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7 antioxidant-rich Indian spices to lower your risk of cancer

Here's why you should add ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and saffron to your diet!

Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : July 6, 2016 11:14 AM IST

Cancer

Many Indian spices are known to lower your risk of cancer. The antioxidant activity in the spices exerts a chemoprotective effect. Here is a list of 7 Indian spices you must add in your diet to reap the benefits.

Garlic

Garlic: Including garlic in your diet can lower the incidence of breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, uterine cancer, oesophageal cancer and lung cancer. It also serves as an antioxidant and also plays a key role to suppress the formation of nitrosamine, which is the common mechanism that inhibits cancer growth [1]. Also Read - Foods For Stamina: Top 7 Healthy Foods To Increase Body Energy

Ginger

Ginger: This spice contains gingerols and zingerone, which also plays a key role in prevention and treatment of cancer [1]. The anti-inflammatory compounds also reduce inflammation and lowers your risk of cancer, including prostate cancer.

Cardamom

Cardamom: Studies [1] have shown that cardamom has powerful antioxidant properties but also inhibits carcinogenesis due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and proapoptotic activities. It also enhances the activity of detoxifying enzymes and decreases lipid peroxidation.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon: The presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme aids in the protection against oxidative damage from free radicals. It is revealed that cinnamon extracts also suppresses the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria, which is a known risk factor for various types of cancer namely pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and lymphoma of the gastric mucosa [1]. Also Read - Dengue: Risks And Actions To Prevent It

Clove

Clove: Packed with bioactive compounds like tannins, terpenoids and eugenol, use of cloves in Indian cuisine aids in cancer prevention. It not only helps in cellular detoxification processes but also improves the ability of cells to deal with harmful compounds that can lead to cancer [1].

Cumin

Cumin: Cumin seeds are loaded with thymoquinone, a compound known to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and chemoprotective propertives. The compound suppresses tumor cell growth of ovarian carcinoma, osteosracoma and colorectal carcinoma [1]. Also Read - What is White Lung Syndrome? Here is what you need to know