The Top Foods That Help Prevent Cancer
Posted Aug.10, 2010 in Health & Wellness
The following article is from the San Francisco Chronicle:
By: Kathryn Roethel
Five of Nature’s Best Cancer-Fighting FoodsÂ
As a veteran faculty member at the Stanford University Medical School, Dr. John Farquhar has seen thousands of patients try to beat cancer with aggressive chemotherapy treatments that “blast them with terrible side effects.” But, as the founder of Stanford’s Prevention Research Center, he believes he has helped other patients beat cancer before it starts using nature’s medicine: vegetables and fruits.
Farquhar has worked at the university for 30 years as a professor, a cardiologist and the co-founder of the Stanford Prevention Research Center. He co-teaches a popular course called “The Best Diet Ever,” (see box) in which he preaches the merits of five foods with strong anti-cancer agents: soy, onions, broccoli, tomatoes and blueberries.
“There’s still uncertainty about how important nutrition is in cancer prevention,” Farquhar said, “but I’ve found that if you deal with these specific foods, there’s evidence that they all have cancer-fighting nutrients. As opposed to genetics, nutrition is something that people can control.”
Joyce Hanna is the associate director of Stanford Prevention Research Center. A 19-year Stanford faculty member and former marathon runner, she teaches “The Best Diet Ever” class with Farquhar. Hanna also counsels clients who want to engage in healthier lifestyles and oversees a program that helps cancer patients exercise and eat well during and after treatments.
Beating disease back
“One of the biggest fears cancer patients have is that their cancers may come back,” Hanna said. “Other people haven’t been diagnosed with cancer, but they’re out of shape and their doctors have warned them about risk of disease. I try to help them take small steps to improve their lifestyles. Obesity increases cancer rates, and in a lot of these cases, lifestyles are more important than genetics.” (continue reading…)
