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YouTube"Berries are the best fruits," mentions Dr Greger in his videos. Why? Please browse through Berries. And berries are particularly helpful against cancer. See Berries & Cancer.
(5 mins) Transcript. The top two fruits mentioned in this video are cranberries and lemon.
(2 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Can an apple a day significantly reduce cancer risk?"
(3 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Apple peels appear to upregulate the tumor suppressor gene maspin, and have strong antiproliferative effects on breast and prostate cancer cell growth in vitro."
Articles by Dr Greger:
Videos by Dr Greger:
(6 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Pomegranate juice for prostate cancer was finally put to the test in a randomized, controlled, clinical trial."
(8 mins) Transcript. A remarkable video! Must watch. Dr Greger explains a study in which small amounts of turmeric, pomegranate, broccoli and green tea were given to patients.
#1 Anticancer Vegetable (2009, 9 mins) by Dr Greger highlights two classes of veggies: alliums and cruciferous. Alliums include garlic, onion & leeks. Cruciferous includes kale, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, … Towards the end, he remarks,
(5 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Plant-based diets appear to protect against renal cell carcinoma both directly and indirectly."
A large part of this video is about Plant Nitrates found in vegetables like beets and leafy greens.
In the allium family of veggies, garlic seems to be the most powerful.
How to consume garlic? Raw or cooked? Should we crush gralic and keep it around for 10 mins before cooking in heat? What happens is we boil, stir-fry, roast, pickle or 'blacken' garlic? For answers to such questions, please see The Allium Family — this article has additional garlic-related videos by Dr Greger. Also see How can I preserve the anti-cancer effects of cooked garlic? (2012).
(9 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "There are two superfood classes of vegetables most adept at blocking human cancer cell growth in a petri dish." [The classes are cruciferous and aliums]
(4 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Garlic and flavonoid phytonutrients found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains appear to protect against DNA damage induced by mutagenic chemicals found in cooked meat."
In the cruciferous family of veggies, broccoli seems to be the most powerful.
Cruciferous Veggies & Cancer has almost 10 videos by Dr Greger explaining magical properties of cruciferous veggies, especially broccoli, in tackling cancer. For a broader overview, see Cruciferous Veggies.
How To Eat Broccoli? See these articles: Broccoli Sprouts and Daily Cruciferous Intake: How To?
Leafy greens are the best veggies, says Dr Greger! Are they protective against cancer as well?
Articles by Dr Greger:
Videos by Dr Greger:
(2 mins) Transcript. Collards (a cruciferous leafy green) and carrots were identified as the top two veggies in this video.
(4 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Phytonutrients may, in part, account for the benefits of whole plant foods in cancer prevention." Excerpt:
(2 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Chlorophyll, the most ubiquitous plant pigment in the world, may protect our DNA against mutation by intercepting carcinogens."
(6 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Chlorophyll in our bloodstream after eating greens may react with wavelengths of sunlight that penetrate through our skin to reactivate the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol)."
Sweet potatoes are underappreciated superfoods! Who says so? WFPB doctors like Dr McDougall. See Tubers. Do they have anti-cancer properties too? Yeah:
(3 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "Sweet potatoes are not just one of the healthiest and cheapest sources of nutrition; the predominant protein is a type of protease inhibitor that may have cancer-fighting properties."
Through the videos below, Dr Greger highlights a general theme: sometimes, extracting an active compound from a whole plant food doesn't help but the whole plant may! Why? 'Food synergy': various chemicals found in a whole plant may work together to be far more impactful than an extract. Sometimes, extracts may be harmful but a whole plant food may be beneficial.
Articles by Dr Greger:
Videos by Dr Greger:
(5 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "High doses of lycopene — the red pigment in tomatoes — were put to the test to see if it could prevent precancerous prostate lesions from turning into full-blown cancer."
(7 mins) Transcript. Dr Greger's summary: "What happened when cancer patients were given three quarters of a cup of canned tomato sauce every day for three weeks?"
(1 min) Transcript. Lutein is a phytonutrient found in dark leafy greens. Lycopene is found in tomatoes. Selenium is a trace mineral found in nuts and whole grains.
Question: is it meaningful to get these minerals and compounds in pill form instead of having to consume dark leafy greens or tomatoes or nuts & whole grains?
Neither of these three supplements was found to decrease cancer risk. But one of them (lutein) was associated with an increased risk of cancer; so it is harmful.
Dr Greger's closing statement in the video: "Drug companies are never going to find the right combination, but they don't need to, because Mother Nature did it for us."
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