10 Foods That Fight Disease

How Antioxidants Improve Health and Guard Against Cancer and Stroke

Feb 22, 2008 Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Certain foods fight diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and cancer. Here's how the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables improve health and build immunity.

Powerful antioxidants in certain fruits and vegetables can improve health, fight disease, and build immunity – and even guard against cancer and stroke. Here’s several natural ways to get healthy and stay that way. Plus, an explanation of how antioxidants fight free radicals (and what free radicals are).

10 Foods That Fight Disease

1. Leafy greens. A diet rich in spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens and romaine lettuce can protect against gastric cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Leafy greens can lower your risk of cataracts and protect your eye health.
2. Tomatoes. The lycopene in tomatoes helps maintain healthy bones and regulates blood pressure. Lycopene fights disease by neutralizing free radicals, which damage normal cell growth (see “how antioxidants improve your health” below). Tomatoes also provide cancer protection and guard against hearth disease.
3. Cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower also guard against cancer development and increase your body’s detoxification enzymes. These veggies help protect against stroke, and add valuable Vitamin A, folate, and calcium to your diet – and are natural ways to get healthy.
4. Orange vegetables. Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and squash provide vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for healthy growth, a strong immune system, and normal vision. Beta carotene makes these veggies orange, which is a powerful antioxidant.
5. Onions and garlic. These foods fight diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are natural ways to get healthy because they are high in vitamin C, selenium, potassium, and chromium.
6. Berries. Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries are super foods that fight disease because they’re a great source of vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants to improve your health. Berries are a natural way to get healthy because they guard against macular degeneration, various cancers, and brain cell loss.
7. Citrus fruits. Grapefruit, oranges, tangerines and lemons may protect against skin cancer. These foods fight disease by helping your body detoxify or get rid of toxic substances. Citrus fruits protect you from cancer and stroke, and build up your immune system.
8. Whole grains. Foods that fight disease include whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal, and wheat berries. These foods improve health and build immunity by protecting your heart, reducing inflammation, and fighting diabetes.
9. Fish and seafood. Salmon, char, haddock, shrimp, rainbow trout and sardines are foods that fight disease because of their high omega-3 fish oils. Omega-3’s protect your brain, heart and blood pressure, and are associated with lower risks of various diseases.
10. Legumes and soy foods. Black beans, soybeans, split peas and tofu are among the “bean and pea” foods that fight disease. Legumes and soy foods are low in fat and high in protein, which help ward off heart disease and prostrate cancer.

How antioxidants improve health

Antioxidants improve health by fighting free radicals. Free radicals are charged oxygen molecules that our bodies are create – and are exposed to (such as pollution and cigarette smoke). If free radicals overcome the antioxidants in your body, then you’re more likely to struggle with cancer or other diseases.

If you found 10 Foods That Fight Disease helpful, try:

• The Basics of Ayurvedic Cooking
• Sugarfree Food Causes Weight Gain
• Best Weight Loss Program

The copyright of the article 10 Foods That Fight Disease in Nutrition is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish 10 Foods That Fight Disease in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

10 Foods That Fight Disease