all well & good
By Alison Ryan
Food Fight Eat to beat disease: Dr. Sonali Ruder can show you how.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Dr. Sonali Ruder, a Broward physician who’s been dubbed the “Foodie Physician,” is here to tell us that what we eat plays an important role in the fight against the disease. “While there is no one specific food that can prevent breast cancer, there are certain foods to boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and help keep your risk as low as possible.” Ruder touts studies that show a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of breast cancer; as well, a Mediterranean diet of fish, fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and olive oil may reduce the risk of estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer. So, which foods hold the power of prevention?
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, arugula, and cauliflower are rich in phytochemicals that fight cancer. Use quick-cooking methods like stir-frying or sautéing to retain as much of the phytonutrient concentration as possible.
Orange foods—think sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, cantaloupe and mango— are rich in carotenoids, which have a preventative effect on breast cancer.
Red foods such as tomatoes, watermelon, guava and red bell peppers are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps stop cancer cell growth.
Drink green tea. It’s known to boost the immune system, and although the exact mechanism is unknown, researchers believe that the high level of polyphenols in tea helps kill cancer cells.
22
OCTOBER 2017
PHOTO CURTESY OF THE FOODIE PHYSICIAN
Add turmeric to your food. The yellow spice has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may limit the growth of breast cancer cells.