5 Foods That Help Hinder Cancerous Tumor Growth

by Alexa Erickson, Collective Evolution

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide. And while the focus thus far has centred largely on ways to heal this disease, an equal or greater emphasis needs to be placed on ways to prevent it. Our lifestyle choices have a lot to do with our overall well-being, as well as our risk of contracting serious illnesses, and there are a variety of functional foods that can serve to not just keep us healthy, but even kill cancer cells.

There are a plethora of proteins, enzymes, and codings in our immune system that can work to kill cancer cells. Many may feel like cancer cannot be defeated by the human immune system alone, but that’s simply not true; rather, it is what we choose to put in our bodies that can either prohibit these cells or allow them to thrive. Toxins through food and chemical pollution can hinder the immune system’s natural function to work properly and keep cancer cells at bay, but if we choose to eat well regularly, we do ourselves a multitude of favors.

Here are 5 foods that you may already have in your home that can suppress the growth of tumor development.

1. Turmeric

A vibrant spice rich in taste, it is the curcumin in turmeric that works wonders. An extremely powerful antioxidant, it is well-known for its many health benefits, and research has found that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects work to inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Over 700 turmeric studies have found it a suitable tool for warding off chronic, debilitating diseases without causing negative side effects in the process. Circumin also promotes anti-angiogenesis, which means that it can help prevent the development of the additional blood supply which cancer cells rely on to grow.

2. Green Tea

If you’re a tea drinker, green tea ought to be at the top of your list, as the group of plant flavonoids called catechins it contains have been found to provide some incredible health benefits to the body. Research has found that green tea’s primary catechin, called epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), can block tumor necrosis factor (TNF) naturally. In fact, scientists at Purdue University concluded that: “In the presence of EGCg, the cancer cells literally failed to grow or enlarge after division. Then, presumably because they did not reach the minimum size needed to divide, they underwent programmed cell death, or apoptosis.”

3. Tomatoes

This hearty fruit has been found to cut chances of developing coronary heart disease as well as lowering the risk of several types of cancer. For instance, lycopene, part of the carotenoid family that gives red fruits and vegetables their color, is a free-radical fighting chemical that tomatoes possess in high concentrations. One study found that high intake of tomatoes and tomato products, particularly tomato sauce, reduced risk of total prostate cancer by 35% and aggressive prostate cancer by 53%.

4. Garlic

This popular vegetable, often used as a flavoring in cooking, is high in sulfur, and contains arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and selenium, all of which have been touted for their many health benefits. Studies have found a link between an increased intake of garlic and reduced risk of cancers including stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast. In the Iowa Women’s Health Study of 127 foods, tested with 41,387 women, garlic was found to be the only fruit or vegetable to produce an effect. The researchers concluded that one or more servings of fresh garlic a week was attributed to a 35% less risk of colon cancer, and 50% less distal colon cancer.