11 Good Cancer Prevention Foods to Eat Every Day

Cancer is a disease that is difficult to cure. However, you can prevent this disease by eating nutritious foods. What foods can prevent cancer? Check out the full explanation below.
List of Foods That Can Prevent Cancer
There are many types of food that are claimed to be able to prevent the emergence of cancer cells. These foods contain substances that function against cancer, such as phytonutrients and sulforaphane.
The following is a list of healthy foods that are believed to prevent the development of cancer cells, including:
1. Carrots
According to research published by the US National Library of Medicine in 2015, consumption of carrots can reduce the risk of cancer, in this case stomach cancer by 26 percent.
Another study also found carrots had an effect on reducing the risk of prostate cancer by 18 percent.
For smokers, consumption of carrots is also claimed to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer. But of course, this needs to be accompanied by stopping smoking.
This was revealed by a study which found that smokers who regularly eat carrots have a risk of lung cancer 3 times smaller than smokers who don’t eat carrots at all.
2. Broccoli
Broccoli contains phytonutrients which are claimed to be able to prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body. In addition, there are also substances sulforaphane which is said to be able to reduce the risk of breast cancer cell growth by up to 75 percent.
A study also says that the content in broccoli is effective in preventing prostate cancer and colon cancer; as well as reducing tumor growth.
Even so, claims of broccoli as a cancer-preventing food still require further research because the research conducted is still very limited. In addition, new research was conducted on animals.
Also Read: Being a Source of Antioxidants, Can Coffee Really Prevent Cancer?
3. Pineapple
The next cancer prevention food is pineapple. Fruit with a Latin name Ananas comosus it has a content that is beneficial to the body.
According to a review of studies conducted in 2018, pineapple extract has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anticancer effects.
Various studies have also proven the anticancer effect of pineapple extraction. This fruit is known to weaken cancer cells, inhibit cancer cells, and stimulate cancer cells to die.
4. Olive Oil
Olive oil, which is usually used as a cooking ingredient, turns out to be a cancer-preventing food component. This has also been proven by a number of studies.
Several studies reveal that consumption of olive oil can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
However, the relationship between the consumption of this type of oil and the reduction in cancer is still uncertain. This is because other factors may be involved.
5. Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain various nutrients that are good for the body, one of which is lycopene. In addition to giving tomatoes their red color, lycopene is a compound that has anticancer properties.
Several studies have found that lycopene intake is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. One of them is revealed by research published in Journal of Nutrition and Vitaminology.
Apart from prostate cancer, lycopene in tomatoes is known to have the potential to prevent other types of cancer, such as oral cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
Although research has revealed the potential of tomatoes as a cancer-fighting food, there are many other factors that need attention. Therefore, further research is needed to prove it.
6. Garlic
Behind its function as a food flavoring ingredient, garlic has properties, one of which is to prevent cancer.
This property comes thanks to a substance called allicin. According to a study, allicin is effective in killing cancer cells.
Other research has also found that people who consume garlic, onions and leeks have a lower risk of cancer when compared to those who rarely or don’t consume them at all.
Also Read: Is it true that eating excess eggs can cause prostate cancer?
7. Fish
Fish is already no doubt the benefits for health. Consumption of fish at least once a week is believed to reduce the risk of this disease.
The most influential types of fish are fatty fish such as salmon and sardines. Both contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D which are good for cancer prevention.
8. Berries
A study published by Cancer Prevention Research reveals, berries are one of the foods that are believed to prevent the development of cancer cells.
The study involving 25 people with colorectal cancer revealed that consumption of berries can inhibit the growth of cancer cells by 7 percent.
In addition, raspberries, which are one of the many types of berries, can reduce tumor growth by 62 percent.
This benefit is strongly suspected to come from the high anthocyanin content in the berries. This plant pigment has antioxidant properties that are known to reduce the risk of cancer.
9. Nuts
The next cancer prevention food is nuts. Several studies have found that consumption of certain types of nuts can reduce various types of cancer.
For example, research published in Nutrition Reviews reveals that regular consumption of nuts is associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic, endometrial and colorectal cancer.
10. Cinnamon
Besides being useful for lowering blood sugar levels and inflammation, cinnamon is known to help prevent cancer.
A number of studies in test tubes or animals have proven the efficacy of this spice. Even so, further research is still needed to determine the effect of cinnamon on the development of cancer in humans.
11. Turmeric
Turmeric is a type of spice that has various health benefits, one of which is reducing the risk of cancer. This efficacy is strongly suspected to come from the curcumin content in it.
Curcumin is a chemical that has anticancer effects so it can prevent the development of cancer cells.
Regarding this property, a study revealed that curcumin can inhibit the spread of colon cancer cells by targeting certain enzymes that trigger cancer.
Also Read: Various Beverages and Foods that Can Trigger Colon Cancer
Healthy Tips for Eating Cancer Prevention Foods
Although some of the foods above can help reduce the risk of cancer, further research is still needed to prove its efficacy.
This is because most of the existing research has only been done on animals, so the effect on humans cannot be known with certainty.
In addition, even though these types of food contain a variety of nutrients that are important for the body and have the potential to prevent cancer, that doesn’t mean you can eat them carelessly.
In order for these cancer-preventing foods to provide the expected benefits, pay attention to the following tips:
- Avoid consuming it in large quantities. The reason is, this risks causing digestive disorders, such as abdominal pain and flatulence.
- Clean fruits and vegetables before consuming them. This is done to prevent pesticides or other germs from entering the body.
- Choose fruits and vegetables that are still fresh because their nutritional content is still maintained.
- Schedule meal times well.
So that you don’t get bored eating the foods above, try to combine them with other nutritious foods or exercise din many unique ways.
In addition, don’t forget to apply other healthy lifestyles such as adequate rest, managing stress, exercising regularly, and not smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages.
- Ajmera, Rachael. 2017. 13 Foods That Could Lower Your Risk of Cancer. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cancer-fighting-foods. (Accessed February 24, 2023).
- Chen, Jinyao, et al. 2013. Lycopene/Tomato Consumption and the Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23883692/. (Accessed February 24, 2023).
- Raeisi, Elham, et al. 2018. Pineapple Extract As An Efficient Anticancer Agent in Treating Human Cancer Cells. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331480357_Pineapple_extract_as_an_efficient_anticancer_agent_in_treating_human_cancer_cells. (Accessed February 24, 2023).
- Thomasset, Sarah, et al. 2009. Pilot Study of Oral Anthocyanins for Colorectal Cancer Chemoprevention. https://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.capr-08-0201. (Accessed February 24, 2023).
- Wu, Lang, et al. 2015. Nut Consumption and Risk of Cancer and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26081452/. (Accessed February 24, 2023).
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