Photo by AlbanyColley, CC0 1.0

Cancer. It comes in many forms – from breast, the colon/rectal, lung, cervical, etc. If detected early enough, cancer’s growth rate can be affected (and slowed) by your lifestyle. A lifestyle is not a trend, fad or seasonal. People who choose the lifestyle of working out every day, will continue to workout everyday for the rest of their lives.

Whether you unfortunately detected cancer or merely seek to prevent it, avoiding all tobacco products will help slow cancer down/prevent it. When you’re tanning in the sun, use protection. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet of vegetables and fruits. These are all fundamentals for treating/preventing cancer; these were ingrained in all of us as kids. “Eat your fruits and veggies,” mom said. We diligently did, so we could go play or go back to watching TV. Mom was on to something with eating healthy.

Below are 15 superfoods that play a massive part in stunting cancer growth and/or preventing it. Additionally, these superfoods also help train your subconscious mind and improve your mental clarity. They are loaded with vitamins and nutrients that “supercharge” your immune system. It seriously would not hurt one bit to add any of these foods to your breakfast, lunch or dinner.

1. Garlic

Studies show that garlic reduces stomach cancer by 10-15%. This is due to the phytochemicals found in garlic. These phytochemicals stop harmful carcinogens from forming in your stomach and intestines. Garlic in particular is a strong fighter against the following cancers: breast, stomach and colon. If you haven’t already tried adding crushed garlic to any onion you’re frying, there’s no better (or healthier) time than now to start. (Similar to choosing a healthy lifestyle that reduces your risk.)

2. Broccoli

Broccoli does wonders preventing (and treating) cancer cells and tumours in the breast, prostate, stomach, liver, lung and bladder. They can be chopped up and put on pizza, added to any pasta, or even baked in the oven (with some olive oil drizzled on top before baking for a delicious crunchiness.)

Never microwave broccoli – doing so zaps up to 97% of its nutrients; flavonoids specifically. Flavonoids protect you from cancer cells.

3. Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral – meaning that it maims cancer cells, while repairing our body’s DNA. Harvard researchers discovered that 1,000 men (who had prostate cancer)… with a high amount of selenium… reduced their chances–by 48%–of growing their disease (over a 13-year period). Even more stunning: only 200micrograms of selenium everyday reduced prostate tumours by 63%.

Foods high in selenium include:

• Cooked tuna (131% DV per 3oz.)
• Oat-bran bagel (51%)
• Cooked (lean-tenderloin) pork (54% DV per chop)

4. Citrus Fruits

It’s been reported that tea reduces ovarian cancer. Tea and citrus fruits, like broccoli, are loaded with flavonoids. (If you need a reminder: flavonoids stop blood vessels from leaking, stop cells from oxidative stressors and ward of body inflammation.) Look for these fruits:

• Oranges
• Lemons
• Grapefruits

5. Blueberries

Blueberries fight skin, oral and colon cancers. (All it takes it a half-cup serving a day.) This is because blueberries are insanely packed with antioxidants. Of them, the most prominent is pterostilbene: a way of naturally preventing the disease.

6. Artichokes

Artichokes may help prevent skin and liver cancer. This is due to silymarin, which is an antioxidant that helps stave off inflammation in our bodies. The leaves of artichokes kill human pancreatic cancer cells. Despite their appearance, eating an artichoke is easy and takes little effort.

7. Salmon

In a study, people who eat four or more servings of fish (per week) were shown to be less likely to develop leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma. This has been attested to vitamin D – which wild salmon is rife with. Many professionals hypothesise that many cancers form because of vitamin D deficiency.

8. Kiwi

Kiwi has often been called a “cancer-blasting grenade,” for good reason. Kiwi is a vicious fruit stuffed with vitamin C, vitamin E, fiber and has as much potassium as a banana. In Plain English, this means… in addition to its powerful “anti cancer” antoxidants… one kiwi helps you with the following:

• Respiratory issues (asthma and coughing) are reduced
• Protects DNA from oxidative stress
• Helps prevent osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

9. Scallions/Onions

Onions and scallions could possibly reduce prostate cancer by 50%. According to WebMD, garlic and onion are “tag-team champions” of cancer prevention (except for breast, prostate and ovarian cancers). This is great for anyone who enjoys cooking onions and garlic in butter before adding mushrooms to their chicken stir-fries.

10. Sauerkraut

ITCs, indoles and sulforaphane are all compounds that help stop various cancers their tracks. Sauerkraut, by its fermentation process, produces these health-fortifying compounds. This is great news for women with breast cancer, as only three-servings-a-week is enough to reap the benefits of these compounds.

Note: Sauerkraut is high in sodium, always rinse before eating/cooking.

11. Black Tea

The National Cancer Institute reported that the antioxidants in black tea keep cells from doing damage to our DNA. Although some researchers dispute such claims. (Drinking a cup of black tea in the morning won’t kill you.) Even if black tea doesn’t prevent cancer, many studies have reported that black tea boosts health.

12. Apples

Procyanidins (an antioxidant) is amazing for “choking” cancer cells to death. Over time, our colon ferments certain foods; these foods affect our system. Apples, when fermented by our colons, create chemicals that stop cancer cell growth cold.

13. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are high in vitamin E, A and C. While this makes them a threat against bad health in and of itself, tomatoes are special for another reason: lycopene. This carotenoid stops the growth of cendometrial cancer cells – which causes more than 8k deaths per year. But, it also fights prostate, lung and stomach cancers.

14. Bean Sprouts

Are you thinking of eating 2 oz. red meat tonight? Even adding a quarter-cup of kidney beans gives you the same amount of protein and fiber. Additionally, they’re loaded with a compound called sulforaphane, making them a dangerous “heavyweight” fighter against cancer. Here’s why: Sulforaphane rapidly boosts the body’s enzyme levels, while simultaneously getting rid of various chemicals from our body that cause cancer.

15. Eggs

Earlier we talked about the benefits of vitamin D, such as preventing heart disease and reducing chances of stroke. Eggs are loaded with this essential vitamin. Aside from that, 1 egg has 4-6g of protein – which is a natural source of energy and staves off hunger. Look for eggs high in omega-3s.

A lot of people are worried about cholesterol levels from eggs, for no good reason. It’s been suggested that most healthy people can eat seven eggs or more (per week) with no damage to their health.

Conclusion

Adding all these superfoods to your grocery list gives you more than your fair share of life-saving, health benefits. Nothing on this list was exotic or expensive, and are rather quite simple to implement into almost any diet. When it comes to preventing (and fighting) cancer, chemotherapy and radiation annihilates your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. The foods you just read help strengthen your immune system, counteracting the harmful affects of treatment.

*Bloggy Moms makes no medical claims. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.