Cancer is an evil beast that has taken too many victims all over the world across many generations. Now everyone is looking for that messianic and 100%-guaranteed preventive measures to remain cancer-free. However, decreasing your risk for developing cancer doesn’t just consist of one specific thing. It is a combination of a healthy lifestyle and healthy dietary choices.
Katie Bispeck, a research dietitian at MD Anderson, shares with us this list of foods you should consume in addition to a healthy diet, that may reduce cancer risk especially among women.
Lentils
These are small beans that are a healthy source of dietary fiber. A healthy dose of daily fiber reduces your chance for developing colorectal cancer. Fiber aids your gut in producing chemicals that may arrest malignant cells from forming.
Coffee
Research suggests that women who drink a few cups of black coffee every day are 25% less likely to develop uterine cancer. Coffee has compounds that alter the way the female body uses hormones such as estrogen and insulin, which may contribute to the drink’s anti-cancer benefits. But be warned latte drinkers, adding sugar or cream actually takes away coffee’s anti-cancer abilities.
Garlic
This pungent vegetable is rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese, and selenium. A few research studies suggest that these vitamins and nutrients can ward off cancer cell growth in your intestines. Garlic can also help lower your risk for developing cancers of the stomach, colon, and the breasts.
Tomatoes
Lycopene is a natural chemical that tomatoes are known for. This is a powerful natural antioxidant that may decrease your risk for breast, stomach, and lung cancer. Other lycopene-rich foods include pink grapefruit, watermelon, and most fruits with red flesh.
Leafy greens
Kale, spinach, and broccoli are some of the dark, leafy vegetables that you can easily throw in to your regular diet. They’re rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins, and chemicals that decrease your risk for many cancer types, including colorectal cancer.
Onions
Onions contain quercetin, an antioxidant that fights cancer by lowering inflammation in your body. Research shows that yellow onions may be especially good at shielding you from colon and liver cancers.
Grapes
These juicy and sweet berries contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that may halt the formation of liver, stomach, lymphatic system, as well as breast cancers. The grape’s skin has the most resveratrol, so better eat these berries with the skin intact. It has also been found that purple and red grapes have more of this natural antioxidant than green grapes.
This list of anti-cancer foods was adapted from this article by MDAnderson.org.
