Healing Guides for Common Cancers- Women's Reproductive Cancers
The most common reproductive cancers in women are cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and endometrial cancer. Collectively these are also known as gynecological cancers. A major reason to group them together is that female hormones impact their progression.
best foods to eat
To prevent or heal reproductive cancers nutritionally, plant- based foods are key. A major long-term study of more than 100,000 California schoolteachers concluded that women who ate a majority plant-based diet, versus dairy, meats, and vegetable oils had a lower risk of ovarian cancer.47 Other protective factors included exercise (more than four hours a week is good), more than two pregnancies, low alcohol consumption (fewer than one drink per day), and nonuse of estrogen hormone therapy.
A remarkable finding was that eating one papaya per week reduces a woman’s risk of contracting cervical cancer. Papaya is higher in vitamin C than oranges and it’s loaded with pectin, which induces the death of cancer cells when the fruit is soft and ripe. So eat up!
To prevent or heal reproductive cancers, try preparing meals that contain:
A remarkable finding was that eating one papaya per week reduces a woman’s risk of contracting cervical cancer. Papaya is higher in vitamin C than oranges and it’s loaded with pectin, which induces the death of cancer cells when the fruit is soft and ripe. So eat up!
To prevent or heal reproductive cancers, try preparing meals that contain:
- Anthocyanins (blueberries)
- Antioxidants (green tea)
- Beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin (papaya)
- Curcumin (turmeric and curry)
- Ellagic acid (raspberries)
- Falcarinol (carrots)
- Flavonoids (apples, asparagus, black beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cranberries, garlic, lettuce, lima beans, organic soy, spinach, and onions)
- Folate (avocado, chickpeas, lentils, oranges, romaine lettuce, and strawberries)
- Ginger root (especially good for ovarian cancer49)
- Glutathione (asparagus)
- Lentinan and l-ergothioneine (mushrooms such as king oyster, oyster, reishi, maitake, and shiitake)
- Omega-3 fatty acids (astaxanthin [algae], flaxseeds, sardines, trout, walnuts, and wild-caught salmon)
- Pantothenic acid (cauliflower)
- Vitamin A (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, spinach, kale and other dark leafy greens, sweet peppers, tomatoes, oranges, and papaya)
quick tips
- Maintaining a healthy weight is helpful for preventing women’s reproductive cancers because estrogen is often stored in fatty tissue in women’s bodies. Estrogen is a known risk factor for cancer. If a woman is obese, her exposure to estrogen is higher and more prolonged.
- Avoid nonfermented soy products like tofu and edamame, which can raise your estrogen levels. Fermented soy products like miso, natto, and tempeh are acceptable—and good sources of vitamin K2.
- Cervical cancer is considered a lifestyle disease as it is closely linked to the human papilloma virus (HPV). Go for routine pap smears at your gynecologist and follow up if one comes back abnormal. Also, practice safe sex by using a condom every single time!