It took a while, but conventional medical authorities are now finally admitting what common sense taught us all along: eating the right food prevents cancer.
In this post, we take a look at some of the foods you’ll want to include in your diet to put off this disease into the future, or avoid it altogether. But before we do so, it’s worth talking about some of the foods that you’ll want to cut down on.
White flours, sugars, processed meats, animal products, refined oils and junk food are all big no-nos. Overall, you want your diet to be centered around fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and beans.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the superfoods that slash your cancer risk:
Broccoli
Ideally, you should be eating cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, all your life. These contain all sorts of compounds, such as isothiocyanates and sulforaphane linked to improved cancer resistance and enhanced liver function. Broccoli also helps to fight cell damage and dysfunction which is a leading cause of cancer diagnosis.
Beans
Beans are full of fiber but they have a bad rap for causing gas. It turns out that that’s only part of the story. If your gut bacteria isn’t used to them, they will make you a little gassy for the first couple of weeks. However, as you transition to the right type of bacteria, things will change, and beans will no longer have the same effect.
Beans are good for preventing colorectal cancer and a host of other bowel-related issues. Because they increase the bulk of the stool, they reduce straining, slashing the risk of hemorrhoids and diverticulosis. Beans are also good for reducing blood sugar spikes, something that can trigger cancers to form elsewhere in the body.
Flaxseed
Flax seed is so healthy that it might actually be able to reverse some cancers. Studies, for instance, have found it to be effective against prostate cancer. Clinical trials also point to exciting evidence that flax can slow the growth of breast cancers as well, boosting survival.
When eating flaxseed, choose ground. Whole seeds run the risk of passing straight through you and out the other side.
Apples
The humble apple is so common that we barely notice it. But every time scientists study it, they find some new health-promoting property.
Regular apple eaters, for instance, have a lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe that this may be because apples contain a high concentration of quercetin, a powerful flavonoid that’s shown promise for reducing the risk of certain cancers.
Blueberries
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that blueberries make the list. They’re absolutely chock full of antioxidants and other compounds that help cells resist damage and function more youthfully. Anthocyanins, one of the main phytonutrients they contain, may directly activate the body’s longevity pathways, helping to keep people youthful and reduce inflammation.
Cauliflower
Lastly, cauliflower is practically the only healthy white-looking food out there. Studies show the people who eat it regularly are much less likely to get lung cancer.