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“Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
– Hippocrates
First of all.
As a health & fitness professional, I must reiterate this disclaimer:
I remind you that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment where required. Consult a doctor for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.
This article – and others similar to it – is not advocating a cure for cancer.
In the previous article, we looked at sugar addiction and how to beat it.
Our diet and activity level are the biggest indicators of our health, including our risk for cancer.
Food makes us healthy…or sick…and it can heal and reverse diseases.
A diet high in sugar and processed foods creates inflammation and the perfect environment for cancer.
Refined oils and refined carbohydrates are also linked to cancer growth.
Luckily, many foods have been proven to prevent and fight cancer.
Cancer is found in developed countries while indigenous people don’t develop the disease, it appears.
A natural diet, less gluten, less dairy, and moderate exercise makes for much better health and less disease.
So it’s worth comparing a natural diet to the Standard American Diet, also known as SAD. This has also bee referred to as the Western Pattern Diet.
The SAD diet is low in foods that fight cancer.
We know that eating a healthy plant-based diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans prevents cancer and can be part of holistic cancer therapy.
Leafy greens and cruciferous veggies prevent and fight cancer because they’re rich in glutathione, a master antioxidant high free-radical-scavenging abilities.
That’s why doctors advise eating greens. They’re also easy to include in your diet in salads and smoothies.
A healthy diet also keeps you at a healthy weight.
Excess body fat increases the risk of at least 11 different cancers.
So…what are these foods then?
Your doctor might not know about all of these cancer-fighting foods…
…or tell you about them…
…however, they will make a huge difference in the treatment of cancer.
Many of these foods, while from the tropics and other countries, might just be available in that specialty food store around the corner from you.
- Jackfruit
Jackfruit (see featured image) is the largest fruit in the world, yet it’s not well known.
This yellow, sweet, fleshy fruit grows on trees (in Jamaica, for example) and is loaded with potassium and vitamins C and B6.
All of the brightly colored fruits listed have phytochemicals and antioxidants as well.
You pull the ‘flesh’ away from the thick green skins. They are not very nice if overly ripe. Very large seeds within the flesh, so do take care.
- Guanabana
This tropical fruit has a pineapple-strawberry flavor. It’s rich in vitamin C and fiber.
Studies have shown it inhibits cancer cells. Eat this one as a whole fruit, as the supplement can cause problems.
Try making a tropical fruit salad with jackfruit, guanabana, and other brightly colored fruit for a cancer-fighting superfood.
That’s a dessert that’s good for you, and you’ll feel so much better than if you were to eat cake or other sugar-loaded foods.
- Daikon
Daikon is an Asian radish with a mild flavor yet a little spice.
They contain vitamin C and fiber.
This is a fun way to add flavor to your salad or dinner that’s low calorie.
- Sweet Tamarind
You can eat this out of the pod or as a pulp. It’s rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium.
Tamarind pulp is usually sweet and is served as a spread or candy, making it a cancer fighting treat.
The seeds are fairly large and quite smooth, so take care not to swallow them if eating them straight from the pods. You break the pods open to get at the fruit.
Did I forget to mention that it can also be found in Jamaica?
- Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
There’s hundreds of different mushrooms, and they all are immune-enhancers.
Reishi, cordyceps and maitake are known to improve immune function, fight tumor growth and help cell regeneration.
Reishi enhances immune response and protects cellular DNA by raising antioxidant capacity.
This one specifically helps with cancer treatment by alleviating chemotherapy side effects like nausea and kidney damage.
Reishi helps to better activate the natural killer (NK) cells, reducing cancer metastasis.
These mushrooms assist in slowing the growth of tumors, with promising research showing they help with colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.
- Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake contains a broad-spectrum array of bioactive molecules, and they stimulate NK cell activity in cancer patients.
The antioxidant properties protects cells and decreases the inflammatory factor COX2 enzyme that’s common in cancer.
Maitake enhance our innate immune response to fight infections. They even help adaptive immune response, which creates long-term immune enhancement.
This mushroom has anti-metastatic properties that inhibit the proliferation and spread of cancer.
Research is promising in the areas of breast cancer and lung cancer.
- Shitake (Lentinula edodes)
Shitake contains a glucan called Active Hexose Correlated Compound, or AHCC.
It’s used in alternative and complementary treatment of cancer in Japan due to its immune-enhancing functions.
Shitake also have Lentinan, which is actually used as an intravenous anti-cancer drug for its anti-tumor properties.
Clinical studies show that using lentinan gives patients a higher survival rate, higher quality of life, and lower recurrence of cancer.
- Almond Mushroom (Agaricus Blazei Murill)
Several studies conducted in China and Japan, where this plant is widely available and used to treat a wide range of conditions, suggest that the polysaccharides in this mushroom have the capability to promote antitumor activity. Particular cancers researched include pancreatic cancer and leukemia.
Download link for the 2013 research from the Chinese team
- Turkey Tail Mushroom
They’re not just fun decorations on a log. Turkey tail mushrooms are a biological response modifier.
Studies show that turkey tail mushrooms:
- Improve survival rates
- Act an immune modulator with immune stimulating and anti-tumor properties
- Enhance the effects of chemotherapy
- Reduces the side effects of radiation therapy
- The anti-viral properties of the turkey tail mushroom offer a unique opportunity to target oncoviruses (tumor viruses) such as human papillomavirus (HPV) leading to cervical cancer, and hepatitis C leading to liver cancers.
Why isn’t there more research?
If you’re wondering why there isn’t more research into mushrooms and more mushroom-based medicine available, it’s because drug companies cannot patent mushrooms.
Therefore, they don’t want to invest money into developing a natural medicine that they can’t commercially protect.
You can buy organic, whole mushrooms to add to dinner, or you can get supplements and powders.
Now for the less exotic stuff…
- Berries
Berries are some of the top high-antioxidant foods in the world.
Berries are especially rich in proanthocyanidin antioxidants, which lower free radical damage.
You’ll also get phenols, zeaxanthin, lycopene, cryptoxanthin, lutein and polysaccharides.
Berry extracts slow the growth of cancer cells. Strawberry and black raspberry extracts have the greatest impact on colon cancer cells.
- Beans
Doctors tend to promote eating greens. People forget about beans, or even avoid them because of the side effects of fiber.
Remember, fiber does miracles in our body! Beans are also full of protein, fiber, and nutrients.
Studies continuously show that the folate, phytochemicals, and sterols in beans fight cancer.
Consuming small amounts of beans regularly in your diet helps avoid gas.
- Onions
They add flavor and protect your health.
Onions are packed with allicin, sulfuric compounds, manganese, vitamins B6 and C, copper, and selenium.
They stimulate production of glutathione—the most potent antioxidant for your liver. That helps detoxify the entire body.
- Seeds
Seeds are a superfood packed with health benefits.
Chia seeds and flaxseeds are two of the most nutrient-dense seeds in the world, providing fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals.
Don’t forget other seeds like hemp, sesame, and pumpkin.
- Turmeric
Turmeric is a must for an anti-cancer diet.
It has curcumin, which decreases tumor size and fights colon and breast cancer.
You can add turmeric to curry and other dishes, and even hide it in a drink. There are also turmeric supplements that fight cancer and inflammation.
- Garlic
People have used garlic to get over cold and heal disease for centuries.
It has sulfur compounds that stimulate the immune system’s natural defenses against cancer too.
New studies show that garlic can reduce the incidence of stomach cancer by a factor of 12!
I combine garlic with ginger and lemon to make a tea which I have at a couple of teaspoons at a time.
- Corn
What’s better than fresh corn on the cob on a summer evening?
Corn is loaded with a phenolic compound called ferulic acid, which inhibits cancer-causing substances.
Of course, we’re talking about whole corn and not corn syrup, which you should avoid!
- Dates
These treats from nature are higher in total polyphenols than any fruits or vegetables.
The polyphenols protect the fruit while growing in harsh desert conditions.
They make a great, natural treat that can fix your sweet tooth and chocolate craving.
- Tiger Nut
Tiger “nut” is actually a tuber with a sweet, nutty flavor.
It’s used in Spain and Mexico to make horchata, a sweet and light milky drink.
So it’s a good milk alternative, although it lacks protein and calcium.
It is high in resistant starch, which aids in digestive health and fights stomach and colon cancers.
- Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes, and any brightly orange-colored fruits and veggies are packed with cancer-fighting nutrients.
The bright colors of citrus fruits, squash, sweet potatoes are from phytochemicals, especially carotenoid antioxidants.
Beta-carotene is an essential nutrient for immune functioning; detoxification; liver health; and fighting cancers of the skin, eyes and organs.
- Red Grapes
These natural treats have seeds filled with the super antioxidant activin.
It’s a cancer-fighting chemical also found in red wine and red grape juice, and it protects against cancer and heart disease.
What more can I say?
Fill your diet with these delicious foods, and strive to eat a variety of (naturally) brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
Buy organic whenever possible for further health benefits and to avoid pesticides and dyes—many non-organic fruits and vegetables are actually soaked in dye to make them more attractive.
A healthy diet with these super foods will prevent and fight cancer, and leave you feeling great.
Do you want to learn more about being the healthiest you can?
In the next article, I will share some tips for reversing type 2 diabetes naturally.
Image by Rajesh Balouria from Pixabay
Sources:
Grotto D, Zied E. The Standard American Diet and its relationship to the health status of Americans. Nutr Clin Pract. 2010 Dec;25(6):603-12. doi: 10.1177/0884533610386234. PMID: 21139124.
Wang, Hang & Fu, Zhiming & Han, Chunchao. (2013). The Medicinal Values of Culinary-Medicinal Royal Sun Mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill). Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. 2013. 842619. 10.1155/2013/842619.
Matsushita Y, Furutani Y, Matsuoka R, Furukawa T. Hot water extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill specifically inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Dec 4;18(1):319. doi: 10.1186/s12906-018-2385-4. PMID: 30514293; PMCID: PMC6280349.
Turkey Tail Mushrooms For Cancer Treatment? Located at Dr. Weil (online)
https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/cancer/turkey-tail-mushrooms-for-cancer-treatment/ [Accessed January 25, 2021]
Stamets P. Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushrooms) and the Treatment of Breast Cancer. Glob Adv Health Med. 2012 Nov;1(5):20. doi: 10.7453/gahmj.2012.1.5.007. Epub 2012 Nov 1. PMID: 27257526; PMCID: PMC4890100.
Soares R, Meireles M, Rocha A, Pirraco A, Obiol D, Alonso E, Joos G, Balogh G. Maitake (D fraction) mushroom extract induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells by BAK-1 gene activation. J Med Food. 2011 Jun;14(6):563-72. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.0095. Epub 2011 Apr 11. PMID: 21480800.
This site contains affiliate links to products sold by selected self improvement partners. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.