9 Foods Shown to Help Prevent Cancer

Revealed: The 9 foods shown to help prevent breast cancer, from tomatoes to edamame beans…

  • Scientists have studied relationship between vegetables and cancer
  • Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower can prevent cells from DNA damage
  • Oily fish can help to prevent the growth of cancerous tumours 

Diet has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of getting cancer.

There is growing evidence that eating the right foods play an important part in helping to prevent breast cancer.

Some foods, such as oily fish, can prevent the growth of cancerous tumours, while others, such as green leafy vegetables, contain compounds that can help to fight cancer-causing hormones.

Here, Healthista look at nine key foods that can help protect you against breast cancer

Cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, have substances which help stop cells from DNA damage 

Cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, have substances which help stop cells from DNA damage

CRUCIFEROUS VEG

Cruciferous vegetables contain a group of substances, known as glucosinolates, which are sulfur-containing chemicals which cause the bitter flavour and strong scent cruciferous vegetables own.

Cauliflower, garlic, onions and cabbage are all great choices of cruciferous vegetables.

Studies and experiments have shown that these chemicals may help prevent cells from DNA damage and induce cell death which could reduce the risk of cancer.

DARK GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES

Studies have suggested that lutein and zeaxanthin found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale could help reduce risks of breast cancer.

A meta-analysis was carried out to review the relationship between breast cancer and vegetable consumption.

BEANS AND PULSES 

The Nurses Health Study found that the intake of beans and pulses such as lentils and chickpeas was associated with reduced breast cancer risk.

Beans and pulses will offer an excellent source of vegetable protein into your diet, which is especially benefical if avoiding or cutting down on meats.

Beans and pulses also provide nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins.

TOMATOES 

Tomatoes are an excellent choice of fruit for breast cancer, they are exceptionally beneficial due to their high antioxidant level.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which has been proven to lower the risk of getting cancer

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which has been proven to lower the risk of getting cancer

Breast cancer expert, Tara Whyand, an oncology dietitan, explains that consuming fruit such as tomatoes rich in lycopene can help reduce your risk – watermelon and papaya also contain high levels.

Vegetables, like kale, are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and folate

Vegetables, like kale, are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and folate

FRUIT AND VEG

Vegetables and fruits may have a preventative effect against breast cancer, as they are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamins C,E and folate.

They are also an important source of dietary fibre.

Try to include a minimum of five portions (400g) a day.

OMEGA 3 RICH OILY FISH

In studies carried out from Zhejiang University and the APCNS Center of Nutrition researchers looked at the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oily fish such as salmon and tuna.

The analysis concluded that out of a total of over 800,000 women, just over 20,000 actually developed breast cancer during the follow up.

It was shown that the women who had the highest intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish had a 14 per cent reduction in breast cancer compared with the women who had eaten the least amount of fish.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oily fish have been linked to lowering the risk of breast cancer. Extra virgin olive oil is filled with antioxidants and phytonutrients, staving off cancer

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oily fish have been linked to lowering the risk of breast cancer. Extra virgin olive oil is filled with antioxidants and phytonutrients, staving off cancer

OLIVE OIL 

Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice for cooking and adding to salads. It is filled with antioxidants and phytonutrients.

The antioxidants reduce oxidisation in the body which can cause free radicals known to cause cancer.

A study carried out by the University of Navarra in Pamplona, on women that eat a Mediterranean diet showed that those who added extra virgin olive oil into their meals had a 62 percent lower risk of breast cancer over the next five years or so, compared to those with small or no extra virgin olive oil in their diet.

FLAXSEEDS

Flaxseeds contain lignans which researchers found were linked to a lower level of breast cancer risk

Flaxseeds are an excellent food to incorporate into the diet to help prevent risks against breast cancer.

Flaxseeds contains lignans which are the main type of phytoestrogens in the Western diet.

In 2009 researchers looked into studies of women, post-menopause, whose levels of lignans in they diet were high, and found they had reduced breast cancer risk.

SOY: TOFU, MISO SOUP, EDAMAME BEANS  

Naturally-derived soy-rich foods such as edamame beans, tofu, miso and soya milk are another food which is rich in phytoestrogens.

The national cancer institute of the USA found that women with a diet high in soya had less dense breast tissue than women that avoided or had a diet low in soya.

Breast tissue that is of a higher density has been linked to have a higher risk of gaining breast cancer.

One of the active ingredients in soya is isoflavone, which is a chemical very similar to oestrogen which reduces the effect of oestrogen in the body.

It has been shown that high levels of oestrogen can increase breast cancer risk.

This article originally appeared in and has been reproduced with the permission of Healthista

Women with a diet high in soya, which is found in Miso soup. pictured, had less dense breast tissue than women that avoided it. Dense breast tissue is found to carry a higher risk of cancer

Soy-rich diet edamame beans have been found to help the density of breast tissue. Women with a diet high in soya had less dense breast tissue than women that avoided or had a diet low in soya

Soy-rich diet edamame beans have been found to help the density of breast tissue. Women with a diet high in soya had less dense breast tissue than women that avoided or had a diet low in soya