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Diet to Prevent Renal Cancer

Although there is no miracle diet that will prevent renal cell carcinoma--the most prevalent type of kidney cancer--certain diets will help ward off cancer and maintain overall body health. From plant-based diets full of cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables to lowering your sodium and fat intake to quitting smoking, people have many ways to control their diets and minimize the risk of renal cancer.

  1. Fruits and Vegetables

    • When choosing the best fruits and vegetables for kidney cancer protection, seek out foods high in antioxidants and other healthy compounds. Antioxidants attack the free radicals that harm our bodies' cells and help to reverse some of the damage. Fruits and vegetables with high antioxidant content include avocados, broccoli, kale, grapes and berries. Many vegetables also contain additional vitamins, acids and compounds that may help fight free radicals. Some of these other cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables include carrots (high in beta-carotene), garlic (high in diallyl sulfide) and mushrooms (high in polysaccharides).

    Lower Your Salt and Fat Intake

    • Since high blood pressure and obesity are two factors that can lead to renal cancer, methods to control blood pressure and weight are recommended to prevent renal cancer. Look for lean meats and fish (such as salmon) that are high in "good fats". Season your food with cancer-fighting spices such as rosemary and turmeric rather than salt.

      For side dishes opt for grilled vegetables and whole grains instead of fattier items such as french fries. If you can't do without french fries, consider using sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes since sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene. Instead of frying the potatoes, season them in olive oil, garlic and rosemary and bake them for 45-minutes. This will lower the salt and fat content and also provide you with some cancer-fighting ingredients.

    Alcohol and Smoking

    • One of the highest renal cancer risk factors is tobacco use. Smokers should quit now to reduce chances of developing renal cancer. With alcohol, guidelines are a bit trickier. Excessive use of alcohol can increase your chances of developing renal cancer. However, alcohol in moderation, especially red wine can actually help fight off free radicals. Red wine contains the antioxidant polyphenol and the compound resveratrol, both of which can help protect you against various types of cancer, including renal cancer.

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