36 Foods That Fight Cancer
Is there such a thing as a cancer-fighting food? Can certain foods actually prevent cancer?
Unfortunately, the answer is "no." There is no food that can starve a cancer cell or lower your risk of developing cancer to zero. Eating healthy foods may reduce your cancer risk but won't eliminate it entirely.
"There are many different causes of cancer," says wellness dietitian Lindsey Wohlford. "But no single food can magically reduce your risk of developing it.”
To reduce your cancer risk through your food choices, Wohlford says it’s best to:
- Focus on foods that come from plants, including vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, fruit and plant-based proteins.
- Make choices that will help you manage your weight.
- Avoid food and drinks that are known to increase your cancer risk.
What are ‘cancer-fighting foods?’
When you see a list of foods described as "cancer-fighting," they are often plants loaded with phytochemicals, also called phytonutrients. Phytochemicals are natural compounds in plants that can help prevent chronic diseases like cancer.
The list is usually topped by:
- berries
- broccoli
- tomatoes
- walnuts
- grapes
- other vegetables, seeds, beans, whole grains, fruits and nuts
"If you look at the typical foods that reduce cancer risk, it's pretty much all plant foods that contain phytochemicals," says Wohlford.
But she cautions shoppers not to focus on a specific list of "cancer-fighting" foods because you might miss out on all other healthy options in the produce section.
"Keep in mind that more than 4,000 phytochemicals have been discovered and researched," Wohlford says. "There's not any one superfood that contains them all. And each one offers different benefits and functions."
