Image Source: nlm.nih.gov

Whether we like it or not, cancer affects each one of us directly or indirectly. The lifestyle we have and the environment we live in and even the food we eat and other factors greatly increase the risk of cancer.

There are foods contents that can prevent cancer. One of the great factors of it is Antioxidants. It is a substance that prevents damage to cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are cells that have lost an electron, thus are unstable cells. These free radicals basically steal electrons from other cells in effort to heal themselves, ultimately creating new free radicals in the process. By stealing electrons, it can cause damage to DNA, leading to the possible development of cancer.

Free radicals are formed from a number of causes. The most controllable cause is the food we intake. There are anti-cancer foods that we normally see in our homes but are taken for granted. Like Tomatoes are oozing with lycopene, which helps ward off the free radicals associated with lung and digestive cancers as well as prostate, ovarian and lung cancers. Lycopene is also found in watermelon and pink grapefruit. Broccoli sprouts this one’s got a fistful of antioxidant benefits that last for days. In the same family of cruciferous vegetables are broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. The contents of it protects against prostate, bladder, colon, pancreatic, gastric, breast, and other hormone-related cancers. Berries are all berry-rich in anthocyanins that help repair and protect DNA like blueberries, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, and grapes. Soybeans are soy-good for your health as they’ve got isoflavones (like genistein) that prevent and treat prostate cancer. Soybeans may also reduce breast cancer risk. Tea either make that green and black - is steeped in powerful compounds that, according to countless studies, may lower the risk of several types of cancer. Not too many know that Pumpkin is super-rich source of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, two carotenoids that work hard to fight lung and ovarian cancers. Also rich in carotenoids are carrots, yams, squash, melons, and sweet red peppers. Spinach active antioxidant - lutein - may even help KO cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon, and prostate. Lutein is also found in kale and other leafy greens. Our common kitchen friend, Garlic from the allium family, works to boost the body’s antioxidant defense systems to protect against stomach, esophageal, and breast cancers. Meet the other members of the family: scallions and onions. Pineapple fruit is coveted sweet pulp contains an anti-inflammatory enzyme - bromelain - that may inhibit the growth of malignant lung and breast cancer cells. Studies show that quercetin - a flavonoid abundant in Apples that prevents the growth of prostate cancer cells. The phytochemicals in the skin of an apple inhibits the reproduction of colon cancer cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, eating an apple a day may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50 percent. There’s a mouthful of wisdom in the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The most recent studies have shown that regular Coffee consumption may lower the risk of developing cancer.