Ovarian Cancer Diet
Ovarian cancer is on the rise and can attack women of all ages. Even though it makes up only 3% of cancers in woman, that 3% still amounts to almost 14,000 deaths per year. With the right diet and exercise plan, we can bring this number down.
The biggest risk factors for Ovarian Cancer are family history and genetics which is why most doctors and patients are turning to the foods we eat as a cure. Studies have shown that approximately 1/3rd of all cancers can be prevented by proper diet. Some foods that have been known to protect against ovarian cancer are Endive, Tomato, Onion and Fish.
Endive is a vegetable found in any produce section of a grocery store and is usually yellow or white in color and is best used in salads. Studies from the Netherlands have shown that woman who ate a diet including Endive had a 75% reduction in the risk of Ovarian cancer. Endive contains kaempferol, a cancer fighting agent that is also found in vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. When kaempferol is exposed to cancer cells, researches have shown that the cancer cells cannot grow and divide. In fact, those cancer cells die. The recommended amount of Endive is half a cup twice a week.
We are all familiar with tomatoes but what you may not be aware is that in a recent study done in California, the risk of Ovarian cancer was reduced by over 60% in woman who ate half a cup of tomatoes at least 5 times a week. The best way to get the cancer fighting agents out of a tomato is actually to cook it. You may want to switch to stewing your tomatoes and making your own spaghetti sauce rather than buying it from a jar to get this extra ingredient into your diet.
Onions may be strong tasting but they are packed full of cancer fighting agents such as apigenin, anthocyanin, myricetin and quercetin. If you don’t enjoy the strong after breath of an onion, you may prefer to use a red onion instead. Red Onions are approximately 60% more potent than white or yellow onions when it comes to these previously mentioned cancer fighters so it is a great choice. It is also a little easier on the breath. Unlike the tomato, these are best eaten raw rather than cooked. If you just can’t handle a raw onion, you may want to try to sauté it lightly just don’t over do it.
Fish is a great cancer fighting food because it is full of Omega fatty acids, particularily, omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are known as an anti-angiogenic so they help to starve cancer cells. The biggest controvery right now is over Omega-3s and Mercury in fish. To get the Omegas you want without all the mercury, you may want to consider fish options such as salmon, mackerel or sardines. Cod and sea bass are also great options if you don’t like the stronger tasting fish such as salmon or sardines.
You may also want to start taking an acai berry supplement. Research has shown that a supplement such as the acai berry may be able to provide you with a number of benefits.
You can buy the best organic acai berry products here.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any diseases.