Skin cancer is a disease in which abnormal and uncontrollable growth of cells occurs on the skin. According to American Cancer Society, Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Along with protecting your skin by wearing sunscreen while going out in the sun, eating certain foods may help to prevent skin cancer as well.
If you are undergoing skin cancer treatment, it is essential to eat the right kind of food, even though it is very difficult to focus on your diet when you are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatment. But in order to build your resistance against cancerous cell growth, you need to increase the consumption of certain foods that can provide beneficial antioxidants and vitamins.
It is true that foods can’t cure the cancer but your diet, containing certain foods and supplement, can reduce the risk of the disease and help in speedy recovery during the treatment. Studies suggest that antioxidants including vitamin A, C, E beta-carotene, zinc and variety of whole foods, protein, fats and folic acid can help to fight skin cancer and aid in treatment.
Foods To Fight Skin Cancer
Vitamin C and E
If you are undergoing skin cancer treatment, focus on eating fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime, strawberry, berries, bell peppers and kiwi, which are high in vitamin C. Also eat broccoli, tomatoes, spinach and other citrus fruits. Along with vitamin C, citrus fruits are rich in antioxidants that protect the cells from abnormal growth.Experts believe that proper intake of vitamin C can speed up recovery after biopsy. Avocados, guava, papaya, blackberries, cranberries, peaches and mangoes provide good amounts of vitamin E. Incorporate different variety of colorful, fresh fruits and vegetables into your regular diet for maximum benefits.
Vitamin A and D
Foods containing vitamin A and D also aid in skin cancer treatment by speeding up the healing process. There are not many foods that contain vitamin A. But eating foods containing beta-carotene helps the body to make vitamin A. Carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, dried apricot and green leafy vegetables contain beta-carotene. Those who are undergoing skin cancer treatment are not allowed to move out and get direct sunlight. For them, getting vitamin D supplement is necessary. Mushroom, fatty fish like tuna, salmon and cod liver oil contain vitamin D.
Fruits and Vegetables
If you are getting radiation and chemotherapy treatment, there can be serious side-effects like rashes, dry skin, itchy skin, acne and peeling of the skin. To counteract these side effects, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables which will provide your body with important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will help the body to fight with cancer causing toxins. Also drink plenty of water as dehydration can cause serious damage to your body, especially when you are undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.
Raw Foods
Experts suggest that eating raw foods during skin cancer treatment is extremely beneficial as raw foods can help in killing cancer cells efficiently and enhance the effect of treatment by providing the essential enzymes that are used by the body to digest food. These enzymes usually get wasted when we cook the body, due to which eating food in their raw state is recommended.
Fruit Juice and Vegetable Juice
Certain juices are very effective in treating skin cancer. Juicing makes the nutrients more digestible. Vegetable juices like carrots, beetroot, cabbage and broccoli will supplement the need for many nutrients during the treatment.
Healthy Fats
A report published in “International Journal of Epidemiology” reveals that eating Mediterranean diet consisting of healthy fats can help to lower the chances of skin cancer and aid during treatment. So incorporate fatty fishes like salmon, mackerel, tuna and nuts like walnut, pine nuts along with healthy oils like olive oil and canola oil in your diet for getting the same benefits.
Avocados
Avocados supply the skin with the ‘good fats’ that helps in reducing overall health of the skin. Not only this, consumption of avocados is also known to reduce the risk of melanoma and other kinds of skin cancer.They comprise of antioxidants called glutathione that helps in discouraging the growth of skin cancer. Eating just 3-4 avocados each week is enough to derive the anti-cancer benefits from it.
Pumpkin Seeds
Vitamin E is responsible for keeping the skin in best possible health and giving yourself a better chance to prevent skin cancer. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of vitamin E, which when added to your diet helps to prevent skin cancer and improve the health and texture of your skin.If you under treatment for skin cancer, consult your doctor before taking any kind of supplement and about the diet you are following. Some supplement and sometimes even some foods can interfere with the drugs used for cancer treatment.
