Cancer-Fighting Foods: What to Eat During and After Treatment
Nutrition plays an important part in cancer therapy and recovery. A well-balanced diet can assist to strengthen the immune system, maintain energy levels, and prevent treatment adverse effects. Here's a full list of cancer-fighting foods and dietary suggestions for both during and after treatment.
Apples:
Apples contain polyphenols, which have promising anticancer effects. Polyphenols are plant-derived chemicals that may help reduce inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and infections. Some study Trusted Source suggests that polyphenols may influence specific pathways that contribute to cancer formation. This polyphenol inhibits GLUT2, a protein that contributes to advanced-stage cell proliferation in certain types of cancer.
Berries:
Berries are one of the healthiest foods you can consume. Their vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, including anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and resveratrol, can help prevent cancer in the digestive tract. The magic is most likely found in their blue, purple, and red colors. Delicious on its own, as a snack, or for dessert. Try them on top of cottage cheese and bread.
Legumes:
The American Cancer Society considers legumes and beans to be among the most significant food groups for cancer prevention. They are among the cheapest cancer-fighting foods, as well as being high in vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Flavonoids, plant compounds found in the outer layer of the bean, are powerful antioxidants. Legumes are a global food staple that are inexpensive, healthful, varied, and delicious. They are available dry and tinned. Enjoy as a dip or spread with whole grains (brown rice), or to bulk up soups, stews, and salads.
Fish:
According to some research, eating a few servings of fish every week may lower your risk of cancer. A big study conducted in 1999Trusted Source found that a higher intake of fish was related with a lower risk of digestive tract cancer. A 2005 Trusted Source study of 478,040 adults discovered that eating more fish reduced the risk of developing colorectal cancer, whereas red and processed meats raised the risk. Fatty fish, particularly salmon, mackerel, and anchovies, include essential nutrients such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, which have been associated to a lower risk of cancer.
Cruciferous Vegetables:
These foods include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, and Brussels sprouts. The four petals on the leaves resemble a cross, hence the name "cruciferae," which means "cross-bearing" in Latin. Although they differ in color and structure, they share significant nutritional benefits and are the only foods that contain the cancer-fighting chemical indole-3-carbinol. Consuming these meals on a regular basis has been linked to a lower risk of developing several malignancies. One study According to a trusted source, sulforaphane drastically suppresses cancer cell growth while stimulating cell death in colon cancer cells.
Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate contains polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants, which, according to a 2022 Trusted Source assessment, may help prevent cancer. Chocolate is made from the cocoa bean, the plant seed of the cacao tree, and is high in polyphenols and flavanols, both of which are beneficial to gut bacteria. Of course, dark chocolate is still sweets and should be eaten in moderation. Have a piece or two after dinner and try to enjoy the variety of flavors it offers. According to another 2022 review and meta-analysis, persons who ate more chocolate had a 12% decreased risk of dying from cancer.
Nuts:
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, all nuts, particularly walnuts, contain cancer-fighting compounds. Nuts are an excellent source of fiber and healthy fats and can be eaten as a snack, sprinkled on cereal, or mixed into a salad. In a 2019 trial Trusted Source, females with breast cancer ate walnuts for two weeks between the biopsy date and the day of surgery. Researchers examined tumor tissue samples taken following surgery and compared them to the initial biopsy results. They discovered evidence that genomic modifications have occurred, which could point to the suppression of cancer cell proliferation.
Whole Grains:
Protective antioxidants like vitamin E, lignans, phytic acid, and fiber are found in whole grains like rolled oats, brown rice, and 100% whole wheat bread. A 10-gram increase in dietary fiber from whole grains is associated with a 7% lower risk of colorectal cancer, and eating whole grains lowers the risk of at least 18 other forms of cancer. Research in a review published in 2020Whole grain eating is linked to a 6–12% decreased risk of cancer, according to Trusted Source. Whole grains may lower the incidence of several site-specific malignancies, such as colorectal, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and colon cancer.
