Maintaining a diet with anticancer foods decreases the likelihood of cancerous tumors by 45%, according to experts and dietitians who focus their efforts on a healthy diet. Free radicals and weak immune defenses, along with a toxic environment, creates the ideal framework for the formation of cancer cells. So, if you know what fruits, greens, grains and cruciferous vegetables to add to your diet, the result will be a fundamentally anti-cancer diet.
Cancer cells exist in a latent stage in each of us. Like all living organisms, our bodies are producing defective cells all the time, a that is how tumors are born. However, our bodies are also equipped with a number of mechanisms that detect and keep those cells under control. In the West, one in four people will die of cancer, but three out of four will not; this is because their defense mechanisms will do a good job.
Anticancer diet and recommended foods
Because of the times in which we live, it is necessary to implement an anticancer diet. Because we are what we eat, it is extremely important to carry out an anti-cancer diet that will prevent any immediate and imminent danger. For example, Dr. Odile Fernandez has combined a number of essential foods for any healthy diet.
It’s simply a matter of eliminating certain toxins from your environment, seeking emotional balance, and getting enough exercise. It’s a myth that cancer is transmitted primarily through genes, as genetic factors contribute to approximately 15% of cancer deaths.
Now, what foods make up an anti-cancer diet? Dr. Odile Fernandez, a specialist in anti-cancer foods, experienced for herself how useful a rigorous diet rich in foods of organic origin can be. Let’s look at some of them:
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Mediterranean, Indian and Asian diets
Unlike Western food, these diets preserve and use organic fruits free of contaminants, greens, fresh vegetables and nuts rich in omegas 3,6 and 9. All of this makes for an exceptional anticancer diet.
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Arugula
Arugula, a low-calorie food, is full of health-promoting phytochemicals. This green is a source of glucosinolates that are converted into isothiocyanates, with the help of an enzyme called myrosinase, when it is consumed. Isothiocyanates help to neutralize carcinogens and can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Studies suggest that arugula can help reduce the risk of various cancers, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and gastrointestinal cancers.
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Cabbage, brussels sprouts and broccoli
Incorporate these foods into your anti-cancer diet to increase the body’s defenses. In addition, the properties of cabbage are critical to protect cells, preventing their rapid deterioration. It is believed that this protective effect is linked to glucosinolates, anticancer compounds that are formed when cabbage is cut or chewed; this also happens with brussels sprouts, celery, broccoli and kale, among others.
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Organic meat from grass-fed animals
The healthier their diet was, the more nutrients you can get from these animals. This can be verified on the labels of the final product, which must specify its origin. So, if you are adding red meat to your diet, try to choose organic meats from free-range animals.
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Extra virgin olive oil
Olive oil has a lot of antioxidants that help in the elimination of dead cells, protecting us from possible threats. The antioxidant and alkaline properties of this healthy oil make it a protective agent against the formation of cancer cells.
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Turmeric
The benefits of turmeric (also known as curcumin) have been discussed on La Vida Lucida for years, and this time it once again proves to be a phenomenal ingredient for an anticancer diet. Western medicine has begun to pay more attention to this extraordinary spice because of its great influence in the improvement of illnesses and diseases. Modern research shows that turmeric has a wide range of anti-cancer properties. It has been found that curcumin can identify potential cancer cells because of their “abnormal chemistry” and therefore induce the self-destruction of these harmful cells (a process known as “apoptosis”) – without damaging healthy cells. In addition, turmeric contains antioxidant compounds and can prevent the formation of nitrosamine and inhibit the production of aflatoxin – two processes that have been associated with an increased risk of cancer. See the Mayo Clinic report.
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Green tea
Green tea is not only limited to benefits that promote weight loss. Studies suggest that green tea can also help prevent many types of cancer. Catechins, the same compounds that are responsible for the weight loss properties present in green tea, are very effective at protecting cells against DNA damage caused by free radicals. Green tea can also inhibit nitrification in the body, a reaction that has been linked to certain types of cancer, including esophageal cancer and stomach cancer.
When buying green tea, it is ideal to get the tea leaves in bulk instead of the pre-made sachets or teabags, which usually have fewer catechins. A good tea is one that has a little lemon juice added, as research suggests that vitamin C can increase the amount of catechins available for the body to absorb them.
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Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the best foods for health and a great anticancer food. In a laboratory test conducted by USDA researchers, blueberries proved to have the highest oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) among the fruits in the study (more than 20 fruits and berries). ORAC is a measure of the antioxidant capacity of food. The antioxidant activity of blueberries was even stronger than that of raspberries, strawberries, plums and cultivated blueberries. The antioxidant and anti-cancer powers of blueberries can be attributed to a number of compounds containing ellagic acid, anthocyanins, vitamin E and vitamin C.
- Avocados
In addition to contributing to healthier skin, recent research indicates that avocados can be very effective in reducing the risk of cancer, particularly oral and prostate cancer. This is not surprising, considering that avocados are filled with a lot of nutrients that fight against cancer. Along with asparagus, it tops the list of the best food sources of glutathione. On the other hand, avocados are an excellent source of vitamin E and a good source of vitamin C.
- Horseradish
Horseradish contains a substantial amount of glucosinolates, and this compound may increase the liver’s ability to detoxify carcinogens. In addition, some researchers have found that glucosinolates can also suppress the growth of cancerous tumors. Many cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and brussels sprouts, contain glucosinolates, but the amounts found in horseradish are much higher. So, if you want to protect your health, add this ingredient to your anti-cancer diet.
Cancer-promoting diet
Health does not depend on any one organ or its functioning. Rather, it depends on the relationship between them (the organs) and food. Each food produces a positive or negative effect in the short, medium and long term in the body. That is why we must be careful and avoid foods that stimulate the development of cancer in conjunction with other factors. You can also learn to promote that balance in your body, let’s see how:
- Traditional Western diet
This diet is characterized by a high content of processed foods such as canned goods, processed meats, fried foods, sodas and sugary drinks. All of these are dangerous to our health and create an acidic environment in our body, ideal for the proliferation of damaged cells.
- White bread and pasta
These are generally high in fats and stabilizers that are harmful to our health. Likewise, processed flours are associated with chemical bleaches that negatively affect our bodies.
- Red meat from factory-farmed animals
Their diet lacks the nutrients needed to protect our body. Their growth process was accelerated with steroids and chemicals harmful to the body.
- Industrialized dairy products
Margarines, butters, buttermilk, cream and industrially processed cheeses have been altered in such a way as to shock our digestive system. All of this produces excess weight in our body, which benefits the proliferation of cancer cells.
The less processed it is, the better it will be for our body. Likewise, a positive attitude will always make the difference. We are sure that if you consider these tips, your health will remain in good condition.
