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Best foods to eat to prevent cancer according to an oncologist
A cancer doctor has revealed the best foods to eat to prevent the disease which 1 in 2 people will sadly develop during their lifetime.
Andrew Goy M.D. is the chief physician of Hackensack Meridian Health’s John Theurer Cancer Center in New Jersey and says diet is key.
Best foods to eat to prevent cancer
The best thing to eat to prevent cancer is fruit and vegetables, Goy told Fox News, and plant protein sources like quinoa, farro, black beans, buckwheat, chia seeds, hummus and peanut butter. He recommends a fully plant-based diet with no meat.
As explained by Robert J Ostfeld in a report in the National Library of Medicine, a plant-based diet “consists of all minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices and excludes all animal products, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products”.
However, you should avoid packaged products that say “plant-based” on the front as they aren’t usually very healthy and are often full of salt. Instead, you should choose whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible.
11 foods to add to your diet
Medical News Today reveals these foods contain nutrients that may help reduce the risk of cancer by creating a healthy and balanced diet.
- Apples
- Berries
- Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale)
- Carrots
- Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies)
- Walnuts
- Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)
- Grapes
- Whole grains (wheat, oats, barley)
- Dark chocolate
- Olive oil
The foods you should avoid
It’s best to avoid ultra-processed foods that are high in calories and meat, because they increase cancer risk through weight gain.
“Obesity and poor diet induce microbiome dysbiosis, a decrease in microbial diversity that leads to chronic inflammation and leaky gut, increasing your cancer risk,” Goy said.
Foods that are high in sugar and white flour also mess with the balance of gut bacteria, which causes some cancers to develop.
Pre-packaged foods are often low in nutritional value and contain chemical preservatives that can further increase the risk of the disease.
Obesity has a huge effect on the immune system too, impacting the body’s ability to fight off infections and diseases.
