Whole Grains, Fruits, Veggies in Diet May Help Prevent Cancer - Report

Please Bookmark:

We have read, being advised and heard so many times by so many people – starting from our moms to our doctors and dieticians that eating fruits (including legumes), veggies, cooked properly and whole grains help prevent cancer. Properly cooked veggies etc not only prevent cancer it also keeps your weight in check. Such foods are low in calories as compared to big, packed packs of oily meals. These types of food are full of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and many other nutrients that help to lower the risk of several types of cancers, like cancers of the lung, colon, mouth, esophagus, and stomach.

Some research organizations feel cancer is caused by something called Free Radicals. These can be found in our environment in the air, food and all. Free Radicals could be atoms or groups of atoms, which have at least one unpaired electron. Such unpaired electrons or group of them are unstable, shaky and highly reactive. These Free Radicals damage other cells by trying to take away electrons from them and in turn making the healthy ones also unstable. Antioxidants have extra electrons and they help in contributing these excess electrons to Free Radicals, which stabilizes the molecules and prevents or minimizes the damage they are otherwise likely to cause.

Some cancer research organizations on the contrary are not sure about antioxidants and their presence in diet and food we eat can prevent cancer. They feel cancer is a complex process and they feel that the anti-oxidants may not prevent free radicals from effecting cell DNA. According to them eating a fiber rich diet may prevent colon cancer on a macroscopic level.

On one hand high fiber diet will clear bowels. It’s a fact that bowel movements slough intestinal lining. But more frequent bowel movements because of high fiber diet may be able to prevent cancer/pre-cancerous cells before they are able to spread further. On the other hand the fact that frequent bowel movements may limit the time toxic byproducts of digestion stay in the intestines cannot be questioned either.

In all this argument one thing stands firm and that is that anti-oxidants build and protect your immune system. A cancer cell is a normal cell that has mutated, because of a weak immune system. Dieticians advocate nutrient-rich diet full of the phytochemicals that is found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and seeds etc that help to prevent illness – especially amongst growing children whose cells are dividing rapidly. These phytochemicals strengthen the immune system and help prevent mutations and any other disease that is likely to strike in future.

Do you know colored fruits have more nutrients? They do. Keep it in mind. Next time you pick a fruit from the fruit basket make sure the fruit is colored. Encourage your kids and family to eat healthfully. Make a effort. Toss up a recipe of your own or go to some recipe website or buy a book. DO what it takes but encourage a healthy diet.