Eating beneficial foods for our body is essential to fight diseases such as cancer.
- It may interest you: “ The 10 leading causes of death in the world ”
The 12 anticancer foods and other properties and benefits
Eating healthy is one of the best ways to take care of ourselves and prevent cancer . We also need to have an active life, enjoy good social relationships, not take toxic substances such as tobacco or alcohol and avoid stress and anxiety.
But in this article we are going to focus on the issue of food. There are a number of foods with anticancer properties that allow our body to better fight this fearsome disease and that sometimes has a fatal outcome. Next we are going to see which are the main ones that should not be missing in your diet.
- Related article: “ 15 compelling reasons to stop drinking milk ”
1. Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in phytochemicals with very anti-cancer properties . These are substances of plant origin that have antioxidant and angiogenic properties. Angiogenesis refers to the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. It is for this reason that cancer cells find their development difficult, and that is that they are tissues that are much more irrigated with blood than normal ones.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is a root that is used as a spice with many beneficial properties . It is a food with many anticancer properties, but not only this. They also highlight its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and digestive properties. It is the base of many condiments in Asian countries such as India, and in the West it is already easy to find it in supermarkets. It is sold in powder form and should no longer be missing from any kitchen.
3. Cruciferous vegetables
Broccoli or cauliflower are vegetables with high anti-cancer properties . These are vegetables that are not very popular, because many people do not enjoy their taste, but they are a source of health for our body. It is a type of food that we should eat at least once a week, and if possible twice. It is important to keep in mind that it is better to take them a little al dente and not let them boil too much so that they preserve their properties.
4. tea
Green tea, but most teas in general, have anticancer properties . It is a plant that helps prevent many health problems, including cancer. One of the ways that is attracting more attention in recent years is matcha tea. It is a type of tea that has been produced and prepared in a particular way and that has even more benefits for our body. Do not hesitate to drink a cup of tea a day to fight diseases such as cancer.
- Related article: “ What is matcha? 7 properties and benefits and how to take it ”
5. Ginger
Ginger is from the turmeric family and has very strong anti-cancer properties . It can be taken both in its fresh and natural form (root) and in powder form. It is highly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and is recommended both to prevent many ailments and to improve their symptoms. For example, its intake is recommended for people who have diseases that cause pain and inflammation.
6. Red wine
Even though wine contains alcohol, it is also an anti-cancer drink . Its content in polyphenols and tannins makes drinking a glass of wine a day a good preventive measure against cancer thanks to its great antioxidant power. Of course, it is very important to keep in mind that we are talking about an alcoholic substance. Recommending drinking wine to everyone is not the objective of this article, since at HealthyMortel we are aware that alcohol is a drug.
7. Pure cocoa
Pure cocoa has many antioxidant and anticancer properties . It is a substance that significantly combats lung diseases and some cancers. Most people consume it when they eat chocolate, but it is very important to keep in mind that chocolate usually contains a lot of sugar as well. Sugar is one of the foods with the greatest capacity to develop cancer, so very sugary chocolates must be avoided.
8. Tomato
The tomato is a remarkable food with anticancer properties . Especially noteworthy is the lycopene in its composition, which is a powerful agent against cancer, especially prostate cancer. It not only prevents this type of disease, but it has been proven that once you have cancer, it is a great help for our body when it comes to fighting it. When cooked, the concentration of lycopene is concentrated, so taking tomato sauce is a good option.
- Related article: “ Organic food: what they are, and 6 benefits of consuming them ”
9. Red fruits
Red berries are also very effective anticancer foods . Cherries, raspberries or strawberries are fruits with a lot of vitamin C and a series of substances to which they owe their reddish color and their anticancer properties. An ideal type of food to add to desserts, breakfasts and snacks. In addition, we can keep them in the freezer so that they are available to us at any time without being damaged, since they preserve their properties when cold.
10. Liliaceous vegetables
Liliaceae are a genus of plants that has given rise to some edible species. Garlic, onions and leeks stand out in this group of plants . These are foods with very healthy properties for our body, and in particular thanks also to their anti-cancer power. We should take them weekly since their sulfur compounds put cancer cells in trouble, and they also provide us with other benefits and fiber and minerals.
11. Olive oil
A food as fundamental to the Mediterranean diet as olive oil is also on the list . Its anticancer power is due above all to its high content of monounsaturated fats and its rich content of vitamin E. It has been shown that taking extra virgin olive oil turns out to be an even greater factor in preventing diseases such as cancer, so it is recommended take this food daily (without going overboard, because the oil is very caloric).
12. Nuts
Nuts are another of the foods recommended for their anticancer properties . Any type of nut provides benefits to our body, but walnuts stand out for their good supply of omega-3 essential fatty acids. It is a very important substance for our body and that it cannot produce, but it also has many beneficial effects for our body when it comes to preventing diseases such as cancer.
- Related article: “ The 15 medicinal plants with the most properties and benefits ”
Bibliographic references
- Fernandez, O. (2013). My anti-cancer recipes: Food and anti-cancer life. Barcelona: Uranus Editions .
- Fernandez, O. (2015). Practical guide for an anti-cancer diet and life. Barcelona: Uranus Editions .
- World Health Organization (WHO) (2018). Cancer. Retrieved on January 02, 2019 at: https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.