Foods that Prevent Cancer and Cancer Causing Foods, by Dr. Leia Melead

Question for Dr. Leia: I have had several members of my family die from cancer which concerns me and makes me wonder
if I may be prone to getting cancer, too.

I know that a poor diet can weaken the body and the immune system and my
Dad was a terrible eater. I get really confused when I read information about what foods are good and what are
bad foods, as so many reports contradict each other. Makes my head spin.

Could you help me out and give me an idea
of foods that prevent cancer. I would love a list of anti cancer foods so that I can be conscious of what I eat.
Is there really such a thing as cancer prevention food? Foods that are affordable and can fit into the average
person’s lifestyle. While your at it a list of cancer causing foods would help me know what I should avoid, too.

Thank you, so very much, Shelly.

Dr. Leia’s Answer: Dear Shelly, because of the prevalence of increased risk of cancer
from contaminants such as pesticides, chemicals in our environment, and other pollutants, the search for foods which
help to prevent cancer, and foods which may be carcinogenic, or cancer causing, is currently a very hot health topic.
Researchers are just finding out that certain common foods contain important substances which can help to shrink
tumors or help to prevent various types of cancers.

Here is an incomplete list of valuable cancer prevention foods or cancer fighting foods to make an important part
of your diet:

1. Tomatoes – contain an important substance called lycopene, an anti-oxidant, which has been found to help
   prevent cancer of all types, especially prostate cancer, when combined with Vitamin E.
2. Garlic
3. Green tea – used both internally for cancer prevention and topically to prevent skin cancer.
4. Almonds
5. Flax seeds and flax oil
6. All cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and spinach and other green leafy vegetables have been shown
   to ward off non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Taking 20 servings or more of green leafy vegetables each week showed a
   42% decrease in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
7. Raw fruit and vegetables – contains enzymes which are destroyed by cooking, and these enzymes help the
   cells to stay healthy.
8. Pomegranate juice – one glass per day has been shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer.
9. Walnuts – contain melatonin, an important sleep hormone which has anti-carcinogenic properties. Also make
   sure that you get enough sleep in a dark room without any lights. Melatonin production requires darkness.
10. Honey – trials in England shows promising results with mouth and throat cancers.
11. Peaches and nectarines – are being studied in Jerusalem and show anti-cancer properties. Apples which contain
    pectin have strong anti-carcinogenic properties also.
12. Tea – one cup of regular black tea taken for six months has shown to prevent bile stones and bile stasis,
    which could contribute to biliary tract cancer.
13. Beans – an important form of fiber needed by the body to prevent cancer.
14. Yogurt and acidophilus products
15. Low fat – keep the percentage of fat in the diet below 20%, and decrease or stop eating animal fat. Vegan
    diets have been linked to a lower rate of cancer than do red meat diets. 16. Buy organic if possible. Pesticides,
    sprays, chemicals, and hormones have all been linked to increased cancer rates.

Foods to stay away from that can be cancer causing foods include:

1. Red meat – especially if it is well-done, burnt or charred.
2. Nitrites and nitrosamines – chemicals which are found in cold cut meats and preserved products. They can
   cause cancer of the colon and gastrointestinal tract.
3. High animal fat and trans fats.
4. Alcohol
5. Pesticide or chemically sprayed foods
6. Junk food which contains high amounts of fat or empty calories.
7. Fried foods

In addition to watching the foods which you eat, try to keep off excess body weight and fat, and have a regular
exercise program or regimen.

And do not smoke. Keep the stress levels low in your life, and be sure to get enough
sleep every night so that you can deal with life’s major ups and downs.

All in all, a well-balanced, healthy diet
and life style is extremely important to your good health. Because certain types of cancers can be hereditary,
it is important to visit your doctor regularly and to be sure to get all the regular check-ups and laboratory testing
that your doctor recommends.

By Dr. Leia Melead

Giant Book of Kitchen Counter Cures

Would you like to learn about 117 foods that fight cancer,

• diabetes,
• heart disease,
• arthritis,
• osteoporosis,
• memory loss,
• bad digestion

and hundreds of other health problems?

Nutrition writers Cicero and Pierre offer an encyclopedic look at 117 foods they say can help stave off cancer,
diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and a dozen other health problems increasingly common in our fast-food nation.

The authors arrange the foods alphabetically, mixing herbs, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and dairy, and for each
entry they provide a simple synopsis of health benefits, useful sidebars on selection and storage, and a suggested
recipe.

Foodies may be disappointed with the authors’ reliance on frozen and prepared foods: the Ginger Butternut Soup recipe
calls for frozen butternut squash , and the Stressful-Day Soy Stir-fry uses bottled teriyaki marinade.

However, if time-strapped cooks don’t mind some pre-made ingredients or the punchy prose (“Get Hooked on It,” the
authors say of fish; they also describe corn as “A Bite for Sore Eyes”), this volume presents a wealth
of easily digestible knowledge for healthful eating.

More information on this can be found in our free online health magazine.