What is an Anti Cancer Diet?

Which Anti Cancer Foods make up an Anti Cancer Diet?

Cancer abnormal cells can grow and spread very quickly.

Therefore an anti cancer diet will revolve around any foods that will prevent the growth, inhibit the re-growth or multiplication of cancer cells, and render damaged cells inactive.

In making up an anti cancer diet, no one food will guard you against cancer. However, the right combination of foods in the right balance will really help strengthen your immune system to fight and defend your body against cancer.

If you have a family history of cancer or any reason to be concerned, you have an increased risk, and you need to ensure your diet is working towards preventing cancer.

You cannot wait until you are diagnosed before you start living an anti cancer lifestyle and adopting an anti cancer diet.

There are many different types of cancer. In the UK, the common ones are breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer.

The statistics are quite alarming. According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 3 people in UK will develop cancer. The statistics are close in America.

Risk factors for cancer include obesity, smoking, genes, radiation, age, stress, and alcohol.

Beating cancer with nutrition is not only about what foods to eat, but how to get maximum nutrition you need to protect yourself against cancer.

After all, what point is there in eating the right anti cancer foods, but losing most of the nutrients you need for fighting cancer?

Free Radicals

Our bodies naturally produce natural malfunctioning cells all the time. At the same time, our bodies naturally have the ability to counter these malfunctioning cells and free radicals. Free radicals are products that are created as a result of normal chemical reactions that occur in the body. They are highly reactive and if they build up, can cause damage to body cells and tissues, and can cause cancer.

It is up to us to build up our bodies’ strength to combat malfunctioning cells, cancer cells and free radicals. This is where the anti cancer diet comes in. An anti cancer diet is of course expectedly consisting of a lot of anti cancer foods and antioxidant-containing foods.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body. Free radicals are believed to be involved in diseases and cancers.

Diet is Key

By eating a healthy diet, cutting back on dietary fats, stopping to smoke (if you do), cutting back on excess alcohol, reducing and avoiding stress depression and anger, and being more physically active, will greatly help increase your chances of combating cancer, make you feel better, look better and stronger, and have more energy.

Of these risk factors, diet is number one. In addressing your diet needs, you need to adjust your lifestyle to include eating foods that are whole grain as opposed to the white versions, and do more exercise.

If you do eat eggs, meat, fish or drink milk, make sure you get their organic versions. Also use the organic versions of fruits and vegetables. Reduce stress, anger and depression in your life.

There was a study referenced by the National Cancer Institute on the Estimated Percentages of Cancer Due to Selected Factors. The other selected factors included tobacco, alcohol, radiation, medications, air and water pollution. This showed that of all the selected factors, diet was number one with 35 – 60%. Tobacco was second with 30% (less than diet).

Diet. Can you see the power of your diet?

Let’s look at some fruits, vegetables and herbs that have splendid cancer-fighting powers. These contain some powerful anti cancer molecules, anti inflammatory properties, and antioxidants.

Great Anti Cancer Foods

1. Tomatoes
2. Strawberries
3. Raspberries
4. Carrots
5. Broccoli
6. Mangoes
7. Cabbage
8. Pumpkins
9. Cauliflower
10. Garlic
11. Ginger
12. Onions
13. Beetroot
14. Apricots
15. Oranges, lemons, limes and other citrus fruits
16. Herbs such as rosemary, thyme and oregano
17. Mushrooms
18. Peppers
19. Green tea
20. Brussels sprouts.

Drink plenty of water and that helps your digestive system to and helps regular elimination and easy passage of stools. Also helps to prevent infection.

Also, whole grains such as oats, wheat, barley and rice are high in fibre, so they help to get rid of free radicals from your body. That’s important. Remember, free radicals can cause cancer. So the more you get rid of, the better for you.

Beans, lentils, peas and legumes are great as part of a diet consisting of lots of anti cancer foods.

Nuts and seeds such as almonds and sesame and hemp seeds are high in essential fats, so eat those too.

Lemons contain antioxidants too, so you can use when cooking fish, for example to line the bottom of the pan or cookware, and it will give the salmon some taste since salmon and other fishes can be quite bland. You may not even need to add any salt after this since lemon will add some spice naturally.

Flaxseeds can help to combat growth of cancer cells too. They are an excellent part of an anti cancer diet.

The information here is for general guidance only.
Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle.