You probably know the protective effects that certain cancer-fighting foods, such as how green leafy vegetables and berries, can have on your immune system and your overall health. But there’s more good news: Some of the most widely consumed beverages in the world have also been shown to be cancer-fighting beverages.
Organizations recommend including beverages in your diet that provide vitamins and phytonutrients that have been shown to have anticancer effects.
What are some examples? Coffee, green tea, red wine, and 100% vegetable and fruit juices are among the best options.
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6 drinks that fight cancer.
What can you drink to prevent cancer? According to the latest research findings, beverages that should be included in a diet to fight cancer include:
1. Coffee.
While caffeine is coffee, some people do not tolerate it well, nutrient-rich coffee is also a concentrated source of antioxidant phytochemicals. These include theophylline and theobromine, chlorogenic acid (a powerful phenol), quinic acid, cafestol, and kahweol.
Certain studies have linked coffee consumption to a lower risk of liver, colorectal, endometrial, oral/pharyngeal, and other cancers.
And while some are concerned about the negative effects of caffeine/coffee on digestive health, overall, there is no evidence to suggest an association of coffee intake with cancers of the stomach, pancreas, or GI.
2. Green, white and black teas.
Black, green, white, and also oolong teas (sometimes called “true teas”) are rich in many disease-fighting nutrients such as catechins, polyphenol compounds, epigallocatechin gallate (or EGCG), flavanols, and more. Researchers believe this is why long-term tea consumption is linked to lower risks of bladder, stomach and pancreatic cancers, among other types.
Green tea is an exceptional source of EGCG, while other teas also provide epicatechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), and epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG).
An article states that “epidemiological studies have reported that green tea consumption may decrease the risk of cancer.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a major component of green tea, has been shown to inhibit tumor invasion and angiogenesis, which are essential for tumor growth and metastasis.
Matcha green tea (whole green tea leaf that is stone ground) is another great option, as it is rich in antioxidants that give it the ability to support the immune system.
Laboratory studies have linked both types of green teas to reduced development of cancer in the cells of the colon, liver, breast, lung, and prostate.
High amounts of polyphenols have also been identified in black tea and oolong tea. Flavanols including quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin are other compounds in true teas that help fight cancer.
A 2018 article published in Anticancer Research states that Oolong tea, like green tea, can induce DNA damage and cleavage, play an inhibitory role in the growth, proliferation, and tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells, and It had great potential as a chemo-preventive agent against breast cancer. ”
3. 100% vegetable juices.
According to many studies, having a daily serving of green vegetable juice or another vegetable juice/smoothie with pulp and fiber is an easy way to increase your nutrient intake and help prevent chronic diseases.
Good options include fresh-pressed juices made with greens like spinach or kale, carrots, beets, tomatoes, celery, herbs, and other greens.
A wealth of research shows that including a variety of vegetables in your diet can help reduce your risk of many types of cancer, not to mention other chronic diseases.
For example, juices made from dark green leaves provide you with antioxidants, such as carotenoids, which are linked to the inhibited growth of a variety of cancer cells, such as skin, lung, stomach, and breast cancer.
Tomato juice is another beneficial juice as it is a great source of beta carotene/vitamin A, vitamin C, lycopene, and other carotenoids that have anti-cancer effects. The lycopene in tomato juice has been linked to protection against prostate cancer.
Carrot juice is a great way to get more vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, luteolin, and flavonoid phytochemicals that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
If you’re willing to branch out from commonly eaten vegetables, consider adding superfood supplements to your veggie juices/smoothies like spirulina, barley, wheatgrass, or algae powder. When pulp is included, juices can be even more beneficial thanks to the fiber content, especially for colorectal health.
4. 100% fruit juices (no added sugar, in small amounts).
Examples of healthy juices include those made with anticancer fruits like cherries, blueberries, pomegranates, oranges, grapefruit, and acai. Consuming juices made from dark colored fruits like berries is a powerful way to get more resveratrol and anthocyanins in your diet, which have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Grapefruit juice is another example that contains many phytochemicals that help defend against cancer according to research studies, such as naringenin and other flavonoids, limonin, beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamin C.
Pomegranate juice provides polyphenols that have been shown to have antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, offering protection against prostate, lung, breast, and other cancers.
Research results tell us that it is important that fruit juices be 100% fruit with no added sugar and no high fructose corn syrup, as high sugar intake has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and many other health problems.
5. Infusions and herbal teas.
The use of herbal remedies, which come in many forms, is considered by far the most commonly used group of alternative treatments among cancer patients, according to certain reviews of the literature.
Several herbs, either in tea or extract form, have been shown to offer therapeutic effects on cancer markers, are considered safe, are unlikely to cause side effects or dependence, and are widely available.
Herbal teas, which include ginger, chamomile, honey bush, dandelion, peppermint, chai, and a variety of traditional Chinese medicinal herb blends, are caffeine-free and have many benefits, such as supporting gut health and reducing the inflammation.
Herbal teas are another great option, made by steeping the herbs in water until the water absorbs the herbs’ oils and therapeutic compounds.
A 2019 review explains that herbal teas and infusions are made with herbs that can help offer protection against oxidative stress, certain types of cancer, and also digestive problems that can be caused by chronic diseases and cancer treatments.
According to an article, herbal teas/drinks are rich sources of natural bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, terpenoids, among other biological effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory actions.
These teas are also made with water, which has its own far-reaching benefits. Water is important for overall health because it increases urination and detoxification of potential cancer-causing compounds that can end up in the bladder and elsewhere.
6. Red wine (in moderation).
Red grapes and red wine are packed with cancer-fighting compounds called resveratrol. Studies suggest that the chemicals found in wine can contribute to the destruction of cancer cells and the inhibition of the growth of cancer cells.
According to a study there is evidence that wine consumption lowers the risk of cancer at several sites, including cancer of the upper digestive tract, lung, colon, basal cell carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Red wine also appears to significantly reduce the transcription of certain genes that increase cancer risk.
The effects of mature red wine on cancer cell phenotypes have been shown to be stronger than young wines. Red wine appears to be especially beneficial in combating colonies of human breast cancer and esophageal carcinoma cells.
However, keep in mind that research shows that these positive effects in different lines of human cancer occur in a dose-dependent manner, which makes it appear that too much alcohol can increase your risk of cancer.
Dosage.
How much of these cancer-fighting drinks do you need to consume to reap their benefits?
In terms of consumption and frequency, this depends on the type of drink. Here are some general guidelines according to most health experts:
- Coffee: 1 to 2 cups may be the best, to keep your adrenal glands without working too much for caffeine.
- Tea: several cups per day, or even more if the tea is herbal and caffeine-free.
- Vegetable juices: 4-8 ounces daily.
- Fruit juices – Too much juice can be an additional source of sugar and calories, so small amounts are best, 4-8 ounces daily for adults. Some experts recommend 8 to 12 ounces of fruit and vegetable juices daily for children and teens ages 7 to 18.
- Wine: 1 to 2 drinks per day maximum (2 or less recommended for adult men and 1 or less for women).
If you already have cancer what drinks are good to drink.
What is good for cancer patients to drink? Doctors recommend these health-enhancing drinks, which can help with hydration and provide key nutrients:
Water. Some cancer treatments can make plain water taste unpleasant; in this case, drink more flavored water including mineral water, mineral water or water with lemon or other fruit.
- 100% fruit or vegetable juices, which can help prevent dehydration, as well as provide electrolytes and antioxidants.
- Coconut water, a hydrating drink with medium chain triglycerides, a type of beneficial fatty acid that can help maintain gut health.
- Coconut milk (higher in fat) also contains some antioxidant properties that fight bacteria that support the immune system.
- Herbal teas like ginger tea or peppermint teas, which can help with nausea and other symptoms caused by treatments.
- Kefir and organic milk (if tolerated), which provide many important vitamins and minerals, plus probiotics if fermented.
- Bone Broth, a unique source of hard-to-obtain amino acids, collagen, trace elements and electrolytes.
If poor appetite is a problem, try to drink most fluids at least half an hour before or after meals to avoid feeling too full.
Keep in mind that caffeine, sugary drinks, and even fruit juices can sometimes cause indigestion, so limiting them may be necessary in case of diarrhea or nausea.
Risks and side effects.
Just as there are some beverages and foods that can help fight disease development, research tells us that there are also potentially carcinogenic foods to avoid.
What drinks should you limit or ideally eliminate from your diet?
Sugary drinks, including sodas, energy drinks and juices, teas and coffee drinks with added sugar. Research has revealed a strong link between the consumption of sugary beverages and the risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, and now ongoing research suggests that these beverages may also increase the risk of certain types of cancer such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder and endometrial cancer.
This connection is believed to be due to mechanisms such as insulin resistance caused by consuming a high glycemic load, as well as the effects of chemicals, additives, and pesticides in sugary drinks that can have carcinogenic effects.
Alcohol in excess. While wine in moderation has protective effects against certain diseases, too much seems to do the opposite. High alcohol consumption increases the risk of certain types of cancer development according to research studies, including colon/rectal, oral, liver, breast and other cancers.
Final notes.
There is evidence that, as part of a healthy diet, certain beverages and foods can help stop cancer from forming or progressing.
Cancer-fighting drinks are those that provide important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals , as well as hydrating water and, in some cases, probiotics.
What are the best options? Coffee, green/black/white teas, 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas, and red wine can support your immune system and potentially lower your risk of developing cancer.