No one wants to think that cancer will ever happen to them. Instead of sitting back and hoping we are one of the lucky ones that will avoid this disease, there are nutritional steps we can take to help protect us from it.
1.Add some color to your plate! What gives fruits and vegetables their wonderful color is a substance called beta-carotene. Foods high in beta-carotene are also high in antioxidants, which stop the formation and damage that free radicals cause in our bodies. Beta-carotene stimulates the release of these antioxidants, which set out to destroy the dangerous cancer-causing cells. Any brightly colored fruit or vegetable is an excellent source of beta-carotene. Examples are sweet potatoes, spinach, cantaloupe, winter squash and carrots. Add 30 mgs. of beta-carotene to your daily diet. That is approximately the same as adding 2 to 3 large carrots.
2.Add fresh fruit to your daily diet. Fruit has many health benefits to add to cancer protection. Fruit has high concentrations of antioxidants such as Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown in studies to prevent cancer cells from forming in the lining of our digestive tracts. Studies have also shown that people who eat fruit regularly have the lowest risk of developing cancer. Add a bowl of strawberries or blueberries to your breakfast menu, or grab an orange or grapefruit. Colorful vegetables also have Vitamin C content. Try to get 60 mg. a day of Vitamin C. When you consider that one orange contains about 70 mgs., you realize that adding the extra anti-cancer fruits to your diet is not so difficult.
3.Go nuts for nuts. Nuts contain high levels of antioxidants such as ellagic acid and Vitamin E, both of which have been shown in studies to help in cancer prevention. Ellagic acid actually cleans the body of cancer causing products and prevents any cancer cells from further division. A form of Vitamin E has been shown in labs to actually kill cancer cells! Nuts pack a powerful punch and should be added to every diet as a means of cancer protection. The fiber in nuts also protects against specific cancers such as colon and stomach cancer. Nuts can be added to the diet in bits and pieces throughout the day, thrown on salads for example. They can also be enjoyed all at once by grabbing a handful for a snack. Add 1/2 cup of nuts per day to your daily menu.
4.Start moving. No special equipment is needed. Simply begin by walking 10 minutes a day, or take a simple trek around the block. No matter what shape you're in, the important thing is to start right where you are. Walking is not only good for the heart, but it boosts your circulation, which aids the body in its ability to get rid of deadly cancer-causing toxins.
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