In the Spirit of the Relay, Here Are Some Cancer-Fighting Foods

I am on team Road to Recovery at the Relay for Life this weekend. We will be holding a marrow donor registration between 11 a.m and 3 p.m.  Your information will go into a national database to see if you are a match. This is a non-commitment. If you are a match you will get a call and you can make your decision then. This is for all blood cancers. Come by and meet my Team Captain, Jill Pollard, and help fight cancer.

Now since I am a foodie here are some cancer-fighting foods.  The easiest, least-expensive way to reduce your risk for cancer is just by eating a healthy diet.

When it comes to a diet rich in cancer-fighting substances, most experts agree that it should consist of a predominantly plant-based diet.

Starting with breakfast, a glass of orange juice is high in folate; so are most cereals (check the box to see how much).  For lunch, try a hearty salad with either spinach or romaine leaves.  Top it with dried beans or peas for an extra boost. Snack on a handful of peanuts or an orange. At dinner, choose asparagus or Brussels sprouts as your vegetable.

While vitamin D is often associated with milk, high concentrations also can be found in these seafood choices: cod, shrimp, and Chinook salmon. Eggs are another good source. And don't forget sunshine. In just 10 minutes, you can soak up as much as 5,000 IU of vitamin D if you expose 40 percent of your body to the sun, without sunscreen.

Here are some cancer-fighting foods:

Avocados 

Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower 

Carrots

Chili peppers and jalapenos

Garlic

Grapefruits

Red grapes

Kale 

Licorice root

Mushrooms

Nuts

Oranges and lemons

Papayas

Raspberries

Red wine

Rosemary

Seaweed and other sea vegetables

Sweet potatoes

Teas: Green Tea and Black tea

Tomatoes

There are many good books on this topic, including Vern Verona's book, "Cancer Fighting Foods."

Help Fight Cancer.

Thank you, Your personal chef, Derek Murray