Before we dive into foods that prevent cancer, here is a rule of thumb for food in general…
Eat your food like medicine, or you will eat your medicine like food.
We are all becoming more and more aware of the serious effects of food on our health and wellbeing, both physical and mental.
It’s no secret that when we eat nutritiously, we feel good, keep off extra weight, have more energy, sleep well and protect ourselves from developing chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
A common misconception is that we get sick when we discover the symptoms of cancer, but that’s just not true. Cancer is silently growing in our bodies for years and our diet can increase or reduce the risk of what’s to come.
Many foods that prevent cancer contain compounds that fight cancer and other diseases and increase healing inflammation in our bodies.
I got very interested in this topic when I discovered that the most common non-communicable diseases are due to inflammation in the body.
And that we can control inflammationwith lifestyle factors like food, exercise, sleep…stress…
I was amazed to learn that illness grows in the body for years and how my choice of food and living can either heal or hurt me.
So yes, we may and can have cancer cells in the body, but isn’t it amazing that you may never get CANCER, meaning be diagnosed with it. And our diet and lifestyle play a huge role to help that be the case.
I’ve been trying to include more greens and cruciferous veg, nuts, and good fats in my diet. An easy way has been to have green smoothies, make easy swaps with healthy alternatives.
And simply if I crave something then make it at home (as much as possible). And I do believe am succeeding.
Especially when my toddler drinks green smoothies too. And hasn’t asked me for sweets or crisps because he hasn’t even seen enough of it to know what it is!
Here are a few cancer-fighting foods that am eating over the week:
- Broccoli
- Beans
- Berries
- Cinnamon
- Nuts
- Olive oil
- Turmeric
- Flaxseed
- Garlic
- Fatty fish- Mackerel, Salmon
To read more about diet and cancer, visit nutritionfacts.org.
Change comes slowly.
When I first started making changes to my diet, I realized my problem wasn’t that I was eating bad food. But that I wasn’t eating enough nutritious, varied foods.
So, I decide to change slowly as that’s how I wanted to live for the rest of my life. I began adding or swapping to a healthier option, no more than 2 to 3 things in a week.
It was easier to think about adding good stuff than to focus on taking away the bad or not-so-great.
Because I didn’t have to practice letting go or fear missing out as I was full and satisfied with yummy alternatives.
And I still enjoyed treats. I enjoyed them more due to feeling better overall about my diet and looking forward to what I will eat.
This was the way to be, to eat well, feel good and allow food to be a gift it is so that I can be grateful for it and enjoy it as God intended it to be enjoyed.
Instead of feeling down and guilty for eating something.
Miserable and negative about my body image and health and then possibly having poor health as I got older.
HOLISTIC MUSLIMAH
