Staying healthy is a very easy task—at least for most people. Sadly, there are still the unfortunate few who acquire very serious illnesses that can make a person wish he was dead instead of living the kind of life worse the sickness presents them with.
Among the most dreaded of these ailments is cancer. Cancer, for those who are unaware, is one of the top killers of men and women worldwide. And one of the most painful cancers (not that the others are not excruciating) of these is brain cancer.
According to Live Strong, brain cancer is a condition which tumors that are considered malignant develop within the brain. While it usually stays in the brain, these kinds of tumors can originate from any part of the body and travel up to the body’s control “headquarters”—no pun intended. It is also known to be the result of m abnormal cell division that occurs within the brain itself.
If you are not convinced that having a brain tumor is no joke, here are some of its symptoms:
- Edema or swelling due to excess fluid in the cavities or tissues inside the body
- Blurred vision
- Loss of sensation
- Speech difficulty
But, like any other cancers, brain cancer can be prevented by living healthy and keeping risk factors at bay by learning what they are. Here are some of them:
- Vinyl Chloride
One example cited by the website that can increase the risk of brain cancer is vinyl chloride. This chemical is abundant in the manufacturing industry and can also be produced by certain plants.
- Therapeutic Radiation
Exposure to radiation from therapeutic procedures is also known to promote growth of brain tumors in an individual. In fact, the American Cancer Association considers this as a major cause of brain cancer in children. Aside from that, radiation used to cure other cancers is also considered a risk factor by the same organization.
Of course, staying away from brain tumor causing instances is only half the battle. It is equally important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a well-balanced diet. WebMD noted that while you may eat your usual Go-Glow-Grow foods, you should make sure to take plenty of foods with the following nutrients to prevent or at least lessen your risk of growing a tumor in your brain.
- Folate
This is a B-complex vitamin that can be found in most dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, romaine, Brussel sprouts and asparagus. It is also present in juices from oranges as well as most cereals. Beans, peas and peanuts are also great options when you wish to increase the amount folate yor body produces. Foods with this nutrient are known to reduce the risk of tumor growth since it prevents DNA mutations to occur.
- Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a popular nutrient for bone development but did you know that it also has cancer fighting capabilities? In fact, WebMD describes this vitamin as one that can impede the growth of cancer cells in the body. Here’s another thing you may not know about: seafood like cod, salmon and shrimp are also great sources of Vitamin D. So if you’re beginning to get tired of incorporating dairy products which are known as the main source of this vitamin, try looking for the other sources like what we mentioned earlier.
Other foods and beverages you can try to prevent cancer or tumor growth includes different kinds of tea, a seasoning called curcumin, cruciferous vegetables such as turnip greens, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts and ginger. With that said, don’t you think it’s high time for you to enhance the contents of your pantry?
