A super-food is defined as a food with health benefits that may even help prevent or reverse some disease conditions.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, but a diet rich in fruit juices, fruits, vegetables, and fiber can help ward off cancer. Which foods should you eat though? General recommendations are totally insufficient. That’s why we’ve put together this handy list of cancer-fighting superfoods. Most of these foods are loaded up with phytochecmicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.
We’ve assembled a list of stellar foods that can help ward off cancer and may even improve your mood, attitude, or energy level.
Tomatoes
Some dietitians consider tomatoes the healthiest food in the world. Some people think of it as a fruit. Some people think of it as a vegetable. One thing is certain, and that is that the tomato is a superfood. Plus, it’s a plentiful source of lycopene, which helps to prevent heart disease. Tomatoes are also rich in vitamin A, C, and E – which are all enemies of free radicals.
Watermelon
You get a huge dose of antioxidants when you bite into a watermelon. Plus, they’re juicy and delicious. They also replenish your system during the hot summer days with electrolytes to keep you hydrated and alert. You get almost 80% of your vitamin C with watermelon, as well as more lycopene – remember tomatoes – and you get a lot of vitamin A and carotene too. The red color – again, remember the tomatoes – should be a good sign that you’re doing something healthy for your blood.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a vegetable in the cruciferous family, along with broccoli, and it helps to reduce the risk of rectal and colon cancer. It is extremely rich in fiber, and one serving gives you almost half of your daily allowance. Plus, it has a lot of vitamin C, which is a notorious enemy of free radicals.
Chopped Peppers
You may not have thought that chopped peppers could do you much good, but they are chock full of nutrients your body can use to cut down on your cancer risk: vitamin C, beta-carotene, and lycopene.
Along with delicious finger foods like chopped peppers, you can also try dried apricots. Dried apricots are a rich source of beta-carotene, and they’re great for storing in your desk at the office or as an alternative to what you would eat in a vending machine at work.
Strawberries and Blueberries
Strawberries and blueberries are a rich source of fiber and vitamin C. They taste really great too. Consider adding them to a smoothie with the other superfoods listed here in this article. You’ll get all the fiber and vitamins of all the foods here in one delicious drink. Berries don’t have as high of a glycemic index as some fruits, but they sure do add a lot to the taste of smoothies, especially those filled with sometimes bitter vegetables.
If you feel overwhelmed by the number of superfoods on t his list, and have no idea how you’re going to integrate them into your diet, then just purchase a heavy-duty, commercial blender. It saves time, energy, and hassle. You just wash all your produce and toss it all into the blender. You can even add some tasty ingredients to make it seem more like a chilled soup. Have one of those soups every morning for breakfast, and you’ll be well on your way to sending cancer running for the hills!
There are also a variety of super-food supplements you can buy. They usually come in powder form. Just add a scoop to your morning breakfast smoothie.