Cancer-Fighting Foods

Cancer is a disease that can rob you of your body, one cell at a time. But, it doesn’t have to carry you along as a willing partner. You can fight cancer, beginning with what you eat. Here are some cancer-fighting tips to beef up your nutrition.

Whether you have received a diagnosis of cancer or have a family history, there is one thing that you can always strive to do to affect your situation – change your diet. We are what we eat. When it comes to cancer, let’s look at this literally. Early medicines were made from edible herbs, plants and foods.

Good nutrition is an important part of life. The body is a wonderful machine that knows how to get the most from its fuel source to keep the machine running in good shape. Eighty or more percent of our nutrients come from the foods that we eat. The body can manufacture some of the substances that it needs but many need to be ingested.

It is the components of these foods that affect changes inside the body. In fact, food is often a main source of the problem when the body begins to break down. For instance, eating too much fat can set off a chain reaction in the body that leads to obesity, heart disease, cancer and even a fatal outcome.

Use food as your weapon to fight back against cancer, the disease that knows no gender, age, or socioeconomic status. Here are some foods that will help you to fight back against cancer statistics.

• Broccoli – This has been called a “superfood.” That means that it is a well-rounded food that offers a complete nutrient profile. As far as cancer goes, all cruciferous veggies (including cauliflower and Brussels sprouts) contain indole-3 carbinol. This substance has been shown to retard the growth of cancer cells. It also helps lower the odds of getting breast cancer. Colon cancer is also thwarted by another component called sulfophorane.
• Fish – Fish is a food that contains omega-3 fatty acids. These are healthy fats that work to protect the heart and also reduce inflammation in the body. These fatty acids along with other vitamins help to protect against prostate cancer.
• Tomatoes – Technically a tomato is a fruit because of the seeds, but it enjoys a comfortable home in the vegetable family. This food contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. It is the job of antioxidants to fight free radical damage in the body which can lead to all sorts of cancers. The concentration of lycopene is greater when tomatoes are cooked. Eat them in stews, soups, and casseroles.
• Tea – Certain teas like white tea and green tea contain substances that help inhibit cancers in areas like the prostate, breast, lungs, ovaries, skin and bladder. Green tea also has antioxidant properties.
• Vitamins – All sorts of vitamins are needed for new cell growth and to boost the immune system to fight off disease. These include vitamins A, C, E and the B ones. Taking a multivitamin ensures that you get what you need if you don’t get it from the food you are eating.

Cancer can be a ravaging disease but you can fight back with the above nutrition tips.

That’s it for now. Until next time Divas, wear your heels well and Be Blessed!

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