The latest research on cancer says eating berries in plentiful can prevent cancer. Berries are known for their taste and food value alike and the prevention of cancer only adds to the goodness of this class of fruits. The phytonutrient called ellagic acid is found in the seeds of berries like strawberries and blueberries and is responsible for preventing cancer.
So here are 4 berries that are rich in ellagic acid and antioxidants and have therefore found use in the prevention of various kinds of cancer:
Blueberries
Blueberries are the best cancer preventing fruits among all fruits and other berries! Anthocyanoside is one of the strongest antioxidants which helps fight cancerous cells before they can affect the body. The high concentration of anthocyanoside gives blueberries the dark blue color. Other minerals present in blueberries that fight the chances of cancer are flavonoids, vitamins C, E, and A, and carotenoids. Resveratrol, also found in red grapes, is another important factor that prevents cancer. They also contain catechins, guercetin, pterostilbene and kaempferol, all of which make the fruit a very rich antioxidant.
Raspberries.
The ellagic acid in raspberries and other berries fight the chances of breast cancer particularly due to its anti-oestrogen properties. Apart from that raspberries contain flavonoids which is responsible for the dark red color of the berry and flavonoids work with the fiber present in the fruit to react on the cells of the human body and make it immune to diseases including cancer! 40 mg of ellagintannins can be assimilated into the body from about a cup of raspberries and this much is sufficient to prevent cancer.
Strawberries
Strawberries contain folic acid in addition to ellagic acid and also contain a lot of vitamin C. The guercetin in strawberries is a phytonutrient that can make human cancer cells go into a self-destruction mode through a process called ‘apoptosis’. Therefore, strawberries are not only great for the prevention of cancer but also to treat cancer and slow it down to quite an extent! Strawberries help prevent cancer of any type and especially esophageal cancer.
Blackberries
Blackberries too are rich in anthocyanosides and that is why they are black in color. Phytochemicals and vitamins in blackberries strengthen the immune system. They also help immobilize and deactivate the free radicals that are responsible for turning human cells cancerous thereby, preventing the chances of cancer.