We’re going to switch things up this week for Fun Food Fact Friday and discuss some super-drinks that are proven to prevent and fight cancer, a disease that almost every American family has encountered.
Hooked on Java?
Hot or cold, coffee can be a very beneficial drink so ensure you enjoy a cup each day! Antioxidants found in coffee may be effective in reducing the risk of skin cancer, as per a study published in Cancer Research.
Harvard Medical School also performed a study where they found people who consumes at least 3 cups of caffeinated coffee every day had the least amount of skin cancer risk. The caffeine is strong enough to destroy UV-damaged cells! Along with preventing strokes, dementia, type 2 diabetes, and depression you can feel confident drinking your daily cup…but remember not to have more than 5 cups as this can become unhealthy, not to mention your sleep patterns may decline.
If you’re not a fan of coffee but still want the caffeine benefits, you don’t have to sabotage your healthy diet by grabbing handfuls of dark chocolate. Green tea is another favorite among millions for its multitude of health benefits as it’s packed full of antioxidants. And since it does not need to be highly processed to consume, unlike other teas on the market, the minerals contained in green tea are still active to combat melanoma.
Not only can it help prevent this disease but it is also powerful at destroying existing tumors. While not many studies have been performed on green tea versus existing diseased cells, one study used melanoma patients who consumed green tea during a trial and one-third of the patients showed a significant reduction in diseased cells. Very promising!
The Perfect Nightcap!
Do you enjoy a glass of red wine with your dinner? Perfect! It has been found that people who frequently drink a glass of red wine have the lowest cancer occurrences. Once prescribed as a-drink-a-day to improve heart health is now used to fight this disease. Study after study has proven that red wine contains resveratrol which blocks the cancer-causing results which can often occur from consuming alcohol.
A study performed by the University of Colorado Cancer Center, was published in the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology journal. It explained that the more alcohol one consumes, the greater DNA damage results. But, the resveratrol in red wine actually destroys the damaged DNA cells which have the highest risk of becoming cancer.
Although this isn’t the “cure-all” fix nor is it a doctor’s approval to consume as much red wine as you like, remember to drink in moderation – a simple glass at dinner and you’ll increase your chances of preventing melanoma cells from taking form!
New Studies are Promising.
One specific, delicious antioxidant juice is pomegranate juice. Over the past few years, it became a huge health-craze as people drank it up to reap its antiaging and well-being effects. But now, this juice is shown to effect breast and prostate cancer as it slows the diseased cell growth. While more studies need to be done, this juice does have potential to become a great factor in the fight against this deadly disease.
This week’s recipe is a fruity, anti-cancer tea that you can enjoy cold…on a hot summer afternoon.
Mango Green Tea
Mango Green Tea
(serves 30 – can cut down recipe for smaller portions)
**Please note, cut the mango and ginger root 1 day ahead of when you plan to make the tea!
Ingredients
- ½ hard mango or 1 peach
- 2” piece of ginger root
- 1 cup green tea leaves
- 2 tbsp. dried calendula flowers (a Marigold variety), crumbled
Directions
- Peel mango and slice crosswise into 1/8” slices
- Slice ginger root into 1/8” slices
- Place both on racks and dry at room temperature until brittle (24 hours)
- Cut mango into ¼” long pieces
- In a bowl, combine dried mango, ginger, tea leaves, and calendula
- Spoon into a bag or airtight jar.