Foods That Fight Cancer
Researchers are still hard at work in the fight against cancer. They haven’t found the cure yet, but many do believe there are ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer. One way that experts believe people can reduce cancer risks is by eating certain foods that may have cancer fighting properties. One rule of thumb to follow is to eat a diet that consists of mainly plant-based foods and limits saturated fats. In fact, experts say that meals should be about two thirds plant-based.
If you’re wondering which foods you should add to your senior parent’s menu to help reduce their risk of cancer, below is a list of foods that experts recommend.
Home Care Services Westfield NJ – Foods That Fight Cancer
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. They seem to be especially effective against prostate and colon cancers. Experiments involving mice showed that tumors shrank when they were treated with the cancer-fighting substances contained in these foods. In particular, sulforaphane, a substance that is especially abundant in broccoli, seems to be effective in fighting cancer. One interesting thing about the cancer fighting substances in cruciferous vegetables is that they are only released when the vegetables are chewed or cut.
Tea
If your mom enjoys sipping an afternoon cup of tea, that’s great! Tea is effective against cancer because it contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant effects. Studies into flavonoids indicate that they may help in preventing breast cancer. One study showed that women who consumed flavonoids and were postmenopausal cut their risk of breast cancer by 46 percent.
Berries
Berries contain phytonutrients. Some phytonutrients called anthocyanins have been shown to glow the growth of pre-cancerous cells and prevented the growth of new blood vessels that may feed tumors. Blackberries are especially high in anthocyanins. Berries are beneficial in reducing the risk of oral, skin, esophageal, and colon cancers.
Foods Rich in Vitamin D
Vitamin D is found in dairy products, eggs, shrimp, and salmon. It is thought to help in the fight against cancer by restricting the growth of cancerous cells. Vitamin D is believed to reduce the risks for breast and lung cancer.
Preparing meals that are balanced and contain the above foods might help your parent to reduce their risk of developing cancer. If your parent struggles to prepare their own meals, hiring a home care services provider through an agency can help. Home care services providers can not only help prepare meals, they can also take your parent to the grocery store to shop for healthy ingredients. Home care services providers can also help with many other tasks around the house, including cleaning up after meals.
Sources: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/top-cancer-fighting-foods#1
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20430736,00.html#broccoli-1
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Westfield NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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