Your eating habits affect your health in many ways, including your risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Research has shown that diet has a significant impact on cancer development.
Many foods contain compounds that may help prevent the growth of cancer. According to some studies, certain foods may also lower the risk of the disease if consumed in more significant quantities.
The purpose of this article is to explore some foods that may reduce cancer risk and what they are.
Foods that Can Help in Preventing Cancer
There is no food that can completely protect people from cancer. People who consume foods that fight cancer may reduce their cancer risk if they consume them. In some cases, they prove to be quite effective in preventing cancerous cells from developing. For instance, using the best curcumin supplement daily helps cancer prevention. You should also include the following foods in your diet:
Apples
It’s true what they say about apples keeping doctors away. Apples contain a variety of polyphenols that have been shown to be anticancer agents. Polyphenols may prevent inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and infections.
Numerous studies suggest polyphenols are anticancer and tumor-fighting compounds. In advanced stages of cancer, polyphenol phloretin inhibits the growth of GLUT2 protein.
Apple phloretin inhibits breast cancer cell growth without affecting normal cells, according to a 2018 study.
Carrots
According to several studies, the intake of carrots seems to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Likewise, according to an analysis of five studies, carrots may reduce stomach cancer risks by up to 26%.
Another study found that carrots reduced prostate cancer risk by 18%. Researchers compared the diets of 1,266 people with and without lung cancer. Lung cancer risk is three-fold higher in smokers who don’t eat carrots more than once a week.
You can potentially reduce your cancer risk by including carrots as a tasty snack or delicious side dish just a few times a week. In addition to carrot consumption and cancer, these studies didn’t take into account other factors.
Broccoli
Among cruciferous vegetables, broccoli contains sulforaphane, an anticancer compound. In a test-tube study, sulforaphane shows a reduction in the size and number of breast cancer cells by about 75%.
In a similar study, sulforaphane reduces prostate cancer tumor volume by more than 50% after giving it to mice. Studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables like broccoli may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
According to an analysis of 35 studies, cruciferous vegetables reduce the risk of colorectal and colon cancer. It may be beneficial to combat cancer by including broccoli in a few meals each week.
According to the available research, broccoli does not directly affect cancer in humans. Test tubes, animals, and observational studies have been the most common method of studying cruciferous vegetables. This necessitates further research.
Berries
The antioxidant properties of anthocyanins in berries may reduce cancer risk. A study gave bilberry extract to 25 people with colorectal cancer for seven days, and it reduced cancer cell growth by 7%.
Cancer markers went down by giving freeze-dried black raspberries to oral cancer patients. An animal study found that rats given freeze-dried black raspberries had fewer esophageal tumors.
A different study found that berry extract inhibited several cancer biomarkers. Berries might prevent cancer if you eat them every day. As well, elderberry has also been linked to cancer, so you should include it in your diet. We still need more human research to examine the effects of berry extracts in high concentrations.
Likewise, using turmeric in your diet also shows quite beneficial results in keeping your health. However, if you’re eating turmeric, we recommend you take turmeric with black pepper as it gets readily absorbed in the blood.
Nuts
According to research, nuts may reduce cancer risk. According to a study involving 19,386 participants, eating nuts lowers cancer death rates.
A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who regularly ate nuts had a lower risk of colorectal, pancreatic, and endometrial cancer.
Certain types of nuts may reduce cancer risk, according to other studies. In people with low levels of selenium, Brazil nuts, for example, may help prevent lung cancer.
Likewise, feeding mice walnuts reduced breast cancer cell growth by 80% and tumor density by 60%.
You can reduce your cancer risk by eating nuts every day. This association might be attributable to nuts, but other factors might also be involved. Nuts also enhance memory.
Before We Part!
Although many foods have the potential to reduce cancer cell growth, current research has focused solely on test tubes, animals, and observational studies. Still, we need more analysis to determine whether these foods directly affect cancer development in humans or not. But to be safe, eat these foods to keep your health in check.