Preventing cancer step 1

http://www.ifoundthecure.com/cures-for/cancer-cures-for/preventing-cancer-step-1-change-your-diet/

Preventing Cancer: Step 1 – Change
Your Diet


Cancer is a disease that takes the lives of many every year. A
lot of cancer related deaths are due to breast cancer and lung
cancer – two of the most common types of cancer disease that
people get. Breast cancer statistics alone shows an alarming
rate of 40, 170 female deaths in the year 2009 and 440 male
deaths also from breast cancer.

The good news is that scientists have been persistent in their
cancer researches and with the technology called the
Internet, cancer related news and information are more easily
accessible to achieve now. For instance, did you know that
some foods actually increase your risk of cancer while others
support your body and strengthen your immune system? By
making smart food choices, you can protect your health, feel
better and boost your ability for cancer prevention.


Recent cancer research shows that a large percentage of
cancer-related deaths are directly linked to lifestyle choices
such as smoking, drinking, a lack of exercise and an unhealthy
diet. When you want to prevent getting cancer, avoiding
cigarettes, minimizing alcohol and getting regular exercise
are a great start to an anti-cancer lifestyle. But to best
support one’s health, you also need to look at your eating
habits. Without knowing it, you may be eating many foods
that fuel cancer while neglecting the natural and powerful
health foods that can protect you. A report, entitled
Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global
Perspective concludes that 30 to 40 percent of cancers are
directly linked to dietary choices and confirms much of the
presumption that the foods we eat have a direct cancer risk
effect. Helpguide.org shares some cancer prevention diet tips.


Cancer Prevention Diet Tip #1
– Focus on plant-based foods


The best anti-cancer diet is predominantly a plant-based diet
that includes a variety of health foods such as
vegetables, fruits and whole grains which proves that Mom
was right when she said “Eat your vegetables! They keep you
healthy!” Keep in mind that natural foods are better than the
processed foods – meaning the less they’ve been
cooked, peeled, mixed with other ingredients, stripped of their
nutrients or otherwise altered from the way they came out of
the ground the better. Eat an apple instead of drinking a glass
of apple juice or enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with raisins instead
of an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Plant-based foods are cancer-fighting powerhouses because
plants have less fat, more fiber and therefore have more-
cancer-fighting nutrients. These elements work together to
support the immune system and help the body fight off cancer.


Cancer prevention diet tip #2:
Bulk up on fiber


There’s another benefit from an anti-cancer diet that’s
more on plant-based foods. Having a diet that is plant-
based increases one’s fiber intake. Fiber, also called
roughage or bulk, is the part of the plants that the body
can’t digest. It plays a key role in keeping the digestive
system clean and healthy. It helps keep food moving
through the digestive tract and it also moves cancer-
causing compounds out before they can create harm in
the body. For example, remember those broccoli sprouts
that you so hate to eat? Well cancer researchers have
found that this rich source of isothiocyanates (ITCs) – a
well known class of cancer prevention agents – could
play a direct role in preventing bladder cancer.
Remember, natural foods are higher in fiber than
processed foods.


Here are simple ways to add more fiber to your
diet:

•Use brown rice instead of white
* Substitute whole-grain bread for white bread
* Choose a bran muffin over a croissant or pastry
* Eat fresh fruit such as pears, bananas or apples
with the skin

Some recommended fiber supplements: Fiber Choice
Supplement and Benefiber Fiber Supplement


Cut down on Meat


Cancer research studies show there’s a link between
meat and cancer-risk. First off, meat lacks fiber
and other nutrients that have been shown to have
cancer-protective properties. Meat is abundant in
fat – often very high levels of saturated fat. High
fat diets have been linked to higher rates of cancer
and saturated fat is particularly dangerous.
Lastly, meat can develop carcinogenic compounds
depending on how it is prepared. By reducing the
amount of animal-based products you eat, and by
choosing healthier meats, you can cut down your
cancer risk substantially.


Choose your fats wisely
Cutting down the amount of meat you eat
automatically cuts out a lot of unhealthy fat but
although eating a diet high in fat increases your risk for
many types of cancer, cutting out fat entirely isn’t the
answer either for cancer prevention. In fact, cancer
studies have shown that some types of fat may actually
protect against cancer. The trick is to choose your fats
wisely and eat them in moderation.


The two most damaging fats that increase cancer risk are
saturated fats and Trans fats. Saturated fats are mainly found
in animal products such as red meat, whole milk dairy
products and eggs. Trans fat on the other hand are created by
adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more
solid and less likely to spoil – very good for food manufacturers
and very bad for you!

The best fats on the other hand are unsaturated fats which
come from plant sources. Primary sources include olive
oil, canola oil, nuts, and avocados. Omega 3 fatty acids are also
good for fighting inflammation and support brain and heart
health. Good sources of omega 3 fatty acids are tuna and
salmon.


Choose cancer-fighting foods
The immune system fights off unwanted
invaders in the system, including cancer
cells, that’s why it’s important to eat cancer
fighting foods to maximize the strength of the
immune system. Eating a colorful variety
gives you the best protection for cancer
prevention.


•Boost your antioxidants – Antioxidants are powerful health vitamins
that protect against cancer and help the cells in the body function
optimally. Natural foods such as fruits and vegetables are the best
sources of health supplements called antioxidants such as beta-
carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium.

* Eat a wide range of brightly colored fruits and vegetables – Colorful
fruits and vegetables are rich in phytochemicals, a potent disease-
fighting and immune-boosting nutrient. The greater the variety of
colors that you include in your anti-cancer diet, the more you will
benefit. Remember: Different colors are rich in different
phytochemicals.

* Flavor with immune-boosting spices and foods – Garlic, ginger and
curry powder are not only good for adding flavor to the food, they
also add a cancer-fighting punch of valuable nutrients.

* Drink plenty of water – Water is essential to all bodily processes. It
stimulates the immune system, removes waste and toxins and
transports nutrients to all of the vital organs.


Cancer prevention diet tip #6 –
Prepare your food in healthy
ways
Good food preparation and proper storage are
also important factors for cancer prevention.
The way you cook your food can either help or
hurt your anti-cancer efforts. Here are a few
tips for preserving the cancer-fighting benefits
of vegetables:


•Eat at least some raw fruits and vegetables. Fruits and
vegetables have the highest amounts of health vitamins and
minerals, although cooking some vegetables can make the
vitamins more available for our body to use.

* When cooking vegetables, steam until just tender using a
small amount of water. This preserves more of the vitamins.

* Instead of deep frying, pan-frying and sautéing, opt for
healthier methods such as baking, boiling, steaming or
broiling.

* Go easy on the barbecue. Burning or charring meats creates
carcinogenic substances. If you do choose to barbecue, don’t
overcook the meat and be sure to cook at the proper
temperature.

Preventing cancer step 1

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