You are what you eat. The food the body is fed either makes or breaks one'shealth, especially when aiming to ward off diseases and cancer. There is no prescribable anti-cancer diet that can protect the body entirely against cancer.
However, eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits and vegetables can help fend off cancer in the long run, although not immediately. Avoiding exposure to toxins, not succumbing to stress, not drinking and smoking are other correlated factors involved in preventing cancer.
Here are some of the few changes you can make to adopt an anti-cancer diet.
Stay away from toxins and actively detoxify
The first step towards protecting the body against damage from free radicals is to eliminate toxins from entering the body through various products that we use on a daily basis without giving it much thought.For example, several seemingly harmlessbeauty products contain carcinogens sometimes. Hence, it is best to use shampoos and conditioners after checking their ingredients to ensure the products do not contain toxins.
Moreover, use household cleaners that do not contribute to indoor air pollution. Instead, use alternate homemade products without chemicals. Avoid overusing medication such as paracetamol because it can increase the risk of liver disease.
Consuming food after heating plastic or microwaving plastic material could cause interferencesin the functioning of the neuroendocrine system. Intermittent fasting helps cleanse the body of toxins, especially through the skin, kidney, respiratory and digestive tracts. Furthermore, green juices, raw foods, lightly steamed vegetables and drinking alkaline water aids the process of detoxification.
Avoid burnt food
Acrylamide is formed on fried food and exposure to the chemical can increase the risk of cancer. Avoiding foods high in starch content and processed food also lowers acrylamide exposure.
Cakes, fries, crackers, chips and cookiescan be problematic in the long run. High temperatures and heating the food for a long period of time also increases acrylamide levels as well. Boiling and steaming are safer methods of cooking.
Avoid processed food
Refined food products, sugary drinks, frozen food, unhealthy vegetables and other processed food cause health problems if consumed excessively. Due to low costs and availability, wheat and corn are subsidized and sold as refined food products in the U.S.
These manufactured products contain pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals, hence not consuming them is the best practice. Organic and whole grain products can be added to the anti-cancer diet to keep the body healthy and intact.
Eat food with cancer-fighting properties
To actively fight the possibility of cancer, eat several cancer-fighting food, particularly broccoli, sprouts, cabbage and kale. Cruciferous vegetables are full of antioxidants that help fight breast, colon, prostate and rectal cancers.
Foods high in vitamin C and A are powerful antioxidants that protect the immune system against various diseases. Garlic, green tea, olive oil and oolong tea reduce inflammation and also prevent damage to the immune system, thereby preventing cancer. Calcium-rich foods combined with vitamin D3 prevent breast and ovarian cancer.
Nature's grocery store has an aisle full of cancer-fighting foods to add to your diet. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
More:
Anti-Cancer Diet: Everything You Need to Know - Medical Daily
