10 Diet and Lifestyle Tips To Prevent Cancer

Article by AK Shyam.
Cancer is one disease that every one of us gets scared perhaps partly because of the myth around it and partly because of the way that it is handled poorly by professional doctors. The mainstream cancer treatment or an alternate cannot boast cent percent success. On the contrary, it has been observed that there is always some risk attached to any method of cancer treatment. 

skin cancer prevention tips
skin cancer prevention tips

Eating habits
We are often ignorant of the entire food processing in our body that provides energy required for our routine activities during the day. What we generally know is that the intake through mouth is driven through Esophagus into stomach and once this is full, we declare that we are satisfied. It is said that it takes normally 2-3 hours for 50% of the contents to empty into the intestine and total emptying of the stomach takes 4-5 hours. Transit through the colon takes 30-40 hours.

Depending upon what we feed, they manifest themselves into healthy, medium healthy and unhealthy grades in the human body. The digestive system not only extracts beneficial ingredients of the food but also generates waste that ought to be disposed regularly through the other opening.

It is presumed that this happens to be one of the prime activities of the human body that determines the well being of human health. Any imbalance in the process may lead to altered digestion and metabolism strengths.

Ayurveda strongly recommends
– to consume food only when a person is really hungry.
– not to avoid food when someone is totally hungry.

This ensures that-
– the enzymes are produced and used up at the right times
– the nutritious food that is taken is completely used up by the body, without leaving out excess of byproducts / waste products in the gut, which may alter metabolism and immunity.

Modern lifestyle
The modern day busy lifestyle does not provide time for activities like walking/physical exercise and thereby many miss the vital input – Oxygen to the body.

How often do we consciously check our heartbeat or breathing which are an integral part of our well-being? They happen at the subconscious level.

Related: Improving lifestyle habits – a very important tool to prevent cancer

Stress, sedentary lifestyle habits:
Sitting for long hours also has bearing on our health. The busy office schedules, targets are directly linked to emotional issues. Strong emotional shocks like, death of loved one, loss of job, divorce or others could have serious influencing impact leading to cancer.

The diet:
Change in eating plan would detoxify your body and you could be free of cancer. You may have to give up a few items and replace them with lots of organic fruits and vegetables.

Good amount of natural oxygen:
It is strongly believed that Oxygenation fights cancer cells which can thrive only in anaerobic condition. Healthy cells get more oxygen and make you vibrant. This is in fact a strong reason to include 30-45 minutes of compulsory walking in the morning, preferably ( Perhaps the best time to grab the vital oxygen is early hours of the day). You experience positive energy for the entire day. When this is combined with the next secret, you will have kept cancer at least 60% away from you.

Vitamin D seems to play a considerable role in preventing prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, depression, colon cancer and schizophrenia. It is therefore necessary to check vitamin D levels once in a while.

Acidic environment of human body promotes cancer unlike the alkaline environment, which helps to fight cancer better.
Hormonal (Oestrogen), lack of sleep, Electromagnetic forces, Chemicals and pesticides, stress hormones, Low blood oxygen are also responsible for acid body.

Regular exercise not only helps increase oxygen but also haemoglobin level. Exercise reduces physical and mental stress  and improves immunity.

Regular water intake maintains alkalinity of the body. Please ensure you drink clean water as additives sodium fluoride and chlorine are believed to cancer-causing agents. Mere filtration may not eliminate Trihalomethanes (THMs), fluoride and a host of other heavy metals, toxins and contaminates. Reverse osmosis filtration could give you a better confidence.

Related: Ayurvedic understanding of cancer

Herbs that could prevent cancer:
Moringa oleifera is a leguminous plant which has been traditionally used in India. It is highly beneficial to human health because of its medicinal and nutritional properties. The unknown fact about Moringa perhaps is that it not only retards tumour but, reduces tumour which means it is cancer preventive. Moringa leaves contain protein, vitamin C, potassium and Vitamin A. The rich Zeatin (member of Cytokinins) reduces cell division and growth and works as anti-aging agent.

Raw onion (Allium cepa) –  Onions contain 25 active compounds that appear to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells alliin being the main constituent. Onion has been found to help combat heart disease, inhibit strokes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and stimulate the immune system. The potassium salts and the flavonoids that are present perform an anti-inflammatory action. The essential oil is an expectorant, antiseptic, antifungal, anticoagulant, high-blood pressure, antithelmitic, balsamic and has analgesic properties. Onion uses, research, side effects

Tomato (solanum lycopersicum uses – Tomatoes contain all four major carotenoids. alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene. These carotenoids may have individual benefits, but also have synergy as a group (that is, they interact to provide health benefits). Tomatoes are good for your skin.

Tomatoes contain a high level of lycopene, Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer, reduce your chances of developing prostate, colorectal and stomach cancer. Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow the growth of cancerous cells. Cooked tomatoes produce even more lycopene, so go ahead and cook up a batch of your mom’s famous tomato soup. Tomato provides essential antioxidants.

Tomatoes contain a great deal of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Tomatoes are good for your heart. Because of the Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes, they are effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure.
The Vitamin A in tomatoes works perfectly to keep your hair shiny and strong. In addition, it also does wonders for your eyes, skin, bones and teeth. Tomatoes are good for your kidneys.

Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones. Tomatoes are good for your eyes. The Vitamin A found in tomatoes is fantastic for improving your vision disorder. Tomatoes are good for diabetics. Lower Blood Pressure .The tomatoes provide significant drop in blood pressure,  combating stroke.

Vitamin C in tomato or Ascorbic Acid helps in reducing the risk of stroke, a kind of cardiovascular disease. Mood .Vitamin C present in the tomato plays a key role in the production of neurotransmitters, If vitamin c is less then. they can affect mood and are critical to the proper functioning of the brain.

Almonds ( Prunus amygdalus) – Reduce heart attack risk; lower bad cholesterol; protects artery walls from damage; help strong bones and teeth; lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals; help brain function; nourish nervous system; alkaline the body)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice at least once a week is good as it is rich in antioxidants such as soluble polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanin. Can protect against the oxidative stress in the modern lifestyle and bacteria consequently cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Other promising dietary items in prevention of cancer are lemon and turmeric.

Related: 10 Tips to Reduce The Risk of Breast Cancer

6 comments on “10 Diet and Lifestyle Tips To Prevent Cancer

  • Hemanth

    07/05/2015 - 2:13 pm

    Useful article, but commonly found in most media. What is Moringa oleifera in Indian languages ?

    Reply to comment
  • Rohit

    30/06/2015 - 9:41 am

    Dear Dr Hebbar,

    What does ayurved say about Tomatoes and Potatoes? Are these two natural to our nation or these are foreign invasion?

    Reply to comment
    • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

      30/07/2015 - 8:20 pm

      They are explained in recent Ayurvedic text books. Nothing wrong in using them even if they are exotic (adapted from other countries).

      Reply to comment
  • ritesh makharia

    20/11/2017 - 3:26 pm

    Dear SIr,

    tomatoes are helpful for stomach cancer .. it means good for stomach ? its acidic in nature still can cure stomach cancer?

    Reply to comment
  • ritesh makharia

    05/01/2018 - 4:45 pm

    Respected Sir,

    if tomatoes are not sour… is it ok to consume for a pitta person ?

    Reply to comment

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