Cancer Foods

Cancer Foods: What are Cancer Foods and why they are used?

Cancer foods are those, which don't cure cancer completely but decreases its rates. Although cancer can affect many different parts of the body, the foods that prevent cancer and deter cancer growth are generally the same from one to the next.

Experts agree that anti cancer foods are foods that are rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Most of these cancer foods include Fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, which have important nutrients, and other cancer-fighting substances called phytochemicals that strengthen immune function and destroy cancer-causing substances before they do their dirty work.

Making drastic changes in your diet can be difficult and frustrating. You may make little changes over an extended period of time. Research has shown that people who eat a diet free of animal products and one that is low in fat have a much lower risk of developing cancer.

The following are cancer foods, which have the ability to help stave off cancer, and some can even help inhibit cancer cell growth or reduce tumor size.

Seaweed and other sea vegetables
These contain fatty acids like beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B12, fiber, and chlorophyll, as well as chlorophylones that may help in the fight against breast cancer. Many sea vegetables also have high concentrations of the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine.

Cruciferous vegetables
These vegetables include Cabbage, cauliflower,Brussels sprouts and broccoli which have a chemical component called indole-3-carbinol that can combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective variety. Broccoli, is believed to aid in preventing some types of cancer like colon and rectal cancer since it contains the phytochemical sulforaphane, a product of glucoraphanin which inhibits the growth of tumors.

Licorice root
It has a chemical called glycyrrhizin, that blocks a component of testosterone and therefore may help prevent the growth of prostate cancer. However, excessive amounts can lead to elevated blood pressure.

Mushrooms
There are a number of mushrooms like Shiitake, maitake, reishi, Agaricus blazei Murill, and Coriolus Versicolor that appear to help the body fight cancer and build the immune system. These mushrooms contain powerful compounds that help in building immunity and also have a protein called lectin, which attacks cancerous cells and prevents them from multiplying.

Sweet potatoes
They contain many anticancer properties, including beta-carotene, which may protect DNA in the cell nucleus from cancer-causing chemicals outside the nuclear membrane.

Tomatoes
They contain lycopene, an antioxidant that attacks roaming oxygen molecules, known as free radicals that are suspected of triggering cancer. It has fount that lycopene can kill mouth cancer cells. An increased intake of lycopene has already been linked to a reduced risk of breast, prostate, pancreas and colorectal cancer. They also have vitamin C, an antioxidant which can prevent cellular damage that leads to cancer.

Garlic
It has allium compounds that appear to increase the activity of immune cells that fight cancer and indirectly help break down cancer causing substances. These substances also help block carcinogens from entering cells and slow tumor development.. It is believed garlic may help prevent stomach cancer because it has anti-bacterial effects against a bacterium.

Grapefruits
Grapefruits like oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits, contain monoterpenes, which helps to prevent cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the body. Some studies show that grapefruit may inhibit the proliferation of breast-cancer cells in vitro. They also contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid.

Grapes
They contain powerful antioxidants like bioflavonoids, that work as cancer preventives. They are also a rich source of resveratrol, which inhibits the enzymes that can stimulate cancer-cell growth and suppress immune response. They also contain ellagic acid, a compound that blocks enzymes that are necessary for cancer cells - this appears to help slow the growth of tumors.

Papayas
They have vitamin C that works as an antioxidant and may also reduce absorption of cancer-causing nitrosamines from the soil or processed foods. It also contains folacin, which has been shown to minimize cervical dysplasia and certain cancers.

Carrots
It contains a substance called falcarinol which reduces the risk of cancer.It also has a lot of beta carotene, which may help reduce a wide range of cancers including lung, mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, bladder, prostate and breast.

Teas
Green Tea and Black tea contain certain antioxidants known as polyphenols which appear to prevent cancer cells from dividing. Polyphenols that are abundant in green tea, red wine and olive oil, may protect against various types of cancer. Dry green tea leaves, may also reduce the risk of cancer of the stomach, lung, colon, rectum, liver and pancreas.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with decreased risk of cancers of the colon and rectum. These were some of the cancer foods, which though can't cure cancer but reduces its risk.