Every time you choose a meal, snack or drink, you are making a decision that has a positive or negative effect on your body. Diet can prevent cancer or, conversely, contribute to cancer. Learn about the anti-cancer diet, an important element in anti-cancer prevention.

Anti-cancer diettopreventive diet , its purpose is to stop the development of cancer. Today no one is arguing that 60-70 percent. You can prevent cancer by doing just two things: quit smoking and eat he althy food. The World Cancer Research Fund in a report published at the end of 2003 also proves that 40 percent. Cancer can be prevented by eating properly and shedding excess weight.

Anti-cancer diet - what to eat?

Anti-cancer dietshould be low in fats, sugar and s alt, and rich in vitamins A, C, E (i.e. carotene, ascorbic acid, tocopherol) and elements - magnesium, selenium, which inhibit the growth of cancer cells. These vitamins and minerals remove free radicals from our body and prevent the carcinogenic effects of nitrosamines, i.e. dangerous compounds contained in food products and formed in the stomach. So let's take a closer look at our diet.

Anti-cancer diet - he althy drinks

Of course, mineral water should be in the first place. But fresh juices also have anti-cancer properties (because they have not yet transformed nitrates into harmful nitrites). We should also drink green tea, herbal mixtures (rosehip, hawthorn, nettle) and vegetable juices, mainly red beetroot. And remember - alcohol abuse increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, larynx, breast, liver and intestines. The men's favorite beer is the main source of nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic, so people who drink amber liquid are at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those who drink it occasionally. But wine containing resveratrol (a phenolic compound), drunk in moderate amounts, i.e. a glass a day, has a protective effect.

Cancer prevention - important correct weight and good mood

Cancer likes obese and stressed people. While there is no precise data onon all types of cancer, it is known that obese women are 1.5 times more likely to have breast cancer than lean women. The relationship between cervical and gallbladder cancer (in women) and prostate cancer (in men) and being overweight is less clear. However, maintaining an appropriate body weight is certainly conducive to our he alth. It's the same with stress. Neurised people and those who cannot break away from the hardships of everyday life are more prone to all diseases, including cancer. A weakened immune system is less active, less alert and, even if it could deal with individual cancer cells, it does not have the strength to do so. So let's not forget about relaxation and rest.

What to eat to avoid cancer? Look! [TOWIDEO]

Cancer prevention - lots of fruit and vegetables in the diet

They are very important in cancer prevention, especially when fresh and raw, but they can also be boiled or stewed. Increasing their consumption reduces the risk of cancer of the colon, stomach, lung, breast, mouth, pancreas and bladder. The incidence of these tumors is 39 percent. higher in people on a traditional diet. Fruits and vegetables contain not only fiber and minerals essential for he alth, but also substances called phytochemicals. This name covers flavonoids, indoles and phenols - compounds that prevent cancer. Where can we find them? In easily available and inexpensive products:

  • tomatoes contain a carotenoid called lycopene, a phenolic compound that protects the body against carcinogenic pollutants in the environment. It is known that the risk of prostate cancer in men consuming 10 tomatoes a week is reduced by 45%.
  • Broccoli and related vegetables contain beneficial indoles. They also contain glucosralates, which transform into sulforolates in the body, effective in the fight against lung and colon cancer.
  • Grape skins and the skins of other fruits are rich in resveratrol (present in red wine), a compound that inhibits the growth of cancer.
  • grapes have ellagic acid, also present in cherries and strawberries, has anti-cancer properties.
  • citrus fruits are rich in anti-cancer flavonoids and lutein.

Vegetables and fruits also have other antioxidants - vitamins E, C and beta-carotene. The shopping basket should include: cabbage, kohlrabi, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, garlic, onions, parsley.

Important

In the fight against cancer, you can use cantaloupe, papaya, blueberries and citrus melons (peel them, do not throw away the white skin, because it contains vitamin P - very valuable in preventing diseasescancer).

Anti-cancer diet - more starch

Starchy foods such as whole grain flakes, rice, pasta, oats, legumes, and potatoes contain fiber, and increasing your intake of dietary fiber reduces the risk of colon cancer. Fiber reduces the time it takes for food to pass through the intestines. This allows the substances that cause the disease to come into contact with the intestinal walls for a short time. Research shows that a substance called butyrate, formed by the action of the gastric microflora on fiber, is essential for the proper functioning of the intestines and prevents cancer. Apparently, it also has the power to destroy individual cancer cells. Whole grain cereals contain lignan, a fiber-like product that is a phytoestrogen and some nutritionists believe it reduces the risk of hormone-dependent cancers. This is also how soy works, which contains isoflavones. However, in this case, it is better to be careful. In addition, laboratory studies on breast cancer cells have shown that small doses of soy isoflavone genistein (the most active soy phytoestrogen) cause these cells to multiply, while large doses stop their growth.

Less fat and meat in your diet prevents cancer

A diet high in saturated fat (animal-derived) has long been considered to promote the development of colon cancer. A few years ago, there was also information that it also affects a greater risk of prostate, ovarian and breast cancer. Scientists explain this by the fact that fat mobilizes the body to produce estrogen. Therefore, it is best to limit your consumption of full-fat dairy products, fatty meats, and ready meals. An excess of meat, especially red meat, mainly beef, may contribute to the accelerated development of colon and prostate cancer. And although discussions about it are still ongoing, nutritionists recommend replacing it with poultry and fish. In addition, it is worth knowing that meat increases the concentration of nitrosamines in the body, strong carcinogens. People who eat meat every day have three times higher concentrations of this substance in their urine. In addition to the quality of meat, the method of its preparation is also important to our he alth. Charcoal-baked and deep-fried in deep fat or reused fat, contains a lot of carcinogens. When shopping, choose fish, veal, beef tenderloin, turkey meat, olive oil, low-fat yoghurt, skim milk, and cheese.

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Diets