Foods that cut the risk of cancer For those who are seeking the eternal fountain of youth, here's an itsy-bitsy reality check: No single food or food substance can help protect you against cancer. There are a host of other risk factors at play. Nevertheless, there is hope for those who do seek it...a magical elixir can be found in consuming the right quantity of the right foods. Minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals found in nutritious plant based foods work together to provide basic cancer protection. For you smarter ones, please note -- do not go running out to buy expensive supplements as replacements for these nutrients listed below. Artificial supplements are exactly that -- artificial. They often cause adverse reactions, so stay clear of them.     Consume leafy veggies and citrus fruit When a label reads 'fat-free', it just means that a fat substitute has been used, not that it is low in calories! Usually, fat-free foods are high in sugar calories and maybe even in sodium. Beware: Fat free = 0 calories is too good to be true. 1. Whole grains Oats, whole wheat, barley are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, which protect cells getting damaged and help protect the body from colon and breast cancer. 2. Cruciferous & dark green leafy vegetables Cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, kale, spinach, turnip & mustard greens, cabbage, lettuce and Brussels sprouts help in preventing colon and prostate cancers because of their lutein and zeaxanthin content. Other micro-nutrients, such as beta carotene that are present in these foods can also stimulated your immune system and protect the body from carcinogens. These vegetables are fiber, folate, carotenoid and flavonoid rich foods and are healthy all around. 3. Tomatoes In both raw, but more so in a cooked form, protect the body with the help of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. There is substantial and convincing evidence that foods containing lycopene protect against prostate cancer. Tomatoes also have vitamin C, another antioxidant that can prevent cellular damage. 4. Citrus fruits lemons, oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C and have chemicals called flavonoids and limonoids that can help clean out carcinogenic substances and protect you from cancers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, and lung. 5. Grapes Red and purple grapes have even more nutrients such as polyphenols then green grapes do. Polyphenols assist in preventing damage to cell tissue as they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea, berries and more 6. Green tea Numerous studies have shown that green and black teas contain beneficial polyphenols and flavonoids, which are powerfil antioxidants that aid in preventing cancer development in colon, liver, breast and prostie track. However, as with all antioxidants caution must always be taken to avoid over use. 7. Berries All berries are good sources of vitamin C and fiber, specially strawberries and raspberries. Blueberries are a powerhouse of antioxidants and may prevent cancers of the skin, bladder, lung, esophagus and breast. 8. Soy Tofu, soymilk, soybeans, soynuts, miso (soy past) and soy burgers belong to the protein rich legumes food group. Soy is nutritious addition to any diet (along with other beans) as a source of protein and micro-nutrients, except for women who are taking anti-estrogen medications. Soy may also help protect against Garlic & onionsrostate and breast cancer. 9. Garlic & onions Onions, scallions, leeks and chives, along with garlic may protect against stomach cancer. Garlic may protect against colorectal cancer as well. Some micro-nutrients in garlic have also been shown to have the ability to slow or stop the growth of tumors in prostate, bladder, colon and stomach tissue. 10. Flax seed Flax seeds in the form of ground flaxseed flour, is rich in phytoestrogens and alphalinolenic acid (ALA), a good form of omega-3 fatty acids. These compounds have been shown to provide protection from cancers of the colon, breast, skin and lung. The efficacy however depends a great deal on the quality of flax seed used to make the flour. A serious word of caution for those who might consider taking flax seed & its oil supplements in pill form: excessive amounts can cause adverse reactions that mimic drugs such as aspirin/ blood thinners.   * NutritionVista.com has provided this information in the hope that younger readers understand the importance of health & balanced eating. Nutrients necessary for good and long term health can be found naturally in the foods mentioned above. Whatever extra is consumed is usually flushed out by the body. We wish we could claim that consuming these foods will guarantee you protection from developing cancer, but the truth is a lot of other risk factors like genetics, age, lifestyle and the environment we live in, play a critical role in developing this dreaded disease. A healthy diet is therefore the only certainty you must depend on. * We genuinely recomment you stay clear of the chemical and artificial forms of these nutrients that have recently flooded the market. They can be extremely harmful and should not replace a healthy diet.