Cancer Prevention Diet
Did you know that eating curry may help to prevent cancer? It's true!
Scientists have discovered that the extract derived from the bright yellow curry spice tumeric, contains a chemical called curcumin which can be used to destroy cancer cells. Curcumin is currently being tested as a treatment for arthritis and even dementia.
This natural remedy technically causes infected cells to digest themselves after curcumin triggers a lethal death signal in the body, killing off the corruption.
For a long time scientists have suspected curcumin to have potential value for medical science. Interesting research suggests new varieties of treatments directed towards oesophageal cancer could be achieved with the natural substances found in tumeric.
30 to 40% of cancers are directly linked to dietary choices. This Christmas our magic word is prevention. Prevention is better than cure right? Here are some steps towards a more health conscious diet aimed at cancer prevention.
General guildelines for an anti-cancer diet.
Over the last twenty-five years, cancer research has produced dietary guidelines that have become conventional wisdom when it comes to cancer prevention.
The main protection against cancer is a nutritious diet high in vitamins and fibre.
The '5 A Day' program and how can it can help prevent cancer.
Let us treat you to a simple guide to getting enough nutrition in your daily life. In 1991, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Produce for Better Health Foundation launched a campaign to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables to between 5 and 9 servings a day. “There is no specific fruit or vegetable responsible for reducing cancer risk,” says the 5 A Day for Better Health Program website. “Research shows that it is the regular consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables that reduces risk.” Five servings is considered the minimum. For men, the recommendation is nine servings per day; for women, it is seven.
To help people gauge their intake, the 5 A Day website defines a serving size as the amount of fruit or vegetable that can fit in the palm of your hand. The following portions are examples of single serving sizes:
* A small (3/4 cup or 6 oz) glass of 100% fruit or vegeable juice
* A medium-size piece of fruit (an orange, small banana, medium-size apple)
* One cup of raw salad greens * 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables
* 1/2 cup of cut-up fruit or vegetables
* 1/4 cup of dried fruit * 1/2 cup of cooked beans or peas
Strengthen your immune system with lots of juicy fruits and crunchy veggies. Go easy on the meat and fats (especially red meat and bad fats) but be generous with the curry. When it comes to cancer prevention sometimes the spicier the better.
The remarkable healing qualities found in lemon grass & tumeric are essential ingredients in the fight against Cancer.
In fact, tumeric and other members of the Zingiberaceae family of rhizomes have a long history of use in Malaysian traditional medicine. Researchers at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia now report that several members of the Zingiberaceae family effectively block the promotion of cancerous tumors. They tested 11 different species and found that seven of them had strong anti-tumor properties. Their test involved a short-term assay of the inhibitory effect of extracts of the rhizomes (roots) on human cancer cells. They found that turmeric (Curcuma domestica) extracts (turmeric root extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform or ethanol) completely inhibited further growth of the cancer cells. Citral is the key component that gives the lemony aroma and taste in several herbal plants such as lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), Melissa (Melissa officinalis) and verbena (Verbena officinalis).
According to researchers at Ben Gurion University, Isreal, a drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube. The study found that citral causes cancer cells to 'commit suicide: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death’. BGU investigators checked the influence of the citral on cancerous cells by adding them to both cancerous cells and normal cells that were grown in a petri dish. The quantity added in the concentrate was equivalent to the amount contained in a cup of regular tea using one gram of lemon herbs in hot water. While the citral killed the cancerous cells, the normal cells remained unharmed.
So now that you know, why not try out some handy treats containing tumeric and lemongrass, those two secret ingredients vital to your anti cancer diet. Simply open and pour. It’s as easy as that.
For more hot and healthy delights try out WORLDFOODS very own Malaysian Rendang Curry. It makes a great addition to any dish. WORLDFOODS also has many products containing tumeric and lemongrass. Do sample WORLDFOODS Thai Green Curry, WORLDFOODS Malaysian Vegetable Curry, WORLDFOODS Malaysian Rendang Curry and WORLDFOODS Thai Yellow Curry.
