Eating to Prevent Lung Cancer

[Hebbie]

Dr. Weil's Daily Tip 4/4/05

Eating to Prevent Lung Cancer

While many women state their worst fear is breast cancer, lung cancer is now actually the biggest cancer threat to women - it accounts for the same amount of cancer-related deaths as breast and gynecological cancers combined. Along with the obvious lifestyle choices - such as not smoking - diet may play a role in preventing or lessening the risk of developing lung cancer. Make the following changes:

Add more antioxidants. Apples, tomatoes and oranges are especially helpful in nourishing the lungs.

Add carrots, yellow squash and dark, leafy greens for their lung-cancer protective carotenoids.

Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins.

Eat whole soy foods - their phytoestrogens may have a protective effect.

Keep in mind that dietary carotenoids are your best source. While supplemental mixed carotenoids may offer some benefit, you should avoid taking isolated beta-carotene if you are, or were, a smoker - higher doses may actually increase the risk of lung cancer.