Faced with a cancer diagnosis of any kind is one of, if not the most life-altering experiences in anyone’s life. After all of the initial questions one asks the medical team, the affected person and family members begin to ask questions beyond the medical treatments but what can they as individuals do to fight the disease and what can they do to protect themselves from being diagnosed with cancer in the future. The most frequent answer is that individual’s need to make lifestyle changes. The problem is most don’t know where to begin to do just that. In come the Superheroes in the fight against cancer that anyone can do to help themselves and it is one of the simplest things one can do; simply add more fruits and vegetables to one’s diet.
Anti-inflammatory agents found in fruits and vegetables have been a positive effect on the treatment and prevention of some cancers and the list is ever expanding. Luteolin, L, quercetin, Q, hesperetin, H, eriodicytol, E, naringenin, N, and chrysin, C, are key anti-inflammatory agents found in fruits and vegetables that are making a difference in long term prevention and in the treatment of cancers (Marcia Wood, 2010). Found in celery, thyme, green peppers and certain teas, luteolin is particularly effective against TBK1 (Marcia Wood, 2010). With citrus fruits high in H, E and N, and passion fruit high in C, leaving Q to be found in apples, capers and onions, these fruits and vegetables are easily added to ones’ daily diet.
Recent research studies provide evidence that by adding fruits and vegetables to one’s diet a protective layer is added to one’s defenses against cancer but also help to protect against other health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension. One research study indicates that by lowering meat intake and increasing fruits the risk for colorectal cancer may be reduced (www.geri.com, 2007). Particular to this research of 725 adults, post colonoscopies, who were asked extensive questions regarding their eating habits, 203 had one adenoma and 522 controls had none. Of those patients the ones with high fruit and vegetable intake with moderate amount of meat, were less likely to have an adenoma.
Other studies are showing evidence that pomegranate juice may be effective in treating and preventing estrogen receptor-mediated and non-estrogen receptor-mediated incidents of breast cancer (Sturgeon & Ronnenberg, 2009). With evidence from another study showing a reduction in risk for aggressive prostate cancer by increasing raw vegetable consumption with particular emphasis on increasing broccoli and cauliflower in one’s diet. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute study recommends that physicians do more education to patients on the benefits of adding more fruits and vegetables to their diet with particular attention paid to the cruciferous vegetables (V. Kirsch, 2007).
Sometimes the simplest of prevention techniques are the hardest for people to accept and in order for the Superheroes to do their job, vegetable and fruit intake needs to increase from monthly to weekly to daily to multiple times per day. Simply telling people to reduce fat intake, reduce meat intake, increase fruits and vegetables is not enough. Providing a plan of incorporating more fruits and vegetables, less meat and more exercise over time is the key to ensuring individuals are compliant and ‘buy in’ to a lifestyle change. Adding broccoli once a week is not the key in and of itself, but it is a start in the right direction.
Shan is a freelance writer and also a blogger since 2009.His blog how to get six pack abs for kids talks about different health related topics. His last online achievements is related to health topics like vitamin b12