Ten Real Health Foods

[Guest guest]

Ten Real Health Foods

by Declan Twohig

Day after day, study after study emerges touting new ways

to prevent and reduce the risk of cancer. Eat this, don't

eat that. Drink this, don't drink that. It seems like the

research points fingers in different directions every day.

Though the flood of information can be conflicting, one

thing is clear -- the cause of one-third of cancer deaths

is poor nutrition.

So how can you beat the beast? Confirmed studies show that

crunching and munching on the vitamin, mineral, and

nutrient rich foods is a tried-and-true method of keeping

cancer at bay.

Here are some real health foods that belong in most

diets...

Tomatoes

These tasty spheres are bursting with the powerful

antioxidant vitamin C and lycopene provided that you

purchase reasonable tomatoes and not those ghastly green

hydroponically grown travesties. Vitamin C bolsters the

immune system and fends off cancer-causing free radicals,

and lycopene is instrumental in cutting the risk of

stomach, mouth, bladder, cervical, colon and prostate

cancer.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli, red cabbage, cauliflower, kale, red beets and

Brussels sprouts all belong to this veggie family. All are

amply fortified with cancer-fighting phytochemicals,

including sulphoraphane, beta-carotene and indolcarbinol.

Spinach

Popeye knew his nutrition. This dark, leafy vegetable is

chock-full of antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamin C,

beta-carotene, folic acid and carotenoids. Bright orange

carrots are also an excellent source of beta-carotene and

carotenoids -- chemicals known to curb various cancers.

Beans

Beans, beans, they're good for beating digestive and breast

cancer. They are stocked with protease inhibitors that

don't let cancer cells invade the body, and also contain

isoflavones instrumental in protecting against breast

cancer. Fava beans fight carcinogens, reducing the risk of

cancer in the digestive tract.

Hot Red Peppers

Biting into these zesty peppers may set off a fire in your

mouth, but the capsaicin inside snuffs out harmful

carcinogens emitted by cigarettes and some foods. These hot

numbers are number one in protecting against lung cancer.

Garlic

This member of the onion family isn't only powerful in

flavor and scent. Garlic effectively thwarts carcinogens

with organosulphides and allicinthus, helping to protect

the body from breast cancer.

 

Oranges

Oranges, fresh ones, contain cancer-fighting bioflavonoids

and immune system-boosting vitamin C; oranges also contain

170 phytochemicals, including carotenoids. In addition,

limonoids found in oranges and other citrus fruits fuel the

immune system to fight cancer.

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries,

blackberries and red and purple grapes boast more than a

sweet taste. These bite-sized fruits get their dark hue

from anthocyanins that can neutralize carcinogens. Plus,

berries are bursting with flavonoids, a powerful group of

cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Fiber-Rich Foods

Foods full of fiber, such as whole grains, vegetables and

fruits such as apples, protect the body from pancreatic and

stomach cancer while also helping to flush toxins from the

body. And apples provide an additional cancer kicker with

their ample supply of ellagic acid. Ellagic acid inhibits

cancer cell division, thus thwarting the growth process of

breast, pancreatic, esophageal, skin, colon and prostate

cancer -- confirming that apples truly do keep the doctor

away.

Green and Black Tea

Long heralded for their health benefits, black and green

tea are teeming with antioxidants known as polyphenols, the

most potent called catechin. Whether you drink them cold or

hot, green and black tea can help you fight cancer.

Aim for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables on a

daily basis. Don't be intimidated by the numbers. Servings

are small and can be satisfied with one piece of fruit, a

half a cup of fruit or vegetables.-- Diana Gonzalez Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown