Phytonutrients: Powerful Cancer Fighting Compounds for Natural Protection
Good nutrition can do more than offset cancer treatment side effects. Good nutrition can provide the necessary nutrients to support the processes that can prevent and/or slow the progression of cancer growth.
We have an abundance of foods with anti-cancer nutrients. Plants for example contain naturally occurring phytochemicals (phyto = plants) that are shown by science to support anti-cancer processes. It turns out that these phytochemicals also provide plants with color, odor, and flavor.
Consider adding these foods for the phytochemicals listed into your diet routine.
Carotenoids
(such as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin) – found in red, orange and green fruits and vegetables including broccoli, carrots, cooked tomatoes, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, winter squash, apricots, cantaloupe, oranges and watermelon.
Indoles and Glucosinolates
(sulforaphane) – found in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, kale,cauliflower and brussels sprouts)
Here are some ways to add these super beneficial nutrients to your diet! Red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers make a great addition to a stir fry. Add some onion and garlic for more pre-biotic and anti-inflammatory properties. The mini-peppers make a convenient snack too! Fruits like watermelon and oranges provide a fluid as well as a sweet taste. A small bowl of fruit alongside a healthy breakfast or as an in-between snack provides excellent nutrients; if you keep the portion small, you can keep the sugar (fructose) load low.
Cherries are a great snack and dried cherries add just enough flavor when chopped and added to cereal or granola. They bake well into muffins just like blueberries do.
Fall and Winter soups are an excellent place to add cabbage, kale, spinach, winter squash, sweet potatoes (give a nice texture to the soup as well). Get busy! There are many methods to enhance your nutrition with the addition of these phytonutrients.
Taking charge!
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