Abundant Health Chiropractic

Eating a variety of vegetables will help protect your body against cancer.

There are many factors that play into getting this scary diagnosis. Luckily, several of these factors including diet are under your control. Some of the things we consume may be direct carcinogens, meaning they have been directly linked to cancer. Other foods create an acidic environment inside our body that allows cancer to grow. For those who have a genetic predisposition to cancer in their families, diet plays a large part of whether those genes will express themselves and become active. Diet also affects the strength of our immune system to fight cancer.

The following decrease your risk of cancer:

1. Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruits) – Remove carcinogens
2. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage) – Reduce breast cancer risk and block carcinogen access to DNA
3. Soy and other beans (avoid genetically modified soy) – Slow tumor growth, prevent colon and prostate cancer, reduce breast and ovarian cancer risk, interfere with cancer cell DNA production
4. Grapes – Bind carcinogens
5. Fruits in general – Improve excretion of carcinogens
6. Whole grains – Prevent free radical formation in the gut
7. Garlic and onions – Improve excretion of carcinogens, decrease reproduction of tumor cells
8. Tomatoes (cooked or sauced) – Decrease risk of prostate cancer
9. Maitake, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms – Provide immune system support
10. Green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach) – increase your pH, thus creating an environment where cancer is less likely to grow.

The following increases your risk of cancer:

1. Foods and beverages in plastic containers may leach dioxin (a potent carcinogen)
2. Non-organic meat, especially beef, may contain synthetic estrogens (fatteners) linked to cancer
3. Man-made or processed sugar creates an acidic environment where cancer can thrive
4. Burnt/blackened meat and soy produces carcinogenic chemicals

Working with your doctor, you can incorporate these and other simple suggestions into your daily life to increase your chances of being cancer free.

[image source: snak]