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Cancer-Fighting Foods
Your Best Defense for Staying Healthy
By Kristi Patrice Carter
Ever since you were a small child, you were told to eat a balanced diet consisting of fruits, grains, vegetables, meats and dairy products. You probably saw the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid plastered on the wall of your doctor's office and were familiar with its recommendations to eat 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta; 3 to 5 servings of vegetables; 2 to 4 servings of fruit; 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts; and 2 to 3 servings of dairy products on a daily basis. But can you honestly say that you follow these guidelines? Do you eat a balanced diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol? Do you eat enough fruits, vegetables and fiber? If you don't, you could be putting yourself at risk for developing certain types of cancer.
Protecting YourselfWhat can you do to protect yourself from this deadly disease? According to Barbara Rhodes, a licensed registered nurse in Illinois, "Although no single food can prevent cancer, you can reduce your risk of developing this disease by eating a low-fat, balanced diet, avoiding excess fat and increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables and fiber. By doing this, you strengthen your immune system and your body ultimately becomes a cancer-fighting powerhouse."