Foods And Drinks Help Fight Against Cancer
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected. If you’ve already been diagnosed as having cancer, it becomes crucial to make sure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs to help battle it back and support the body during treatment. Here are dozens of foods that have each shown to be beneficial in the fight against cancer, and preventing it from happening in the first place.
1. Red Wine:
There is a chemical specifically in red wine that shows promise for being a cancer fighter. It’s called resveratrol and you may have heard of it, as it has been popping up not just in red wine, but on supplement claiming to contain it. For years doctors have been recommending a glass of red wine per day for heart health. Only recently has it been discovered that there may be anti-cancer benefits. Many pills out there claim to have far more resveratrol in them than red wine has, but be sure to check the facts first.
2. Green Tea:
Green tea is full of antioxidants, more so than other teas because it doesn’t undergo as much processing, leaving all of these important cancer fighting minerals intact. It’s worth the time and effort to incorporate this into your diet because it doesn’t just help prevent certain cancers from forming, it can help battle them back if you’ve already got them. The good news is that it’s not just one or two studies that have confirmed this, and it has also withstood the test of time and been verified on repeated tests. It’s a bonafide ally against cancer and also provides plenty of additional benefits.
3. Ginger:
You’ll never look at this simple root the same way again once you hear how it’s able to help you on your quest to stay battle back cancer. It actually gets cancer cells to kill themselves. Pretty powerful, huh? It also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s working to help with cancer in two distinct ways. Scientists are even hopeful that it can help with some of the harder-to fight cancers as well. The other great feature is that it can add some delicious flavor to a meal, so it’s not very hard to start getting more of it.
4. Turmeric:
This superspice even gets props from the American Cancer Society for its antioxidant value. They do state that it’s too early to tell if research being conducted on it proves that these antioxidants provide anti-inflammatory benefits. But time and time again it seems that ages old wisdom gets proven right, and this is a spice that has been used for hundreds of years for its healing benefits. With all that we know about antioxidants and the way they help prevent and also assist in eradicating cancer, it’s easy enough to start using it now.
5. Beans:
It seems that you can’t go wrong when choosing your beans. Whether they’re white beans which Dr. Oz recommends, or navy or black beans, the research shows that they’re able to provide plenty of fiber and fatty acids that help provide protection against cancer growth, before it starts or helping to prevent its spread. You don’t have to go all out and start eating beans at every meal in order to reap the benefits. You simply start adding roughly half a cup just a couple of times a week and you’ll be covered.
6. Dark Chocolate:
The antioxidants in dark chocolate have only recently made the news as being a healthy thing to have in your diet. For years it was thought that chocolate only made you fat and was a form of sweet that was bad for your health. This is still true for milk chocolate, and the healthy benefits only apply to dark chocolate. The less processed chocolate you can find, the better, as many companies like to tinker with it, it can be hard to find it in an untouched form. Look for pure and organic dark chocolate, and satisfy your craving without going overboard.
7. Broccoli:
You may remember your parents telling you to eat your broccoli, and it turns out they were right. This is one of the bigger cancer fighters out there, because it hits on many different levels. The fiber it contains has its own benefit and can help contribute to getting your daily fiber needs met. Colon and bladder cancer top the list of types that are helped by eating broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli is one of the more available cancer fighting foods on our list, and you can pick it up in several forms at a grocery store near you.
8. Tomatoes:
Get plenty more benefit by making sure you cook your tomatoes. This helps to release more of the lycopene, the phytochemical that is thought to provide the cancer fighting benefits. The science has backed tomatoes for years now, and it turns out that what was commonly understood is actually true and verified. These provide a powerful antioxidant, and it seems that prostate cancer may be the type that is most likely to be avoided or aided by increasing your tomato intake. Hear that guys? Eat more cooked tomatoes!
9. Walnuts:
Here is another way to help prevent prostate cancer, as well as breast cancer. Up your input of walnuts. They contain omega-3s, which is surprising because you may only equate that with oily fish, but there is a plant-based form of it as well, and this is what walnuts have. The tests that have been conducted have been on mice, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting a head start on consuming more of them. The recommendation appears to be to eat a few handfuls a day for best results, so just sprinkling a few here and there won’t cut it. Try using them as a snack to hold you over between meals.
10. Garlic:
Garlic is something that you’ll want to get more of, no doubt about it. The list of cancers that it can help out with is long, and only seems to be growing. Garlic has certain antibacterial properties, and the theory is that it can help the body ward off cancer in a number of ways, including killing the cancer cells outright. It may also help to repair the damage done to the DNA, and help to stop cancer cells from multiplying and spreading. These are several reasons why you have to embrace this stinking rose and add it to more of your dishes.