When it comes to our overall well-being, the food we consume plays a key role. Through our diet, we provide our body with the essential nutrients, vitamins, fibre, and energy to get through the day.
The Standard American Diet (SAD), is “believed to contribute to the health challenges experienced in the United States, including cancer.”
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, only about 8% of the standard American diet consists of protective foods.
The truth is that no food by itself can help in the fight against cancer, but there are several foods that are believed to help preventing it.
“Research tells us that making healthy food choices consistently over time can reduce your risk of getting cancer, but you can’t say with absolute certainty that food can prevent cancer,” says wellness dietitian Lindsey Wohlford. “There are no guarantees.”
1. Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables are a diverse group of vegetables belonging to the family Brassicaceae, also called ‘Cruciferae,’ that are believed to have cancer-preventive properties. Vegetables belonging to this group are radish, arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, daikon, and turnips, among the rest.
These are rich in isothiocyanates, compounds that reduce inflammation and deactivate cancer-causing chemicals.
Consuming these vegetables helps lowering the risks of developing certain types of cancer, including breast, esophageal, oral, and kidney cancers.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is yet another plant that is so versatile that it’s found its way not only in the cuisines of many countries, but also in the cosmetic industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and more.
Among the rest, turmeric contains protective compounds, including curcumin, has anti-oxidant properties that may help the body combat inflammation, can help ease arthritis, can help limit the growth of cancerous cells, protects cells from damage, and reduces the signs of ageing.
3. Mushrooms
A study conducted on 36 thousand participants over several decades showed that incorporating mushrooms in the diet helps reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Mushrooms are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, in particular L-ergothioneine, thought to help reduce oxidative stress.
Another study suggest mushrooms may help prevent breast cancer, likely due to compounds like glutathione, ergothioneine, and polysaccharides. Medicinal varieties like reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, and maitake boost antitumor immunity, with turkey tail’s PK polysaccharide aiding cancer therapy.
4. Allium Vegetables
