Efficient tomatoes
The tomato is rightfully considered a unique product,containing lycopene - a powerful natural antioxidant, the solution to which has been studied by leading scientific clinics around the world in recent decades. According to the results of the research, lycopene claims to be one of the most effective defenders against cancer. It has been proven that as an antioxidant, lycopene is 3 times stronger than, for example, beta-carotene contained in carrots: 1 molecule of lycopene neutralizes up to 13 molecules of "cancer triggers" - free radicals. The fact is that lycopenes protect phagocytes - cells of the immune system that absorb foreign particles and harmful bacteria. At the same time, these beneficial substances activate the proliferation of lymphocytes, which are responsible for the destruction of cancer cells. As a result, the "tomato antioxidant" becomes an effective means of preventing ovarian, lung, breast and pancreatic cancer. It is no wonder that the Mediterranean cuisine rich in tomatoes is called the "cancer diet". It is interesting that lycopene is the only natural antioxidant that is not only not afraid of heat treatment, but, on the contrary, benefits from it. After just two minutes of heating, the concentration of the substance increases by a third, and if 1 kg of tomatoes contains up to 50 mg of lycopene, then natural ketchup or tomato paste contains almost 3 times more. It turns out that by periodically adding these products to food, a person protects himself from a terrible disease. But you need to pay special attention to naturalness. If, for example, the world-famous Heinz ketchup is made only from ripe tomatoes, natural vinegar and spices, then some other manufacturers use not tomatoes, but colored zucchini, apples or pumpkin. Accordingly, there is no talk of any lycopene in this product.
"Goldfish"
It is clear that you can’t live on tomatoes alone:A good addition to the "anti-cancer menu" will be products containing other natural antioxidants, even less powerful than lycopene. For example, fish dishes are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. It was noted that in countries where seafood is part of the daily diet, the incidence of cancer is much lower. This became the reason for conducting clinical trials, during which women with a hereditary predisposition were given the same amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids as Japanese women receive from food. It turned out that fish oil, by strengthening the immune system, "disables" wandering cancer cells drifting through the body in search of a victim organ. Nutritionists believe that eating fatty sea fish - flounder, herring, salmon - 2-3 times a week can be an excellent prevention of cancer.
Cabbage and carrots: ordered to eat raw
An important role in the fight against cancer is also played bycabbage, and absolutely all its varieties. The fact is that with an excess of the female sex hormone estrogen, there is a risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. And the substances contained in cabbage, indoles, stimulate the production of glutathione peroxidase enzymes, an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage, and accelerate hormonal metabolism, burning excess estrogen. Indoles are present in broccoli, kohlrabi, as well as white cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Among other things, cruciferous vegetables contain a large amount of vitamin C, another strong antioxidant. But unlike tomato lycopene, indoles and vitamin C are active only in raw or minimally steamed foods. In turn, carrots are a supplier of beta-carotene - a powerful antioxidant that preserves the cellular structure of tissues and fights various types of cancer, including cervical cancer. Before the properties of lycopene were discovered, beta-carotene was considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which, however, does not detract from its merits in combating cancerous tumors. In addition to carrots, the "carotenoid" group includes red and yellow bell peppers, pumpkin, apricots, papaya and, of course, citrus fruits, rich in a host of useful substances.
"Citrus Medicine"
Known for their high vitamin C content,which is itself a strong antioxidant, citrus fruits can boast other components that can prevent cancer. Thus, grapefruits are rich in monoterpenes that remove carcinogenic substances from the body and, thus, reduce cancer risks. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these fruits in the prevention of breast cancer. And lemons and oranges contain limonene - a substance that "promotes" lymphocytes to fight cancer cells. There are also bioflavonoids, which enhance the activity of vitamin C and, when interacting with it, neutralize some of the free radicals. Meanwhile, the largest amount of "citrus antioxidants" is found in the peel oil, which stimulates the production of enzymes responsible for detoxifying the body. It turned out that with regular use of zest, the risk of skin cancer is reduced by 30%.
Garlic: small, yes
Allicin, which is present in garlic, hasstrong bactericidal, antifungal, and detoxifying effects, i.e. the ability to bind and remove toxins from the body. According to experts, "garlic antioxidants" are most effective in combating lung, skin, stomach, and colon cancer. Despite the spiciness of the product, it should be added to food raw, at least in small quantities. It is advisable to buy domestic garlic and make sure that it is not old and dry.
Morning antioxidants - tea and coffee
Caffeine also contributes to skin health:It helps prevent such types of cancer as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The examined women who drank at least 3 cups of coffee a day were 20% less susceptible to oncological skin diseases. At the same time, caffeine protects the body from developing breast cancer, preventing healthy cells from degenerating. When choosing ground coffee for preventive purposes, you should pay attention to the mass fraction of caffeine: it should not be less than 0.7%, which indicates high-quality raw materials. Meanwhile, green and white teas are responsible for the health of the gastrointestinal tract. In dry form, they consist of 40% catechin flavonoids - antioxidant polyphenols known for their ability to inhibit the division of cancer cells. In some cases, white tea is 10% more effective than green tea, and is not inferior in terms of impact to the strongest pharmacological drugs. At the same time, if conventional drugs irritate the gastric mucosa and can cause ulcers, the aromatic drink does not cause any harm. The quality of tea is determined by the mass fraction of extractive substances contained in it, the absence of dyes and foreign impurities.
Peas, beans and soybeans
According to statistics, Latin Americans are on the menuwhich traditionally include various legumes, suffer from cancer much less often than women in Europe and the USA. It's all about plant antioxidants, isoflavones. The phytoestrogen lignan slows down the activity of the sex hormone estrogen and, thus, as in the case of cabbage, becomes a good preventative for ovarian and breast cancer. Not only beans, peas and beans, but also various products made from natural soybeans - be it sauce, miso soup or tofu - can help in the fight against "female" cancer. The main thing is to choose legumes from companies specializing in groceries and preferring to work with suppliers from regions where such crops are traditionally grown.
Spicy additive
And finally, seasonings, without which the tasteantioxidant-rich dishes may seem bland. For example, turmeric powder will help prevent bladder and intestinal cancer. During inflammation, the body produces a large number of enzymes, and this spice can control the process. In the course of studies, turmeric also successfully blocked and destroyed helicobacter pylori bacteria, which often provoke the formation of stomach ulcers and the development of tumors. And black pepper got on this list because of the capsaicin it contains. The substance neutralizes carcinogens contained in smoked foods, canned meat and fish, and is able to kill a large number of malignant cells. And red pepper, among other things, is a source of the aforementioned beta-carotene. Fortunately, all these products cannot be called either too expensive or scarce. This means that, thanks to small changes in the diet, effective prevention of the most terrible disease of our time can be carried out in every home and in every family.
