Tasty and healthy smoothies for cancer patients.

Balanced diet is an important factor in supporting the treatment of people with cancer. It has been known to have a particular impact on colorectal, esophageal, stomach and mouth cancer. Unfortunately, traditional Polish cuisine is not always conducive to health, often consisting of calorie-dense meals that provide too few micronutrients. Therefore it's important to make sure you get enough plant-based foods. The World Health Organization recommends eating at least 400g of vegetables and fruits every day. Smoothies are the easiest to prepare as healthy snacks between larger meals.

Which fruits and vegetables are the best?

Superfoods that are high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients are most recommended. Products rich in fiber are also important. The list of fruits and vegetables most valuable for health consists of:

• Apple
  Due to polyphenols, apples can prevent infections, inflammation, and even cardiovascular disease. The large amount of pectin contained in apples supports the excretion of carcinogenic substances, and thanks to the fiber, their contact with the intestinal epithelium is much smaller. Apple skins contain triterpenoids, which are effective in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, especially in the liver, duodenum, and breasts.
• Pomegranate
  An important diet component in the prevention of cancer. Pomegranate juice is recommended, among others, because of its strong antioxidant effect: up to 3-4 times stronger than green tea. It also has a beneficial effect in the fight against breast cancer - it blocks the secretion of aromatase, an enzyme responsible for the development of cancer cells in the mammary gland.
• Pineapple
  Refreshing and sweet, pineapple is a source of bromelain, an enzyme that could destroy the protective layer of cancer cells and help repair DNA. What's more, its nutrients can reduce inflammation, which is common in cancer patients.
• Papaya
  Papaya fruit helps in increasing the platelet count and stimulates immune cells which are important in the fight against malignant cancerous lesions.
• Blackberries
  The anthocyanin in most blackberries lowers biomarkers of colon cancer whereas the ellagic acid found in berries could inhibit the development of cancerous lesions. They are recommended because of their antioxidant richness.
• Citrus fruits
  Fruits such as grapefruit, lemon and orange have vitamins needed in the fight against cancer. In addition to being an excellent source of vitamin C, they also contain folic acid, beta-carotene, potassium and fiber, making them a veritable vitamin bomb. A report by the German Cancer Society showed that certain types of cancer such as esophageal, laryngeal, pharyngeal, mouth or stomach cancer occur less frequently in people who regularly consume citrus fruits in large quantities.
• Carrot
  Thanks to beta-carotene, carrots play an important role in supporting the immune system.
• Kale
  In addition to beneficial nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese, it also has sulforaphane - a plant compound with anti-cancer properties.
• Spinach
  Thanks to lutein, spinach has an anti-cancer effect because of blocking the cell cycle, stopping the multiplication of damaged cancer cells and forcing them to self-destruct.

Not only healthy, but also tasty

Smoothies which contain the products mentioned, can be one of the diet pillars supporting treatment of people diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, it's worth including them in the daily menu.
Although many fruits have a natural sweetness that can enrich a smoothie by itself, there are additional ingredients that enhance the taste while being also beneficial to health. These include honey, ginger, and walnuts, among others.

Sample recipe*

Blueberry Smoothie (2 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen unsweetened blueberries (do not thaw)
• 1/2 cup orange juice (calcium-fortified preferred)
• 3/4 cup low-fat or nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 medium frozen banana
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Place blueberries, orange juice, yogurt, banana and vanilla extract into blender.
2. Cover securely and blend for 30 to 35 seconds or until thick and smooth. For thinner smoothies, add more juice; for thicker smoothies, add more frozen fruit.
3. Bon appetit!

*source: American Institute for Cancer Research