Companies love to market “pink” products in support of breast cancer awareness, but why not just cut out the middle man and eat naturally pink anti-breast-cancer foods?
October was
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but sometimes those pink products aren’t so healthy, like pink-themed alcoholic beverages and snack foods. These naturally pink-ish foods, however, have all been shown to help keep breast cancer away. Choose organic to avoid pesticides and toxins.
Pomegranates
These gem-like fruits may prevent breast cancer,
lab studies suggest, by blocking a certain enzyme (aromatase) that converts androgen to estrogen.
Red Cabbage
A compound called
indole-3-carbinol in cabbage (also rich in cruciferous vegetables) is now being researched for its potential to significantly reduce the incidence of breast cancer.
Beets
Extract of
red beetroot has been shown to help suppress multi-organ tumors in lab tests, and experts are considering using this in combination with traditional anticancer drugs to reduce their toxic side effects.
Radishes
High in antioxidants, these root vegetables have been shown to help reduce the spread of breast cancer cells. Additionally, a
lab study with Japanese radish sprouts showed they significantly lowered the incidence of mammary tumors.
Red and Purple Carrots
Full of
beta carotene like their orange counterparts, the red and purple in these heirloom carrots indicates extra antioxidant power.
Apples
Red and pink peels indicate
cancer-fighting anthocyanins, plus quercetin, a flavonol that inhibited breast cancer growth in a recent petri dish
study.
Sweet Potatoes
Not to be confused with yams, the pink-skinned or purple versions of these are high in antioxidants. Orange flesh indicates beta carotene—shown to reduce breast cancer risk by as much as 25 percent when eaten regularly. And a Japanese study on rats showed that sweet potato extracts reduced existing breast cancer tumors, and held back the growth of new ones.
Grapes
Choose red ones for the rich antioxidants in their skins: you'll get the same cancer-fighting component as in wine, but without the alcohol, which some studies suggest can boost cancer risk.
