While there is lots of cancer information available everywhere, there is also a lot of obscurity surrounding effective treatments for the condition. According to several medical professionals, eating a healthy diet can help us lessen the risk of getting cancer. The right foods help the body maintain its overall health, and can also help manage one’s susceptibility to cancer. To that end, here are certain nutrition-rich foods to reduce the risk of cancer.

7 Healthy Foods Effective Against Cancer

1. Drink green tea every day
Green tea is an excellent antioxidant. It is an important part of the cancer and lifestyle plan. Also, it has beneficial properties that can fight against pancreas, liver, lung and skin cancer. There is a nontoxic chemical present in the beverage that prevents the growth of urokinase. It is an enzyme that triggers the growth of cancer. Therefore you can try drinking one cup of green tea every day.

2. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are filled with beneficial vitamins and minerals, making them an integral part of any health-centric meal plan. When you eat plant-based foods, there is  little room in your body for foods high in sugar content. So, instead of snacking on junk foods, whenever you feel hungry, opt for fresh or dry fruits, along with things like nuts and baked or grilled vegetables.

3. Utilize olive oil for cooking
People in Mediterranean countries use olive oil for cooking, and it has been observed that the breast cancer rates in these countries are on the lower side. This has led to the belief that olive oil, specifically certain types of it, is a cancer-fighting food. This type of oil is a monounsaturated fat, so it is good for overall health too.

4. Eat fatty fish
Fish like salmon, anchovies, and mackerel have good quantities of omega-3 fatty acids. According to studies, people who eat freshwater fish have a lower risk of getting cancer. It helps them to prevent types of the condition like colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.

5. Munch on walnuts
All types of nuts are well known for their cancer-fighting properties. But, the best nut of all the nuts is walnuts. It has a substance named pedunculagin, which metabolizes into urolithins in the human body. These are the compounds that help in binding estrogen receptors, playing a major role in preventing breast cancer. Therefore, walnuts are more effective against cancer as compared to other nuts. As a lifestyle change to minimize the risk of cancer, switch to munching on walnuts instead of fried peanuts when you want a snack.

6. Consume legumes high in fiber
The different types of legumes like peas, lentils, beans are rich in fiber. So these are good at reducing the risk of getting cancer. People who eat legumes rich in fiber are less likely to develop breast cancer.

7. Use turmeric regularly in cooking
In many Indian dishes, turmeric is an essential addition. There is an ingredient known as curcumin present in the spice. It has cancer-fighting properties and lessens the risk of the disease. Further, curcumin can stop the growth of cancer cells. Turmeric is easily available in all the grocery stores, so it is a simple yet effective food to add to cancer and lifestyle meal plan.