About 14,000 people die from bladder cancer each year, according to the Clinic of Urology in Milwaukee, Wis. Risk factors for bladder cancer include obesity, cigarette smoking, tobacco use and a diet lacking in fruits and vegetables. Consuming a balanced and healthy diet and staying physically active may drastically decrease your risk of bladder cancer. Furthermore, eating foods that will beat bladder cancer might lower your risk even more.
Selenium
According to a Medical News Today article from Sept. 1, 2010, incorporating selenium-rich foods in your diet can help lower your risk of developing bladder cancer. Selenium is an essential mineral that serves as an antioxidant inside your body and aids in reducing cell damage. Medical News Today states that reduced quantities of selenium in the body have been connected to a greater chance of bladder cancer. Healthy sources of selenium consist of Brazil nuts, ground beef, cod, poultry, eggs, oatmeal and walnuts.
Fruits and Vegetables
According to Mayo Clinic, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables can help prevent bladder cancer and promote one's health after the onset of cancer. However, some other studies have not uncovered this benefit. Healthy fruits like strawberries, cherries, kiwi, oranges and nectarines may aid in cancer prevention. Some vegetable choices, such as dark greens like broccoli, spinach, mustard greens and kale, are rife with antioxidants. Others include potatoes, cauliflower, beets and radishes.
Green Tea
Green tea consists of cancer-fighting epigallocatechin gallate, also known as EGCG. Consuming EGCG-rich green tea, decreases bladder cancer risk, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, which also reports that a consistent green tea intake may possibly enhance survival rates of bladder cancer patients.
Vitamin E Foods
According to a ScienceDaily article from March 31, 2004, ingesting vitamin E-rich foods every day may reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 40 percent. It is a powerful antioxidant found in walnuts, almonds, olive oil, wheat germ and spinach.
References
- Clinic of Urology: Screening and Testing for Bladder Cancer
- Mayo Clinic; Bladder Cancer: Alternative Medicine; April 10, 2010
- Medical News Today: Bladder Cancer Risk May Be Decreased By Increasing Selenium Intake; Sept. 1, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- ScienceDaily; One Form Of Vitamin E Appears Beneficial In Reducing Bladder Cancer Risk; March 31, 2004
