Top 10 Super Foods that Fight Cancer
We know that some foods increase our risk for cancer. But is the opposite true? If certain foods can lead to cancer, can other foods help prevent cancer? The short answer to this question is yes. There are some foods that should be included in a cancer-fighting diet. Let’s explore this further and look at the top 10 foods that fight cancer.
What are the Foods that Cause Cancer?
Some foods are known to increase the risk of some cancers. You have likely heard about these top 5 cancer-causing foods.
- Processed meats
- Red meat, especially when grilled
- Sugary drinks, such as soda pop and fruit juices
- Prepackaged, processed foods
- Alcohol
How do you Fight Cancer?
There is no denying that getting cancer is immensely difficult to process. It is such a devastating disease and it is on the rise. As we get busier, eat more processed foods and lead more hectic lives, the cancer rates will likely keep going up. So, it is important to do what you can to help reduce your risk of getting cancer. If you already have cancer, there are some things you can do to help in the fight.
Follow The Advice Of Your Cancer Care Team
Oncologists and your health care professionals have studied and been treating cancer for years. Listen to their advice carefully. We know that chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and other medical treatments are effective for many cancers. So, be sure to follow the advice of your cancer care team.
Be More Active
A sedentary life is known for many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. So, get up off the chair and move! Find fun and exciting to be active. There are so many things you can do. Even just walking down the block regularly has huge health benefits.
Get A Good Night’s Sleep.
You need your sleep. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can increase the risk of some cancers. Sleep resets your hormones and gives your body the rest it needs to heal properly. So, develop a bedtime routine and get the deep sleep you need.
Learn Ways To Reduce The Stress In Your Life.
Stress is a major influencer on your health. It messes with the balance of hormones in your brain and body. Overtime this puts a strain on your immune system and health. Chronic stress may even lead to cancer. So find ways to reduce the chronic stress in your life.
Maintain A Healthy Body Weight
Body fatness is the term used by many cancer researchers. It simply means excess body fat. The main factor increasing body fatness is “excess energy from food and drink”. In other words, eating too many calories can lead to increase body fat stores, heart disease, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and cancers.
“The evidence shows that, in general, the more excess weight people have as adults, the higher the risk of certain cancers”
– World Cancer Research Fund. –
Eat A Healthy Cancer-Fighting Diet.
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
– Ann Wigmore –
What you eat also influences your health. You have a choice in what you eat. So, instead of eating foods that are known to increase cancer risk, eat foods that help prevent this nasty disease.
What is a Cancer-Fighting Diet?
So, what can you eat to help prevent and fight cancer?
Eat Whole Foods
Eat a diet full of wholesome ingredients, mostly vegetables and fruits. As we have seen, processed foods can increase the risk for some cancers. So, eating fresh whole ingredients is much better than eating quick, processed convenience foods. Cooking from scratch is the best way to go.
Balance Your Macros
Balance your macro nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
Balancing your macros is not that difficult. Many dietary guidelines have simplified this for you.
Divide your plate into 3 sections. The largest section should be vegetables and fruits (your healthy carbs). Then one quarter of your plate should be a healthy protein. And the last quarter should be whole grains (your healthy fiber and resistant starches). Fats are naturally in meats, avocado and nuts, for example. And fats are usually added during the cooking process, to grease a pan, for example.
Limit Your Calories
Body fatness increases if you continually eat too many calories. Over time, this may cause you to be overweight. Obesity is linked to an increase in cancer risk.
So, calculate out your daily calorie allowance to prevent overeating. Track what you eat to prevent overeating. And maintain a healthy body weight.
Eat Foods that Help Prevent Cancer
A cancer-fighting diet also contains many of the anti-cancer foods that science has uncovered. Let’s look at my picks for the ten best foods to fight cancer.
What are the 10 Best Foods that Fight Cancer
There is a lot of research looking at foods that have anti-cancer properties. I love to browse the medical journals to see what they have discovered next. I find it fascinating that what we eat has such a profound effect on our health.
So, let’s look at 10 of the top cancer-fighting foods.
1. Apples
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
– Benjamin Franklin –
Apples may have many health benefits. People who regularly eat apples may lower their risk of cancer, especially lung, skin, colon and breast cancer. Recent research suggests that apples may also help us lose weight and improve heart health.
2. Beets
Beets are a glorious root vegetable packed full of nutrients. The dark red color of beets comes from the betacyanin pigment. This pigment has shown promising anti-cancer potential and protective effects on healthy cells. Other nutrients in beets include vitamins, minerals, nitrates, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is considered one of the world’s healthiest foods. It contains sulforaphane molecules that may slow down and stop cancer cells from growing, especially in skin, lung, throat, prostate and pancreas cancers. This super-vegetable also contains high levels of folate that may decrease risk for breast, colon, stomach and cervical cancer.
4. Carrots
Most know that carrots are healthy and good for eyesight. But carrots may also help lower the risk of many of the major cancers, such as lung, prostate, breast and colorectal cancer. This very low calorie vegetable contains many different anti-oxidants and anti-cancer compounds, such as beta-carotene and fulcarinol.
5. Cherries
Cherries contain many powerful nutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as quercetin and anthocyanins. Extracts from cherries have been shown to inhibit breast cancer cells in culture. Some compounds, such as ellagic acid, may be effective in combating cancer. They are thought to deprive cancer cells of the proteins needed to grow.
6.Green Tea
“Where there is tea, there is hope.”
– Arthur Wing Pinero –
Green tea contains powerful and unique antioxidants and immune boosting compounds. Some of these may kill cancer cells and prevent blood vessels from growing inside tumors. Green tea may also reduce the risk for the spread of cancer cells in the body. Drinking tea also helps detoxify the body.
7. Kale
Kale is a dark, leafy green full of vitamins and minerals. This powerful vegetable is a member of the cruciferous family that are being studied for their anti-cancer properties. The biggest benefits of kale may be in helping manage blood pressure, improving digestion and protecting against heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Kale also helps our bodies get rid of unwanted toxins and free radicals that can damage our healthy cells and organs, leading to some cancers.
8. Parsley
Parsley is an herb famous for its digestive health benefits. It also seems to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. This leafy herb contains apigenin, a flavonoid that may protect against DNA damage and kill cancer cells. This herb also contains luteolin, a compound that may slow tumor growth.
9. Raspberries
Raspberries are rich in bioactive compounds and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and vitamin C, that have many potential health protective effects. Raspberry extracts have killed cancer cells in laboratories. Red raspberries have been shown to suppress tumor growth in colon, stomach, lung, prostate, breast and oral cancers in the lab. Black raspberries have promising anti-cancer effects against many types of cancer, such as cancers of the head and neck, esophagus, cervical and colon.
10. Turmeric
Turmeric contains the active compound curcumin, which seem to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anticancer effects. This spice may slow growth, kill and prevent spreading of prostate, pancreas, colon, lung, skin, breast and ovarian cancer cells.
Using turmeric and black pepper together seems to release the power of curcumin and may magnify the health benefits. The piperine in pepper helps our bodies digest turmeric and use the curcumin.
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Thank you for a wonderful post including so many important details. This helps so many in the understanding to fighting cancer.
This is such useful information! Many of these foods are already a part of my diet, but I do need to figure out a way to include beets into it, it a way that I like them!
Thanks for this beautifully explained article.
I am spending my life mostly as a sedentary life. Especially, after the pandemic.
Trying to spend some time on exercise and consume more vegetables.
Thank you for this great and insightful post. Cancer is very scary and a threat to our lives. Being mindful of what we eat and what we do to reduce the risk is very important. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the useful information. 💖Can you list down the food and fruits that can reduced the effect of tamoxifen. I’m on tamoxifen for 5 yrs and the hot flashes is killing me.
Kindly advise and give a solution to my problem.
Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Have you seen my other article on the Do’s and Don’ts of Eating While Taking Tamoxifen? I am sure you will find it useful. I also have another article about how to minimize side effects with Cardio Exercise. You will find this article helpful. Running and aerobic exercises helped me minimize hot flashes.
Very informative, thank you for this insightful post.
That’s a great read, Thank you! I will definitely be eating a lot more of these vegetables and getting more exercise too!
Some excellent advice for eating well and living an active, healthy lifestyle. Your food selections are excellent! Everything we can do to fight this dreaded illness, is a step in the right direction. Great Post! 🙂
This is an amazing and informative post! I wish some of the people that I lost in my life to the cancer had read this maybe they would still be here!💕
Great information! Cancer is scary and a traitor so we really have to take care and be mindful of what we put in our body.
Proper nutrition is a vital part of cancer treatment and recovery. Thanks for sharing such important information.