10+ Foods That Fight Lung Cancer (Cont'd)
What Are the Best Foods to Eat to Prevent Lung Cancer
Learn how you can proactively fight lung cancer by adding anti-lung cancer foods to your diet! here's a list of some of the best foods to eat to prevent lung cancer. Note that this is the second page of an in-depth article on lung cancer and food. In case you missed the previous page, click here.
#8: Raspberries
Raspberries are inarguably one of the best foods to eat if you want to prevent lung cancer. These super-berries are bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet they are very low in calories. One of the most interesting compounds in raspberries is ellagic acid, a natural anti-carcinogen, anti-mutagen, and an inhibitor of lung cancer. In some cases, it has also been able to cause apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. Ellagic acid is found in a number of foods, red raspberries being by far the best source of this lung cancer fighting substance (1,500 mcg per gram of dry weight fruit extract). Further, the ellagic acid found in red raspberries retains its potency through heating and freezing. So, regardless of whether you eat your raspberries fresh, frozen or heated, you will reap their lung cancer preventing benefits.
#9: Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are by far the nature's best dietary source of selenium: a single Brazil nut provides more than the US reference daily intake. Population studies suggest that the risk of death from lung cancer is lower among people with a higher intake of the trace mineral selenium. Besides selenium, Brazil nuts are packed with vitamin E. When incorporating Brazil nuts in your diet, keep in mind that they are calorie dense and therefore should be consumed in moderation. What's more, selenium in high doses can be risky because of the margin between safe and toxic doses.
#10: Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, goes the old adage. But did you know that apples may also help keep lung cancer away? Apples are packed with phytochemicals, and several large scale human studies have associated the consumption of apples with a reduced risk of lung cancer. When buying apples, opt for organically grown fruit whenever possible. Together with peaches, apples top the list of fruits that contain the highest levels of pesticides and other harmful chemicals (when conventionally grown).
#11: Rosehips
Rosehips, the fruit of the rose plant, are cram-full of nutrients that can provide protection against lung cancer. They are one of the best natural sources of proanthocyanidins — phytochemicals that are well-known for their anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties. In addition to that, wild rosehips are packed with vitamin C. They are also a relatively good source of vitamin E. Rosehips can be eaten fresh, or they can be used in jams and pies. In some countries, such as Sweden, they are also used in soups and stews. Before consuming rosehips, bear in mind that the outer fleshy part of each orb must be removed because of the fine hairs they contain.
#12: Horseradish
Horseradish adds zing to scrambled eggs, salads, and vegetable dishes, but its benefits are not purely culinary. Horseradish contains a substantial amount of glucosinolates, protective phytochemicals that can help eliminate carcinogens that could cause lung cancer. Some researchers also believe that glucosinolates may suppress the growth of cancerous tumors. Many cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, contain glucosinolates, but the amounts found in horseradish are much higher (horseradish has been shown to contain up to 10 times more glucosinolates than broccoli).
#13: Cherries
Cherries are one of the best foods to eat if you are looking for foods that can help prevent lung cancer. Cherries provide a good source perillyl alcohol (POH), a natural compound that has been shown to stimulate and sensitize lung tumor cells to apoptosis (self-destruction). When buying cherries, opt for organically grown fruit whenever possible as conventionally grown cherries often contain high levels of pesticides and other chemical compounds.
For more information on how eating certain foods can help prevent lung cancer, see:
