| Many doctors and scientists believe that many | | | | that may prevent blood clots. And a natural |
| cancers could be prevented with a good diet. | | | | fungicide found in grapes called reveratrol slows |
| Here are a few foods that have been shown to | | | | the buildup of LDL cholesterol. |
| decrease the incidence of cancer. | | | | Garlic and Onions |
| Tomatoes | | | | In China, people who eat large amounts of garlic |
| Tomatoes are loaded with vitamin C. They also | | | | and onions cut their risk of stomach caner by as |
| contain lycopene, which may explain a recent | | | | much as 40%. A study published in the January, |
| popular Italian study finding that people who ate | | | | 1994 issue of The American Journal of |
| raw tomatoes at least seven times per week | | | | Epidemiology examined the diets of more than |
| halved their risk of several cancers as compared | | | | 41,000 women in Iowa and showed that those |
| to those who ate tomatoes no more than once a | | | | who added garlic to their diet at least once per |
| week. Tomatoes are also rich in coumaric acid | | | | week reduced their risk of colon cancer by 35%. |
| and chlorogenic acid, which hook onto nitric oxides | | | | The chemical thought to be responsible for the |
| in the foods we eat and spirit them out of the | | | | effects of garlic and onions is allium. |
| body before they can form cancer-causing | | | | Chili Peppers |
| chemicals called notrosamines. Tomatoes and | | | | Chili peppers contain capsaicin. Capsaicin may |
| broccoli together have been shown to decrease | | | | neutralize the carcinogenic effect of cancer |
| the growth of tumors in prostate cancer. | | | | causing nitrosamines. It may also block the |
| Some controversy exists regarding the effects | | | | carcinogens in cigarette smoke from locking onto |
| of tomatoes on reducing the risk for cancer as | | | | DNA. The hotter the pepper the more capsaicin it |
| recent research in the May, 2007 issue of Cancer | | | | contains. |
| Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention showed | | | | Soybeans |
| that lycopene did not prevent cancer of the | | | | Soybeans are rich in a chemical called genistein. |
| prostate. In fact the study also showed that beta | | | | Genistein fights cancer in several ways. One way |
| carotene was associated with more aggressive | | | | is that it looks like estrogen and occupies the |
| prostate cancer. So you can see there are | | | | binding sites for estrogen. It also may prevent |
| conflicting results regarding tomatoes and cancer. | | | | small blood vessels from forming around tumors. |
| Oranges and Lemons | | | | Broccoli and Cabbage |
| Oranges and lemons contain limonene which raises | | | | Contain enzymes and indoles. Indoles affect the |
| level of naturally occurring enzymes thought to | | | | metabolism of estrogen, prompting the body to |
| break down carcinogens and stimulate | | | | make benign forms of the hormone that inhibits |
| cancer-killing immune cells. Citrus fruits also contain | | | | the growth of breast cancer. |
| glucarase, which inactivates carcinogens. One | | | | The American diet which is so high in fats, meats |
| study showed that limonene caused regression of | | | | and dairy products is in dire need of an overhaul. |
| tumors in breast cancer. (1) | | | | Adding or increasing the amounts of these foods |
| Grapes and Raspberries | | | | is an important step in reducing the risk of cancer. |
| Grapes and raspberries contain ellagic acid which | | | | References: |
| blocks the body's production of enzymes used by | | | | 1. Jill D. Haag, Mary J. Lindstrom and Michael N. |
| cancer cells. Apples may get prime billing in | | | | Gould: Limonene-induced Regression of Mammary |
| folklore, but researchers say grapes are packed | | | | Carcinomas. |
| with chemicals such as phenols and antioxidants | | | | |