7 Foods helping women stay cancer free

7 Foods helping women stay cancer free

Granted, there is no magical food that can guarantee a cancer-free life.  But food is one way all of us and particularly women, can use to beat back the odds of ever hearing, “You have cancer.” There are certain characteristics certain foods have ranking them higher on a nutritional scale – nutrient dense, antioxidants, phytochemicals, fiber – you name it, they’ve got what it takes to help reduce a woman’s chance of developing this disease.

Fortunately, nature has provided us with a wide variety of food meant to sustain and nourish our health.  Every day, each of us should make wise food choices to feed our body what it needs to function at its optimal best.  This type of diet would include choosing plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes along with others giving your body the range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it requires.  Eating in this manner also helps prevent weight gain keeping body fat to a minimum. Carrying excess body fat can increase the amount of hormones in your body which can promote cancer cell growth, and can increase a woman’s risk of breast and endometrial cancers

Below are 7 foods that may increase your odds of keeping your body cancer-free and in good health:

1.  Lentils

Lentils also known as pulses are small beans rich in dietary fiber.  Fiber is an important substance which may reduce a woman’s risk of colorectal cancer as it helps the digestive tract produce chemicals that may stop tumor cells from forming.   Plus, choosing fiber rich foods keeps you feeling fuller longer helping with maintaining a healthy body weight.  There’s the added bonus of lowered cholesterol and reduced blood sugar levels.  Other foods providing fiber include beans, whole-wheat pasta, peas, barley, and brown rice. 

2.  Coffee

The best way to start you day is with a cup of coffee.  Research has suggested that women who drink coffee (black) every day are 25% less likely to develop a common type of uterine cancer as well as other forms of the disease.  Coffee contains compounds that change the way a woman’s body uses certain hormones like estrogen and insulin.  However, it’s not clear if a cup of decaffeinated coffee offers the same benefits.  Also, adding in sugar or cream may take away coffee’s cancer-fighting ability.

3.  Garlic

What is not good about garlic?  Loaded with manganese, vitamins B6, C, and selenium, garlic is a fighter fending off cancer cell growth especially in your intestines.  This pungent seasoning may also help lower your risk of stomach, colon, and breast cancers.

4.  Leafy greens

Fill up your grocery cart with the color green as in kale, spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard, and broccoli, some of the most nutritious foods on the planet.  Bursting with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, these leafy greens may reduce your risk of many different types of cancer including colorectal cancer.  Eating lots of leafy greens are also good for maintaining a lean body weight which can help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

5.  Tomatoes

Botanically a fruit but used as a vegetable, tomatoes are packed with a natural chemical called lycopene.  This chemical is a powerful antioxidant that may lower breast, lung, and stomach cancer risks.  Other fruits with lycopene include watermelon, pink grapefruit, and most fruits with red flesh.

6.  Grapes

Packed with an antioxidant called resveratrol, grapes are a great addition to any meal or snack. Resveratrol has been shown to possibly block the formation of breast, liver, stomach, and lymphatic system cancers.  This special antioxidant is found in grape’s skin so be sure to leave the skin intact.  Choose red and purple grapes as they contain more resveratrol than green grapes.

7.  Onions

Maybe onions appear inconspicuous compared to more flashy produce but don’t let that fool you.  Onions contain a powerhouse antioxidant called quercetin that can give cancer a one-two punch in lowering inflammation in the body.  Some studies have shown that yellow and shallots may be particularly good at protecting you from liver and colon cancers.