These days you hear more about people fighting COVID than cancer. But cancer hasn’t gone away, and it won’t any time soon. In fact, right now in the United States alone, more people aged 45 to 84 are dying from cancer and heart disease than COVID-19. The good news is that there are proven ways to lessen your chances of dying from all three.
That’s right. Do the right thing and you can lower your risk for cancer, heart disease, and COVID-19. And it all starts with your fork. Because a cancer-fighting diet is good for your overall good health.
As you plan meals each week, make sure to include a variety of cancer-fighting foods and avoid or limit the foods that may contribute to the disease.
It comes as no surprise that fruits and vegetables are powerhouses in the fight against cancer. Produce is filled with antioxidants that help prevent damage caused by free radicals. They also help keep you at a healthy weight to prevent cancers associated with obesity.
The more colorful your plate, the better. Dark red, green, purple, and orange fruits and veggies are the most nutrient dense. The strongest cancer-fighting fruits are blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, grapes, grapefruit, and oranges. Veggies to grab include broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, kale, spinach, squash, and tomatoes.
If you’re looking for an everyday drink to help promote health and prevent cancer, green tea has you covered. Studies have shown the antioxidants in green tea may help slow or prevent cancer cells from growing. Warm up a glass and relax. Every sip is improving your health and protecting against cancer.
Red and purple grapes are especially rich in resveratrol, a strong antioxidant that fights inflammation. While more studies are needed, grape juice and red wine in moderation may play a role in cancer prevention.
Some foods, unfortunately, have the opposite effect. If eaten frequently, red and processed meats may contribute to cancer.
To date, red meat has been linked to stomach and colon cancer. While steaks and hamburgers may be some of your favorite foods, it’s smart to eat beef, pork, and lamb only on occasion.
Processed meats also have problems. Preserved with chemical preservatives or by salting, smoking, or curing, they’re quick and delicious options. Unfortunately, they may increase your risk of stomach and colon cancer. To stay healthy, eat ham, sausage, salami, bacon, and hot dogs sparingly.
While an occasional glass of red wine may do you good, don’t get too excited. Too much alcohol can have the opposite effect. Alcohol is associated with several types of cancer including liver, breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, colon, and rectum. Men should drink no more than two drinks a day and women no more than one. Women with an increased risk of breast cancer may want to avoid alcohol altogether.
There’s a lot of misconception surrounding sugar and cancer. The sweet stuff doesn’t cause cancer, but a diet that’s high in added sugar is often paired with a diet low in cancer-fighting nutrients.
Additionally, sugar contributes to weight gain, another risk factor for cancer. Four out of ten cancers are linked to being overweight or obese. Your weight directly impacts your risk for breast, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, ovarian, colon, and other cancers. For overall health and cancer prevention, cut back on your sugar intake.