Natural Foods Best for Cancer Patients

Natural remedies to major health problems are becoming popular as an alternative or supplement to disease treatment. Most doctors won't recommend many changes to a nutritional plan when cancer has been diagnosed, but more and more foods are being linked with anti-cancer effects.

Best Foods for Cancer

• For colon cancer, try a diet of apples, tea, kale, beans and onions. This has been found to reduce advanced colon cancer by 76 percent. Broccoli sprouts have been connected to fighting stomach cancer by improving the balance of H. pylori bacteria in the stomach. Apples can slow the risk of breast cancer, according to several Cornell University studies, and the risk is slowed extremely when six apples a day are consumed. Walnuts and their omega-3 fatty acids can also be linked to slow breast cancer tumor growth. A few foods recently added to the cancer-fighting contingent are grapefruit juice, wine and berries. These berries include strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries that contain ellagic acid, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins. These limit tumor growth and promote the death of cancer cells.

Best Drinks, Seasonings and Sweets for Cancer

• Drink Japanese green tea, which contains compounds known as polyphenols. These compounds include catechins (specifically EGCG), which have been connected with reducing the growth of the blood vessels that help feed tumors. The tea is a detoxifier and a strong antioxidant that encourages the death of cancer cells. In some studies, it has been connected with increasing the effect of radiation on cancerous cells. Japanese green tea is the most potent form of EGCG. Pomegranate juice has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and studies also show that it can reduce the development of even very aggressive prostate cancers (and possibly other varieties). Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties as well; it can slow tumor growth and attack specific cancer cells. It may also help with nausea from chemo or radiotherapy. Tumeric, which can be found in curry powder, is known as the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory available. It can lead to inhibited tumor growth, increased efficiency of chemotherapy, and cancer cell death. Dark chocolate with over 70 percent of cocoa will provide proanthocyanids, polyphenols and antioxidants. These can help to slow cancer cell growth and stop the blood vessels feeding them.

General Rules

• Go with actual foods, which help more than supplements when it comes to fighting cancer. A panel of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) determined several connections between foods and cancer. Foods that contain folate are probably protective against pancreatic cancer. If they contain carotenoids, they may help against mouth, pharynx, larynx and lung cancers. The foods that contain lycopene are more than likely protective against prostate cancer. Foods with selenium also fight prostate cancer. Foods with beta-carotene are probably protective against esophageal cancer. Vitamin C-rich foods also contribute to esophageal cancer. The panel also determined that many non-starch vegetables, garlic, and fruit in general are very protective against seven different kinds of cancer.