Foods that fight cancer

Spice it up
The right spice can make the meal and block the tumor. That's what University of Illinois researchers discovered when they pitted turmeric against 19 different strains of H. pylori, the ulcer-inducing bacterium that's been linked to colon and gastric cancers. In every case, turmeric took the teeth out of H. pylori.

Turmeric didn't necessarily reduce the bacterial load, what it did was reduce the chronic inflammation caused by H. pylori. And it's this inflammation that has been associated with the development of cancer.

The best way to increase your intake of turmeric? Eat Indian food. Specifically, try dining on curry, which is rich in turmeric and often contains additional cancer suppresors, such as garlic and onions.

Another option: Slather extra mustard on all your sandwiches, the bright yellow variety is loaded with turmeric.


Fish
A recently completed 12-year Harvard study of nearly 48,000 men determined that those who ate fish more than three times a week were 40 percent less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those who hit the surf only twice a month. It's those amazing omega-3s again, though they don't deserve all the credit. Fish also contains vitamin A and vitamin D, which may help prevent prostate cancer.

Salmon, mackerel, and herring have the best balance of omega-3s, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Don't wait until the weekend to go fishing. Space your fish consumption out over the week so you consume a steady supply of these compounds.


Add Zest to Life
Fresh squeezed OJ contains all the health benefits of oranges except one: the cancer protection in the peel. People who regularly consume citrus zest reduce their risk of squamous-cell skin cancer by 30 percent, according to a recent University of Arizona study. Even lab rats live longer on the stuff; animal studies suggest that citrus zest can actually shrink existing tumors.

Turns out the oils in the peels of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit contain powerful compounds that stimulate the body's production of a detoxifying enzyme.

Grate the colored portion of the peel and add the pile of zest to soups, salads, and salsa, or sprinkle it on chicken or fish.


White Tea
Green tea grabs all the headlines as a tumor-taming brew, but the white kind surpasses it at preventing colon cancer. When researchers at Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute tested the two teas' abilities to block colon-polyp growth, the white beverage was about 10 percent more effective. In fact, it stopped polyps as effectively as sulindac, a powerful anti-inflammatory drug.

While prescription anti-inflammatories can cause internal bleeding and ulcers, "tea is pretty much guaranteed not to cause side effects. The study used Exotica white tea, 3 cups a day may be enough to cut your cancer risk.


Berries
Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles have confirmed that cranberries contain a trove of tumor-blocking compounds, including phenolic acids, glycosides, and anthocyanins.

These phytochemicals are effective at preventing cancer down below—in the colon and prostate—as well as up top—on the head and neck. They force cancer cells to die or they inhibit their unregulated growth.

To hit your daily cran quota, down a small glass of cranberry juice (the type that lists at least 27 percent juice on the label) at breakfast and snack on Craisins (sweetened dried cranberries) throughout the day.