Cancer is a scary word, and it feels like it’s everywhere. But what if I told you that you have more power than you think when it comes to protecting yourself? This article will explore how certain foods can help your body fight back against DNA damage, which is a big part of how cancer starts. We’ll look at some everyday foods that can make a real difference in your health. (Based on the insights of Dr. Liu Jia-Yia, a licensed doctor in the U.S)
📌The Silent Threat: DNA Damage
It’s easy to think that cancer just happens, or that it’s all about bad luck. But that’s not really the whole story. We’re surrounded by things that can hurt our DNA, like stuff in the air we breathe and even some foods we eat. Yet, some people never get cancer. It’s not just luck; it’s often because their bodies are better at protecting their DNA.
Think about it: cancer rates are going up, even in younger people. This isn’t just because we’re living longer. It’s about DNA damage. I used to think that being around bad stuff was the main problem, but now I realize that not getting enough of the good stuff—the things that protect our DNA—might be an even bigger issue. The earlier you start protecting your DNA, the better your chances. That’s why eating certain foods is so important.
✅Food as Your Shield: Top 10 DNA-Protecting Foods
When you protect your DNA, you keep your immune system strong, and you might even look younger than your actual age. Here are some foods I try to eat regularly to help keep my DNA in good shape:
➡️1. Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms have something called lentinan, which is a type of sugar molecule. This lentinan really helps your immune system, making certain cells, like T-cells, work better. These cells can even help kill cancer cells indirectly. It’s pretty amazing how natural foods can do this, helping your good cells while hurting the bad ones. Medicines usually don’t work that way; they often have side effects that hit everything.
Back in 1969, a Japanese scientist found lentinan in shiitake mushrooms. It helps boost the activity of immune cells called macrophages and natural killer cells, which directly go after cancer cells. Studies in animals have shown that lentinan can shrink tumors. In people, it’s been shown to improve the quality of life for those with certain cancers, especially when used with other treatments. While you can find extracts, I just eat the mushrooms themselves. Just make sure to cook them well to avoid a rash!
It might seem strange to use something that only adds a month to someone’s life, but for someone facing a serious illness, a month can mean a lot. We’ve seen similar things with cancer drugs that cost a lot but only extend life by a short time. The problem is, once cancer has spread, it’s really hard to treat. Cancer drugs have a high failure rate, and it’s a shame that so much money goes into certain areas of medicine while others, like new antibiotics, get ignored. It all comes down to money.
In the US, we pay much more for drugs than people in other countries. This system, with pharmacy benefit managers, keeps prices high. So, if you want to avoid becoming a customer of this expensive system, you have to take care of yourself. Your immune system can do a lot to prevent problems if you give it the right support through your lifestyle, starting with what you eat.
Shiitake mushrooms also have ergothioneine, a special antioxidant that helps reduce something called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can make you more likely to get certain cancers, especially in the colon. Our cells actually have special spots for ergothioneine, which is why eating mushrooms often is a good idea. Mushrooms are packed with good stuff like polysaccharides and selenium, which help your immune system fight cancer.
People used mushrooms for health long before modern medicine came along. I’m not against prescription drugs; they’re important when you need them. But it’s worth thinking about why other countries, without our expensive drug system, seem to have better health outcomes. They eat real food, not expensive processed stuff and drugs. In America, you either pay for good food now or pay for expensive drugs later. We, the taxpayers, end up paying for it all through Medicare. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but shiitake mushrooms taste great in stir-fries and soups!