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.

image source: www.altcancer.com

Current research indicates that the foods we ingest to our body can influence our risks to certain types of cancer. High energy and high fat diets can lead to obesity and are generally thought to increase the risk of some cancers. Plant-based diets high in fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and wholegrain foods may help to prevent cancer.

Diet is just one of the lifestyle factors that influence the risk of developing cancer.

Smoking, obesity, alcohol, sun exposure and physical activity levels are also important.

Foods to limit in your diet or eat less of include: Fatty processed red meats ,Highly processed foods that are low in fibre Heavily salted and pickled foods.

Foods to eat more The strongest protective anti-cancer effect has been shown with: Vegetables, especially raw vegetables or salads ,Leafy green vegetables, carrots,Tomatoes,Citrus fruits ,Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy and other Asian greens.

Certain cancers can be avoided if proper immunization has been administered like Hepatitis and HPV both of which are viral diseases. These diseases are known to cause liver and cervical cancer in certain individuals the later being a sexually transmitted disease. Decision on whether one would benefit from the said vaccines is left to professionals so seek advice from your doctor to see how much benefit one can be gained from their administration. The vaccine for HPV has been approved by the US FDA in 2006 and is now available on the market.

Cancer is one of the most debilitating diseases on the planet to date. In its many forms that afflicts almost any part of the human body, it can be prevented with the help of intervention through medical means and simple changes to one’s lifestyle can work to your advantage if you know you are prone to get the disease. These prevention methods usually evolve around three major concepts which are; lifestyle/eating habit changes, cancer causing agent avoidance and last the intake of medicine to treat a precancerous condition in hopes of preventing the disease from starting. As we can see, the above conditions are quite easy with strict adherence and regular health evaluations they can be useful in the prevention of the disease.

As with any disease, there are lots of myths surrounding the ability of a family member to develop the same form of disease. Some experts say there is no direct link to the said relation and your ability to get the same disease except perhaps for the same environmental factors which may be causing the disease to manifest in both of you. There is no solid scientific basis for cancer being inherited but it should be used as an indicator that you are susceptible to it. The size of breasts is also a point of contention for many claim that having large natural breasts are a sure sign of you being prone to getting breast cancer. Experts say there is also no medical foundation for the myth and that whatever size of breasts you may have; the best tool in the fight against cancer would be to get screened regularly. There are more myths regarding the disease and most are said to be just plain myth without scientific basis. The best tool for prevention and successful treatment is early detection which is the key.

Ouch, that sunburn sure is painful isn’t it. Then you didn’t carry enough protection for you or your family for sunburn is a bad case of UV exposure which can lead to skin cancer. Yep, that cheaper bottle of sunscreen may not have provided enough protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. So cheaper, isn’t always better for the buck you save today may multiply thousands of times when somebody in the family does develop the dreaded disease. Use lip balms that are rated to have UV blocking ingredients and sunscreen that has the highest SPF ratings that you could find. Some of the biggest names in cosmetics have products that are not only tested to comply with the most stringent control methods but they also have versions that are for sensitive skin such as kids. There are also spray type ones that allow kids to be protected in no time, just send them on a spin like on a horizontal barbecue and they’re off. An ounce of prevention is always cheaper than a ton of care.

Researchers have found that kids who are educated on proper diet and nutrition from an early age are more likely to be conscious about their health in later life. Parents are advised to get their children involved in chores such as shopping at the grocery and explaining to them the pro’s and con’s of the various food choices that are available. These children have these lessons built into them allowing them to be healthy and active. They are also recommended to partake in most activities such as exercise and other physical activities so they tend to open their eyes to the active lifestyle to avoid obesity. Obesity is a growing threat to the health of many developed countries and has become so much of a threat that drastic measures such as the banning of junk foods form schools and other government facilities have been put in place.

The process is quite unpleasant and requires a lot of time for the digestive tract has to be void of all contents before it can be done (imagine the mess it would create if it were full). Testing usually requires fasting for up to 12 hours before the exam during which the colon, through the rectum is flushed again and again to remove all contaminants which can impair the view of the colonoscopy scope. Once a cleared view of the colon is assured, the test continues with a lighted tube to which a camera is attached allowing viewing of the colon to find growths called polyps. Polyps are not cancerous but are considered to be the beginnings of such so dietary adjustments are required if they are to be tamed to prevent colorectal cancers. If polyps are found, regular exams are required to see if the polyps remain as polyps and do not progress into cancerous growth. For those who go thought the procedure, ask the doctor to increase the time they scan for these growths for studies in the US have shown that the standard exam to a maximum of almost 20 minutes increases the success of locating them by as much 10 times increasing accuracy.

Vegetables and the fiber they contain have long been seen as a good source of phyto-chemicals and compounds that have cancer prevention properties. Colored cabbages are considered to be the best sources of such cancer-fighting compounds and should be eaten abundantly. Eating them raw increases the amount of cancer-fighting agents as opposed to cooked dishes. This is one study that shows naturally occurring compounds present in foodstuff that need no further synthesis as a potent cancer-risk lowering measure. So eat your green leafy vegetables. Other vegetables have shown potency in the fight to prevent cancer rather than treat it which involves costly and painful procedures. High-fiber diets have also shown promise in lowering the occurrence of colorectal cancers which gives credence to the old folk’s saying that all natural is best.

Plant drinks that are now common may help fight prostate cancer which signifies the amount of knowledge we still need about plants that can solve most health related problems. Plants have long been the source of many of the world’s best antibiotics and have been found to contain phyto-chemicals that helps boost the immune system aiding it in fighting cancer. Diet and exercise are also some of the best forms of prevention for they boost the energy level of the body allowing it to provide stiffer defense against the myriad of diseases out there. These along with many more are some of the findings and conclusions these doctors and health professionals as some of the best cancer prevention tips that all should be informed of as they continue to wage the war against caner in its many forms and shapes.