Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.”
Taking off from this popular saying, the phrase “you are what you eat” indeed holds true. Healthy and nutrient-rich food is needed by the body to function optimally, from our organs down to our tiniest cells.
Our diet plays a huge role in creating a good foundation for the body’s cells to be able to regenerate and repair. The current cells we have may get damaged daily from the stress of everyday life. Good food feeds the cells the nourishment they need. This is why the World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of having a healthy diet in the prevention of dreaded diseases such as cancer.
Minimizing Risk of Cancer
While there is no type of lifestyle that is guaranteed to prevent cancer, food choices can make a huge difference in lowering risks of developing the illness and even help those who are already afflicted with the disease. By avoiding food that increase risk of cancer, your immune system is boosted, allowing your body to fight the growth of tumor cells. Here are some simple ways to alter your diet:
- Load up your body with antioxidants, which are commonly found in plant-based food such as fruits, green leafy vegetables, berries, whole grains and nuts, to name a few. Regular consumption of these would boost your immune system and help keep your digestive system clean.
- Make sure to get a good, regular helping of good and healthy fat. Healthy fats can be consumed from salmon, olive oil, avocados, and eggs. Also consume the anti-oxidant lycopene which can be found in red and pink food such as tomatoes, guavas, and watermelons. They protect against free radicals that is linked to cancer and heart diseases.
Food to be Minimized
While there are highly recommended food, there are also certain types that should be consumed minimally. Regular consumption of these has been linked to many ailments, apart from cancer, that include obesity and diabetes. Here is a short list of food that should be consumed in moderation:
- Food containing trans fat
These can usually be found in processed or fried food. Examples of food containing trans fat would be cookies, cakes, pizzas, French fries and fried chicken.
- Food with saturated fat
Though food with saturated fat need not be completely avoided, it is good to limit the consumption of them. You can usually get saturated fat from red meat and dairy products.
- Sugary food and refined carbs
These would include white rice, white bread, cereals, pastas, cakes, ice cream and other desserts.
It is good to observe measures that would help prevent cancer such as following a clean and nutrient-dense diet.
Along with a healthy diet, early detection of cancer through regular screening is important to be assured that the body is free from the disease. As many experts in the medical field have expressed, the possible recovery of a cancer patient lies on how early the cancer has been detected. In line with its expanded advocacy of Cancer Game Plan PH, the movement Hope From Within is aggressively pushing for the dissemination of information about the many kinds of cancer and the different types of treatments available in the Philippines.
Apart from the usual routes for treatment, such as radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy, Hope From Within gives information on innovative treatments such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
Working on the premise that the body can fight off cancer cells, should the immune system be boosted, cancer patients who undergo immunotherapy go through immune building during treatment. That way, their body will be stronger in fighting cancer cells.
Hope From Within: Cancer Game Plan PH also promotes the education of people with regard to early detection of the disease. They urge everyone to undergo screening procedures, so treatment can be administered immediately. To support cancer patients, Hope From Within offers information about various treatment subsidies to help patients get the treatment that will work best for them. To find out more about the advocacy, visit https://hopefromwithin.org.
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