It is very, very important to know the importance of diet when it comes to cancer awareness and prevention. Cancer can manifest (or not) as a result of what you have been putting on your plate day in day out: To be cancer-free it is vital to stay committed to a diet that serves as a form of prevention. Naturally, those who are suffering from cancer need to be more critical towards their diet.

A cancer prevention diet must be:

1. Immune system building 2. Be natural (preferably of the organic sorts) wholesome food 3. Undamaged and not devalued from the ravages of heat treatment 4. Be free of toxins 5. Sugar free, because this substance feeds cancer cells 6. Keep the individual well hydrated (plentiful water supply)

Some Examples Of A Cancer Free Diet

Types Of Nutrition

Remember, all the following vitamins work synergistically with each other. It has been said that the most potent anti-cancer vitamin is B-17, known as laetrile in its more pure form. This is the main nutrition source used in 'metabolic nutritional therapy', which has been shown to successfully reverse the cancer condition. Vitamin B-17 reacts with an enzyme in the cancer cell, which, in effect, destroys the cancer. It is found in apricot kernels and other seed-bearing fruits like strawberry and raspberry. There are other examples such as, nuts, chic peas, broccoli, broad beans, lentils and bamboo shoots.

Other important vitamin sources include: Vitamin C with its powerful anti-oxidant properties, found in gogi berries, citrus fruits, apples and potatoes... Anti-oxidants can 'mop up' free radicals that would otherwise be potentially harmful to the body. It is essential to have these foods because they contribute to the building of a good healthy immune system.

In this synergistic approach to killing the cancer cells, Vitamin A (retinol) is an essential. This is present in carrots, red and orange fruits, egg yolks and dairy. It improves metabolic efficiency.

Whether you've been diagnosed with cancer or not, a body detoxification is always a smart move in the cancer prevention process. Vitamin B17 (pangamic acid), present in silymarin (which can be gotten as a supplement) can be used for detoxification. Remember, cancer cells do not like oxygen and a well-detoxed body has plenty of oxygen rich cells...

Besides silymarin, other minerals like zinc, which transports vitamin B-17 or laetrile into the cancer cell is an essential supplement. So is selenium, which prevents the formation of free radicals, and calcium for keeping the body towards an alkalised state, found in mushrooms, onions, almonds, broccoli seeds and beans.

It should be noted that the above is not an exhaustive account of what should or shouldn't be eaten: There are many good websites and books on cancer awareness and prevention from the naturopathic perspective.