Cancer Fighting Foods
Print This Post
Probiotics increase secretion of immunoglobulin, a disease-fighting immune enzyme found in the intestines which boosts and stabilises the role of the immune system. Friendly bacteria in probiotics have been associated with anti-carcinogenic effects. It has been demonstrated that probiotics inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells. Their effect on the digestion and facilitation of bowel movements also lowers the risk of colon cancer by reducing the time the intestines are exposed to carcinogenic substances in food. Chapaties made with fermented whole wheat dough contain a compound called MPG which may slow or even stop the growth of cancer.
In addition to anti-carcinogenic effects of probiotics, they have been known to protect from intestinal tract infections like candida and helicobacter pylori (the bacteria which is linked to peptic ulcers) and other gastrointestinal problems like colitis, inflammatory bowel disease. Probiotics help in cardio-vascular health by lowering triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol and reducing inflammation. They give protection from autoimmune diseases, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and are good for skin and hair.
Probiotics improve digestion, reduce bloating and flatulence, help maintain alkaline/acidic balance, reduce lactose intolerance, improve, resistance to infection, accelerate recovery from acute diarrhoea, reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and regulate side effects of antibiotic therapy.
Dietary Fibre
— Dietary fibre, also called roughage, is known to be good for health: it helps your bowels and intestines stay healthy, lowers blood cholesterol levels, displaces fat in the diet, helps in weight loss, keeps blood sugar levels even and reduces the risk of many cancers. A great deal of evidence taken from large population studies suggests that fibre guards against breast, uterus, prostate, rectum and colorectal cancers and possibly other forms of the disease as well. Fibre shields you from cancers of the colon and rectum. Fibre serves as a diluting agent to “water down” the concentration of dangerous substances that can initiate or activate cancer cells. In fact, simply by bulking up the stool and helping push it through the intestinal tract more quickly, insoluble fibre reduces the amount of time during which potential cancer-causing substances are in contact with the body. Fibre may also protect against cancer of the breast by influencing the metabolism of oestrogen, the female sex hormone. Breast cancer is most likely oestrogen-dependent, which means that it needs a plentiful supply of oestrogen in order to flourish. A high-fibre diet helps the body excrete excess oestrogen through the faeces, which may be why such a diet is linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer. Together, the high-fibre, low-fat diet packs a powerful punch against breast cancer.
Fibre and Fat
— Eating more fibre and less fat are two of the best medicines available for preventing cancer and all lifestyle diseases. For example, the incidence of prostate cancer is low in Japan, where the traditional diet contains relatively little fat and more fibre; but high in America where people eat a high-fat and low-fibre diet.
