Cancer-Fighting Foods Right From Your Garden

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We live in an age where the reports about the spread and appearance of diseases aren’t that shocking. The statistics show an increase in the cases of cancer, diabetes, and other health problems. All of them are one way or another caused by our life stiles, especially the way we eat. Obesity is one of the leading factor in developing a serious health issue. Scientists struggle to find the best cure for cancer, yet they refuse to acknowledge the health benefits and cancer fighting properties of ordinary fruits and vegetables that can be grown in any home garden. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about the next health boosting foods? Check them out:

Broccoli

Kids often leave their broccoli and don’t eat them, and adults have the same habit. However, this green is highly health beneficial, especially when it comes to fighting cancer. Buy it from the store, or grow it in your garden, broccoli has super powers. It’s rich on vitamin C an dietary fiber, but that’s not what makes is part of the best cancer-fighting foods. It contains nutrients that are rich on anti-cancer components, such as diindolymethane and selenium. It’s also rich on glucoraphanin, which can be further processed into the cancer-fighting sulforaphane. Broccoli is a great source of indole-3-carbinol, which is a chemical that boosts DNA repair and stops the growth of cancer cells. If you want to keep their properties, eat broccoli steamed, stir fried, raw , but never boiled. Boiling reduces the anti-carcinogenic properties.

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Brussels sprouts

These tiny, cabbage-looking greens are good for your health. Brussels sprouts are packed with vitamin C, K B6 and folic acid. Just like broccoli, this is another cancer-fighting vegetable. It contains sulforaphane, which helps stop cancer cells from growing. This vegetable also defends your inner system from free radicals. However, it’s not good for people undergoing a blood-thinning therapy, since the vitamin K has blood-clotting properties.

Cabbage

This one of the common garden plants, grown all over the world. Green or purple, this annual vegetable crop is beneficial for your health. Like most leafy greens, cabbage is a great source of vitamins C and K, with a single serving containing more than 20% of the recommended daily intake. Cabbage is also rich on vitamin B6 and folate. Researchers have found that some of the cabbage compound can benefit your health and even help fight cancer. Some of them are sulforaphane and glucosinolates, which boost the production of detoxifying enzymes and reduce the size of cancer cells. Some studies suggest that the consumption of cabbage may help prevent colon cancer.
In addition to its anti-cancer properties, cabbage has a long history as a medicinal herb. It was used as a laxative, and cabbage juice was given to people with mushroom poisoning. Cabbage is also good for treating rheumatism, sore throat, colic, and melancholy. This edible garden vegetable has so much healing properties and you don’t need to be an expert gardener to grow it.

Grapes

There are tons of books written about the health benefits of grapes. Although the World Health Organization has put alcohol in the Group 1 carcinogens, some studies suggest that the moderate consumption of wine may actually help prevent the appearance of lung, ovarian and prostate cancer.
Grape clusters look like lungs, and they are really good for them too. This is because red and purple grapes are packed with resveratrol, which has cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory properties. They stop the spreading of cancer cells further in the body and boost your heart health. If you enjoy a glass of good wine, you might consider growing this cancer fighting fruit in your garden or greenhouse next year.

Grapefruit

Grapefruits also look like the body part they are beneficial for. According to scientists, eating plenty of this citrus fruit is good for preventing breast health. It may be a hybrid between the sweet orange and pomelo, but it has a lot of health benefits. Just like any other citrus, grapefruits are rich on vitamin C and they also contain fiber pectin and the antioxidant lycopene. Grapefruit juice lowers cholesterol levels and helps detoxify the body from harmful radicals and carcirogens. It stimulates the body to burn excess fat and gets rid of any fungi and microbes in your body.

Jalapenos

Jalapeno peppers give you a kick with the smallest bite and can set your intestines on fire. Eating a whole pepper is a challenge even for the bravest. But did you know it has powerful nutritional benefits? All hot peppers contain capsaicin, which can kill cancers. It triggers cancer cell death and thus makes jalapenos one of the most powerful cancer-fighting foods that even kids can grow. Scientists believe that they have found the “Achilles heel” for all cancers, because the capsaicin binds to the cancer cell mitochondria and cause them to die, without affecting the surrounding healthy cells. Next time you sweat over eating this spicy pepper think about all the good it does to your body.

Kale

Kale is another hidden treasure in your vegetable garden. It’s packed with vitamins C and K, beta carotene and calcium. Kale is your perfect source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two essential carotenoids. Like broccoli and brussels sprouts, it contains sulforaphane, which makes kale another food that fights cancer. You might also want to know that kale contains indole-3-carbinol, which boost the repair of DNA cells and blocks cancer cell growth. Kale also helps lower cholesterol thanks to the bile acid sequestrants it contains.

Peas

Loved by some, hated by other, peas has its place in cuisines all over the world. You may not be a big fan of the small green balls, but they are really good for your health. Peas is high on fiber and protein, and is packed with vitamins A, C, K B6. Not to mention all of the phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and lutein it contains. It rich on phytochemicals that protect your body from cancer. Such a small vegetable, yet a powerful anti-cancer food.

Sweet potatoes

Who doesn’t like a hot sweet potato on a cold, winter day? These tubers are a favourite for gardeners and are actually highly beneficial for your health. They are rich on beta-carotene, dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates. If you eat them with the skin, you can add 5000 phytochemicals to your meal. They help prevent cancer and make your diet healthier.

Watermelon

Watermelon is 91% water and 6% sugar, so what makes it one of the best anti-cancer foods? Just like most fruits, it contains plenty of vitamin C and very little fat. It also produces the amino-acid citrulline and caroteonids, like lycopene. The last one is considered to help prevent prostate cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Another beneficial trait of watermelons is that it helps get rid of free radicals.


Resources:

World Health Organization – Cancer Fact SheetWorld Cancer Research Fund International – Worldwide Data
Wikipedia
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Desiree Thomson
Desiree Thomson works as marketing manager at a London Christmas tree company. She loves her job because she gets to meet all sorts of people and learns from their experience and knowledge. Desiree is interested in green living, blogging and yoga.