Nutrition against cancer: does healthy eating protect?

Sugar is really bad, beet juice prevents: There are many tips circulating on how to prevent cancer through diet. Is there really any truth to it?

Gewissen Nahrungsmitteln wird eine Krebs vorbeugende Wirkung nachgesagt. Wir klären auf, was dran ist.© iStock
Certain foods are said to have a cancer-preventing effect. We clarify what is true.

Certain foods are said to have a cancer-preventive effect, others are said to starve cancer. Much is myth, but this advice on anti-cancer nutrition is true.

Nutrition against cancer: what helps and what doesn't?

1. broccoli

The ingredient sulforaphane in broccoli actually slows tumor growth and enhances the effect of chemotherapy. This was shown by studies conducted by Heidelberg University Hospital on the subject of nutrition against cancer.

2. tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene, and this antioxidant has an anti-cancer effect. When cooked, tomatoes contain the highest lycopene content. Tomato sauces, tomato paste, strained tomatoes, home-made ketchup and tomato juice are therefore very good sources of lycopene.

3. raw food

Many people swear by raw food as an anti-cancer diet, as raw vegetables contain the most vitamins and heating destroys them. However, cooking allows the stomach and intestines to absorb the ingredients of vegetables better, so a few vitamins less don't make any difference.

4. beet juice

Beet is supposed to prevent the body from becoming over-acidic and developing cancer. According to the experts, this is nonsense. On the contrary: beet contains a lot of nitrates, and these are carcinogenic. However, eating the vegetable from time to time doesn't do anything.

5. no sugar

Cancer cells feed on sugar - but giving up sugar doesn't help, because the cancer cells then get their energy from somewhere else.

6. green tea

According to Asian studies, the phytochemicals in green tea protect against cancer. We recommend 5-7 cups a day