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Healthy Food Tips: Cooked Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a potent antioxidant called lycopene, a phytochemical which is responsible for the red colour of tomatoes. It helps the body deal with harmful free-radicals, protects against heart disease and reduces the risk of cancer, in particular prostrate cancer. In a study of over 40,000 health professionals, Harvard investigators found that men who ate more than 10 servings of tomato-based foods a week (like cooked tomatoes and tomato sauce) had a 35 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those who ate the least amount of these foods.
What’s more is that the benefits of lycopene was more pronounced with advanced stages of prostate cancer. Apart from tomatoes, lycopene is also found in watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, pink grapefruit and blood oranges.
Healthy Food Tips: An Apple A Day
The old adage, ’An apple a day, keep the doctor away’ may well be truer than first thought. Scientists have found that one apple weighing roughly 100g (4oz) contains the same quantity of anti-oxidants as 1,500mg of vitamin C. The chemicals responsible for this anti-oxidant activity are known as phenolic acids and flavonoids. They have also been found to inhibit bowel, lung cancer and liver cancer cells in the laboratory.
Healthy Food Tips: Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is another phytochemical which like lycopene, is an antioxidant and the chemical responsible for the orange colour of particular fruit and vegetables including carrots, sweet potatoes, swede, squash, mangos and apricots. Cancer patients are often deficient in beta-carotene so pack at least 5 servings of this potent antioxidant into your weekly diet.
Healthy Food Tips: Mushrooms
Researchers at the University of Liverpool are among the many scientists who have found that mushrooms attack cancerous cells and stop them multiplying, in addition to boosting the immune system. Mushroom extracts have also been used in conjunction with chemotherapy patients in Japan. Shiitake, maitake, reishi, Agaricus blazei Murill, and Coriolus Versicolor are among the varieties found to contain the chemicals Lentinan, beta glucan and lectin which attack cancerous cells.
Healthy Food Tips: Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs are Mother Nature’s pharmacy, and all contain a wide variety of antioxidants and phytochemicals, many of which haven’t even been fully researched yet. Rosemary and turmeric contain compounds which inhibit cancer cell growth in laboratory tests, parsley contains large quantities of vitamin C, sage naturally balances hormones, ginger boosts circulation and garlic is essential for heart health. Use a wide variety of fresh herbs in the kitchen and make your own herbal teas.
Healthy Food Tips: Selenium Rich Foods
Selenium is a potent antioxidant that was discovered as recently as 1973. This is another mineral which cancer patients are often deficient in so pack plenty of fresh tuna fish, brazil nuts, wheat germ, molasses, whole-wheat bread, sunflower and pumpkin seeds into your diet.
Healthy Food Tips: Vitamin E
Known as alpha-tocopherol, Vitamin E is essential for healthy eyes, heart function, circulation and premature ageing. It also improves the digestion of fat and protein foods. This vitamin is destroyed by cooking and freezing, so a high intake of raw fresh produce is essential. It is found in sesame seeds, Tahini, almonds, hazel nuts, Brazil nuts, oats, avocados, asparagus, bananas, lettuce, carrots and celery.
By Rachael Hannan.
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