Foods that Can Prevent Cancer

Today you hear it every where, The much dreaded "C" word. Cancer is everywhere and it makes you wonder, Is it because of our life style, or just that years ago they didn't know what it was much less how to treat it.

One thing Doctors and Scientists are finding is that certain foods and changing your diet can prolong your life. Eating more fruits and vegetables can cut the risk of certain cancers. I even read that rubbing yourself all over with extract of broccoli could help reduce the risk of cancer. Don't know that I would try it, but then, hey, I've heard of stranger things.

According to the World Research Cancer Fund the top cancer fighting foods are:

*GARLIC: contains Allyl Sulfur components that can slow or prevent the growth of tumors.

*PEPPERS: have a substance called Capsaicin (which makes the pepper hot) and can inhibit some forms of cancer.

*TOMATOES: contain Lycopene and has been shown to prevent certain types of cancers.

*ONIONS: there are several different types. They all have Antioxidants and Flavinoids but in varying degrees. These are two well known cancer prevention components.

*STRAWBERRIES: contain Phenols, which is also an antioxidant that helps protect cell structure in the body, thus helping prevent certain cancers.

*CARROTS: contain a substance called Falcarinol which can retard the growth of tumors or even prevent them.

*SUNFLOWER SEEDS: have many antioxidants as well and many health benefits including that of preventing cell damage that can lead to cancer.

*BRAZIL NUTS: contain Selenium which can reduce the risk of cancer.

One thing that all the studies agreed on is the fact that all of these foods can help prevent cancer. They all have certain beneficial effect on certain types of cancer. For example, one may be better to prevent prostate cancer but no real proof of any other type of cancer. While another may be better to prevent breast cancer and not prostate cancer. The important thing to remember is that all of these foods have nutritional value and added to your diet could surely help. None of us know what really causes cancer or when it will strike, so an ounce of prevention, as they say, could make a huge difference in your longevity.

Proper diet, exercise and rest all units that work hand in hand with your health. To neglect any one of these can be the start of many health issues. Some may prefer to take a daily dose of antioxidants or supplements, but it is unclear as to the degree of health benefit that they may provide. Vegetables have the natural ingredients to a long healthy life. It's interesting to see just how they work and what you can do to improve your diet.

I hear a voice from the past, it's saying "Vegetables are your friends" I guess we now see how true it is.