Healthy Food

By Marina Ortiz

Our daily environment is full of agents that increase our risk of cancer. Chemicals or other substances in the air we breath, the water we drink, even the food we eat, lower our ability to fight off cancer or are even directly linked to the disease. However, the foods we eat, the proper kinds, can also strengthen the immune system, detoxify the body, and help keep us cancer free.

Of course, as the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. In other words, fresh fruits and vegetables or the juice from these foods have important health benefits by lowering your cancer risk.

Speaking of that proverbial apple, research has shown that eating one apple a day, or one glass of fresh apple juice, can lower the risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Apples also have been linked to a lower incidence of liver cancer and colon cancer. The fiber and pectin in apples and whole-apple juice stimulates the digestive track, lowering cancer incidence by up to 43 percent.

Tomatoes are another delicious way to lower your cancer risk. Tomatoes eaten in salads or as juice during breakfast contain the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene, which gives tomatoes that bright red color, also neutralize the effects of environmental carcinogens, acting as a shield against cancer. Apricots and watermelon also contain lycopene and help guard against skin, stomach, and bladder cancer.

Green leafy vegetables are fundamental foods for lowering your risk of cancer. You can eat spinach or kale as a salad or, with the use of a quality home juicer, as a delicious, fresh juice. Spinach is high in vitamin E as well as luitin and antioxidants. This food lowers your risk of liver and ovary cancer.

Beta-carotene, the substance that makes carrots and pumpkins orange, is another powerful antioxidant. High as well in vitamin A, these vegetables are believed to help prevent cells from mutating into cancerous forms. So, eat that extra slice of pumpkin pie, or have another glass of carrot juice, and stay healthy.

Some cancer have been linked recently to inflammations in the body, the swelling of muscle or organ tissues. A substance found in pineapple juice or fruit, bromelain, is known as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Not only will bromelain lower your cancer risk, it can help with gout and arthritis as well.

Hot peppers are a spicy way to lower your risk of cancer by blocking the production of cancer cells. As an additional benefit, hot peppers contain capsaicin, which works as a natural appetite suppressant and metabolism stimulator. Add them to meals or vegetable juices for weight loss and lowering your cancer risk.

Finally, there are certain raw vegetables-broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage-that have been shown in large studies to help the body fight cancer and lower your exposure to carcinogens. These foods will give you the nutrition you need to stay healthy and fit, while keeping your risk of cancer low.