Monday, November 24, 2014

A Huge Reveal on Cancer Fighting Foods a.k.a. Superfoods

Many health and fitness magazines, blogs and articles talk about the power of cancer fighting foods or superfoods to fight cancer.  This gives people living through this disease and their families an alternative cancer treatment to win against this dreadful foe.  Moreover, a growing number of medical professionals and cancer research groups advocate the use of these superfoods to fight cancer.  However, there is a side to this claim that remains in the shadows.  Free your mind from the common misconceptions and give light to what is the real score when it comes to cancer-fighting foods.

Superfoods in a nutshell

Superfoods are ordinary foods that have the power to fight or stop cancer.  These cancer fighting foods have certain chemicals present that help fight and even ward off cancer.  What is important to understand is that these are not genetically altered foods.  They are run of the mill, buy-at-the-grocery types of food.  This is why the appeal of superfoods to battle cancer is so high. 

What you do not know

However, because of the immense influence of the internet on the daily lives of people, the hype on these cancer fighting superfoods has been blown out of proportion.  Of course, eating healthy foods has its merits when going head to head with cancer.   But before you make a drastic lifestyle change based on what you read about these cancer fighting foods, it would be prudent to go over some information that are rarely highlighted about these cancer treatment superfoods.

Concentrated amount of the superfood’s chemicals

Many foods especially fruits have ant-oxidants n them.  Also, some chemicals present are showing positive strides towards fighting cancer.  However, it is important to understand that in cancer research tests; these chemicals are isolated and are in high concentrations.  What you get from its naturally occurring counterpart does not come close to what the laboratory amounts are used to test its ant-cancer properties. 

Although reports may say that a particular chemical found in a plant or fruit is doing wonders for patients, it does not mean that the fruit or plant has enough of it in the right dose. 

Other substances in the fruit may interfere with the chemicals

In addition to the concentration concerns of these special chemicals, fruits and vegetables seen as superfoods have other substances in them.  This means, these chemicals may interfere with the performance of the cancer-fighting compounds.  What many cancer research laboratories are doing is to isolate these chemicals to determine its potency.  However, it may not have the same effect when it is taken from naturally occurring fruits or vegetables.

Laboratory tests

In addition, laboratory tests are done in controlled environments.  This is a stark contrast to what you may do at home.  We normally do not eat fruits and vegetables in beakers or graduated cylinders.  We simply munch on them and enjoy.  The rigorous standards in cancer research labs are way too stringent for the common home to follow.  Plus, I do not think homes have centrifuges to isolate these compounds before eating them.

Food preparation

Another area of exploration is the food preparation techniques used on these cancer fighting foods.  The cooking method may alter the compounds that fight cancer.  Oxidation of fruits, heat, combination with other substances, temperature changes and the way they are handled can affect the substances that fight cancer.

In retrospect

I recognize the power of nature to provide for our health and fitness.  With the aid of science and technology, we begin to unravel its secrets.  However, many blindly follow what others do in a bid to become healthy and fight cancer.  Some even go to drastic measures as to undergo modified eating habits and lifestyle change based on hype.  If this is done without ample information it can become counter-productive – or even deadly.

Enjoy the superfoods after all healthy foods are always a good choice.  However, never forget the limitation that they have.  Moreover, take precautions when trying out new cancer diets, alternative cancer treatments or just chancing your food choices. 


The fight against cancer is being fought at different fronts.  One critical battlefield is disseminating the right information to cancer patients, their family and practically the whole world.  Be informed and you can fight cancer better.


If you have a related link on health and fitness or cancer treatment, share it here.

image by Strecosa CC-0 via Pixabay

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