10 Delicious Anti-Cancer Foods You Must Not Overlook

Our modern lifestyle exposes us to multiple carcinogenic agents on a daily basis, so it is no wonder that cancer rates are on the rise. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself from this dreadful illness.

Research has shown that some foods can be beneficial for preventing cancer. Below is a list of 10 foods that are as friendly to your taste buds (yes, anticancer foods can be tasty!) as they are potent in combating cancer.

1. Berries

Here, we are talking about the berries that are rich in flavonids, for example currants, cherries, cranberries, hawthorn berries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.

Why flavonoids? It is because flavonoids are potent antioxidants, sometimes considered even more powerful than traditional antioxidants like beta-carotene, selenium, vitamins C and E, as well as zinc [1]. And antioxidants are well-known to be the antidote for free radicals and crucial in preventing cancer.

Flavonoids do not only have anti-cancer properties, they are also anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy and anti-viral. In addition, they are beneficial for the collagens in your body [1]. This means that if you want beautiful skin and strong joints, besides being cancer-free, flavonoids are a must-have in your regular diet.

So instead of popping nutrient-less candies during snack-time, why not switch to delicious and cancer-combating berries?

Of course, beside berries, there are other good sources of flavonoids, such as grapes, grape seed extract, ginkgo biloba, parsley and onion. [1]

2. Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cress, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish and turnip. You will greatly benefit from eating these vegetables because they are rich in the phytonutrient glucosinolates which has been found to neutralize certain carcinogens and reduce the risk of cancer, especially colon cancer. [2]

You can make tasty soups out of some of these vegetables, like cabbage and radish. And cauliflower and broccoli become sweet to taste after steaming or boiling.

Have at least one serving of these vegetables three times a week, if not daily, to keep cancer at bay. [2]

3. Fiber-rich foods

Every one of us needs fiber from our plant-foods, not only for healthy bowels, but also for preventing colorectal cancer.

The fiber in your intestinal tract absorbs water, bulks up and facilitates the movement of food in the tract. With sufficient fiber and a relatively smooth passage of food through your gut, the exposure of your gut to any carcinogen found in your food is minimized. The food in your digestive tract also has less time to produce carcinogens as it starts to “rot” after some time. [2]

Foods that are rich in fiber include whole grains, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. Since cooking destroys some of the fiber in vegetables, you should aim to eat some of these fiber-rich foods in their raw forms every day to get your daily needs met. [2]

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