Anti-Cancer Superfoods
Did you know that what you eat could determine whether or not you get cancer? Your diet could protect you from being one of the unlucky one in three people who are affected by cancer at some point in their lives.
Brussels Sprouts
The humble brussels sprout has been found to protect against cancer of the colon, stomach and bladder.
According to research published in various medical journals, such as the International Journal of Cancer, eating brussels sprouts several times a week can protect you. Brussels sprouts have reduced cancer cells in animals by up to 52 percent in the colon and up to 67 percent in the liver. They also shrunk the size of the tumors by up to 91 percent.
How Can Brussels Sprouts Kill Cancer?
Sprouts contain something called an indole, or aromatic heterocyclic organic compound. These stimulate the liver to break down hormones in the body and speed up elimination of waste products. This means that as well as making your bowel work more efficiently, horomone-dependent cancers do not have time to develop.
If you want to try brussels sprouts as a protective measure, it’s important not to boil or microwave them, as this kills off most of the vitamins and protective value. Steam them or stir fry them for the best results.
Regular Intake Of Fruit, Vegetables, Poultry And Fish Could Prevent Cancer!
Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that plenty of fruit, vegetables, poultry and fish appeared to have a protective effect against cancer. 1,009 colon cancer patients were studied. Five years later they were reviewed and it was found that 324 patients had a recurrence of cancer and all of them died except for one. An additonal 28 patients died without documented cancer recurrence. The study identified two major dietary patterns, one consisting of high intakes of meat, fat, desserts and refined foods and the other consisting of high intakes of fruit, vegetables, poultry and fish.
Those that ate more fruit and vegetables had higher survival rates and those on fatty Western diets had higher death rates and more recurrences of disease.
Sources: JAMA. 2007;298:754-764
Wh.foods.org
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment8 Comments
pity brussels sprout's taste so bad :(
August 30, 2009 - 9:43amThis Comment
if you drizzle them in evoo and add salt and pepper, cook them in the oven...they aren't so bad!
December 20, 2009 - 2:55pmif you drizzle them in evoo and add salt and pepper, cook them in the oven...they aren't so bad!
December 20, 2009 - 2:56pmHey that is awesome that you are promoting natural way of healing and preventing health problems, my blog supports the same thing, and here is my post too about these healthy Brussels Sprouts http://seekthat.net/blog/2009/02/05/brussels-sprouts-benefits-and-nutrie...
December 8, 2009 - 4:23pmJoanna - Great info! Diet and nutrition play critical roles, both in preventing cancer and in the treatment and recovery phases for those who get cancer.
The EmpowHer site has a great recipes feature that is helpful for developing a menu plan and trying new foods. It includes vegetarian and vegan recipes, as well as recipes by food group.
http://www.empowher.com/media/reference/recipes
I'd love some feedback from anyone who tries out the recipes! Pat
December 10, 2009 - 5:41pmNot only brussels sprout's are good, but it has been proven that anything that is red - Example, tomatoes or a watermelons can drastically reduce the chance of getting cancer. Have a good lunch everyone
March 17, 2010 - 6:40amThere are a lot of assumptions made in this article. While I will agree that what you could affect your probabilities of cancer with your diet, in the same way as other lifestyle choices, I will not accept that this is law.
The author's statement, "Did you know that what you eat could determine whether or not you get cancer?" holds the meaning that one could prevent cancer by eating the correct foods, and while they may have an effect, there is no evidence on how this compares to major, proven factors such as genetic predisposition and carcinogens.
April 12, 2010 - 2:25pmLearning more about what to eat and what not to eat when dealing with cancer is essential. You can find more tips about diet and cancer at http://www.embodiworks.org/cancertreatments/bodymindspirit/dietandcancer/.
March 8, 2011 - 10:59am