During National Nutrition Month we're hearing a lot about how to eat. But what if you have a special concern? What if you're worried about developing lung cancer?
Your concern might not stem from a history of smoking. Smoking is only one cause of lung cancer. Perhaps you have a strong family history of lung cancer. We know that lung cancer can be hereditary. Perhaps you were exposed to a high radon level in your home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
If you're one of the above - you may be lucky.
What???
I'll explain. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States. 20% of women who develop lung cancer have never smoked at all. Anybody can get lung cancer. So why not look at easy ways to lower risk?
This month is a great time to start. While a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables is good for anyone, there are certain foods that may lower lung cancer risk when consumed regularly. These include:
- Dairy products (for women) - A nice dish of vanilla yogurt with raspberries and blueberries sounds good to me right now.
- Foods high in lutein
Spinach, broccoli, and collard greens are high in lutein and should make a good salad mix for my family tomorrow night. - Foods high in lycopene. Tomato's are high in lycopene, but sauces are even higher. Time to plan an Italian entrée for tomorrow night to go with that salad.
- A cup of tea. Black tea seems to lower lung cancer risk in non-smokers, whereas green tea appears to be the steep of choice for those who smoke.
- I can't forget the apple a day. The National Cancer Institute states that foods high in flavenoids such as apples may reduce the risk of lung cancer up to 50%.
Now that my mouth is watering it's time to see if any new foods have been deemed lung cancer prevention foods. I'll let you know what I find.
Photo: istockphoto.com
