Main Dishes for Lung Cancer Prevention (Recipes)
Want to learn how to whip up delicious main dishes that also meet the nutritional goals of people who want to proactively reduce their risk of lung cancer? This section contains a host of recipes for main dishes that are packed with anti-cancer fighting nutrients such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, vitamin E and glutathione. But before you get started on any of these recipes, you might want to take a look at the page Diet Tips for Lung Cancer Prevention and the page Foods That Help Fight Lung Cancer which provide more basic information about lung cancer and nutrition.
Apple and Onion Soup
This recipe combines apples and onions, two of nature's best sources of quercetin, a bioflavonoid that has strong anti-cancer properties. Studies have associated the consumption of both apples and onions with a reduced risk of many cancers.
See the RecipeIced Watercress and Mint Soup
This temptingly tasty soup with a wonderful silky texture draws on the health benefits of watercress, a super food that has been used to treat a wide range of ailments for centuries. Recent research suggests that eating watercress daily can significantly reduce blood cell DNA damage and thereby reduce a person's overall cancer risk. Watercress contains a special mustard oil that is known to have significant anti-cancer properties, but some of the anti-cancer properties of these little peppery leaves may also be attributable to their high concentration of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and lutein. Also the mint featured in this soup may be beneficial as it is rich in called perillyl alcohol, a phytochemical that has been shown to prevent the formation of lung cancer in animals. See the Recipe
Tangy Tomato Soup with Basil
Tomatoes are known to possess several properties that make them exceptional at helping prevent cancer, including lung cancer. Their most notable quality: they contain lycopene which is a very strong antioxidant. Lycopene from processed tomato products—such as the stewed tomatoes used in this soup—appears to be more bioavailable than lycopene from raw tomatoes. In addition to tomatoes, this anti-cancer soup features basil and shallots, both of which are rich in cancer-fighting bioflavonoids. See the RecipeShrimp and Mushroom Risotto
Here's a simple recipe for making risotto that's full of flavor and nutrients. Mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant amino acid that has been shown to be highly effective at scavenging free radicals, while shrimp are loaded with the selenium. Several population studies suggest that the risk of death from lung cancer is lower among people with a higher intake of the selenium. See the Recipe
ACE Salad
This summery salad works like magic to soothe your soul—and to give you extra protection against lung 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 RecipeNourishing Nettle Soup
Nettle—the key ingredient in this wholesome soup—is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and flavonoids. Many of these antioxidants are known to have a synergistic effect and to protect each other from oxidation, thereby enhancing the overall antioxidant prowess of this healthy soup. See the Recipe
Grandma's Chicken Soup
A laboratory test has now confirmed what grandmas have known for years: chicken soup is good for you. The researchers found that chicken soup and its main ingredients help inhibit the migration of neutrophils—white blood cells that swallow up bacteria and viruses responsible for infectious diseases. Your neutrophil count lies somewhere between 3,000 and 6,000 neutrophils per milliliter of blood, but chemotherapy and some radiotherapy treatments can lower your neutrophil count, making you more prone to getting infections. See the Recipe
Super-Nutritious Broccoli Salad with Apples and Cranberries
Broccoli contains some extraordinary compounds that have been shown to eliminate carcinogenic toxins, reduce DNA damage, induce apoptosis in cancer cells, help prevent the development of benign tumors into malignant tumors, 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 (rich 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
Tomato, Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
Tomatoes are known to possess several properties that make them exceptional at helping prevent cancer. Their most notable quality: they contain 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. The cancer preventing effects of this salad may be further strengthened by balsamic vinegar, which not only adds wonderful flavor and aroma to this dish but which also supplies 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
Carrot and Avocado Salad
You may already know that carrots aid 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 around 30% less likely to develop full-scale tumors than the animals in the control group. Also the avocados in this salad deliver lung cancer fighting nutrients such as glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C. See the RecipeWholewheat Pasta with Nettle Pesto
Don't worry, this pasta dish featuring young nettle leaves won't sting your tongue! Young, blanched nettle leaves are wonderfully edible, and they are packed with antioxidants and flavonoids. The whole wheat pasta this recipe calls for is a healthy alternative to the traditional white pasta. See the RecipeBroccoli and Barley Soup
Broccoli, one of the key ingredients in this scrumptious soup, is one of the best natural sources of sulforaphane, an extraordinary compound that has been shown to inhibit the development of lung cancer tumors in rodents. Sulforaphane has also been shown to eliminate carcinogenic substances, reduce DNA damage, increase apoptosis in cancer cells, and help prevent the spread of cancer from one organ to another. Also barley, another key ingredient in this soup, is an excellent weapon in your anti-cancer arsenal as it is brimming with selenium, mineral that plays a key role in the antioxidant system of the body. 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 consume these powerful root vegetables raw like in this salad. See the Recipe
Beet and Carrot Soup
This recipe combines beets and carrots to create a beautiful crimson soup that is also rich in nutrients that help prevent lung cancer. Several studies have found betacyanin, a phytochemical responsible for beets' crimson color, to be highly effective at preventing cancer while carrots contain falcarinol, a compound that has been shown to inhibit the development of cancer. See the Recipe
Arugula, Avocado and Tomato Salad
While very low in calories, arugula is supercharged with health-promoting 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 RecipeBarley Soup with Beans and Basil
Barley is loaded with selenium, with a mere cup of cooked barley containing more than 50% of the daily value for this trace mineral. A sufficient intake of selenium can greatly reduce your risk of lung cancer. The barley, basil, and tomatoes this recipe calls for also add to the cancer-fighting properties of this scrumptious soup as they are all rich in antioxidant compounds. See the RecipeFor more recipes that may help lower your odds of developing lung cancer, go to the main recipe directory of HealWithFood.org's Guide to Preventing Lung Cancer.
