According to the American Cancer Society, the number of cancer cases worldwide will increase by 50% by 2030. The number of people effected by cancer will go from 14 million to 21 million.
Part of this has to do with the increase of the average lifespan of humans. As we get older, our risk of developing cancers get larger.
But thankfully, there are studies constantly being made on ways to prevent cancer and these next few foods are said to help reduce your risk of developing cancer in the future:
1. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are hearty and healthy. Spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, mustard greens, and a bunch of others are high in fiber, chlorophyll, folate, vitamins, minerals, iron, calcium, and several carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, saponins, and flavonoids. According to studies, carotenoids present in leafy greens act as antioxidants, protecting against cancers present in the mouth, pharynx and larynx. prevents the growth of several types of cancers which include breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer. Not only that, but they also help you keep your vision healthy, lower bad cholesterol, and reduce risk of heart disease.
2. Cruciferous Veggies
Just like the leafy greens, cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and bok choice are excellent, beneficial additions to your diet. High in fiber, minerals, and vitamins, adding cruciferous veggies to your diet can reduce your cancer risk by a major percentage. Cancers that present themselves through the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and other organs have demonstrated that they prove to be absolutely no match at all to cruciferous veggies. This is also due in part to a component called myrosinase. Myrosinase is an cancer-fighting enzyme that activates sulforaphane, an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory compound.
3. Berries
Among many of the fruits and veggies that prevent cancer, berries are the most dominant when considering protection against cancer. Not only are they rich in antioxidants that help prevent cell damage, but they appear to reform genes which prevent cancer growth and development. In studies with patients diagnosed with inherited conditions that cause cancers, such as colon cancer, patients were given black berry powder mix as well as rectal suppositories; many of these patients witnessed a regression of rectal polyps. These studies are still ongoing but the effects also had positive effects on patients who suffered from breast cancer.
4. Bright Fruits and Vegetables
Not only do they stimulate our taste and visual senses, bright fruits and veggies can leave a positive impact on our bodies. Just like cruciferous veggies and leafy greens, it has been known that fruits and veggies with bright colors are packed vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and carotenoids that strike straight at the malicious sources that cause cancer. Green veggies such as asparagus and zucchini regulates the flow of oxygen; red fruits and veggies such as beets and tomatoes are full of antioxidants; while orange and yellow colored fruits and vegetables convert carotenoids into Vitamin A and boosts the immune system.
5. Raw and Cultured Dairy
In comparison to regular milk products, raw and cultured dairy products such as raw milk, kefir, yogurts, and cultured cheeses such as goat cheese and cottage cheese are a rich source of good probiotics, which are microorganisms that help promote bacterial balances in your intestinal tracts, thus increasing in aiding your immune system. They are rich in sulfur probiotics, saturated fats, and supplementation that stops tumor growth helps the cell growth renewal. Unfortunately, the FDA has always deemed raw milk consumption as a danger, yet this is the same organization that approves of GMO as healthy for consumption.
6. Nuts, Seeds, Beans, and Lentils
It is of no surprise that more nuts, seeds, beans, and lentil intake can lead to a better and healthier life just by adding more to a daily diet. Even with fruits, nuts and seeds such as walnuts and pecans completely outnumber the amount of antioxidants present in tomatoes. The protective effects found in among eaters of peanut butters, nuts, beans, lentils, and soybeans were less at risk of developing fibrocystic breast disease, which causes cancer growth. These four foods are nutritional and beneficial in reduction of cancerous cell growth, further implying that they could substitute a red meat diet.
7. Unrefined Oils
Unrefined oils consist of coconut, flax, and extra virgin olive oil, which not only provide good cholesterol that does not damage your heart and cause heart disease, but unrefined oils dramatically assists in reducing the risk of cancer. Unfortunately, hydrogenated oils and processed fats destroy membranes and cells, which lead to cancer-causing tumors; however, unrefined oils nourish your gut, raise your immune function, reduce cell congestion, and provide essential omega 3 fatty acids that energize your cells for the necessary function that prevent sluggish feeling gained by hydrogenated oils. These benefits ultimately aid in reducing the risks of several cancer.
8. Mushrooms
Just like many other cancer preventing foods, mushrooms hidden secret in reducing cancer is in the chemical compounds. Mushrooms contain Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), a medicinal extract in which its sole purpose assists in strengthening the immune system. Despite it not fully researched, studies have shown that the people who took the extract while undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer eventually demonstrated improved overall function and gained stability. Though these studies have been limited, if further researched, mushrooms could eventually have a place where people will be more aware of its medicinal benefits and overall wellness on the human body.
9. Tea
Since the early days of civilization, tea has been used both as a drink and medicine. Packed with many antioxidants, green tea and black tea have been known for their numerous studies involved in the prevention of cancer. Studies have demonstrated that an active flavonoid in tea known as catechins has helped reduce the risk of cancers tremendously by slowing down or just eventually stopping many types of cancers such as colon, liver, breast and prostate cancer. Tea is the best source of catechins, and the number of catechins present in green tea outnumbers the amount present in black tea.
10. Wild-Caught Fishes
Despite stigma related to wild-caught fishes, they are much more beneficial than farmed fishes as much as advertisers would like to claim. Using salmon, mackerel, and sardines as examples, these wild caught fishes contain much more omega 3 fatty acids than those found in their farmed counterparts. Better yet, the omega 3 fatty acids promote brain development, hormonal, and nervous system health, which evidently risk of cancers drastically. They also preserve muscle mass and reduce inflammatory damage for many patients undergoing chemotherapy. Bottom line: Wild caught fishes do not have the number of toxic components present in many farmed fishes.
