According to the US National Library of Health, cancer is the growth of atypical cells that cannot be controlled and causes diseases. Normally our cells divide and grow. But there are instances when these cells will continue to grow uncharacteristically that the body does not need them. There are also cases when the cell should die, but instead, they continue to grow. These cases are example of cancer.

In this day and age, there are an increasing number of people developing cancers. According to several studies, this is due mostly =to the environmental factors. While genetics play a significant role, since some families are most mostly prone to the development of the disease, the environment is mostly blamed these days. Chemicals found in food and items that come in contact to our body, excessive consumption of alcohol, viruses, obesity and even sunlight have been the reasons for cancer development.

The best way is to protect ourselves from acquiring cancer. Take note that once one has develop cancer, there is turning back anymore. So it is best to find all protection, and one of the best ways is to choose fruits that have shown to fight cancer.

1. Berries

   There are several types of berries with varying degrees of health effects. But almost all berries are effective in fighting cancer. The popular berries are strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry and cranberries. All of them contains vitamin C. But among the known berries, strawberries have the highest amount of vitamin C content. Just a cup of strawberries can already provide about 140 percent of the required daily value for this particular vitamin. Blueberries can only offer about 36 percent, raspberries 54 percent and cranberries approximately 20 percent. With vitamin C alone, berries can help in fighting cancer since vitamin C acts as a scavenger for free radicals. If free radicals are reduced in the body’s system, the amount of inflammation is reduced and there is reduction in the growth of cancer cells. But aside from vitamin C, all types of berries contain phytonutrients that are especially relevant in preventing cancer. Blueberries is highly rich in phytonutrients that also functions as antioxidant and anticancer.

2. Grapes

   Just a cup of grapes can provide 33 percent of the daily requirement of manganese. Grapes also provide the body with vitamins B1, B6, C and K. It also gives the body some amount of calcium, with only 61 calories. Not all grapes are created the same. But all of them contain cancer-protecting phytonutrients, such as stilbenes, flavonols, phenolic acid and carotenoids. Grapes by nature are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Combining these two functions assures that by eating grapes, there is protection from developing cancer. Breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer has been found out in thorough research to be prevented when one increases their diet of grapes. Grapes must be taken fully ripe and the deeper is its color, the more its capacity to fight cancer.

3. Tomatoes

   Advertisements of tomato sauce and other tomato products will never miss its cancer-fighting characteristics. Tomatoes have long been studied and have shown to contain nutrients that are specific to fight cancer. For one, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C. Just a cup of tomatoes can already provide the body with 38 percent of vitamin C daily requirement. But what makes tomato popular is the phytonutrient lycopene. Lycopene is what gives tomato its red color. But even if tomato is not as deeply red, it is still beneficial in fighting cancer. So far, among the cancer types, prostate cancer has been studied in relationship to tomatoes. And the studies showed that prostate cancer can indeed be prevented if tomato diet is increased. The key here is alpha-tomatine, a phytonutrient that can change how prostate cancer cells develop; alpha-tomatine also causes developed cancer cells to cause suicide, which is a positive concept when wanting to prevent cancer.

4. Avocadoes

   Adding avocadoes to fresh salads is not just about garnishing, it’s also about health. Just a cup of avocado can already provide the 39 percent daily value for fiber, 24.3 percent for vitamin C, 20.2 percent vitamin B5 and 19 percent vitamin B6. It also provides 38.3 percent of vitamin K’s required daily allowance. These nutrients serve as antioxidants, which help in preventing the development of cancer cells. Mixed with avocadoes’ anti-inflammatory benefits through its phytonutrients, its antioxidant characteristics makes avocado an effective anticancer fruit. More researches on its anticancer capacity are still under way. But the preliminary findings show that avocadoes are effective in preventing mouth and skin cancer, as well as prostate cancers.

5. Grapefruit

   Grapefruit is rich in vitamin C, an effective antioxidant. Just a half of regular grapefruit, about 128 grams, can already provide 73.3 percent of vitamin C daily value. It also provides 23.7 percent of vitamin A. Grapefruit may be red and pink color, and having this color makes it rich in lycopene. With lycopene, growing tumors are reduced. In a study published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it shows that prostate cancer is prevented when foods rich in lycopene is included in the diet; and it is strengthened more if paired with green tea. Aside from the prostate cancer, lung and colon cancer is also prevented when there is increased consumption of grapefruit. Studies shows that those who drink at least 6 ounce of grapefruit daily will decrease the activity of the enzyme that has been causing lung cancer for those who smoke tobacco. If smoking cannot be prevented, therefore, it might do well to drink grapefruit daily.

6. Papaya

   Just about 300 grams of papaya can already provide the body with 313 percent of vitamin C requirement, 66.5 percent of vitamin A and 28.8 percent of folate. These nutrients alone make papaya an effective cancer fighting fruit. But papaya has more. Papaya is highly rich in lycopene. Eating papaya daily and pairing it with green tea can help prevent the development of prostate cancer, according to case-control studies conducted. Papaya is also rich in papain and chymopapain, enzymes that help in the reduction of inflammation. When there is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity by a certain fruit, such as papaya, there is also stronger anticancer activity.

7. Lemons

   Taking half a cup of juiced lemons can already provide the body with at least a hundred percent of vitamin C requirement. Lemons have been known to have healing properties. But what are significant about this fruit are its antioxidant effects. The vitamin C in lemon performs by scavenging on the free radicals that has been a result of oxidation. When there is too much of free radicals, the body will experience oxidative stress that can result to cancer. Taking fruits rich in vitamin C, such as lemons, can help prevent the development of cancers.

Sources
lifescript.com
cancure.org
whfoods.org