Foods That Prevent Colon Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the cancers that is most influenced by your diet. In the face of such a frightening and aggressive disease, this is good news. You can be more in control of your health by eating foods that are known to help prevent colon cancer. Integrating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, along with the fiber from whole grains, can help guard you against this disease.
Vegetables
Eating a wide variety of fresh vegetables is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of colon cancer. Make sure that you get a lot of green leafy vegetables in your diet. They provide the body with a multitude of important vitamins, like A, B and C, and also contain potassium and iron. These nutrients are all needed for healthy body functioning. Root vegetables, like carrots, beets and onions provide your body with both vitamins and fiber. Fiber helps to keep the bowels clean and healthy, which can prevent colon cancer. Eat plenty of vegetables that contain folate, like leafy greens and legumes. Folate is also known to help prevent colon cancer. Cruciferous vegetables can actually lessen the severity of already existing colorectal cancer. This category of vegetables contains things like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.
Low-Fat
Eating a low-fat diet is also extremely important in preventing colon cancer. Fats that are derived from animals, called saturated fats, are damaging on the colon. When the digestive system tries to break down the fat, a byproduct is produced that is known to cause cancer. Limiting your intake of saturated fat, which comes from meat, eggs and dairy products, can help reduce your risk of getting colon cancer. Choose healthy fats, like those that come from olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocados. A diet that is low in meat, especially red meat, has been known to help prevent cancer.
Fruits
Eating plenty of fruit is also important in preventing cancer. Berries are notorious for their high concentration of antioxidants. Blueberries in particular are known to help prevent colon cancer. Fruits like apples and pears contain a lot of fiber, which is important for digestive health. Most fruits contain a lot of the vitamins and nutrients that you need to keep your body healthy.
Whole Grains
Stick to whole grains when choosing bread and other bakery products. Whole grains provide a lot of healthy fiber. However, check the ingredients before you buy. A lot of grains are over-processed, and this removes much of the health benefits of the whole grains. Avoid products made out of white flour. The process of making white flower removes the bran and germ from the grains. These components are what provide a source of fiber, and they are very valuable for your health. The same is true with rice. White rice is simply brown rice that has been processed to remove the outer hull. However, this hull contains the fiber that makes rice healthy. Choose brown rice when you have the option.
Green Tea
Green tea is known for its high concentration of antioxidants. Researchers from Purdue University found a compound in green tea that may slow cancer cell growth and even kill cancer cells. People who drink more than four cups of the brew every day have shown a lower occurrence of cancer than those who do not. The research on green tea and its cancer-fighting abilities is still pretty new, but it certainly can't hurt to integrate it into your diet.
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