Some simple ways to reduce the risk of Cancer

As the days go by, doctors are discovering more and more new causes of cancer. Every day thousands of people are dying from this deadly disease. Every person has the possibility of developing cancer at some point in their life. But the good news is that most cancers—whether genetic or environmental—are preventable. Doctors have mentioned simple ways to reduce the risk of life-threatening cancer, which if followed, cancer will run away from the doorstep-

Eat anti-cancer foods: These foods include fruits and vegetables. Include enough fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Cut them and wash them just before cooking. But make sure that the pieces are not too small. The bigger the pieces, the more vitamins there will be. If the pieces are small, the vitamins are destroyed by exposure to oxygen.

Vitamins are an important factor in the diet, as they fight cancer very well. Fiber in fruits and vegetables flushes out cancer cells from your body. According to researchers, those who eat the most fruits and vegetables are half as likely to die from cancer. These foods reduce the risk of cancer by 50 percent.

Eat cruciferous vegetables: Researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo conducted a study of 489 people to see how genetic and nutritional factors increased their risk of colon and rectal cancer. Certain foods reduce the risk of this type of cancer by 40 percent. These foods include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and turnips. In ancient times these vegetables were used as herbs. They contain a chemical called ‘Sulforaphane’, which is a very powerful anti-cancer compound.

Drink more water: Drink more than four glasses of water a day. The data is surprising, no doubt. Researchers at the University of Washington conducted a survey of 462 men and found that those who drank more than four glasses of water a day had a 32 percent lower risk of colon cancer. You don’t need to be thirsty to drink water. Drink more than four glasses of water throughout the day. Many prefer to drink other beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol or coffee instead of water. But they are not a substitute for water.

Exercise properly: As everyone knows, exercise is the best way to stay healthy in life. But did you know, exercise also reduces the risk of cancer? A Harvard University study of 48,000 people found that those who exercised regularly had a 50 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Not only does exercise improve the body’s immune system, but exercise speeds up the movement of food through the intestines, preventing cancer-causing substances from taking up residence in the intestines.

Eat tomato chutney: Harvard University researchers conducted a study on 48,000 men. It was found that those who regularly ate tomato-based foods had a 21 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer. And those who ate two to four times a day reduced by 34 percent. Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called ‘lycopene’. But don’t ever think of eating tomato juice or salad to get the benefits of tomatoes. Either make a sauce with tomatoes and eat it or make a chutney and eat it. You can get anti-cancer antioxidants only from cooked tomatoes.

Add soybeans to the diet: Soybeans reduce the risk of cancer, but it is not known exactly how much. Soybeans contain phytoestrogens, which fight prostate and breast cancer. Soybean’s most powerful anti-cancer component is ‘genistein’. It does not allow any blood vessels to form around the new tumor. A study found that Japanese men who ate more soybeans were less likely to suffer from prostate cancer. When you make the bread, mix the soybeans into the flour. Add some soybeans while cooking any food.

Eat more grains: Canadian researchers conducted a study of 15,000 people and found that those who ate the most grains cut their risk of colon and rectal cancer in half. The researchers also found that eating 13 grams of extra fiber per day reduced the risk of colon and rectal cancer by 32 percent.

Eat Onion and Onion Chops: Eating onions or onion chops regularly can reduce the risk of cancer by 50 percent. Onions contain anti-bacterial properties and ‘allylic sulphides’. It is a powerful anti-cancer agent. Allyl sulfides inactivate cancer-causing agents. A four-year study of 3,123 people in the Netherlands found that those who ate half an onion a day had a halved risk of stomach cancer.

(Source:- Dr. Mizanur Rahman Kallol, Surgeon, Dhaka National Medical College Hospital)

(Irfan Amin Patwary, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh)