Cancer-Fighting Superfoods that can help prevent cancer

Cancer is a systemic disease with various causes, some of which include a poor diet, toxin exposure, nutrient deficiencies and to some extent genetics. One extremely important way to prevent and/or treat cancer is nutritionally, through eating a nutrient-dense diet and avoiding things that are known to increase cancer risk.

Here are some superfoods list Include these in your diet to keep cancer at bay

Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the biggest cancer fighters for prostate, colon and bladder cancer. It is the one and only a sizeable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body’s protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals. It contains fibre, which has its own benefits, and helps you to meet your daily fibre needs

Oranges

A great start to your day, which contains vitamin C and antioxidant, oranges are powerful tools for preventing you from cancer. According to scientists, orange a day is the best way to keep cancer away. Moreover, eating citrus fruits can cut the risk of some disease by up to 50 per cent. One piece of advice, don’t mix oranges with other foods so that your body can assimilate them fully and draw out their antioxidant properties.

Flax

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants known as lignans, flax seed helps keep healthy cells from becoming cancerous. Omega-3s have been shown to be particularly effective in combating colon cancer, and provide numerous other health benefits as well, from improved brain function to decreased risk of heart disease.

Green Tea

According to studies, green tea is full of antioxidants and goes through much processing while leaving all the important cancer fighting minerals intact. It keeps you safe from esophageal cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer. However, green tea interferes with the chemotherapy drug bortezomib (Velcade) and hence, should be avoided if under medication.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes that are mostly used in every second food item helps to release more of lycopene, the phytochemical that is thought to provide the cancer fighting benefits. It acts as a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent prostate, endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers.

Berries

Both blueberries and strawberries contain high amounts of antioxidants that fight cancer. Besides, they are also rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and gallic acid, a powerful antifungal/antiviral agent that boosts immunity.

Turmeric

Curcumin, the active compound in the spice turmeric, has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. Turmeric consumption is also credited with an enhanced ability to fight inflammation.

Garlic

This culinary favourite has been used to treat and cure many health problems, including cancer, for ages. According to the American Cancer Society, garlic contains substances that can help cancer cells die off. It has been revealed in both animal studies and cell culture studies that garlic may reduce the growth rates of cancerous tumours.

Apples

In the family of fruits, apple has many disease-fighting benefits. There’s scientific evidence that eating apple peel can help kill cancer cells of prostate and breast cancer cells. (Source: Flickr/Haku Chon)

Spinach

According to studies, the more spinach you eat on a regular basis, lower is your chance of getting cancer. In addition, it is an excellent source of vitamin K.

Beetroot

The benefits of beetroot keep getting bigger and better everyday. A glass of beetroot juice can help you to slow down the growth of active tumours and its cancer fighting properties. It also helps to lower blood pressure.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin contains plenty of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to defy cancer. The cancer blocking properties are well documented and there is even a campaign to plant pink pumpkins during breast cancer awareness month.