|
Cancer is fast emerging as the number one killer in most countries, leaving heart diseases a distant second. India too is no exception. A frightening news item appearing in the national dailies quoted heath researchers revealing the fact that one in eight women in an urban metropolis like Chennai, was suffering from some form of cancer. Enough to send shivers down the spine! But what one should be aware is the fact that almost 80% of cancers can be prevented as their causes are identifiable - like smoking for instance.
What exactly is cancer?
Cancerous cells are mutated human cells that grow beyond control and begin to interfere with the normal functions of the body. They also have the capacity to spread very fast and can invade several parts of our body at the same time.
Can cancer be prevented?
Diet plays a very crucial part in cancer prevention. A low fat, high fibre diet that helps good digestion and boosts the immunity can help lower the risk of cancer to a great extent. Vegetables for example, are very rich is fibre whereas animal products contain almost no fibre. Try and eat fruits and vegetables that are in their natural state - nothing like a good bowl of greens and fresh salads to boost your immunity! Eating fruits rather than juices adds to the fibre intake. Whole grains, legumes, nuts of all kinds are all great foods for fibre. A vegetarian diet is incomplete without a smattering of all these foods.
While you are carefully monitoring your diet to include these healthy items, pay attention also to those that you must exclude. These are essentially high fatty stuff like deep fried dishes, synthetic products that have no nutritional value, pickles, barbecued meats and of course, alcohol.
A wholesome vegetarian diet reduces sharply the prevalence of colon, breast and prostate cancer. Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce have been proved to be cancer preventive. Soya too is an important food that is actually anticarcinogenic. A vegetarian diet is not only wholesome, but can actively prevent cancers like colon cancer which occurs mostly in meat eaters and is one of the highest killers in the world.
Other preventive methods include plenty of exercise (at least half an hour daily) and adequate intake of water.
Remember, prevention is always better than cure!
| 
