Just the thought of cancer can make you feel defenseless and weak against the disease’s looming advances as you age. But don’t raise a white flag, because you still have some powerful ammo—your diet. Research has shown certain foods contain notable preventive properties and a healthy diet can significantly lower your risk of developing all types of cancers. So let’s fight the big C together with the following eats:
- Raspberries: Studies on anthocyanins, a group of phytochemicals giving berries their red color, have shown berries may prevent the growth of lung, colon and leukemia cancer cells. Black raspberries are also antioxidant powerhouses making them great for combating all types of sickly bugs.
- Green Tea: Rich in potent antioxidants, flavonoids (notably catechins) found in green tea have seen impressive laboratory results in preventing cancer development in the colon, liver, breast and prostate cells.
- Flaxseed: In laboratory animal research, flax seeds have dealt breast cancer a notable blow by proving they can slow tumor growth. Not to mention, flaxseed aids weight control because it makes you feel full fast, which may prevent excess weight gain—a leading cause in seven cancers.
- Broccoli: Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage and cauliflower) have been linked to lowering the risks of stomach, lung, breast, prostate and other cancers. This may be due to their high concentration of dietary fiber, folate and carotenoids (chemicals with nutritional properties found in your veggies' pigments.)
—By Emily Arno