Cervical cancer ranks four on the list of deadliest cancers in women. Every woman has a cervix, a thin cylindrical tissue area between the uterus and vagina. The part of the cervix near the uterus contains glandular cells, and the region near the vagina has squamous cells.
The transformation zone is where the squamous and glandular cells come together. When cervical cancer starts growing in the cervix, it always begins with the cells in the transformation zone. Women’s most common cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and sarcoma.
Do you want to prevent these cancers from developing in your body? If so, it is best to start by creating a healthy daily diet plan. Healthy eating is the best way to strengthen your immune system, so it can defend itself against the high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus) infections known for causing cervical cancers to form.
Best Foods for Preventing Cervical Cancer
Fruits and vegetables are highly recommended for preventing cervical cancer and staying healthy overall. They are beneficial for the body and immune system because they contain high amounts of flavonoids, folate, carotenoids, and antioxidants, which all strengthen and assist the immune system in stopping viral infections like HPV.
Many medical studies have confirmed the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables for cancer prevention. Maintaining a primarily plant-based diet is the key to staying cancer-free.
In addition to eating fruits and vegetables, you should also eat whole grains and beans. All three daily meals should contain primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
Here is an example of three healthy daily meals you could have to prevent cervical cancer:
Breakfast
- Granola
- Yogurt
- Cantaloupe
- Orange Juice
Lunch
- Toasted cheese and vegetable sandwich containing ingredients like mushrooms, zucchini, red peppers, and carrots
Dinner
- Tossed romaine salad w/ grapefruit pieces
- Whole wheat pasta w/ black beans, spinach, diced tomatoes, and chicken
Other Foods to Consider
Many fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids. These chemical compounds are the most effective natural method of preventing cervical cancer. You can find an abundance of essential flavonoids in natural foods like apples, black beans, asparagus, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, garlic, cranberries, soy, onions, lima beans, and spinach.
Here are the other foods to consider for reducing your cervical cancer risk:
Folate – Avocados, chickpeas, orange juice, lentils, fortified cereals, bread, strawberries, and romaine lettuce
Carotenoids – Carrots, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potatoes
Get Tested
Do not forget to continue receiving annual cervical cancer screenings (pap smears) to check for abnormal cervical cell growth. And if you have not been infected with HPV yet, try to get your HPV vaccination as soon as possible.
