Cancer is a terrible illness; it doesn’t have an impact only on patients, but it has a severe impact on the family as well. Cancer’s implications have touched millions of lives and the number of cases is growing rapidly across the globe. There is a feeling of powerlessness for those who are at risk or have already been diagnosed. And what can I do about it? How can I safeguard myself? Some of the daily food items help in fighting against cancer.
There’s a better answer than you think. As science advances in this area, several foods with the potential to naturally inhibit cancer have been identified by researchers. They are products you probably already have in your kitchen and you are protecting yourself from cancer by adding them further into your meals.
What is Cancer?
In cancer, angiogenesis, the mechanism of creating new blood cells, plays a crucial role. The process itself is regulated by chemical signals in the body that oversees restoring damaged blood vessels and creating new blood vessels.
As angiogenesis inhibitors, the chemical signals that prevent this process are established. There is a balance between the development and inhibitory effects of these chemical signals in a healthy body, triggering the formation of blood vessels, if necessary.
Since tumors need blood supply for their development, this activates the angiogenesis signal. Blood vessel development supplies the tumor with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to metastasize, spreading across the body.
10 Foods which Help in Fighting Against Cancer
These foods are natural angiogenesis inhibitors, called antiangiogenic agents. They interfere with the metastasizing process, preventing the development of new tumor-supporting blood vessels, thereby starving them. This can avoid, delay, or even stop cancer as cited by research.
Green Tea
Green tea contains an antioxidant, chemopreventive and antiangiogenic compound of polyphenol catechins. Scientifically, drinking 2-3 cups of green tea daily has been shown to avoid activated angiogenic signals by 70 percent and minimize invasion of tumor cells by 50 percent.
Raw Cacao
Flavanol, an ingredient with antioxidant properties and the ability to minimize cell damage, is found in cacao beans. Since cancer is caused by damaged cells, this is a very important diet ingredient.
Cacao is rich in flavanols, polyphenols, and proanthocyanidins antioxidants, all of which slow down the development of cancer cells. It is highly adaptable and can be integrated into baked goods, smoothies, and many more.
Curry
Curry components destroy cells in bowel and esophageal cancer and have been shown to attack cancer cells within the very first 24 hours of ingestion of curry. While the cancer-fighting properties of this spice are still being studied by researchers, it is advisable to take it as a supplement or include it in your meals.
Turmeric
This miraculous spice has antiangiogenic and chemopreventive properties, it is competent in inhibiting carcinogenesis in the liver, skin, intestines, and stomach. According to one study, the number of premalignant markers of cancer was decreased by 40 percent for participants who ingested 4g / day of turmeric.
Beans
Beans are so healthy for you, so it’s no wonder that they could also help fight cancer. They contain many potent phytochemicals that can protect the cells of the body from cancer-causing damage. These substances slowed the growth of tumors in the laboratory and stopped tumors from releasing substances that damage cells nearby.
Tomato
It is not clear if it’s lycopene, the pigment that gives tomatoes their red color, or anything else. But some studies have linked the reduced risk of many forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, to eating tomatoes. Studies also say that cancer-fighting ability is improved by refined tomato products such as juice, sauce, or paste.
Grapes
Grapes and grape juice contain resveratrol, especially purple and red grapes. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Resveratrol are high. It has prevented the kind of damage that can cause the cancer process in cells in laboratory studies.
There is insufficient evidence to indicate that consuming grapes or drinking grape juice or wine (or taking supplements) will prevent cancer or cure it.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, pak choi, and kale are amongst the cruciferous vegetables. These cabbage family members make an amazing stir fry and can liven up a salad. But most importantly, these vegetables’ components will help the body protect itself from cancers such as colon, breast, lung, and cervix. Lab research has been successful, but there have been mixed findings in human studies.
Green Leafy Vegetables
Fiber, folate, and carotenoids prevail in dark green leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, broccoli, kale, chicory, spinach, and chard. These nutrients can help protect the mouth, larynx, pancreas, lungs, skin, and stomach from cancer.
Summary
There is not a single food item which can cure cancer or prevent its occurrence however the inclusion of some of the food item in our daily diet might help in fighting cancer. We shouldn’t be hopeless if diagnosed with cancer rather we should focus on food habits and treatment because it is curable. “Stay Healthy, Stay Happy”.
