The Three Best Drinks for Cancer Prevention

There’s growing evidence that nutrition plays a key role in health and the prevention of disease. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and cutting back on processed foods is one way to reduce the risk of common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. A diet rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants can reduce DNA damage and inflammation – potentially decreasing the risk of cancer. Even what you drink can have an impact on your risk of getting cancer. Recent studies have shown that drinking alcohol raises the risk of breast cancer in women; and some studies suggest that the lactose found in milk may be toxic to the ovaries – possibly elevating the risk of ovarian cancer. What about beverages that lower the risk of cancer? Here are three cancer fighting drinks that may reduce the risk of malignant tumors.

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is best known for its ability to fight nausea. It does this by blocking serotonin receptors in the intestinal tract. Ginger is also the source of a strong antioxidant called gingerol that helps to block damage to DNA, the genetic material found in cells. When DNA is protected from damage by gingerol, there’s less chance of a cancer forming. Animal studies showed that animals with malignant tumors given gingerol had a slower rate of tumor growth. Not only that, but ginger tea may help the nausea often experienced when undergoing cancer chemotherapy. To get the most benefits, make ginger tea using fresh ginger root. Pregnant women should avoid using ginger since it’s unclear whether it’s safe during pregnancy.

Brassica Tea

Most people already know that broccoli is a powerful cancer fighter; but not everyone enjoys eating this polarizing vegetable. If you’re not a broccoli fan, you can still get the benefits of broccoli by drinking brassica tea. Brassica tea is a special tea blend developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins that combines the anti-cancer phytochemical SGS with green and black tea to create a unique cancer fighting drink. This beverage can be enjoyed by almost anyone since there’s no “broccoli” taste. It can be found at brassicatea.com.

Green Tea

The polyphenols found in green tea, particularly EGCG, has been shown in animal studies and small human studies to slow down the growth rate of certain types of cancer including prostate and breast cancer. People who drink moderate to large amounts of green tea appear to enjoy some protection against these cancers. To get the anti-cancer benefits, drink three to five cups per day or take an EGCG supplement.

The Bottom Line

Replacing soft drinks with these cancer fighting drinks may offer some protection against the second most common cause of death in this country – cancer. Why not sip these drinks instead?