Juicing for Cancer - How to Restore Health and Vitality the Natural Way

A cancer diagnosis is certainly serious, but by no means should it be considered a death sentence. Cancer is usually an indication that the immune system is run down and unable to combat the unregulated cell division of cancerous cells. And, as most people are aware, the immune system needs proper support, both from a nutritional and lifestyle perspective, to function as it should.

Many people today are realizing that there is a better alternative than going through expensive, debilitating chemotherapy, which not only works to kill the cancerous cells, but the rest of your cells as well. This alternative is juicing, and juicing for cancer has successfully cured many people who have stuck with a rigorous juicing regimen while also supporting their immune system through restful sleep, a diet free of processed foods, stress reduction methods, and proper exercise.

Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables contain a plethora of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, anti-oxidants, and phytonutrients. These nutrients help to nourish the immune system and have a wide range of benefits even beyond inhibiting cancer cell formation and proliferation. Phytonutrients in particular are an emerging area of research and many compounds have been identified that have profound anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Lycopene, for example, is an anti-oxidant found in tomatoes that has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in addition to suppressing tumor cell growth and proliferation. The phytonutrients lutein and zeathanin have been shown to fight cataracts and macular degeneration, and a well-known cancer drug called Taxol (also known as paclitaxel) is extracted and purified from the Pacific yew tree. In fact, many of the most common drugs used today are derived from compounds found in nature (although nature's medicine is usually preferable because of the synergy of other nutrients and limited or no side effects).

If you are looking to juicing as a way to cure cancer, it is important to focus your juicing regimen on those fruits and vegetables with the most potent anti-cancer properties to ensure that you attack the disease quickly and get the most bang for your buck. It is also critical, whenever possible, to juice the freshest produce you have access to, and to get it organic whenever possible, as these will have the highest nutrient density (not to mention taste better). If you don't have access to an organic garden, a local farmer's market or CSA program are excellent options for sourcing your produce.

With that said, let's look at three of the most potent groups of anti-cancer fruits and vegetables. You will want to base your juices on these groups for optimal cancer-fighting results. Note that not all of the fruits and veggies in each group are listed; feel free to do some research on your own to find other options.

Cruciferous Vegetables

These vegetables are high in cancer-fighting nutrients like vitamin C and selenium, but more importantly contain a group of compounds called isothiocyanates, which directly block the carcinogenic effects of free radicals and thereby inhibit tumor growth and development. Sulforaphane and diindolylmethane are other notable anti-cancer phytonutrients in cruciferous vegetables.

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Cabbage

Brussels Sprouts

Kale

Collard Greens

Watercress

Bok Choy

Kohlrabi

Turnips

Arugula

Rapini

Beta Carotene

Beta carotene is a reddish-orange pigment found in red, orange, yellow, and deep green vegetables, as well as some fruits. Studies have shown that beta carotene in whole foods (not supplements) reduces the risk of cancer and actively fights cancer.

Carrots

Peppers (especially the red, orange, and yellow variety)

Kale

Spinach

Collard Greens

Romaine Lettuce

Turnips

Yams

Mangoes

Papayas

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a class of plant pigments, quercetin and catechins being examples, with a variety of important sub-classes. The two most notable are the flavanols and the proanthocyanidins. These compounds inhibit cancer through their powerful free radical scavenging abilities and have also shown beneficial cardiovascular effects.

Apples

Onions (especially red)

Beans

Brussels Sprouts

Beets

Parsley

Coconuts

Citrus fruits

Green Tea

Grapes (purple)

Blueberries

Strawberries

Blackberries (and other dark berries)

Plums

As you can see, there are many fruits and vegetables to choose from when formulating your anti-cancer juicing recipes. It would be ideal to combine produce from each class together in your juice recipes in order to reap the full spectrum of anti-cancer benefits, but not necessarily on a daily basis. You may have also noted that some of the vegetables fall in multiple categories!