Introduction: Did you know that simple vegetables in your daily life can prevent cancer? Small vegetables, big knowledge. Eggplant is a cancer-prevention expert, and sweet potato is a great anti-cancer food... How much do you know about the amazing effects of food? Let's unveil them for you one by one.
Eggplant: "Frost-bitten eggplant" is good medicine
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In many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and folk remedies, "late autumn old eggplant" and "frost-bitten eggplant" are often used. More and more evidence shows that eggplant has anti-cancer functions. An experiment once extracted a non-toxic substance from eggplant, which proved effective in treating stomach cancer and cervical cancer.
In addition, eggplant contains various alkaloids such as solanine, cucurbitacin, stachydrine, choline, perilla glycoside, and nasunin. Among these, solanine and cucurbitacin have been proven to have anti-cancer abilities. The eggplant flower, stem, root, and juice are all good medicines. In ancient times, eggplant root was used to treat tumors. Eggplant is also rich in nutrients. Except for vitamins A and C, which are relatively low, other vitamins and minerals are almost the same as tomatoes, and its protein and calcium content are even 3 times higher than that of tomatoes.
Bitter Melon: Li Shizhen called it a "first-class melon"
Bitter melon is polarizing among the public. Many people love it, while others stay away from it. But it was the great Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen who truly gave it a "good reputation," calling it a "first-class melon," a rare anti-cancer melon.
Western medicine has proven that the anti-cancer effect of bitter melon comes from a quinine-like protein, which is an active protein that can activate immune cells. Through these immune cells as "middlemen," it kills cancer cells or other abnormal cells. Bitter melon seeds contain a protease inhibitor that can inhibit tumor cells from secreting proteases, thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells.
Kelp: Can prevent breast cancer and thyroid tumors
The Chinese name for kelp is "Kunbu." It can prevent breast cancer and thyroid tumors. It is widely known in China that kelp is rich in iodine and can prevent goiter. In fact, kelp has many other "abilities." The sodium alginate it contains has a strong binding ability with strontium and cadmium, which are carcinogenic, and expels them from the body. Kelp can selectively kill or inhibit bacteria in the intestines that produce carcinogens, and the fiber it contains promotes the excretion of bile acids and cholesterol. Kelp extract has a direct inhibitory effect on various cancer cells.
Sweet Potato: An excellent anti-cancer food
Sweet potato, also known as yam, sweet potato, or white potato, is considered an excellent food for preventing disease, prolonging life, losing weight, and maintaining health. In fact, sweet potatoes also have a powerful anti-cancer function. Recently, scientists discovered a substance called dehydroepiandrosterone in sweet potatoes, which can prevent the occurrence of colon cancer and breast cancer.
Pumpkin: Hailed as the "divine melon"
Pumpkin can prevent obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and high cholesterol, and is very effective in cancer prevention. The vitamin A content in pumpkin is incredibly high. In addition, it is rich in vitamin C, calcium, and fiber, and also contains an unknown component that inhibits the carcinogen tryptophan-P.
Wheat Bran: The best anti-cancer dietary fiber
Also known as bran, it is the seed coat removed when wheat is milled into flour and is used as animal feed, not for human consumption. When fed to livestock, wheat bran makes their skin ruddy and their fur shiny, showing a very healthy state. Now, wheat bran is receiving increasing attention. For health, many Western institutions are calling on people to eat whole grains and whole wheat foods. Whole wheat foods are made by grinding the whole wheat grain into flour and then separating out the bran, and using this flour to make food.
Wheat bran is the "warehouse" of the main nutrients of wheat. B vitamins, minerals such as selenium and magnesium, and dietary fiber are almost all concentrated in it. It can prevent and treat colorectal cancer, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, constipation, hemorrhoids, etc. Therefore, many experts believe that wheat bran is the best anti-cancer dietary fiber.
Radish: The "health guardian" among root vegetables
Radish, also known as Laifu, has many varieties, all of which are anti-cancer experts. Hence the agricultural sayings: "Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer, and you won't need to see a doctor in your life" and "The radish in October is like water ginseng." The Dutch have designated the carrot as their "national vegetable," and Japan and the United States consider it the "health guardian" among root vegetables.
Radish has the functions of anti-cancer, relieving chest tightness, resolving phlegm, and promoting urination. Radish contains various enzymes that can eliminate the carcinogenic effects of nitrosamines. Its lignin can stimulate the body's immunity, increase the activity of macrophages, and enhance their ability to engulf and kill cancer cells. The spicy taste of radish comes from mustard oil, which can stimulate intestinal peristalsis and promote the excretion of carcinogens. Radish also contains many unknown components that inhibit mutagenic activity. The vitamin C content in radish is 8-10 times higher than that in apples and pears. Carrots, due to their rich content of carotene, also have excellent anti-cancer effects.