Top Cancer-Fighting Foods
These foods are known for their anti-cancer properties.
Last week we looked at the science showing how free radicals drive the development of cancer by damaging cellular DNA (leading to mutations in our genes). Today we’re going to look at some of the top foods that help to reduce the risk of cancer by destroying these cancer-causing free radicals.
As a recap, small amounts of free radicals are produced as a natural byproduct of metabolism and other bodily processes, but majority of these harmful free radicals come from external sources including air pollution, exposure to toxins like heavy metals and pesticides, inflammatory vegetable oils, excess alcohol, sugar and elevated blood sugars, processed foods, and anything that promotes inflammation (since inflammation itself is a driver of free radical production).
In addition to reducing your exposure to the external factors that contribute to free radical production, antioxidants are also important in reducing cancer risk, since antioxidants protect our cells from the damaging effects that free radicals cause.
They do this in 3 ways:
Preventing the formation of free radicals
Destroying existing free radicals before they can damage cells
Repairing cells that have already been damaged by free radicals
Now that you understand the importance of antioxidants in protecting our cells from free radical damage, let's take a closer look at some of the top food sources that are known for their anti-cancer properties due to the antioxidants they contain: