It’s a surprising fact to know that what you eat can significantly affect different aspects of your health, including the likelihood of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer affects more than 1.6 million American adults each year – with around 600,000 of these patients succumbing to the chronic disease, making it the second leading cost of death in America. However, as it turns out, the development of cancer can be hindered by eating the right foods and getting the right vitamins and nutrients needed to stay healthy. Therefore, adopting an anti-cancer diet is an important strategy you can use to prevent cancer.

Cancer-fighting foods

“Cancer-fighting” foods are those that help lower your risk of developing cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research suggests that a diet that involves a variety of different healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains that significantly reduce your risk of developing many different types of cancer. This is mostly because of the myriad of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals found in these foods.

Below you can find a list of foods that are perfect for preventing this deadly disease.

Berries

Most berries have an extremely high anthocyanin content, plant pigments that harbor natural antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are molecules that prevent or even neutralize cell damage caused by free radicals. This effectively reduces inflammation throughout the body and protects it from diseases like cancer.

Studies show that supplementation with bilberry extract can reduce the growth of cancer cells. Similarly, studies reveal that berries rich in anthocyanin can inhibit several biomarkers of cancer.

Broccoli

Like most cruciferous vegetables, including kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage, broccoli contains a cancer-fighting plant compound known as sulforaphane. A study found that sulforaphane reduced the size and number of breast cancer cells by up to 75 percent. Further, an animal study looked into the efficacy of sulforaphane for treating prostate cancer and found that it reduced tumor volume by more than 50 percent.

Olive oil

You can forget all about the unhealthy oils like canola and opt to use olive oil instead, which is considered a staple addition to the Mediterranean diets. Other than providing a wide variety of health benefits, studies show that olive oil can also help protect you against cancer. In a review analyzing 19 different studies, researchers found that those who consumed the greatest amount of olive oil had a much lower risk of developing both breast cancer and cancer of the digestive system.

You can incorporate these oils into your diet in a number of ways. One common use is to drizzle a bit of olive oil over salads and cooked vegetables. You can also use olive oil in marinades for meat and fish.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice well-known for providing a number of health benefits. Its active component, curcumin, is said to be responsible for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Research reveals that supplementation with curcumin every day can reduce the number of colorectal cancer biomarkers.

Tomatoes

Tomato harbors a compound called lycopene, which is responsible for its vibrant red color. However, it is also responsible for the anticancer properties of the red fruit. Studies have looked into the effects of lycopene and found that it could reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. For instance, a review of around 17 studies found that a high intake of raw tomatoes significantly reduced the participants’ prostate cancer risk.

More and more research has put an emphasis on diet as a primary contributor to lowering cancer risk. Learn more about the health benefits of a healthy, balanced diet at Nutrients.news.

Sources:

Healthline.com

CDC.gov

AICR.org

CancerPreventionResearch.AACRJournals.org 1

CancerPreventionResearch.AACRJournals.org 2

TAndFOnline.com

ClinCancerRes.AACRJournals.org

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LipidWorld.BioMedCentral.com

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