Cancer

Diet

Some foods actually contribute to the development of cancer; other foods lessen the risk. Research has proved that about 90% of colon cancers and 35% of most of the other cancers are dependent on our diet. So diet play an important role in the prevention and control of cancers. 

Fat

Limit your daily intake of all kinds of fat especially saturated fats to not more 20% of the total food calorie intake. Fats contained in food can be either saturated or unsaturated fats .  Unsaturated fat don't contribute to cancer and may in fact have some anticancer properties while saturated fats may promote cancer and raise cholesterol levels. So limiting your diet to unsaturated fats, found in plant foods, such as legumes; vegetable oils that are high in monounsaturated fats, such as olive, peanut and canola oil and seafood, such as salmon and tuna, that is high in omega 3 fatty acids can be of great benefit. Avoid oils high in saturated fats such as palm, coconut, cotton seed oil; red meat like beef, pork, lamb etc. Instead of frying, try to use low fat cooking methods such as steaming, baking etc as far as possible. 

Vegetables and fruits

Eat more vegetables and fruits. Having five servings of fruits and vegetables particularly dark green and dark yellow vegetables like spinach, broccoli,  beans, carrots and other vegetables like cabbage, soybeans, cauliflower, brinjal, onions (red), peppers, garlic, sweet potatoes, tomatoes etc. and fruits like grapefruit, grapes, lemons, mangoes, oranges and papayas are beneficial for preventing cancer. Eat fruits with out peeling the skin if possible and make sure the fruits and vegetables are fresh.  

Green tea :  Green tea has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, possibly because of a phytochemical it contains called catechins.

Fibre 

A high fibre diet protects against cancer. Increase your fibre intake to at least 25grams a day. Fiber moves potential carcinogens through the intestines faster, decreasing the contact time between carcinogens and the intestinal wall.  High fiber food include wheat bran, kidney beans, potatoes, whole wheat, whole grains, legumes, whole grain bread, prunes etc. Eating beans regularly and brown rice, brown bread etc. instead of white bread and rice can meet the fibre requirements you need. Insufficient consumption of fibre may lead to the development of Colon cancer and increase levels blood cholesterol.

Antioxidants 

Eat a diet high in antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables are the main sources of these naturally occurring antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent free radicals reactions and faulty metabolism in the cell which makes the cell becoming carcinogenic. They also protect the membrane of intestinal cells. Vitamin A, Betacarotine, Riboflavin, Selenium, Zinc, Foliate, Vitamin E etc. have antioxidant properties. Cancers of the mouth can be avoided by having the food which contain antioxidants.  

Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin C:  Daily intake of 1000 to 2000 milligrams of vitamin C may have anticancer benefits. Vitamin C improves the immune system and blocks the formation of carcinogens made from nitrates and nitrites found in foods like processed meat. Main sources of vitamin c are citrus fruits and fresh vegetables. 

Vitamin D: Vitamin D suppresses the formation of new blood vessels that promote the growth of tumors.  It is of great benefit for the cancers of the breast, prostate and colon. The dietary sources are fish, oil, egg yolks and dairy products. 10-15 minutes a day of exposure to sunshine also is an essential source of vitamin D. Vitamin E also has anticancer properties. 

Salt

Cut down the overall salt intake. Most foods are salted during cooking and manufactured foods like pickles contain a lot of added salt. You must try to reduce the amount of salt while cooking. Cut down on snacks with a high salt content like crisps or salted nuts.

Alcohol 

Limit alcohol consumption. Intake of alcohol may lead to several cancers like mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, pharynx, stomach, rectum, breast, liver cancer etc. One drink a day for women and two for men or lesser should be the limit to reduce cancer risks. Alcohol may contain carcinogens that can damage the DNA of cells. For example Beer  and red wine contains carcinogens like nitrosamines and tannins respectively.