Staying Fit
Eat an apple a day. It may help you prevent cancer.
Kang Kim
Apples
Apples contain at least two kinds of cancer-inhibiting compounds: flavonoids and phenolic acids. Together they may protect against damage to cells that can trigger malignancies; they may also prevent emerging cancer cells from dividing any further. If apples aren't your favorite food, try citrus fruits and berries.
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Consuming nuts may reduce your risk of dying from cancer.
Kang Kim
Nuts
According to a recent Harvard study, a serving of nuts a day (roughly a handful) helps ward off deaths from both heart disease and cancer. "People who ate a serving of nuts five or more times a week saw an 11 percent reduction in deaths due to cancer," says Ying Bao, an epidemiologist who led the study.
Protect colon cells by eating more beans and lentils.
Kang Kim
Beans and Lentils
Loaded with fiber, beans and lentils contain antioxidants, phytochemicals and folate, which protect colon cells while stimulating bowel function. Soybeans, in particular, contain genistein, a powerful compound that scientists are investigating as a possible treatment for prostate, lung and colorectal cancer.
Drink a cup of green tea to protect against prostate cancer.
Kang Kim
Tea and Coffee
Ingredients in tea and coffee may protect against a variety of cancers. The antioxidants in coffee seem to be especially effective against endometrial cancer. And green tea seems protective against prostate cancer. But make sure to let it cool a bit before drinking: Very hot beverages may increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Curcumin may protect against brain tumors.
Kang Kim
Curry
Laboratory studies have found that curcumin — the main ingredient in the spice turmeric, which gives curry its characteristic yellow color and sizzle — can fight against cancerous changes in healthy cells as well as slow the growth of malignant cells. Some evidence suggests that curcumin may also offer protection against brain tumors.
Lycopene in tomatoes can prevent malignant cancerous cells from multiplying.
Kang Kim
Tomatoes
Teeming with the antioxidant lycopene, tomatoes may block cancer by, among other things, stopping malignant cells from multiplying and by causing them to destroy themselves. Although tomatoes in almost all forms are full of nutrition, lycopene is more easily available to the body in cooked tomato products such as tomato sauce.
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