ANTI-CANCER DIET: NIGHTSHADE FAMILY – CAPSICUM, EGGPLANT, POTATOES AND TOMATOES
Capsicum or green peppers are rich in phytochemicals and tend to decrease the incidence of stomach cancer. This little vegetable is extremely rich in vitamin Ñ and bioflavonoids (Vitamin P). Vitamin P is essential for the absorption of vitamin C, making capsicum better in value than a vitamin Ñ tablet. Capsicum is an optimal provider of living nutrients including iodine and vitamin A.
Eggplant may help prevent cancer by counteracting possible cancer agents found in the diet. Eggplant contains gallic acid, which prevents many carcinogens from causing chromosome mutations in cells.
Potatoes may prevent cell mutations that lead to cancer, due to their chlorogenic acid content. A regular intake of potatoes is believed to prevent several types of cancer. Ensure that you do not consume green potatoes and be careful how you cook potatoes. Potatoes should be cooked with the skin on to ensure that the potassium and other essential nutrients are not lost in the cooking process. Potatoes are a good source of magnesium, sulphur, silicon, iodine and chlorine. Being a starchy food, they are able to provide an abundance of energy. Potato juice is an age-old treatment for liver cancer.
Tomatoes are believed to prevent several forms of cancer, particularly stomach, lung and breast cancer. Two phytochemicals in tomatoes (p-coumaric and chlorogenic acid) prevent the formation of cancer-causing digestive nitrosamines. Tomatoes also stimulate the growth or regeneration of liver tissue. Strawberries, grapes, carrots, green peppers and other fruits and vegetables are also rich in these cancer-fighting substances. Tomatoes are believed to significantly decrease the risk of developing bladder and prostate cancer. In addition, tomatoes contain another cancer fighting substance called lycopene. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that reduces the risk of cancer of the oesophagus, stomach, prostate, colon and rectum. Lycopene helps to guard against the toxic effects or radiation therapy, especially burning of tissues.
The lycopene content in tomatoes is dramatically increased in products such as tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes and tomato powder. The rich intake of tomato products in Mediterranean countries may be the prime reason why their native people have a lower incidence of prostate cancer and related problems.
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