Cancer continues to be one of the most feared diseases globally. Although significant progress has been made in medical research, cancer treatment remains a challenging task. However, advancements in our understanding of how cancer spreads might increase the chances of survival.
Cancer can originate and spread anywhere in the body. If you can stop the spread, you increase your chances of fighting cancer. Fortunately, research has shown that the ability to combat cancer may be on your plate. Vegetarian foods contain compounds that activate cancer-fighting genes, according to a study at Washington State University. Conversely, junk food offers far fewer benefits in this regard.
Lead researcher Gary Meadows found that over 40 plant-based compounds can turn on the genes that slow cancer spread. Meadows sees the spread of cancer as the most significant factor in the disease’s fatality and believes that diet, nutrients, and plant-based chemicals could open numerous lines of attack.
He says: “We’re always looking for a magic bullet. Well, there are lots of magic bullets out there in what we eat and associated with our lifestyle. We need to take advantage of those, and they can work together.”
The study enhanced the recognition of the role of natural compounds in helping our bodies slow or stop cancer spread. The numerous studies investigating the relationship between nutrients and metastasis suppressor genes indicate that more research into the genes is needed.
Moreover, the research findings could represent a change from preventing cancer to living with it and stopping it from spreading. Meadows states that only recently have researchers started to concentrate on cancer in its environment and considering the entire body as an environment that is crucial in the process of cancer spread.
A lot of research has looked into the cancer-protecting benefits of particular foods. Foods rich in phytonutrients are at the top of the list for being the most protective. Fruits and vegetables should be consumed to reduce the risk of cancer.
As for food to avoid, fatty junk food should be at the top of the list. Research from Temple University shows that fatty foods increase a person’s risk of colon cancer. Scientists discovered that genes involved in breaking down carbohydrates and fats operate differently in people with colon cancer. Fatty junk foods not only present numerous health problems but also offer no advantages in the fight against cancer.
According to lead author Carmen Sapienza, “These foods are changing the methylation patterns on a person’s insulin genes so that they express differently, pumping out more insulin than the body requires. Insulin is only supposed to be expressed in your pancreas, so having this extra insulin is bad.”
Eating your vegetables is, therefore, critical in the fight against cancer and the promotion of overall well-being. By incorporating more plant-based compounds into our daily diets and avoiding unhealthy junk food, we can create an environment in our bodies that is unfavorable for cancer growth and spread, increasing our chances of living with and eventually beating the disease.
