There are a lot of unpleasant experiences in life that you can’t prevent from happening and must endure; this includes such unfortunate events as puberty, boredom, and waiting for hours at the DMV for a new license. However, cancer shouldn’t be one of these experiences. It seems now that no matter what we do in our lives, there’s a story of someone we know contracting cancer despite them having led a healthy lifestyle.
However, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is the only way we know how to reduce the risk of your body changing in this pernicious manner, and possibly developing cancer. Healthier diets could prevent around 1 in 20 cancers, according to Cancer Research UK. To start with, there are several key vitamins that have been shown to help fight against cancer and reinforce a healthy ecosystem in the body. It is best to ingest these vitamins through healthy eating rather than through synthetic supplements.
Vitamin D
A central vitamin that may help to prevent cancer is vitamin D. According to the medical website Healthline, this vitamin can absorb calcium and help the immune, muscle, and nervous systems function properly. Additionally, according to the nonprofit BreastCancer.org, research suggests that certain cancers such as breast cancer can have a higher risk of occurring when the body has low levels of vitamin D. The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 15 mg, which can be absorbed through sunlight or a diet with fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified milk. You can also find quality supplements for this type of vitamin that the body can easily absorb.
Vitamin E
Another key vitamin to help lower your risk of developing cancer is vitamin E. This vitamin is fat-soluble and helps the body remove cell-damaging free radicals with its antioxidant properties. This particular vitamin can decrease your risk for colon and lung cancers, and low levels of vitamin E have even been linked to increased risk of developing cancer. The recommended amount of daily vitamin E is 8 to 10 mg, which you can get from foods like almonds, avocado, broccoli, beans, mango, spinach, and olive oil.
Vitamin C
This vitamin, like vitamins E and A, helps prevent cell damage from occurring, and may consequently aid in preventing cancer. Many experimental studies have linked the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C to a reduced risk for cancer. However, the few studies in which vitamin C has been given as a supplement have not shown a reduced risk for cancer.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B corrects cellular division, plays an integral role in the nervous system, and control homocysteine levels in the body. B vitamins, which includes B12, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and folic acid, are naturally occurring in meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products are considered beneficial for preventing some forms of cancer because those who are diagnosed often have high levels of homocysteine.
While it is not yet proven that these vitamins negate cancer in their own right, maintaining a balance of these essential vitamins and nutrients that sustain your wellbeing helps nurture a healthy environment in your body. This balance will help reduce the risk of mutating cells which can lead to malicious diseases, including cancer.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/cancer-guide
https://www.healthline.com/health/anti-cancer-supplements#anti–cancer-supplements
https://www.womansworld.com/posts/best-anti-cancer-supplements-163717
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/22108/cancer-prevention/diet-exercise/nutrition-diet/fruit-vegetables/vitamins-and-cancer/
