Rigorous studies are being done to find out whether antioxidants play a major role in preventing cancer or not. Articles(related to antioxidant and cancer prevention) have been posted all over that certify yes, antioxidants are the major components that will keep you away from cancer. We don’t want to mislead you and therefore the fact is that recent studies related to antioxidants and cancer prevention have been in-consistent. They play some role but it cannot be stated that it prevents cancer for sure.
In this article we will tell you:
- The role of antioxidants in cancer prevention (what recent study says)
- What are antioxidants and how antioxidants prevent cancer?
- The foods that help in increase antioxidant intake
Before knowing how antioxidants prevents cancer, First of all, you should know what free radicals are? Free radicals are unstable molecules. They are highly reactive chemicals that can harm your body cells. They are formed when an atom or molecule either gain or lose an electron making its structure unstable. Free radicals are also formed naturally in the body and play important role in many cellular processes. If they are high in concentration then they pose a threat to the body and cause damage to DNA, which in turn can lead to the development of cancer.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidant and Cancer prevention have been buzzing all over the internet. So, what actually is an antioxidant? Antioxidants are substances that tend to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals.
How Antioxidants Prevent Cancer?
Antioxidants react with free radicals and stabilize them to prevent them from reacting with other cellular substances. Laboratory experiments do suggest that antioxidants may slowly prevent the development of cancer through animal studies.
What are the foods that can increase the intake of antioxidants?
Antioxidants are abundantly found in fruits and vegetables. Example of antioxidant are:
- Beta Carotene – Found in foods that are orange in color. Like-carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, pumpkins, mangoes.
- Lutein – Found in green veggies like spinach and kale.
- Lycopene – Found in guava, papaya, watermelon
Studies are inconsistent but it does not mean that antioxidants do not fight cancer, they do but it is a slow process and antioxidants are also very good for the body. Research is still going on to find out about the potent antioxidants that are powerful enough to fight free radicals and prevent the risk of cancer completely.
Except antioxidants there are many cancer fighting foods that can surely help in preventing Cancer! We Hope you now know how antioxidants prevents cancer and how antioxidants and cancer are related!
Also Read Our Blog on Cancer Causing Foods to Avoid and Cancer pain management
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