Salad Recipes Featuring Anti-Cancer Ingredients
Are you ready to learn how to prepare delicious salads with anti-cancer ingredients? This section of our Guide to Cancer Prevention is filled with recipes that call for some of the best anti-cancer ingredients such as carrots, raw broccoli, arugula, onions and tomatoes. Enjoy!
Tip: Before you unleash the culinary prodigy in you and explore the salad recipes below, make sure you have checked out the section best diet tips for cancer prevention as well as the section best cancer-fighting foods which provide basic information on how nutrition affects your risk of developing cancer.
Carrot and Avocado Salad
Almost everyone knows that carrots are good for eyesight, but did you know that they are also an excellent anti-cancer vegetable? Carrots contain falcarinol—a compound that has been shown to inhibit the development of cancer. Researchers found that rats that had pre-cancerous tumors and that were fed carrots were one third less likely to develop full-scale tumors than the animals in the control group. Also the avocados in this anti-cancer salad provide cancer-preventing nutrients such as vitamin E and glutathione.
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Arugula, Avocado and Tomato Salad
While low in calories, arugula is supercharged with health protecting phytochemicals. It is a particularly good source of glucosinolates which are converted into isothiocyanates by the enzyme myrosinase when the plant is chewed. Isothiocyanates are known to neutralize carcinogens and to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Also the tomatoes and avocados in this salad possess anti-cancer and antioxidant properties, and the vinegar used to add depth and flavor to this dish contains compounds that can significantly lower the glycemic index rating index of the meal. Low glycemic foods help control the production of insulin and insulin-like growth factor, hormones that can stimulate tumor proliferation, progression, and spreading within the body. See the RecipeSalmon Salad
This salmon salad makes a great anti-cancer meal. Salmon provides an excellent source of omega 3-fatty acids and the carotenoid astaxanthin, both of which are believed to have a protective effect against cancer. Also the cherry tomatoes in this salad have anti-cancer properties due to their high concentration of lycopene, a carotenoid with significant antioxidant activity. In addition, both red onions and capers are packed with quercetin, a bioflavonoid that has anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. See the Recipe
ACE Salad
This summery salad works like magic to soothe your soul—and to give you extra protection against cancer. It is loaded with the ACE vitamins (pro-vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E) that are famous for their strong antioxidant powers. See the Recipe
Beet and Carrot Salad with Ginger
This recipe pairs beets with carrots to create a potent weapon for fighting cancer. Several studies have found betacyanin, a phytochemical responsible for beets' intense purple color, to be highly effective at preventing cancer while carrots contain falcarinol—a compound that has been shown to inhibit the development of cancer. The anti-cancer compounds in beets and carrots are heat-sensitive and therefore it is best to eat these powerful root vegetables raw like in this salad. See the Recipe
Super-Nutritious Broccoli Salad with Apples and Cranberries
Broccoli contains some extraordinary compounds that have been shown to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells, neutralize carcinogenic substances, help prevent benign tumors from turning into malignant tumors,fight DNA damage, and help prevent the spread of cancer from one organ to another. The cancer-fighting potential of raw broccoli—which this recipe calls for—appears to be particularly high: according to one study, cooking may destroy as much as 90% of sulforaphane—the key anti-cancer substance in broccoli. Besides broccoli, this salad boasts a number of other anti-cancer foods, including cranberries (high in ellagic acid), sunflower seeds (packed with antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium), and apples and red onions (excellent dietary sources of quercetin). See the Recipe
Romaine and Smoked Salmon Salad
Salmon provides an excellent source of the healthful omega 3-fatty acids which are believed to have a protective effect against cancer, in addition to their other health benefits. In addition to omega-3s, salmon contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that has strong antioxidant activity. Also carrots are rich in carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, and can further enhance the cancer-fighting properties of this wholesome salad. The radishes in this wonderful salad detoxify the body and provide an abundance of vitamin C, folic acid, and anthocyanins, all of which can help prevent cancer. See the Recipe
Tomato, Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
Tomatoes possess several interesting properties that make them exceptional at helping prevent cancer, particularly prostate cancer. Their most interesting quality: they supply lycopene which is a strong antioxidant. Also the onions in this salad can help reduce the odds of cancer. Onions are one of the best natural sources of quercetin, a bioflavonoid that has anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. According to one study, half an onion a day could reduce the risk of stomach cancer by fifty percent. The cancer preventing effects of this salad may be further strengthened by balsamic vinegar, which not only adds a delicious accent to this salad but which delivers compounds that can significantly lower the glycemic index rating index of the meal. Low glycemic foods help control the production of insulin and insulin-like growth factor, two hormones that can stimulate tumor proliferation, progression, and spreading within the body. See the Recipe
For more recipes that may help lower your odds of developing cancer, visit the main recipe directory of this Anti-Cancer Guide.
