Contributed by Jean Sumner
The statistics indicate that one in three people in the United States will receive a diagnosis of cancer in their lifetime and one in seven people will die as a result of cancer. Even though cancer is a common diagnosis, it is extremely scary to hear that you have the “C” word. However, there are many things we can do to prevent from getting cancer.
Let’s start with diet. There is a ton of research that proves that vegetables and fruits are extremely effective at keeping our immune system strong. In the China Study, the evidence that a plant based diet can prevent cancer is overwhelming. There are also many studies that indicate cancer can be effectively treated by increasing the amounts of raw produce eaten in ones diet.
Armed with the knowledge that eating vegetables and fruits is a way to prevent cancer it is time to increase the amount of vegetables and fruit in our diet. This is really very simple. Start with a breakfast makeover. Try a veggie omelet, a fruit smoothie, or a bowl of oatmeal with fruit added? Or you can even be more adventurous and add greens to your fruit smoothie such as spinach, kale or Swiss chard. With this breakfast idea you are getting both fruits and vegetables for breakfast.
Increasing the vegetables you eat for lunch can be fairly simple when you eat a salad for lunch. Most restaurants have great salads on their menu and at home, you can combine just about any vegetables to make a great salad. If you are eating fast food, try a veggie sub or a veggie pizza. Add some raw vegetables to your plate when you are having a sandwich or enjoy vegetable soup. See how easy this can be!
Snacks can also impact the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day. Ideas for snacking include a piece of fruit, celery with peanut butter, carrot sticks, chips with salsa or guacamole, frozen grapes, veggies and veggie dip. You can also tried dried fruit like raisins, apricots, and prunes. Be creative and search the internet for more fun snacking ideas that include fruits and vegetables.
A simple change with dinner can make a lot of difference in the amount of vegetables you get each day. Always start dinner with a small salad. Add a second vegetable to the meal or add vegetables to the sauce you are making. For example, if you are making spaghetti sauce, sauté tomatoes, onions, green peppers and add these to your sauce. Have fruit for dessert. Grill peaches or pineapple for a very enjoyable end of your meal.
Vitamin C is another important tool in cancer prevention. You can always take a supplement but it would be better to eat fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of vitamin C such as kale, grapefruit, oranges, red pepper and kiwi.
Drinking enough water each day is also important. Your body is approximately 75% -80% water and none of your organs, muscles, or systems can function well when you are dehydrated. A good rule for the amount of water you should drink daily is your weight divided by 2 in ounces. An example is a 120 pound person should drink 60 ounces of water per day.
Experts in the study of nutrition and disease suggest that people who are diagnosed with cancer need to be more aggressive with their diet. Dr. Coldwell, a leading expert on cancer and stress related illnesses, suggests that you consume a vegan raw food diet and drink a gallon of water per day with ½ teaspoon of sea salt added to the water. The goal is to move your body from an acidic state to an alkaline state as quickly as possible.
When all is said and done, prevention of cancer is not difficult. Just remember what your mom told you. Eat your fruits and vegetables!
This information is not meant to be medical advice. No action or inaction should be taken solely on the contents of this information. Instead, you should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being.
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