4 Cancer-Fighting Foods to Eat Now

By Sheryl Coonan –

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, whether it is yourself or a loved one, it is natural to want to search for alternative methods to fight the disease in conjunction with traditional treatment methods. Nutrition and diet are important for staying healthy, boosting your immune system and helping you fight off disease. Consider the following foods to help you win the battle against cancer:

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass contains chlorophyll, which has the same molecular structure as hemoglobin, so it offers a healthy dose of oxygen to your cells. Wheatgrass also contains anticancer ingredients like selenium, which helps build up your immune system. As an added bonus, some people claim that wheatgrass has turned their graying hair back to its natural color.

You can buy this superfood at most health foods stores and at some local grocers. Some common ways to consume wheatgrass is in a juice or a tea. To juice it, place a large handful into a blender or juicer and then strain the pulp before drinking. To make a tea, dry out a handful of wheatgrass with a food dehydrator. Crush it into a powder and pour boiling water over it to make the tea.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Some experts think cruciferous vegetables are the most crucial to an anticancer diet because they enhance the natural defenses of the human body against DNA damage. Cruciferous vegetables, including arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale, are known for their cancer-fighting properties. These veggies protect cells and offer anti-inflammatory properties. They boast active compounds, such as indoles, thiocyanates and nitriles, that are also linked to cancer prevention.

Berries

Berries are a delicious way to help your body stay healthy. With large doses of vitamin C and antioxidants, berries protect your body from cell damage that precedes cancer. Berries also reduce inflammation and cancer growth at the gene level, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Garlic

Studies have indicated that eating more garlic can make you less likely to develop particular types of cancers, such as those found in digestive organs like the colon, stomach and esophagus. Add garlic when seasoning your meals for a great flavor and a boost of cancer prevention.

Additional Cancer-Fighting Tips

Stress can be harmful to your health. The Mayo Clinic reports that some of the effects of stress include muscle pain, chest pain, fatigue, upset stomach, headaches and problems sleeping. This means that finding techniques to deal with stress and anxiety is extremely important. Yoga, meditation and deep breathing are great ways to promote a sense of well-being and calm, and these activities provide oxygen to your body. Massages and jumping on a rebounder (think a trampoline for adults) also promote lymphatic drainage, which removes waste and toxins from the body.

Believe it or not, laughing every day is good for your health. Have you ever noticed how good you feel after a genuine belly laugh? Pretty good, right? Cancer Treatment Centers of America claims that laugh therapy boosts the body’s immune system, so the organization has incorporated it into its medical treatment plans.

Sheryl Coonan is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle writer, news reporter and natural health fanatic living in metro Detroit.