Healthy Eating for Cancer Prevention

The following is a guest post provided by Kate Flaherty. Kate is an outreach and awareness coordinator for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. She has a passion for sharing her knowledge about complementary therapies for cancer care.

Healthy Eating for Cancer Prevention

Maintaining fitness and eating a proper diet can go a long way in the prevention of various diseases such as diabetes, high-blood pressure and even cancer. Any form of cancer, such as pancreatic or mesothelioma, is a serious condition that can often turn fatal if people do not treat it in its beginning stages. When people receive a cancer prognosis, it can be extremely scary; however, the development of many of these diseases can often be prevented with regular exercise and proper eating habits.

Vegetables for Cancer Prevention

Healthy, nutritious food should be an essential part of anyone’s diet. Cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale and cabbage are all terrific sources of essential vitamins, fiber and minerals. Tomatoes, which are an excellent source of vitamin C, should also be consumed regularly. Carrots are fantastic as they contain beta carotene, which has antioxidant properties known to prevent the replication of cancerous cells.

Green, leafy vegetables, as well as, tofu and soy should also be a part of daily meals. When planning what to eat, it is important to understand that it is essential to prepare balanced meals each day. When people are preparing vegetables, they should eat them raw, or should either boil or lightly sauté them as cooking them can destroy their nutritional value.

Fruit for Cancer Prevention

Fruits are not only fantastic sources of minerals and vitamins, but they also contain anticancer properties. Fruits such as oranges or grapefruits are extremely helpful in eliminating carcinogens from the body. Papayas are also beneficial in that they prevent cancerous nitrosamines, found in many processed foods, from absorbing into the body. Fresh fruit is best, as processed and packaged juices contain a lot of sugar and little nutritional properties.

Fibers role in cancer prevention

Foods that contain fiber, such as bran, peaches, whole wheat and apples should be a part of a balanced regular diet as well. This is because fiber can help reduce the occurrence of diseases such as stomach, rectal and colon cancer. Processed foods such as lunch meat, potato chips, white bread and salami should be entirely avoided as they are high in fatty acids and salt. They also have no nutritional value, and can lead to obesity and cancer of such parts of the body as the pancreas, stomach, gall bladder, colon and kidneys.

Foods to limit for cancer prevention

Individuals should keep their salt and sugar intake to a minimum as too much sodium can be detrimental to health, and too much sugar can cause obesity. Red meat such as lamb, pork, and beef should be consumed in moderation, as well. Those who enjoy meat should try to consume more fish than red meat. Fish and fish oil both boast anti-cancerous properties. Drinking plenty of water is important as well in order to flush toxins from the body. Finally, alcohol should be consumed in moderation as excessive drinking of alcohol can cause oral cancer, as well as, cancer of the lymph, throat and larynx.

In conclusion, healthy eating and exercise are essential to health. There are many nutritious foods that can help reduce the risk of getting cancer and other diseases. While it is impossible to follow strict guidelines all the time, following some of these tips can help balance a healthy lifestyle.