Why Fruits and Vegetables Help Prevent Cancer

People do not eat enough vegetables, period. What studies reveal is not so much that everyone should be the vegetarian lifestyle, but that we all should be consuming more fruits and vegetables. The recommended intake is 4-6 servings per day.

When it comes to cancer, it is fiber and the phytonutrients (plant nutrients) that offer up prevention against this disease. Vegetarians eat more vegetables, so they experience more of the benefits than other populations. Traditional societies in Africa once upon a time consumed up to 65 grams of fiber a day and were free of many diseases. Fiber helps clean out the body by binding to toxins and waste products on their way out of the body. This can be of great assistance in removing excess hormones, environmental contaminants, and metabolic waste.

Phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables are some of the most potent anti-cancer substances. A study conducted in 2003 found that eating fruit in childhood had a long term protective effect against cancer. Nutrients that offer the greatest protection are:

-Selenium
-Folic acid
-Vitamin B12 

 -Vitamin D
-Chlorophyll
-Antioxidants
-Carotenes (a-carotene, B-carotene, lycopene, lutine, cryptoxanthin)

 As we go through our daily lives, we are exposed to carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance and mutagens (substances that can alter cells) all the time. The more fruits and vegetables we eat gives our bodies ways to stop those effects. The more of these nutrients we have in our bodies, the more “damage” we can sustain. Just breathing causes oxidation. Today our food supply is awash with rancid oils that are so damaging to cells and are carcinogenic.

Antioxidants are found abundantly in dark berries, red grapes, and dark leafy greens. Seaweed is a rich source of chlorophyll. Carotenes are found in brightly colored vegetables (yellow and orange). Beans, green leafy vegetables like spinach, collards and kale are rich sources of folic acid. Wheat germ, Brazil nuts and red Swiss chard are good sources of selenium.

Although less healthy foods are ok in moderation, be very careful of overdoing it. The following foods, when eaten in excess, were found to contribute to cancer:

· Preserved meat
· High amounts of saturated fats
· High amounts of red meat
· High amounts of Omega 6 oils
· Dry/salt preserved fish
· Very hot drinks