6 Rules For A Diet Against Cancer

"Can diet have a beneficial effect on cancer prevention?" Of course. ”


This is how Leticia Agullu's book , A Diet to Fight Cancer, begins . Since cancers, along with cardiovascular disease and AIDS, are the scourge of modern times, all issues related to their prevention are relevant. The connection between our diet and the development of cancer is not accidental. The health of the body depends on the substances we take in with food - in addition to energy, building materials, useful elements, we take in toxins, carcinogens ...


We briefly present the 6 rules of how to eat to reduce the risk of cancerfrom the book, which also contains 45 "anti-cancer recipes" for main dishes, appetizers and desserts ...
 

1. Avoid carcinogens

"The cancer process begins when the body is saturated with toxic substances that it is unable to eliminate, to the extent that it accumulates cellular damage. If the amount of toxins is moderate and the defense mechanisms are effective, the likelihood of developing the disease decreases ... ”That is why the maximum restriction of carcinogenic substances is beneficial .


We are surrounded by substances and factors that can cause the onset of cancer. The main culprits are pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, smoking, poor nutrition and inadequate cooking.


While some factors are difficult to manage, such as avoiding environmental pollutants, others are within our ability to control successfully, the author said. This chapter of the book focuses on pesticides and improper methods of heat treatment of food products.


At high processing temperatures, glycosylated proteins are produced , which the body cannot eliminate. These substances are contained in any golden crust or caramelized glaze.


To avoid this so-called Mayar reaction, food products should be prepared at a temperature not exceeding 100 degrees , and suitable methods are: steaming, stewing, baking in paper, cooking.


A useful vegetable dish is one in which the natural taste of the products is felt when they are not "washed", as is obtained in a pot at high temperature, but slightly crispy ...

Before heat-treating the meat, it is desirable to remove accumulated fat - bacon.

The choice of cookware is also important for healthy food preparation: glass, ceramic, stainless steel, electric steam cookers without direct contact with the heater are suitable.


To avoid xenobiotics- these are all substances harmful to the body such as toxins, pesticides, certain hormones, environmental pollutants, heavy metals, alcohol, viruses, bacteria, cigarette smoke compounds and others. - it is preferable to consume as much as possible products that are grown according to environmental standards. Foods with preservatives of synthetic origin should be avoided - these are the substances marked with a capital letter E and a three- or four-digit number; as well as those with hydrogenated fats such as croissants, biscuits, waffles, etc. It is necessary to be careful with the consumption of predatory fish species due to the presence of heavy metals (mercury) in them.

  

2. Choose vegetables that facilitate the detoxification of the body

The liver is responsible for removing toxins in the body . It plays a crucial role in the prevention of cancer, as it converts xenobiotics into compounds that can be excreted in the urine .
 

Its activity can be supported by the consumption of vegetables and some herbs / spices. This category includes: garlic, onions; vegetables from the cruciferous family - cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, watercress, cauliflower, radishes, turnips, etc .; green tea; Forest fruits; spices such as rosemary, turmeric, dill, cumin, mint and most fruits.

The beneficial effect of crucifers is due to their participation in the second stage of detoxification . The substances indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane , found especially in broccoli and Brussels sprouts, help eliminate carcinogens from the body. However, these substances are very unstable at high temperatures and easily soluble in water, which means that the proper preparation of vegetables should be - as short as possible heat treatment in a little liquid, ie. on steam. The author recommends eating dishes with these vegetables 3-4 times a week.


Elagic acid ranks berriesin the next most useful group of foods for detoxification of the body. This polyphenol also has a powerful action against free radicals.
 

Strawberries and mulberries are the easiest to digest. The group also includes raspberries, blueberries and others. Naturally - they are useful when eaten raw . They can be stored by freezing or drying.
 

Not only because of its antioxidant properties, green tea is a trump card against cancer due to the high concentration of epigallocatechin gallate . Research data show that polyphenols inhibit the development of many cancers - skin, breast, lung, digestive system ... Tea should be prepared by brewing in an interval of 8-10 minutes. The required amount - 3 cups a day.


Onions, garlic, leeks - are useful because of the sulfurized molecules that prevent gene mutations and the initial development of cancer. Garlic has an action against nitrates and nitrosamines.
 

The active molecules of garlic are released when the cloves are pressed and are most fully absorbed in the presence of fat.

The required amount: 2 cloves of garlic a day, 1 head or 2 onions.