Top 15 foods to help fight cervical cancer
There has been innumerable research on ways to prevent and fight cervical cancer, and much of this emphasises on following a plant-based diet as a method to fight it. Researchers are of the view that regular consumption of some specific types of foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole-grains can protect against this cancer.
Cervical cancer is caused by an HPV or Human Papillomavirus infection and any diet that is rich in carotenoids, antioxidants, folate, and flavonoids can help the body to fight this.
Superfoods to fight cervical cancer
Avocados: One can include avocados in their diet because these are excellent sources of healthy fats, rich in folate and are tasty and nutritious too.
Broccoli: This has extraordinary compounds that can get rid of carcinogenic toxins, induce apoptosis inside cancer cells, stop DNA mutation, and prevent benign tumors from growing into malignant ones.
Citrus fruits: Adding more citrus fruits in the diet to get vitamin C can be very beneficial for cervix health. Oranges and lemons are excellent choices of citrus fruits; for those who do not like fruits, they can get their daily dose of vitamin C from Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes can help prevent this type of cancer. Incidentally, foods rich in lycopene like tomatoes help to promote cervical health.
Leafy greens: Spinach, collard greens, and kale are perfect choices for dark, green, leafy veggies as these have a high folate content and can promote cervix health.
Papaya: This fruit is a nutritional powerhouse and one of the best sources of vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin. This combination is found to be highly effective for reducing the risks of cervical cancer.
Raspberries: These are loaded with nutrients and low in calories. Daily consumption of this fruit can prevent cells from getting infected with HPV. A reason for this is ellagic acid in raspberries which has anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties.
Green tea: It is not only beneficial for losing weight but also contains catechins which are highly effective for protection against cell damage by free radicals. Green tea suppresses urokinase, an enzyme that plays a vital role in metastasizing cancer cells.
Asparagus: Asparagus has high amounts of glutathione which is an antioxidant and is known to reduce the risks of cervical cancer. It boosts the immune system, protects cells from damage by free radicals, and detoxifies carcinogens.
Arugula: This is a cruciferous vegetable that is loaded with nutrients and is an excellent alternative to lettuce. It contains glucosinolates that get converted into isothiocyanates when one chews the plant; these isothiocyanates can neutralize carcinogens to prevent the growth of cancer cells.
Fish roe: Fish eggs are unarguably the best sources of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.
Horseradish: This contains glucosinolates which are phytochemicals capable of eliminating carcinogens that can trigger cervical cancer.
Cherries: They contain POH or Perillyl Alcohol that helps destroy cancer cells.
Salmon: Salmon offers great protection against this cancer by being an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin which is a carotenoid that can destroy free radicals.
Turmeric: This spice gives food a yellow color and contains many cancer-fighting properties that can identify cancer cells and induce self-destruction in them without damaging the surrounding healthy cells.