(Foreword: This is our continuation of our response to Amy 468 on her desire to know the cancer fighting foods.)
DEAR Amy 468,
Last time, we talked about adding foods rich in folate to fight cancer. We then, start from here. Foods rich in folate does not only help us win the battle over big C, but, women who are pregnant or are thinking of getting pregnant should take a supplement aside from their diet. This is to make sure they get enough folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects. Well, let’s accept it that most of the time, the nutrients in our diet cannot sustain the required levels in a day - that is when supplements should come in. But, again, we should not depend for our nutrition from the pill. We have to take them from our diet, as much as we could.
Steer clear from processed foods
An occasional hot dog, or ham wouldn’t hurt you. But, if you could avoid processed meats like bologna, ham, and hot dogs, this will help you lower your risk of colorectal and stomach cancers. Pass up, too, as much as you can, from meats that were preserved by smoking or with salt because they can raise your contact to chemicals that can possibly cause cancer.
Fight with Tomatoes
Some studies said, it’s the lycopene in tomatoes, which gives its red color that helps fight the big C, while, some studies are really not clear what in tomatoes helps fight cancer, but, whatever it is, these studies have shown that eating tomatoes is linked to reduced risk of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Just be sure to cook them a bit to let those lycopenes out. There are also other studies which suggest that processed tomato products like juice, sauce, or paste can increase the cancer-fighting potential. So, pump up your food shelves with tomatoes, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Just be sure to eat them well and not let them rot or you will spoil one of nature’s best armor against your worst enemy, the big C.
Opps, again. There are still more to say. But, we are again running out of space for now. So, we’ll continue this in my next issue. Until then again!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” She is also a faculty in a College of Pharmacy. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., Ebro-Pelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City, (former Department of Foreign Affairs office), across Ateneo de Davao University and beside Holy Child School of Davao, or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we can not answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)