Cancer is not something that knocks on the door before entering. It can happen to anyone at any time.
Those who fall prey mostly have unhealthy life habits. Firstly, you should incorporate good habits into your lifestyle.
And secondly, you should follow a good diet plan. Lucky for us, mentioned below is a list of the top 10 anti-cancer foods for cancer patients that do not entirely prevent cancer but can help suppress it or, even better, stop it from forming in the first place.
List of Top 10 Healthy Anti Cancer Foods for Cancer Patients
1. Apples
The term ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away wasn’t just said out of the blue.
Apples contain polyphenols that can reduce inflammation, infections, and cardiovascular diseases. They inhibit cell migration and entering.
Apples contain anti-cancer properties and also possess tumor-fighting properties. Apples also contain vitamin C that can fight cancer cell growth.
2. Apricot
These sweet fruits are a delight to have around; whether dried or ripe, both are satisfactory. The best part is present in the apricot kernels. It contains a compound called amygdalin.
Scientific studies have shown that this compound might be responsible for cancer cell reproducing and can inhibit cancer and tumor growth.
Further studies also suggest that amygdalin might have a role in gene inhibition that leads to cell proliferation resulting in suppressing cancer.
3. Berries
Berries are delicious to eat and are incredibly healthy. They contain different vitamins and minerals, anti-inflammatory properties, and tons of antioxidant compounds such as flavonols, anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and polyphenols.
All these are antioxidant compounds that help the immune system, help fight cancer by inhibiting cancer cell growth, and inhibit tumor growth. It is also a breast-cancer fighting food.
4. Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and kale contain lots of fiber and anti-cancer properties.
They contain compounds such as indole-3-carbinol, glucosinolates, crambene, and isothiocyanate.
These compounds help to prevent cancer by stopping cancer-causing substances.
These vegetables should not be overcooked as the chemicals are released when they are chewed and digested.
5. Leafy Green Vegetables
Mothers are never wrong when telling their children to eat their green vegetables; it’s for a particular reason.
Leafy green vegetables possess anti-cancer properties. They contain vitamin C, an extensive range of carotenoids, flavonol, and folate.
These antioxidant substances restrict cancer cells from growing. Carotenoids mainly protect a person from mouth, larynx, and pharynx cancer.
6. Ginger
Ginger is a spice used in a variety of dishes because of its strong taste. Ginger shows multi-properties of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimutagenic effects.
The compounds present in ginger can stop cancer cell growth. They can induce metastasis and apoptosis and, in turn, can also inhibit tumor growth.
7. Garlic
This spice is also used alongside ginger to make dishes more flavorsome. They contain sulfur-based compounds and quercetin, which is an antioxidant.
Both compounds possess cancer-fighting abilities; they help repair DNA, reduce inflammation and slow the growth of cancer cells.
Garlic also contains phytochemicals that exhibit anti-cancer properties.
8. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are another common food item found in the pantry of kitchen households and are used in many dishes.
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene. Lycopene is a strong antioxidant that can drive away prostate cancer by decreasing cancer cell growth and reproduction and assist in the self-destruction of abnormal cells, hence cancer cells and tumors cells.
9. Grapes
Grapes are also a breast-cancer fighting food. It contains anthocyanins, phenolic acid, and resveratrol, a compound present in the skin of grapes, both green and red.
All these compounds have anti-cancer properties and are antioxidants.
Anthocyanins are anti-inflammatory; they reduce inflammation, while resveratrol is anti-cancerous and inhibits all stages of a broad range of cancer cells’ development and progression. Grapes, therefore, are a food that can prevent a wide range of cancers.
10. Chocolate
And last but not least, a food item that humans of all ages, children, and adults look forward to and desire. A marvelous surprise is that chocolate also contains anti-cancer properties.
Dark chocolate must be chosen as the antioxidant compounds are present in cocoa beans and not in the candy as a whole.
Chocolate includes therapeutic phenols and catechins that help in fighting against cancer and other various diseases.
Conclusion
All foods mentioned are more or less part of every person’s diet. Though they do not stop or eliminate cancer cells, if it takes adequately and in suitable amounts, they are bound to make a change and suppress all types of cancers and tumors.