Liver cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers to human health, and most patients diagnosed with it will die within a year of their diagnosis. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, there are 430,000 new cases of liver cancer worldwide each year, with three-quarters of these cases occurring in Southeast Asia (including China, North Korea, and Japan). The development of liver cancer is linked to poor dietary habits, for which experts have proposed the "Four Eats and Four Don'ts" principle.
Preventing Liver Cancer: "Four Eats":
1. Eat Carrots and Citrus Fruits
The protective effect of vegetables and fruits on the liver is produced by the interaction of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other components. Green leafy vegetables, carrots, potatoes, and citrus fruits have the strongest preventive effect. Dr. Dong Jing recommends that one should eat five or more servings of vegetables and fruits daily, including a glass of juice in the morning, a piece of fruit in the morning and afternoon, and two or more servings of vegetables with main meals. This daily total intake of approximately 400-800 grams can reduce your risk of liver cancer by 20%.
2. Drink Tieguanyin Tea
People in southern Fujian love drinking tea, which Dr. Dong says is very beneficial for preventing liver cancer. Tieguanyin, commonly found in the southern Fujian region, is the best choice, and pre-rain Longjing tea is also good.
3. Eat Dairy Products
Medical research has shown that while controlling alcohol consumption, if dairy products, including milk and yogurt, are consumed daily, the chance of developing liver cancer will be reduced by 78%. Children have already developed the habit of eating dairy products, but among adults, it is still not common. It would be beneficial to change this.
4. Eat More "Three Shoots"
The "Three Shoots" refer to bamboo shoots, lettuce, and asparagus. Experts suggest that eating these three foods daily can reduce the incidence of liver cancer, and they are also delicious.
"Four Don'ts":
1. Don't Eat Moldy Food
In spring, food is prone to mold. Aflatoxin in moldy food is a substance that causes liver cancer, and the time it takes to cause cancer can be as short as 24 weeks. Therefore, food should be stored properly and discarded immediately if it becomes moldy. This is especially true for soybeans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and sugarcane, which must not be eaten again. In addition, peanut oil should not be stored for a long time; if it develops a stale taste, it should not be eaten. Otherwise, it will not only taste bad but, more importantly, can lead to cancer.
2. Don't Eat or Eat Less Pickled Vegetables
Pickled vegetables like sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, and salted fish are appetizing. As the weather gets warmer and appetite decreases, many people prefer to eat pickled vegetables with their meals. However, pickled vegetables contain a significant amount of nitrosamines, which experiments have shown are related to the development of liver cancer. It is best not to eat them or to eat them in moderation. Also, remember that they must be fully pickled before being eaten.
3. Don't Drink or Drink Less Alcohol
Long-term alcohol consumption can erode the gastric mucosa. Once the stomach's cells are damaged, toxic substances in food are easily absorbed by the stomach, which can easily lead to alcoholic hepatitis, impair the liver's detoxification function, and even cause alcoholic cirrhosis, which is a risk factor for liver cancer. If moldy peanuts are eaten with alcohol, the possibility of inducing liver cancer is even greater. Dr. Dong recommends that adult men should not drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol per day, and women should not drink more than 1 glass.
4. Don't Eat Rancid Animal or Vegetable Oil
Rancid oils contain a chemical substance called malondialdehyde. It can form polymers and react with proteins and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the human body, causing the structure of proteins to change. This leads to cells with altered proteins losing their normal function and transforming into early-stage cancer cells. In addition, malondialdehyde polymers can hinder DNA replication and accelerate the human aging process. Therefore, animal and vegetable oils should not be stored for too long. Rancid oil with a stale taste should not be eaten. Food fried with rancid oil not only tastes bad but, more importantly, can cause cancer and shorten a person's life.