As you probably know, I’m not a big fan of “awareness” events, especially when they revolve around health issues like cancer.
Whether you know it or not, most of the money raised in cancer awareness events goes to drug and genetic research.
We’ve spent trillions of dollars in cancer research since President Nixon declared his “War on Cancer” in 1971. But it remains our #2 killer.
Clearly, we’re dropping the ball somewhere.
While it’s true that cancer can be the result of genetics, environmental factors or toxins in the body, I submit that the vast majority of cases are caused by DIET!
Studies have repeatedly shown that sugar feeds cancer and a diet high in refined salt (especially the salt found in processed or fast foods) also increases your cancer risk.
Yet when I’m in the grocery store, I still see people’s carts loaded with cookies, chips, boxed or frozen dinners, pastries and soda, plus the line of cars at the McDonald’s drive-thru window isn’t getting any shorter.
But the good news here is just as eating the wrong foods can increase your cancer risk, eating the right foods can help protect you against it!
Here are some of the best, most delicious cancer-fighters, followed by a few other cancer prevention tips.
The best cancer-fighting foods
Apples—they literally “keep the doctor away” by promoting a healthy gut microbiome and reducing your risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Asparagus—high in glutathione, an anti-carcinogen.
Berries—they are some of the best antioxidant foods known to man, and their gallic acid supports strong immune health.
Carrots—help support elimination of wastes and are an anti-carcinogen.
Citrus fruits—these superstars contain a whopping 58 known anticancer agents!
Cruciferous vegetables—inhibit cancer formation and protect against digestive and respiratory system cancers.
Fermented foods—help your body produce natural antibiotics and anti-carcinogen compounds. Good choices here are sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, kimchee, apple cider vinegar, miso, tempeh and tamari.
Garlic—its sulfur compounds inhibit tumor metabolism and enhance immune responses.
Healthy fats—these help nourish your gut, support strong immune function and even help you lose weight! Good choices are olive oil, coconut oil and flaxseed oil.
Herbs and spices—especially helpful are turmeric (which has been shown to fight colon and breast cancer), as well as ginger, thyme, cayenne pepper, oregano, basil and parsley.
Melons—their beta-carotene is a natural anti-carcinogen.
Mushrooms—are anti-carcinogenic and help stimulate the immune system.
Nuts—Almonds, walnuts and Brazil nuts contain phytosterols that help fight cancer and lower cholesterol.
Onions—help lower cholesterol and are a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, anti-parasitic and anti-carcinogen!
Organic meats—these are an excellent source of vitamin B12, which supports strong immune health.
Wild caught fish—a great source of omega-3 fats, that naturally counteract inflammation, which is a factor behind cancer development.
There’s more you can do too!
Eating these cancer-fighting foods will put you on a sound cancer prevention path, but there’s much more you can do too!
Here are 5 of the best ways to put up your “No vacancy” sign for cancer:
1) Get enough vitamin D
NOTHING beats vitamin D when it comes to cancer prevention.
Your body manufactures vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun, but the average person does not produce enough for their body’s needs. This is especially true of people in the northern hemisphere where sunlight is limited during the colder months.
The best way to ensure you have (truly health-supporting) levels is to supplement with a top-quality product like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B.
Optimum DK Formula contains a therapeutic 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3, as well as its partners vitamins K1 and K2 and the mineral boron. All of these nutrients work together to not only protect you from cancer but also heart disease, as well as enhance your bone and immune health.
2) Have a wholesome diet of real foods
The National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society have both acknowledged that many cancers are related to a poor diet!
So, if you exist primarily on processed stuff and fast food, it’s time to change that…your health and life depend on it.
Do most of your grocery shopping in the outer perimeter of the store where the wholesome real foods are located—fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, poultry and fish, eggs, and full-fat dairy.
And drive right by the golden arches.
If you need a little help getting on the right path, consider me your advocate and give my book Great Taste No Pain a try.
3) Supplement with omega-3 fish oil
Omega-3 fats are a very common deficiency, since most of us don’t eat fatty fish like salmon on a regular basis. Unfortunately, that can come back to bite you by raising your risk of several health issues—including cancer!
Omega-3 fish oil helps reduce your cancer risk in two ways:
First, cancer is an inflammatory condition, and it prefers a toxic inflamed body to proliferate. Since omega-3 fish oil is Nature’s perfect anti-inflammatory, it helps reduce inflammation and makes you a less attractive home for cancer.
Second, research has shown that fish oil can actually help kill various cancers, including colon, prostate and breast cancers!
In addition to incorporating more wild-caught fatty fish into your diet, supplementing with a fish oil formula like VitalMega-3 can help ensure your body has what it needs!
Every daily two-capsule serving of VitalMega-3 is loaded with 1,200 mg of Omega-3s, including 600 mg of EPA and 400 mg DHA (the 3:2 ratio recommended by most health experts).
4) Get regular exercise
Now, don’t roll your eyes at me. I know I sound like a drill sergeant, but I’ll take that risk for your benefit.
Regular exercise helps rid your body of waste, and since cancer needs a toxic environment to thrive, when you exercise and help keep your innards clean, you are telling cancer it is not a welcome visitor.
Make the time for it. Even brisk walking is helpful and just about everyone can squeeze that in.
5) Reduce stress
Stress causes harmful changes to your gut microbiome and weakens your immune function…leaving your more susceptible to sickness and disease—including cancer.
Do what you need to do to reduce stress in your life, keeping in mind that regular exercise is one of the best stress reducers there is!
You can also try infrared sauna, prayer, acupuncture, adopting a pet (if you’re an animal lover) and meditation.
Oh, and turn off the mainstream news too. Our modern day so-called “journalists” are basically well-groomed actors that create fear, division and sensationalism, and trust me, that’s contributing to your stress level. Seek out independent sources of information that simply report the facts and think for yourself.
Now get going and do what you need to do to keep cancer far away from you!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia