilizers and preservatives can have cancer-causing substances.

Soy. For women who have a moderate or high risk for breast cancer, a daily serving of soy can significantly decrease this risk. Studies have shown that women who typically consume more soy protein are less likely to get breast cancer versus women who eat get their protein sources from meats and milk products. To get benefits of soy, women are advised to eat about eight to ten grams daily. Soy protein can be readily obtained from tofu or soy milk.

Tomatoes. Never mind the debate as to whether it’s a fruit or vegetable. One thing is for sure, tomatoes are loaded up with lycopene, a strong antioxidant that can help prevent many cancers such as prostate cancer. Consume about three servings of tomatoes every week to get its health benefits. Since lycopene is poorly absorbed from raw tomatoes, it is generally recommended that you cook tomatoes before eating them.

Garlic and Onions. These two super foods won’t only make your meals more appetizing, they’re also loaded up with cancer-fighting substances. Studies have shown that these two spices can greatly reduce the incidence of cancer. They come from the same allium family of vegetables which have been used for thousands of years as medicinal plants. For variety, you can also use shallots, leeks and chives which are also allium vegetables. A daily one-fourth cup serving of these spices is recommended to get its cancer-fighting effects.

Berries. Since berries have high amounts of antioxidants and flavinoids, they are among the best (and tastiest) foods to keep cancer at bay. They also help prevent the spread of cancer in those who already suffering from the disease. Eating a cup of fresh berries everyday can help significantly prevent cell damage and the development of cancer.

Green Tea. Because of its high levels of antioxidants, green tea has been shown to decrease the risk of many cancers, including bladder and colon cancer. Aside from keeping blood sugar within normal range, drinking three cups per day can also reduce the risk of breast cancer by more than 30%.