Garlic and Onions
The compounds that give garlic and onions their strong flavor appear to stave off cancer by neutralizing carcinogenic substances and speeding the repair of damaged DNA. Like many cancer-fighting foods, garlic seems especially effective against digestive-tract cancers, including those of the esophagus and colon.
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Milk may help maintain a healthy weight.
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Milk
The calcium in dairy products may neutralize potential carcinogens, particularly those found in processed meats. Not all studies agree that milk lowers cancer risk. But recent reports do show that milk drinkers are less likely to become obese. And there is evidence that maintaining a healthy weight protects against cancer.
Broccoli contains sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting substance.
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Broccoli
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are packed with sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting substance so potent that researchers are testing it as a drug. "Sulforaphane is delivered to almost every tissue in the body," says Trygve O. Tollefsbol, a professor in the biology department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Kale has been shown to prevent the growth of cancer cells.
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Dark, Leafy Greens
Leafy greens — including arugula, kale, spinach and romaine — abound in antioxidants called carotenoids, which in laboratory studies have been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of cancer cells, including skin, lung, stomach and certain kinds of breast cancer. Spinach may even block carcinogens from cooked meat.
Help prevent cancer cell growth by eating red grapes. Red Grapes
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Red Grapes
Red grapes (and red wine) are loaded with resveratrol, which inhibits cancer-cell growth and causes cancer cells to self-destruct. According to recent findings, resveratrol remains effective — and may be more powerful — after it's metabolized by the body. The compound is found in peanuts, cranberries and blueberries, too.
Whole grains may be linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.
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Whole grains
For years, we've been urged to eat three to five servings of whole grains a day. There's good reason: They are linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer, a 2013 Danish study of 108,000 people has found. What's more, whole grains offer protection against other chronic conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
