LONDON—Eating a balanced diet abundant in fruits and vegetables, drinking red wine and steaming or microwaving food may boost the body’s natural defenses and prevent cancer development, according to two top cancer researchers.
Oranges, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are among some of the most beneficial foods. But it's not only what we eat, but how we eat it, that optimizes the cancer-preventing qualities of fruit and vegetables.
"The optimal approach [is] to consume vegetables grown within zero kilometers [of where you live], in the right season," one researcher said, emphasizing the way food is prepared is also important. "Using proper tools like sharp knives [reduces] the waste of crucial essences. It's really important to promote microwaved and steamed cooking, two great techniques."
The researchers also advocate drinking a glass or two of red wine every day because it is rich in polyphenols.
“Case-control studies have irrefutably demonstrated a protective role of fruits and vegetables against many types of cancer in diverse social, environmental, geographic situations, especially for tumors of the lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach and intestine,” the researchers said.
