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Nutrition and Cancer: Foods That Help Fight the Disease
By Raveena M Prakash
Cancer is a life-threatening disease and is the second most common cause of deaths across the globe. There are different types of cancers with unique causes, such as virus infections, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, that lead to cancer in people. Although it's still not clear why cancer is forming in people who follow a good diet, have no smoking and alcohol habits, and have fitness for the body. If you are concerned about what factors are causing cancer in people with zero risk factors, it could be the choice of foods that is causing cancer in people! Nutrition and cancer are associated with each other! It's another risk factor that is often overlooked and ignored by people. In some cases, nutritional factors and lifestyle choices might lead to the growth of cancer in many people.
In this article, we’ll discover more about the diet for cancer patients and the best food for cancer patients that helps to lower the risk of cancer, and foods that would increase the risk of cancer in people.
Foods lower the risk of cancer
If you are diagnosed with cancer or concerned about the occurrence of cancer and want to reduce the chance of cancer risk, there are some foods that are popular for lowering the risk of cancer in people. These foods are also commonly known as the best food for cancer patients.
A variety of healthy, rich foods might help the chance or risk of developing cancer and decrease cancer growth.
Read further about how these 13 foods are good for lowering the risk of cancer in people who are in a high-risk group for cancer.
Broccoli
Broccoli belongs to the family of cruciferous vegetables, and this vegetable contains sulforaphane, a famous plant component that is also popular for its potent anti-cancer properties.
Some research suggests that an increased intake of broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables might reduce the risk of breast, prostate, colorectal, and colon cancer. Including broccoli in a few meals per week might improve the cancer-fighting benefits in people.
Carrots
There are some studies that have shown that including carrots is linked to decreasing the risk of certain types of cancers. Some studies have claimed that there is an association between carrot consumption and a decreased risk of prostate, lung, and stomach cancer.
Beans
Beans contain high levels of fiber, which some studies have found might help against colorectal cancer. Some studies suggest that eating a few servings of beans each week might increase the levels of fiber and lower the risk of developing cancer. A higher intake of beans could reduce the risk of colorectal and colon cancer.
Berries
Berries are high in anthocyanins, which are good to slow down and stop cancer cell growth. Eating berries is often associated with reducing the risk of developing cancer. If you are concerned about reducing the risk of developing cancer, then consider that having two bowls of berries in your diet might help you reduce the growth of cancer.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has the ability to reduce blood sugar levels and ease inflammation in the body. Some studies suggest that cinnamon has the ability to reduce the spread and growth of cancer cells and their destruction.
Nuts
Consuming nuts is associated with reducing the risk of different types of cancer in people. For example, Brazil nuts are known for their high levels of selenium, which is good for protecting against lung cancer in people with low levels of selenium in the body. Adding a few servings of any nuts to your diet might reduce the likelihood of cancer development.
Olive oil
Olive oil is known for its high levels of health benefits, and it’s one of the irreplaceable components of the Mediterranean diet. Some studies suggest that the consumption of olive oil might help you to protect against several types of cancer.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another popular spice that is known for its health-promoting properties. Turmeric contains an active ingredient called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and even anti-cancer properties. Some studies suggest that curcumin is linked to decreasing the spread of colon cancer cells and targets several enzymes related to the growth of cancers.
Some studies suggest that curcumin has helped to destroy neck and head cancer cells. However, there are some studies that claim that it slows down the growth of lung, breast, and prostate cancer cells.
Citrus fruits
Consuming citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits has been linked to reducing the possibility of cancer in people. People who consume high levels of citrus fruits lower the risk of digestive and upper respiratory tract cancers and reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Some studies suggest that an increased intake of citrus fruits could decrease the risk of different cancers, including pancreas, stomach, digestive tract, and upper respiratory tract.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are high in fiber and rich in heart-healthy fats, which makes them a healthy, nutritious addition to your diet. There are some studies that claim that the consumption of flaxseed might reduce the threat of cancer growth in breast and prostate cancers. The high fiber component in flaxseeds also helps to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in people.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a great healthy component called lycopene, which is responsible for their vibrant red color, and it has high anti-cancer properties. There are several studies that suggest that an increased intake of tomatoes could lead to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
Garlic
Garlic is another healthy staple; the active component in allicin claims to destroy cancer cells in the body. There are some studies suggesting that the higher intake of garlic might lower the risk of different cancers in people. Garlic might reduce the chance of developing cancers such as stomach, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
Fatty fish
Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies contain high levels of nutrients such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, which are often linked to reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancers. For example, consuming an essential amount of vitamin D claims to protect against and reduce the risk of different types of cancers, including digestive tract cancer and colorectal cancer.
Foods that increase the risk of cancer in people
As you may know, there are some foods often known as the best food for cancer patients. In contrast, there are some foods that are popular for increasing the risk of cancer. There are some foods that also increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Foods that contain high levels of cancer-causing agents, such as carcinogens, hold the capacity to increase cancer in people.
Here are some foods that increase the risk of cancer, these may include:
- Processed meats: Foods such as processed food and processed red meats prepared by salting, smoking, or grilling increase the risk of cancer in people. An increased intake of processed red meats increases the risk of cancer in several people.
- Fried foods: Foods prepared with deep frying, baking, roasting, and toasting can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. These health conditions can often increase the risk of oxidative stress and inflammation and often lead to cancer risk.
- Overcooked foods: Foods that are overly cooked, especially meats, can often produce carcinogens in the body, further resulting in the chance of developing cancer in people.
- Dairy foods/products: There are some studies suggesting that an increased use of dairy and dairy products might increase the risk of prostate cancer in people. Some of the dairy products include: Milk, cheese and yoghurt
- Sugar and refined carbohydrates: An increased use of sugar and refined carb foods might indirectly increase the risk of cancer in people. These foods can avoid: Sugar-sweetened drinks, baked foods, white pasta, white bread, white rice and cereals.
- Alcohol consumption: Consuming alcohol increases the risk of cancer, as it increases the chance of liver damage and further breaking down of alcohol into acetaldehyde, which is a carcinogenic compound.
Consult Today
As there is much cancer research progressing across the world, it has become evidently clear that our diet plays a major role in the development of cancer in the body. Nutrition and cancer are interlinked because of these reasons. There are some foods that are known to lower the risk of cancer. Meanwhile, there are some foods that increase the risk of cancer in people.
At Oncare, we analyze the patient’s type, stage, and location of cancer and provide an overall treatment plan along with balanced diet charts as part of the effective treatment plan. Additionally, we offer premium quality treatments at an affordable price range without compromising the clinical care.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer and looking for the best cancer hospital in Delhi, then visit Oncare’s Cancer Center and book an appointment with our experienced cancer specialists today! Get an estimated cost of cancer treatments today!
Frequently Asked Questions
There are some foods that increase the risk of cancer in people.
These may include:
- Processed meats
- Fried foods
- Overcooked foods
- Dairy foods/ products
- Sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Alcohol
There are foods that are also known as cancer-fighting foods which helps to reduce the risk of cancer growth in people.
- Berries
- Fish
- Cruciferous vegetables such as (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel, sprouts and bok choy).
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Dark chocolate
- Whole grains
- Leafy grains
- Fermented foods
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Beans
- Berries
- Cinnamon
- Nuts
- Olive oil
- Turmeric
- Citrus fruits
- Flaxseed
- Tomatoes
- Garlic
- Fatty fish
One of the important lifestyle choices that might increase your risk of developing cancer are:
- Smoking cigarettes, use of tobacco products, and exposure to passive smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption is directly linked with an increased risk of cancer development, such as mouth cancer, liver cancer, throat cancer, and liver cancer.
- Physical inactivity is often associated with obesity and overweight, which often leads to the body's hormonal imbalance, which might lead to inflammation in the body.
- Exposure to UV radiation can often raise the chance of developing skin cancer in people.