The Best and Worst Foods for Cancer Prevention
Learn which foods are best to avoid and what foods to incorporate into your diet to help prevent cancer.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Avoid these foods:
1. Deep-fried foods.
When meat or potatoes are deep-fried, the high heat creates acrylamides. Animal studies have linked acrylamide exposure to several types of cancer.
See also Why Bingeing on Fatty Foods Hurts Your Health.
2. Cured, processed and smoked meats.
To keep foods from spoiling, they are often cured with nitrates and nitrites, which are associated with an increased cancer risk.
See also The 6 Not-So-Superfoods to Nix Now.
3. Non-organic meat and dairy.
Meat and dairy from animals given antibiotics and other growth-stimulating hormones can be harmful as it can disrupt hormonal balance and increase risk of hormone-dependent cancers such as breast, ovarian and prostate.
See also Is Butter Healthy?
4. Soda and refined sugars.
Soda contains high-fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring and chemicals that have been linked to increased cancer risk. Refined sugars found in foods such as candy are extremely detrimental to health as they can cause obesity, inflammation and reduced immunity.
5. Farmed fish.
Farmed fish such as salmon are typically fed antibiotics and other chemicals and live in crowded, unhealthy conditions. These chemicals are linked to increased cancer risk.
Eat these cancer fighters more often:
1. Organic berries.
Berries are packed with potent cancer-fighting compounds called polyphenols.
See also Summer Berry Galette.
2. Cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, kale, cabbage).
Cruciferous veggies contain a powerful compound called sulforaphane that has been shown to enhance detoxification of the liver and can actually kill cancer cells.
See also 3 Ways with Chard and Kale.
3. Nuts and seeds.
Nuts and seeds are a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. They also contain phytosterols, which have been proven to reduce cancer risk.
See also Chocolate Hazelnut Butter.
4. Spices.
Anticancer spices like oregano, ginger, rosemary, garlic and turmeric contain potent polyphenols that have been shown to reduce inflammation and enhance immunity.
See also The Healing Properties of Hot Peppers.
5. Whole grains.
Whole grains contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and health-promoting phytochemicals that have been shown to reduce cancer risk.
See also Guide to Whole Grains.