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The latest research, insight, and learnings in supportive cancer care.

5 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods You Haven’t Heard Of

Diet plays a pivotal role in cancer recovery. The usual suspects like leafy greens and antioxidant-rich fruits are always great, but there's a world of lesser known foods that can offer unique health benefits and supercharge recovery.

1. Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

Origin: Parts of Africa and South Asia

Benefits: This "drumstick tree" is a powerhouse of essential nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Moringa is known for its antioxidant properties, which help fight free radicals in the body, essential for people with cancer.

How to Use: Moringa leaves can be boiled and made into a tea or added to soups and stews. Moringa powder can be sprinkled on salads or blended into smoothies.

2. Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae)

Origin: Europe and Asia

Benefits: Surprisingly, this isn’t a thorn at all, but instead a berry, packed with Vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. It's known to boost immunity, vital for those undergoing cancer treatments.

How to Use: Consume sea buckthorn oil as a supplement, or drink its juice. You can also find it in jams or jellies.

3. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Origin: South India

Benefits: This one has become increasingly popular, especially as a vegetarian substitute for BBQ meat due to its texture. Jackfruit is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

How to Use: Young jackfruit can be cooked and used in savory dishes, while ripe jackfruit is sweet and can be eaten raw or used in desserts.

4. Chaga Mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus)

Origin: Northern Hemisphere's cold forests

Benefits: Chaga mushrooms are rich in antioxidants that support the immune system. They've been studied for potential anti-cancer benefits, especially for reducing tumor growth.

How to Use: Brew them into a tea, or find it in supplement form.

5. Camu Camu (Myrciaria dubia)

Origin: Amazon rainforests in Brazil and Peru

Benefits: This berry is one of the world's most potent sources of Vitamin C. It's excellent for boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation—both crucial for cancer recovery.

How to Use: Add camu camu powder to smoothies, yogurt, or oatmeal.

Conclusion

Nature offers a vast array of foods that can support health and recovery, many of which remain unexplored by the masses. As you journey through cancer recovery, consider embracing some of these exotic foods. Not only will they provide unique health benefits, but they'll also introduce you to delightful new flavors.

Note: Before adding any new food to your diet, especially during or after cancer treatment, consult with your healthcare provider or nutritionist to ensure it's right for you.

Know someone going through cancer treatment who could use this? Share it with them!

References

  • Barhoi, D., Upadhaya, P., Barbhuiya, S. N., Giri, A., & Giri, S. (2021). Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Exhibit Potential Anticancer Activity and can be Used as a Possible Cancer Therapeutic Agent: A Study Involving In Vitro and In Vivo Approach. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 40(1), 70–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2020.1735572 link
  • Visan, S., Soritau, O., Tatomir, C., Baldasici, O., Balacescu, L., Balacescu, O., Muntean, P., Gherasim, C., & Pintea, A. (2023). The Bioactive Properties of Carotenoids from Lipophilic Sea buckthorn Extract (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) in Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Molecules, 28(11), Article 11. link
  • Ranasinghe, R. a. S. N., Maduwanthi, S. D. T., & Marapana, R. a. U. J. (2019). Nutritional and Health Benefits of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.): A Review. International Journal of Food Science, 2019, e4327183. link
  • Lee, M.-G., Kwon, Y.-S., Nam, K.-S., Kim, S. Y., Hwang, I. H., Kim, S., & Jang, H. (2021). Chaga mushroom extract induces autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway in breast cancer cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 274, 114081. link
  • Machado, A. P. da F., Alves, M. da R., Nascimento, R. de P. do, Reguengo, L. M., & Marostica Junior, M. R. (2022). Antiproliferative effects and main molecular mechanisms of Brazilian native fruits and their by-products on lung cancer. Food Research International, 162, 111953. link

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