10 Natural Foods and Beverages That Are Said to Be Effective in Treating Cancer

While regulatory authorities are very cautious about letting companies and individuals claim that certain food or drink products can provide legitimate medical cures, there have in fact been plenty of studies showing the cancer-fighting powers of natural substances found in various kinds of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, mushrooms, and herbs. With that said, here’s a list of ten foods and beverages that are known to have anti-carcinogenic properties:

1. Ayahuasca

For the sake of intrigue, let’s start with a less conventional option that has received quite a bit of attention in the media in recent years – ayahuasca. This tropical vine is native to the Amazon rainforest and is known for its production of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogenic compound that has been found to be effective in the treatment of certain types of cancer in foreign countries. While this isn’t an officially permitted treatment in the United States, there is the option of visiting an ayahuasca retreat in South America. These retreats are said to offer spiritual healing and a complete new outlook on life. There has been several studies conducted in Brazil regarding ayahuasca and cancer treatment. 

2. Berries

Virtually all berries are loaded with antioxidants that fight the spread of cancer, prevent aging, and improve your overall wellbeing. Some of the healthiest berries in terms of antioxidant content include blueberries, blackberries, acai berries, and raspberries. However, it’s important to seek out organic berries, preferably from a farmer’s market, friend, or your own garden. Conventional farm-raised berries are known to be coated in pesticides that carry their own risk of cancer and other diseases.

3. Leafy Green Vegetables

Dark and leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli, and chard are great for treating virtually any kind of disease. Nutritionists agree that a vegetarian diet based around leafy greens is the healthiest way to eat, especially when you’re trying to recover from illness. Again, be careful about buying farm-raised greens that are covered in pesticides. Sadly, sourcing good and wholesome greens and berries continues to be a challenge for people who need the utmost purity in their food. Even products labelled as organic often contain organic pesticides, which in many cases carry risks just the same as their non-organic counterparts. Thus, using a fruit and vegetable washing process is a good habit to get into.

4. Carrots

Did you know that orange carrots were selectively bred and developed by Dutch farmers to serve as a medicine due to the abundant amounts of beta carotene? It’s true – the farmers and their communities recognized the health benefits of beta-carotene before it even had a name, simply by drawing the connection between orange foods and recovery. Before that fateful breeding project, carrots came in all sorts of colors like red, white, and purple. Plus, you might’ve guessed that the word “beta-carotene” comes from the word “carrot,” hence the carotene. The beta-carotene in carrots is known to help protect and optimize liver function, which is crucial for fighting cancer.

5. Tea

Tea leaves contain loads of antioxidants and other healthy compounds. Nobody should need to tell you that the tea plant has plenty of health benefits, as a diverse selection of teas have been used for thousands of years to treat all sorts of ailments. Another great thing about tea is that it tastes delicious and can be flavored in so many ways, so this isn’t a medicine that’s going to require any chaser.

6. Coffee

Yes, coffee’s active ingredient caffeine has anti-carcinogenic properties because it stimulates the liver to produce glutathione S-transferase, which has a profound effect on facilitating detoxification. Coffee is also a mild diuretic with slight laxative effects, so it promotes regular bowel movements and waste elimination. While drinking it the old-fashion way – down the hatch – is okay, you may want to look into the coffee enema for a more potent delivery method. That might not be something you had planned, but desperate times can certainly call for desperate measures.

7. Pomegranates

You can tell by looking at the dark, red juices of a pomegranate that it’s downright healthy. These delicious fruits are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to give you the nutrition needed to recover. In particular, pomegranates have been shown to be effective at reducing the risk of prostate cancer and other reproductive cancers.

8. Chili Peppers

Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a compound known to have significant positive effects on the circulatory system, immune systems, and metabolism. Capsaicin has proven anti-carcinogenic properties, mainly by inducing apoptosis in cancer cell lines, which stops their proliferation. It has also been shown to improve circulation and aid in the delivery of nutrients throughout the body.

9. Nuts

It might seem nutty, but there are in fact numerous nuts that have cancer-fighting properties. The most notable to consider would be walnuts, pecans, peanuts, brazil nuts, pine nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios. As you can see, you have plenty of choices, so you should be able to find a nut that you won’t mind eating regularly. So how do they work their magic? You guessed it – antioxidants and minerals. More specifically, nuts contain high amounts of crucial trace minerals like selenium, magnesium, and zinc.

10. Mushrooms

Did you know that there are more than 100 kinds of mushrooms that are actively used to treat cancer in some Asian countries? The most common anti-carcinogenic mushrooms include shiitake, maitake, turkey tail, and reishi. However, even the standard portobello mushroom has health benefits. Of course, there are many dangerous mushrooms out there as well, so don’t go around eating every mushroom you find.

Eating All of the Above Seems Like a Deliciously Healthy Diet

WWhen you think about the variety of meals and beverages that can be prepared just using the food groups mentioned above, it becomes clear that you can actually have a remarkably enjoyable meal plan throughout your treatment. Many people choose to blend up these ingredients into shakes and smoothies for fast and easy digestion. Alternatively, you can plan out a glorious menu of salads that will have you looking forward to meal time every time.