As millions of Americans observe National Cancer Month in February, it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest information on how to avoid the deadly disease. 

Cancer affects tens of millions of people and families around the world, especially in impoverished nations and communities that do not have funds for treatment.

In 2022, more than 1.9 million people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer, and over 600,000 people died of the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

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The deadliest form of the disease in 2022 was lung and bronchus cancer, which killed an estimated 130,000 individuals in the U.S. 

The second most deadly diagnosis was colorectal cancer, killing approximately 52,000 Americans in 2022. 


Prostate cancer was the leading diagnosis for men — while breast cancer was the most common form of cancer for women.

In an April 2022 interview with Fox News Digital, California-based nutritionist and health expert Susan Smith Jones, PhD, shared a few pointers about the foods we should add to our diets for the highest chance of dodging cancer. 

Here are a few cancer-preventing food options. 

Sprouts, Green vegetables, Tomatoes, Green tea, Nut


A cup and a half of broccoli sprouts per day can reduce the chances of cancer by 50%, advises Jones.

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While growing a significant amount of sprouts takes a matter of mere days, growing an actual head of broccoli with less nutritional value takes about 77 days.

"There’s hardly a better food on earth than freshly harvested sprouts that cost pennies a batch and take two minutes a day to grow," Jones said.

2. Green vegetables 

All types of greens, such as spinach, kale, romaine, broccoli, turnips and collard greens, offer a bit of extra protection against cancer. 

Consuming more green also replaces sugar and other unhealthy items in a diet, and leads to beneficial results beyond cancer, including a lower risk of developing heart disease or obesity.

In lab experiments, substances released during either cutting or chewing cruciferous vegetables produced a cancer-killing effect. 

Swallowing them whole won’t do, by the way. 

The protective effect of cruciferous vegetables seems to occur when they are cut or chewed. They’re great in stir-fry, as side dishes or tossed into salads raw. Experiment with flavors like lemon or garlic.

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A 2022 epidemiological study comprised of 206 other studies on humans revealed that the most cancer-protective, heart-healthy and obesity-preventative foods are greens, Jones told Fox News Digital.

"And yet [only] one in five Americans eats enough greens to get the benefits," she added.

3. Tomatoes

There’s no better fruit for men to eat than tomatoes in terms of preventing prostate cancer. 

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of the deadly disease, especially for millions of older men in the United States. A healthy diet that encompasses tomatoes may help individuals reduce the risk of developing the diagnosis later in life. en better option since much of the nutritional value is found in the skin.  

The nutrition lies in the tomato’s lycopene, which gives the fruit its red shade. For some individuals, fitting tomatoes into a daily diet can be difficult, but a variety of salads and soups makes it possible. 

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You can also eat the plant by itself after slicing and adding some light seasoning and baking it in the oven. 

4. Green tea

Try changing out your morning cup of coffee for green tea for extra health benefits.

Your palate for tea may vary by season: Hot tea can be warming in the winter; ice tea offers cool refreshments in the summer. So enjoy tea year-round to boost cancer prevention.

Green Tea may not only help prevent cancer, but it also has antiviral and antibacterial properties, said Jones. 

It's also great for weight loss and immunity. Similar to many plant-based foods, tea contains flavonoids, known for their antioxidant effects. One flavonoid in particular, kaempferol, has shown protective effects against cancer. 

5. Nuts and seeds

Almonds are a great source of protein, fiber and vitamin E. 

Try soaking almonds in a bowl of water overnight to plump them up, soften their chew and boost their bio-availability, advised Jones.


Throw some soaked almonds in a blender with four cups of water for homemade almond milk. 

Flax seeds provide a plethora of nutrients to help prevent cancer, such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

A few tablespoons of flaxseed at two meals per day can also promote glowing skin and high energy, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and aid in digestion.

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