According to the Harvard School of Public Health, smoking and other forms of tobacco use are the number one cause of cancer. While this plays a significant role in the onset of lung cancer, dietary habits can also attribute to the development as well. Consumption of certain foods may promote lung cancer, while others can help prevent it.
Fruits and Vegetables
Foods derived from plant sources like fruits and vegetables can help prevent lung cancer, as well as many other forms of cancer. They are rich with antioxidants that combat cancer causing free radicals, and they contain phytochemicals which also have cancer fighting properties. Try kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, avocados, blueberries, blackberries, cherries and citrus fruits for a healthy dose of antioxidants.
Lean Proteins
Lean protein sources like fish, turkey, beans and chicken can help prevent lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, you should avoid processed meat and red meat as part of your cancer prevention diet. Be aware of how your meat is cooked. It is favorable to broil or bake your meat, but frying, charbroiling and searing it over charcoal grills can infuse cancer causing carcinogens into the food.
Green Tea
Green tea is rich with antioxidant compounds that protect the lungs from free radical damage. The main antioxidant in green tea, EGCG, helps reduce lung inflammation and protect lung cells from damage. According to the Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute in Japan, drinking at least 10 or more cups of green tea daily can reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Red Wine
According to a research study published in the American Association for Cancer Research, a high consumption of beer and hard alcohol may increase the likelihood of lung cancer, however, red wine consumption actually decreases it. This is great news for wine lovers. The resveratrol and antioxidant compounds found in grapes and red wine decrease the risk of lung cancer. One drink per day for women, and two per day for men, is the limit to maximize the cancer fighting benefits of red wine.
References
- Harvard School of Public Health: The 10 commandments of cancer prevention
- American Cancer Society: ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention
- Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute:A new function of green tea: prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.
- American Association for Cancer Research: Associations between Beer, Wine, and Liquor Consumption and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis
