Foods That Fight Cancer Cells

By Sheetal Tewari

Do you have a history of cancer running in your family or are you yourself fighting the disease? A large percentage of cancer-related deaths are linked to your lifestyle choices. A healthy lifestyle, proper diet, regular exercise can decrease the risk of cancer. There are also plenty of foods that can help you in fighting cancer. Having a healthy diet is the easiest way to fight cancer as proper nourishment is the best cure to fight any illness.

As you know, smoking and drinking are a big cause of certain types of cancer but your food habits also makes a big difference. What you eat and what not makes a major difference in your fight against cancer. By changing your eating habits and including certain foods in your diet, you can minimize the risk of cancer. There are certain healthy foods such as broccoli, cabbage and grapefruits that helps one deter cancer.

Here are some foods that play a vital role in fighting cancer:

Broccoli

Broccoli

Eat broccoli and stay away from breast cancer. Broccoli has a chemical component termed as indole 3-carbinol that helps prevent breast cancer among women, and certain types of cancer such as colon and rectal cancer.

Garlic

Garlic

Research has shown that garlic helps in fighting stomach cancer. Garlic contains immunity-enhancing compounds that spur the immune cells that not only fights cancer but also indirectly breakdown cancer causing substances.

Carrots

Carrots

The regular consumption of carrots also helps one to guard against lungs, stomach, intestine, bladder and prostrate cancer among others.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

The consumption of mushroom strengthens the body cells and boost the immune system in its fight against cancer. Mushrooms have a protein called lectin that fights cancerous cells and prevents them from spreading out to other parts of the body.

Nuts

Nuts

Nuts are considered to be highly effective in preventing cancer since it contains antioxidants such as quercetin and kaempferol that suppress the growth of the disease. For instance, Brazil nut contains a good amount of selenium that helps guard against prostrate cancer.

Papaya

Papaya

Today, we are exposed to processed foods in supermarkets and shops. But the thing we don't realize is that, the consumption of such foods entail the risk of cancer. Natural fruits such as papaya helps lower the risk of cancer caused by the consumption of canned food. Since the fruit contains vitamin C that acts as an antioxidant, it helps in fighting cancer.

Avocados

Avocados

It is also advised to consume avocados that contains powerful antioxidants that absorbs certain fat cells in the body that leads to cancer. According to scientific studies, avocados supply more potassium than bananas to the body.

Grapefruits

Grapefruits

It is often advised to eat grapefruit that helps the proliferation of breast-cancer as well as other related cells in the body. Grapefruits also contains Vitamin C and folic acid.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

You find them in salad dishes, your favorite chicken curry but do you realize its health benefits? Tomato contains Vitamin C which is an antioxidant which help prevent cellular damage that leads to cancer. Also, a research found that tomatoes contain lycopene which can kill mouth cancer cells.

Red Wine

Red Wine

Red wine contains polyphenols that fights cancerous cells in your body. However, it is advised to consume red wine in moderation since alcohol has many other harmful effects.

Story first published: Friday, May 17, 2013, 19:52 [IST]
Read more about: cancer food disease health