5 Cancer-Causing and Cancer-Fighting Foods
Did you know, the food that you eat can cause as well as fight cancer? Let’s first understand what cancer is?
Cancer is a state wherein there is an abnormal growth of abnormal cells. Usually, your cells which are the basic units of your body, follow a pattern. They take birth, perform certain designated functions, live for a certain period, and then die. Contrary to this, cancer cells don’t die, they keep increasing in number to form a mass. Several factors such as genes, pollution, harmful radiations, and unhealthy food cause cancer.
Here’s a list of 5 cancer-causing foods
- Red meat and processed meat
Meats are processed to prolong freshness and increase taste.
*Red meat is the meat which is red before cooking, for example, lamb and beef.
*Processed meat is the meat which is processed in any of the following forms: baking/ salting/ curing. Few deli meats, bacon, and hot dogs are processed meat.
- Sugar
Latest studies link sugar to an increased risk of cancer. Even the artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup increase the cancer risk markedly.
- Foods with additives
Any form of food additives including dyes, MSG/ Mono Sodium Glutamate, and colours raise the cancer risk.
- Inorganic food
Inorganic food is the food which uses insecticides and pesticides. They pollute your food with toxins that raise the cancer bar.
- Overcooked food/ fried foods/ burnt food
Research says the higher and longer you heat the food, lower is the nutrition and higher is the cancer risk. This is especially true for fried foods such as French fries, potato chips, and burnt foods such as grilled foods.
Here’s a list of 5 cancer-fighting foods
Foods which are rich in antioxidants fight cancer. Antioxidants are chemical compounds which fight cancer.
- Teas
All forms of teas especially matcha tea and green tea fight cancer. Cook them at the right temperature for best benefits.
- Fruits
Fruits especially blueberries and pomegranates are rich sources of antioxidants. Have them fresh.
- Green leafy vegetables and carrot
Do not overcook them
- Mushrooms
Few mushrooms such as Reishi, maitake, and cordyceps fight cancer. They prevent the growth of cancer cells. Extracts of these medicinal mushrooms are widely available in the form of tablets, liquids, and extracts. Cordyceps is also available in the whole and dry form. You can add it to your stews/ soups.
- Garlic
WHO/ World Health Organization recommends having a clove of garlic a day.
Reference:
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/world-health-organization-says-processed-meat-causes-cancer.html
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/10/26/processed-meat-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2017/15890/reduce-acrylamide-consumption
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21328345
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2016/11/05/0008-5472.CAN-16-1359
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3142888/
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/mushrooms-in-cancer-treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3339609/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20370588
https://draxe.com/cancer-fighting-foods/
https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/nutrition/mushrooms-for-good-health/
http://www.health.com/colorectal-cancer/5-everyday-foods-that-fight-cancer#grains
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/red_meat
