When discussing different ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer, the topic of diet and exercise oftentimes are brought up. Unfortunately, in many of these instances, they do not provide more details beyond the recommendation to eat healthy food groups and maintain an active lifestyle. This leaves the question of what foods are out there that can actually help fight cancer from forming in the body. Dr. Michael Chin of Worcester explains some of the best food groups to incorporate into your diet.
Vegetables: Broccoli & Artichoke
While we all know that eating vegetables is a vital part of ones diet, particularly when working to maintain their personal health. What many don’t know is that some of the most popular vegetables, including broccoli, carrots and artichoke all have natural cancer fighting properties, and incorporating them into your diet can have several benefits.
Most people know that broccoli is an excellent vegetable to eat consistently, because of its cancer-fighting ingredients. Additionally, it can be served in a large variety of styles, making it an easy addition to most meals. Make sure to be careful about how the broccoli is prepared, as putting it into the microwave can destroy nearly all of the nutrients, so having a proper preparation ensures that they are not diminished.
For anyone who may be concerned about skin cancer after realizing the amount that they have been exposed to UV rays should think about incorporating artichokes into their diet. Besides their taste and presentation, artichokes are also known for having an ingredient called silymarin, which is an antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Similar to broccoli, artichokes can be prepared in several different ways, making it an easy dish to use in more meals.
Fruit: Blueberries & Apples
Blueberries are full of antioxidants, which are the properties of the fruit that can help fight cancer. Antioxidants have the ability to protect the body from damage from our external environments, including unstable molecules that have the potential to do damage to our cells, which may have the power to become cancerous. In terms of antioxidants, blueberries are the best food to incorporate into one’s diet.
Apples are another great food that can help reduce one’s risk of cancer. In addition to antioxidants, apples contain an ingredient that develops chemicals one it is in the colon that has been shown to fight cancer cells from forming. Additionally, like blueberries, apples contain antioxidants that can help fight cancer, although it does not contain as many as blueberries.
While this is not a comprehensive list of foods that can help fight cancer, incorporating these fruits and vegetables can have a significantly positive impact on the human body. Not only will you feel better from eating nutrient-dense foods, but you are helping to prevent cancer in the process as well.