FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER

The fight against cancer begins in your kitchen.

Oncologists and researchers have accepted the role that right food can play not only in regressing the advance of Cancer but also in preventing it from occurring.

          While diet alone cannot reverse the course of cancerous cells ,it can deprive the tumours of its essentials.The best  diet to follow is one with lots of salads,fruits,vegetables,sprouts and nuts.Carrots , grapes, and soya beans

Hace cox-2 compounds which hinder the growth of  new blood vessels,which are vital for the growth of tumour to progress.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants which clean up  free radicals.

FOODS PLAY BENEFICIERY ROLE IN ALL THREE STAGES OF TUMOUR GROWTH

1.INITIATION

          An external or Internal carcinogen induces changes in the genetic make up of the cell.This creates a lesion which gives the cell potential for tumorous growth.

Role of diet----

Diets high in vegetables and fruits and the intake of food rich in bioactive compounds trigger detoxification enzymes which in turn reduce the exposure of DNA to carcinogens.

Onions and garlic have allium which has anticarcinogenic mechanisms.

Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower have dithiolthiones which inhibits enzymes that activate carcinogens.

2.PROMOTION

Role of food-----

The energy balance must be maintained as it will thwart the expansion of abnormal cells.Selenium and Vitamin D have shown to have a protective effect against tumor promotion.

Selenium a mineral is found in cereals,fish,liver and seafood.It has an antioxidant capacity and functions as a cofactor for glutathione perioxidase,an enzyme that prevents tissue damage.

Vitamin D is present in milk,yogurt,and fish eaten with their bones.

3.PROGRESSION

The local lesion transforms into an invasive tumour.There is widespread DNA damage.Ultimately there is metastasis and tumor cells migrate to distant sites.

Role of food-----

Folate in green,leafy vegetables and wholegrain cereals help reduce damage to DNA.Fruits and vegetables have carotenoids that have antioxidant properties.

Beta Carotene are abundant in spinach,carrots,sweet potatoes and mangoes.

FOODS THAT ARE DETERIMENTAL

Consumption of Red meat—beef,pork,lamb-could increase the risk of cancer

Especially of colorectal,pancreatic,colon and renal cancers.

Fat---increases production of bile acids which can transform into substances that promote colon cancer.It also causes hormone levels to shoot up and increases the growth of Breast and Prostate cancer.

Excessive drinking causes  cancer of mouth,throat,oesophagus and liver.

CARROTS-Contains antioxidantswhich include alpha carotene and beta carotene.

CAULIFLOWER-the indoles promote the production of enzymes that make the hormone estrogen less effective,reducing the risk of breast cancer.

TOMATOES—The lycopene neutralizes cancer causing substances.Ten servings a week may help reduce risk of cancer of prostate by half

CABBAGE,TURNIPS---The phytochemical,phenethyl isothiocyante,hampers the development of lung cancer.

GINGER—suppresses the creation of adducts,formed by the reaction of chemical carcinogens with DNA.

GARLIC,ONION—The allium vegetables contain organosulphides that lower the risk of GIT cancers.

APPLES—The caffeic acid increases the production of enzymes that make carcinogens more soluble in water and ultimately ejects them from the body.

GRAPES-The ellagic acid is a scavenger of carcinogens.

ORANGES_ The terpenes may prevent lung cancers while beta-crytoxanthin is an anti-cancer carotenoid.