There are no guarantees when it comes to cancer. We all know someone who did everything right and still got cancer. And we all know someone who did everything wrong and lived a cancer-free life.
While we don’t have a way to guarantee that we won’t get cancer, there are some ways that you can put the odds in your favor!
True cancer prevention starts early.
Being physically active throughout life and consuming plenty of non-processed plant foods can cut our cancer risk by 30-40%. These are things that we can all do each day to reduce our risk.
It’s important to know that there is no single food or food substance that causes cancer. Similarly, there is no single food or food substance that can prevent or cure cancer.
Rather than focusing on whether there is something ‘bad’ or ‘toxic’ about any particular food, it’s far better to actually focus on getting the nutrients we need from food. The purpose of eating is to help our body, mind and soul function at its best.
The combination of foods in a mostly plant-based diet does help to optimize your health!
The American Institute for Cancer Research continues to add to its list of Foods That Fight Cancer™. These foods made the list because they provide plant-based nutrients, called phytochemicals, that have been shown by solid evidence, to support our body’s cancer-fighting systems.
Here is the current list:
- Berries (blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries)
- Cherries
- Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
- Garlic
- Grapes and Grape Juice
- Green Tea
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli & Cruciferous Vegetables
- Coffee
- Flaxseed
- Grapefruit
- Legumes (Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils)
- Soy
- Squash (Winter)
- Walnuts
- Whole Grains
Be sure to include at least one of these foods into each meal!
For more information on nutrition and cancer, visit our website, CancerDietitian.com.
