Page 34 - Expert Issue 2015 (2)

Cancer Fighting Foods!

Written by Chef Marian

Blogging at ChefMarian.com

Over 300 blogs and 3 Cookbooks later, I am still understanding how • Appetizers - Roasted Garlic with a multi grain baguette and a brilliant
to get your body to actually use the nutrients from what we eat, how glass of pinot noir.
to stabilize your blood sugar, use less sugar because sugar equals in- • Veggies - Cauliflower and Garlic Puree looks like smashed Potatoes.
flammation and let your ‘Meatless Mondays' expand through Thursday Don't forget the nutmeg!
as a habit just to boost your health. • Quinoa as your protein, with caramelized onions, sweet potatoes and
broccoli.
All it takes is tiny lifestyle changes, tiny shifts in what you buy and • Holidays - There are so many ways to skip the animal protein and fat
cook to benefit your health without denying yourself the joy of eating (recipe on ChefMarian.com). They even make vegan marshmallows
and drinking. I do continuous research to see what new studies have now, to top a freshly made sweet potato pie.
come out that may change what I think. (This article reflects what I
know at this time to be true). Don't forget what the AICR says: "Veggies can protect you from the
And why go towards a vegan lifestyle? To prevent cancer and reclaim free radicals that can damage your cells’ DNA..... and also encourage
your health. cancer cells to die".
So, where do I start? How about with an authority - the American Insti- So Food is Your Best Medicine! Seriously!
tute for Cancer Research. They back up the idea that disease cannot Happy Eating,
grow in an alkaline body. And guess what's alkaline? Water, Fruits and Chef Marian
34 Vegetables. Please use your own judgment and check with your doctor before fol-
AICR added to their existing table of the latest findings to their list of
lowing any recommendations anyone makes.
apples, blueberries, cranberries, grapefruit and cherries. They also References: http://www.aicr.org/foods-that-fight-cancer/
recommend cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauli- http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03368/Lycopene.html
flower. Just buy them. If they're in the house, you'll either eat them, or
figure out how to use them in a recipe. Experimenting is fun!
Newly released info has added grapes, garlic, green tea and red wine
to that list. But the ingredients I will focus on in this article are some of
my favorites: Garlic, Wine, and Tomatoes.
Some research from the National Cancer Institute has found that eat-
ing tomatoes may help protect men from prostate cancer.... tomatoes
contain a particularly high concentration of an effective antioxidant
called lycopene. Dr. Andrew Weil reminds us that lycopene has “a
greater-than-average ability to ’quench’ free radicals that cause dam-
age to cells. Excessive free radical damage has been implicated in
heart disease, cancer, as well as accelerated aging”.
I want to remind you to put a drop or two of olive oil with those toma-
toes to help release the lycopene.
Next? Garlic. And make sure garlic goes in at the end or low and slow
throughout the cooking process. You can't do anything with over-
cooked garlic that turns bitter!
Several large studies have found that those who eat more garlic are
less likely to develop various kinds of cancer". Experts don’t know
how much you need to eat to prevent cancer, but a clove a day is
recommended.
Red wine? According to the National Cancer Institute, "resveratrol
found in red wine (moderate amounts) may be useful in keeping can-
cer from beginning or spreading".
Think of all the simple and delicious additions you can make:
• Breakfast - Broiled Tomatoes topped with a minimal amount of Par-
migiano Reggiano and olive oil. Add small squares of bread or crack-
ers - I love Ezekiel, for a healthy sprouted experience.
• Lunch - Lentils (packaged from Trader Joe's) with caramelized
onions, broccoli, garlic, beets, and other veggies that happen to be in
your fridge.