Local news and opinion reaching the communities of nosara, samarA and Nicoya
Log in |
Return to homepage
home regional community sports entertainment surf nature health en Espa�ol English
     
Archives
December 09
January 2010
February 2010
Water Edition
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 10
October 10
November 10
December 10
January 2011
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September 11
October 11
November 11
December 11
January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
April 2012
May 2012
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 12
October 12
November 12
December 12
January 13
February 13
March 13
April 13
May 13
 
Media
Partners
  El Pais
  Inside Costa Rica
  Costa Spirit
  Q Costa Rica
  Today Costa Rica
  El Sabanero
connect
FaceBook
Twitter
 
CLASSIFIEDS
 
community
  Nosara Animal Care
   
  Nosara Info
   
Esquelita de Nosara
  Friends of Nosara
   
  Nosara Civic Association
  Nosara
Wildlife

Tips to Help Prevent Stomach Cancer

By Mary Serphos
Certified Nutrition and Health Coach
www.theawarebody.com

Stomach cancer is an epidemic that strikes about one million people each year throughout the world. Unfortunately, it is especially common here in Costa Rica. Even though Costa Rica is known as one of the healthiest countries in all of Latin America, with a life expectancy of 77 years, stomach cancer has always been the prime cause of death in the cancer realm. The problem is that stomach cancer often goes undetected and by the time it is found it can be very hard to treat.

Up to 30 percent of all cancers are linked to poor diet but the good news is that we have the power to help control cancer with our dietary and lifestyle choices. Research demonstrates that people who eat a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and non-processed fish, meat and poultry in small portions have a significantly lower risk of developing stomach cancer as well as many types of cancers.

In the United States, The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently approved the statement, "diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and chronic diseases." Although this was proposed in the United States, the message rings true throughout the world. 

The best way to help win the battle against cancer starts with making wise choices around what goes in your body and avoiding excess foods and substances that are harmful. Below are some specific suggestions.

1. Focus on eating a wealth of deeply pigmented fruits and vegetables. Dark green and yellow/orange vegetables are packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants; two powerful cancer fighters. Try to incorporate vegetables into your diet each day such as squash or ayote, carrots, papayas and mangos, all of which pack in a significant amount of beta carotene, another immune boosting nutrient.

2. Citrus fruit. It’s no secret that limes, oranges and grapefruit are among the richest sources of vitamin C which fights free radicals in the body. Just one portion a day provides measurable results. Use a bit of the zest as well as the fruit for maximum benefits.

 
   
 
   
 

3. Limit processed, smoked or preserved meats. Meats that are preserved by curing, smoking with the addition of nitrites including sausage, bacon, ham, bologna, and, hot dogs are strongly linked to digestive-tract cancers, including stomach cancer.

4. Reduce Sodium in your diet: Excessive salt intake has been identified as a possible risk factor for gastric cancer. Protect your stomach by limiting processed salt especially in canned and packaged foods such as chips and salty crackers. Instead of reaching for the salt shaker or MSG experiment with fresh herbs and dried spices, and other sodium free ways of flavoring foods such as dried or fresh garlic or cayenne pepper.

5. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption: both of these are risk factors for most forms of cancer and stomach cancer is no exception.

6. Eat organic versus conventional when possible. When grown without genetically modified seeds or harsh agrochemicals and pesticides, almost every whole plant food provides vitamins, minerals, and enzymes important for good health. Food grown with pesticides has been proven to have fewer vitamins and nutrients than homegrown or organically grown food and is clearly the best option. When organic options are unavailable, difficult to obtain or out of budget range, the nutritional benefits of conventionally grown vegetables and fruit outweigh the risks of added pesticides and agrochemicals.


 

 

 

 

Contact us: NOSARA [email protected] / PUBLICITY and ADVERTISING [email protected]
Copyright 2012© The Voice of Nosara