A balanced and healthy diet consisting in natural foods is the best way to prevent all types of cancer

Jul 24, 2006 08:59 GMT  ·  By

Scientists say that cancer is one of the most easy to prevent diseases, especially if one has an appropriate diet and also keeps to the basic rules required for avoiding getting a cancerous tumor - for example, not to take prolonged and unscheduled sunbaths, in order to keep melanoma and skin cancer away.

However, nutrition based on natural resources is vital for leading a healthy life and steering clear of cancer. Generally, our body has the ability to annihilate and clear out cancer cells that form within it. Our body's immune system acts like a defense shield against cancer cells and if we help it with the right nutrition, then we have nothing to worry about.

But there is still the case of individuals that do not care about these kind of serious health disorders until it is a little too late. They harm, consciously or unconsciously, themselves by having a completely unhealthy and unorganized lifestyle. If everyone would be aware of the fact that we must support our body in its fight against diseases, then we would all happily live hale and hearty for the rest of our lives.

Generally, foods that prevent cancer installation in our bodies relate to natural alimentary resources that provide us with all the vitamins and nutrients we need. When we supplement our body with vitamins, antioxidants, minerals we practically reach a hand and help the organic functions to be fully performed.

Lycopene is the red pigment that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables and confers them the reddish color. But it is not a mere pigment, as its properties go way beyond this ability to "color" natural resources.

Lycopene comes from the carotenoid family of pigments and, besides helping the improvement of short and long term memory, it protects against and prevents heart disorders and cancer. It is extremely beneficial against the prostate and testicles cancer and prevents skin, cervical, breast and prostate cancer. Cancer fighting and preventing is due to its antioxidant properties.

As a potent and powerful antioxidant, lycopene works by preventing molecular oxidation by the free radicals. In our body, an infinite number of chemical reactions take place every day. A part of the chemical changes in the cells that use oxygen give birth to free radicals, which are harmful for the cells and the organism. An excessive amount of free radicals interacts with the DNA (cancer is mostly caused by the damaged DNA) or parts of the other cells in the body and may damage them. But lycopene counteracts and neutralizes free radicals - the organic "enemies."

Tomatoes contain the highest amount of lycopene, immediately followed by red grapefruits. Therefore, a diet based on these two fruits (because tomatoes are fruits, too, contrary to their frequent association with vegetables) will boost the body's ability to eradicate free radicals and will make it stronger against all types of cancer. Another advice would be to choose the tomatoes and grapefruits that have very red skins, as the redder the fruit is, the more potent it is against cancer.

Vitamin C, besides other various benefits, also acts as a very powerful antioxidant. This vitamin's other positive effects upon our health related to its contribution to iron absorption in the organic system and increasing of immunity to infections. Rich sources of vitamin C are kiwi, underbrush, pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, citruses and parsley leaves.

Soybeans and soy products represent another important source that helps us preserve our health and fight against cancer. Multiple scientific researches and studies have showed that regular soy intake is very beneficial against breast, rectal or prostate cancer. Due to the fact that soybeans contain a high amount of proteins, they are regarded by physicians as an excellent substitute for animal products.

Soy products (cheese from soy, called tofu, soy milk etc.) contain 5 types of extremely potent anti-carcinogens: isoflavones, saponins, phytates, protease inhibitors and phytosterols. Out of these, isoflavones are the most powerful natural ingredients in soy that reduce cancer risk.

Isoflavones in soybeans include glycinin, daidzin, glycetin and genistin.The last mentioned, genistin, is has been and is still studied by scientists as being the main isoflavone that helps out body fight against cancer. Isoflavones decrease cardiovascular disease, strengthen the bones and, most important, inhibit cancer and malignant tumor formation. Isoflavones are also found in rhubarb, wheat, licorice etc.

There are also other beneficial natural resources that keep cancer off, such as natural oils from nuts and seeds, like flaxseed oi, extravirgin coconut oil etc. Seafood (spirulina algae, kelp, bladderwrack or seaweed), vegetables (carrots, cabbage, onions, spinach, garlic etc.) or herbal remedies (medicinal mushrooms, ginger, green tea) are other vital sources of antioxidants and other nutrients that prevent cancer.

All in all, keep in mind that the most important action one can take against cancer is to have a balanced and healthy diet based on natural foods intake. There is no need for other complementary complex or sophisticated steps.

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