Nutrition Bits: How foods fight cancer...

On my first blog entry, I will share Nutrition Bits about cancer, well, this subject is very complex and there is still some debate going on in the medical world. So, I will just focus on how the foods that we eat can help fight cancer.

Cancer is one of the leading cause of death in the world.

The growth of a malignant tumor is a long and slow process that involves three key steps:

• the initiation of potentially cancerous changes in a cell's DNA
• the promotion of uncontrolled growth in a damaged cell, and
• the progression of a cancerous lesion in a mass that can invade other tissue

Preliminary evidence suggest the nutrients found in particular foods can interfere with each of these steps.

Step 1: Initiation

A) Cancer risk: The processing of oxygen produces toxic agents called free radicals, which can damage a cell's DNA.

Food tip: Antioxidants such as the polyphenols in green tea and the lycopene in tomatoes, help neutralize free radicals. Vitamic C, E and beta carotine are also good anti oxidants.

Tomatoes may help neutralize toxic agents that damage DNA.

B) Cancer risk: Most cancer-causing chemicals enter the body as pro-carcinogens. In order to become full-fledge carcinogens, capable of damaging cellular DNA, they must be first broken down by phase I enzymes produced in the liver.

Food tip: Garlic contains chemicals called allyl sulfides, which helps limit the production of phase I enzymes. In addition to phase I enzymes, the liver produces phase II enzymes to cart of the dangerous residue phase I's leave behind. Broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables are rich in a chemical called sulforaphane, which boast production of phase II enzymes.

Garlic helps limit the production of cancer-causing chemicals.

Broccoli, contains chemicals that remove carcinogens from cells.

Step 2: Promotion

A) Cancer Risk: If the first time defenses fail and cell undergoes potentially cancerous changes, the body's best defense is to destroy it or, barring that, keep it from dividing rapidly. The omega-6 fatty acids that abound in corn oil and safflower oil seem to promote rapid cell division.

Food tip: The omega-3 fatty acid in flax and fatty fish may thwart tumor growth by crowding other fats out of cells.

Flaxseed may lock bad fats out of cells.

B) Cancer Risk: Reproductive tissues are particularly cancer-prone because they divide rapidly when triggered by the body's own sex hormones. Estrogen promotes fast growth of breast cells in women.

Food tip: Soy products contain chemicals called isoflavones, which act as weak estrogens and leave less room for strong ones.

Step 3: Progression

Cancer risk: If all other defenses fail and a damaged cell spawns a tumor, the question is whether is will build itself a blood supply and invade surrounding tissues. Tumor cells release growth factors the promote the development of new blood vessels, the process known as angiogenesis.

Food tip: So called cox-2 inhibitors, such as the resveratrol in red grapes and the curcumin in turmeric, may suppress the tumor's production of growth factors.

Red grapes may inhibit blood-vessel growth.