Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : February 16, 2017 2:27 PM IST
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide with 8.2 million deaths accounted as per WHO statistics. Not just this, every year nearly 1.1 million new cases of cancer are reported, of which 3.3 million people in India are affected at any given point. Moreover, according to a report by National Cancer Institute (NCI) which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), every 13th new cancer patient in the world is an Indian. And the only way to beat cancer is through awareness. Dr Vikas Goswami, Senior Consultant Oncologist at Fortis Hospital, Delhi says, Your lifestyle habits, especially your diet, namely what you eat, plays a vital role in the development of cancer. Firstly, exposure to ingested substances that initiate cancer (carcinogens) and secondly exposure to substances in the diet that can either enhance or inhibit the growth of the cancerous cells. These include compounds that influence our immune system as well as those that have a direct effect on cancer cells. And eating a healthy and balanced diet can go a long way in lowering your risk of cancer. Hence, Dr Goswami has shared few tips on how to fight cancer through diet.
Include plant based products in diet: As compared to animal products, plant-based products are known to exert a healthy effect o the body. Hence, eat generous amounts of vegetables and moderate amounts of fruits, salads, beans and cereals in your diet. Here are more ways to change your food habits and prevent cancer!
Consume omega-3 fatty acids: Make sure you have omega-3 fats either through foods or supplements as it has cancer-fighting properties. The foods that are rich in omega-3 fats are walnuts, flax seeds and cold-water fish like salmon and sardines.
Eat more and more yoghurt: This is because yoghurt contains good bacteria which aids in the production of vitamin B12 and other essential metabolites that are known to prevent cancer of the gut. Moreover, these metabolites also aid in the metabolism of fats, thereby further lowering the risk of cancer. Also read about reasons you should have curd with every meal.
Reduce meat consumption: It is a wise idea to up your intake of antioxidant-rich fresh fruits and vegetables than loading up on non-vegetarian foods, especially red meat. This is because meat lacks fibre and other nutrients that have been shown to have cancer-protective properties. Also, having meat in abundance, which is often of very high levels of saturated fat, can put you at risk of obesity and other health problems, which can lead to cancer in future.
Stay hydrated: Yes, because it not only helps you to met your daily dose of water, moisturise your body but also help you to flush put toxins from the body. As free radicals can put you at risk of cancer, it is wise to load up water intake even if you are not feeling thirsty. Keep your fluid level high; drink water throughout your day. Here are 10 ways you can increase your water intake.
Wash your veggies and fruits properly: There is a high risk of contamination as fruits and vegetables are sprayed with pesticides. And hence, it is important o wash vegetables and fruits with not just water but in a different way by using vinegar and salt. Take a cup of white vinegar and three cups of water, add a spoon of baking soda and keep in a spray can. This is useful in removing wax and bacteria, especially from over-glossy products such as apples which are usually wax coated these days.
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