Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (120 page)

Kohlrabi contains many important anticarcinogenic properties.

Purple sprouting broccoli. This is a good source of the phytochemical sulphoraphane that has cancer-preventing properties. It is great steamed or stir-fried. The stem, head, and leaves can all be used and are all beneficial to health.

Freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juices. These are concentrated in cancer-fighting antioxidants and help the body to cleanse and revitalize. Try a vegetable cocktail made from carrot, celery, beets, fennel, and parsley.

Fiber-rich foods. Researchers have found that a high-fiber diet reduces the risk of breast cancer. Good sources include brown rice and other whole grains, muesli, oats, beans, and pulses.

Foods that contain phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds that have mild estrogenic effects and have the ability to block the action of some of the body’s naturally occurring and more potent estrogen by competing with it. Many studies have found this mechanism to be cancer-protective. Phytoestrogens are present in soy products (such as soy milk, tofu, tempeh, and miso), flax seeds, celery, fennel, wheat, oats, chickpeas, and lentils.

Foods containing good fats. Sources of these include seeds, nuts, dark leafy green vegetables, tofu, avocados, and unrefined vegetable oils such as flax seed oil and extra virgin olive oil. Oily fish is a good source of omega-3 fats.

Water, to keep your body cleansed and hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of bottled or filtered water daily.

AVOID

Processed foods, as these will make your body more toxic.

Refined sugar, and all foods that contain it. Eat fresh and dried fruit (unsulphured) instead, to satisfy sweet cravings.

Salt.

Alcohol. The liver helps to break down estrogen, preventing excessive levels from accumulating in the body.

Coffee and black tea. Instead, drink grain-based coffee substitutes and herbal teas such as nettle, fennel, chamomile, peppermint, ginger, and rooibos.