Cancer Fighting Foods

Table of Contents: 

1. Introduction

2. Cancer and Diet

3. Best Foods to Fight Cancer Cells

4. Take-home Points

5. FAQs on Cancer Fighting Foods

Introduction

Cancer is the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in any tissue. Certain diets are linked with certain types of cancers. Therefore, Choosing the right foods and an Appropriate diet can make a significant impact on your risk of getting cancer. While there are certain foods which increase the risk of getting cancer there are certain foods that may help lower your cancer risk.

In this blog, we’ll discuss What are the 10 best cancer-fighting foods? What stops cancer cells from growing? Cancer-Fighting Foods to Add to Your Diet etc.

Cancer and Diet

There are certain eating habits which increase the risk of cancer, but if you’re wondering if you can stop cancer in its progression, then it is not possible with only diet. It is important to understand that you cannot prevent getting cancer completely but you can reduce your risk of cancer with lifestyle changes and diet.

Most of the cancers are due to bad lifestyle choices like Drinking Alcohol, smoking, physical inactivity etc. Dietary choices impact the overall health and cancer-fighting ability of your body. Therefore, it becomes important to know what to eat and what not to eat.

Let’s look at certain foods and their established relation with cancer:

1. Eating meat increases the risk of Bowel cancer: Red meat is bad for health as it increases the risk of bowel cancer apart from this processed meat also possesses similar risks of bowel cancer.

2. high-fat diet: although, there is not much evidence supporting high-fat diet and cancer high-fat diet can lead to obesity and obesity is a risk factor for colon cancer, breast cancer, oesophagus, kidney, gallbladder cancer

3. Fruit and vegetables: Fruit and vegetables long have been known to reduce the risk of cancer. Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which help in reducing the risk of cancer. 

Best Foods to Fight Cancer Cells

After learning the relationship between certain foods and cancer, you may be wondering about What are the 10 best cancer-fighting foods. You cannot prevent cancer but surely you can reduce the risk of getting cancer. Here are the best foods to fight cancer cells:

1. Apples: Apples contains fibre, antioxidants and vitamins. Antioxidants like flavonoids present in apples have shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, immunity and cancer. Hence, apples are among the best Cancer cancer-fighting foods.

2. Berries: Berries have the highest amount of antioxidants like anthocyanins, ellagic acid and resveratrol along with fibres; these can help reduce the risks of bowel cancer.

3. Cruciferous vegetables: Cauliflower, kale and broccoli are part of cruciferous vegetables, these contain vitamins K, C and manganese. Apart from these beneficial nutrients, cruciferous vegetables contain Sulforaphane which has been shown in some studies to reduce colon cancer risk and Regenerate dead cells.

4. Carrots: Carrot consumption in moderate amounts has been linked with reduced risk of colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and leukaemia. Carrot contains Beta carotene as antioxidants as well as Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Studies have shown that carrot consumption can reduce the risk of colon cancer by up to 17%.

5. Whole grains: Another Cancer Fighting Foods are Whole grains contain fiber antioxidants such as Vitamin E, lignans, and phytic acid which help reduce almost 18 types of cancer. Fibre-rich foods reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fiber can be found in whole grains, plant-based food, fruits, nuts etc.

6. Fatty Fish: Fatty Fish includes salmon, mackerel and anchovies which have essential B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and potassium. Omega-3 fatty acid in studies has been linked with reducing breast cancer risk and Colorectal cancer risk. Hence, these are among the best foods to fight cancer cells.

7. Walnuts: Walnuts contain pedunculagin, which is metabolized into urolithin in our body. Urolithin binds with estrogen receptors present on breast tissue which can help reduce breast cancer risk.  Walnut's effects are so significant, that studies have shown that nuts in general are linked with reducing cancer risk hence, including a handful of nuts daily, soaked overnight can be best if you’re looking for cancer-fighting foods.

8. Legumes: Legumes are among the best cancer-fighting foods which contain fibre, proteins, vitamins and minerals which are essential for cancer prevention. Beans contain strong antioxidants like flavonoids which reduce inflammation.

9. Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate contains polyphenols, flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidants which can help prevent cancer. Research has shown decreased mortality in people who ate dark chocolates.

10. Olive oil: Olive oil can reduce the risk of gastrointestinal, urinary bladder, and breast. Studies have shown decreased cancer mortality in those who consumed olive oil, apart from this olive oil also decreases cardiovascular disease risk.

11. Grapes: Red Grape skin contains resveratrol as an antioxidant, apart from these flavonoids phenolic acids anthocyanins, in red and purple grapes proanthocyanidins and other tannins, catechins which also have cancer-fighting properties.

12. Turmeric: The benefits of turmeric have been discussed for ages in Ayurveda, it improves overall health.  Turmeric contains curcumin as an active ingredient which acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Studies have shown cancer-fighting properties of curcumin in colon lesions, and reduced activity of cancer-related enzymes. Studies have also shown that curcumin is linked with reducing lung, breast and prostate cancer. For better results, you can consume 1 to 3 grams of turmeric per day. 

13. Citrus fruits: citrus fruits include oranges, lemons and grapefruits. Citrus fruits have an abundance of Vitamin C which is a potent antioxidant. Citrus food intake reduces the risk of gastrointestinal carcinoma and upper respiratory tract cancers.

14. Coffee: Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage, coffee intake is preventive against liver and basal cell carcinoma, cancer-fighting ability of coffee is due to its phytochemical compounds. Coffee also improves the liver enzyme profile, this can be another mechanism by which coffee decreases the risk of cancer.

Take-home Points

1. Certain Diets are linked with certain types of cancers. Therefore, Choosing the right foods and an Appropriate diet can make a significant impact on your risk of getting cancer.

2. Most of the cancers are due to bad lifestyle choices like Drinking Alcohol, smoking, physical inactivity etc. Dietary choices impact the overall health and cancer-fighting ability of your body. 

3. Cancer-fighting foods include carrots, apples, berries, walnuts, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, turmeric etc.

4. Apple contains fibre, antioxidants and vitamins. Antioxidants like flavonoids present in apples have shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, immunity and cancer.

5.  Berries have the highest amount of antioxidants like anthocyanins, ellagic acid and resveratrol, these contents give berries cancer-fighting ability.

6. Turmeric contains curcumin as an active ingredient which acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.