Cancer Fighting Foods & Spices

 

Now I know that we read about once a week a new food or spice that helps aid in preventing cancer, but I thought we would concentrate on the foods the National Cancer Institute (NCI) actually recommend.

The NCI estimates that about one-third of all cancer deaths are diet-related.  There are many foods as well as spices that contain powerful cancer-fighting properties such as antioxidants and pyhtochemicals.  While there isn’t one type of food that takes care of everything, a diet full of variety will help you get all that you need.  So, let’s start the Cancer Fighting Foods & Spices exploration.

1.  Avocados:  These beautiful green babies are rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant whose job is to attack free radicals in the body by interfering with intestinal absorption of certain types of fats.  Avocados are also a great source of potassium as well as beta-carotene.

2.  Broccoli, Cabbage, & Cauliflower:  All of these veggies have the chemical component indole-3-carbinol that aids in preventing breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective variety.

3.  Carrots:  Carrots contain a whole heck of a lot of beta carotene, which has been proven to help reduce the risk of cancers such as lung, mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, bladder, prostate & breast, so carrots are the Shabang! of cancer-fighting veggies. 

4.  Chili Peppers & Jalapenos:  Great news for all you hot food lovers, Chili Peppers Jalapenos contain the chemical capsaicin which may neutralize certain cancer-causing substances & may help to prevent cancers such as stomach cancer.

5.  Rosemary:  The spice Rosemary may help increase the activity of detoxification enzymes.  In many studies, Rosemary has help inhibit development of breast cancer & skin tumors.

6.  Turmeric:  This member of the ginger family is believed to help lower the risk of inflammatory diseases & cancers due to its production of the inflammation-related enzyme cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2).

For a more detailed list of Cancer Fighting Foods & Spices, please see the Cancer Cure Foundation website.

 

Eat well & Research often!