Regular consumption of orange juice may help protect against the risk of developing cancer, a new study says.
Researchers found that the high content of antioxidants in oranges helped fight cancer and achieve chemoprevention (slow or delay development of cancer).
The findings reported in the journal Nutrition and Cancer are based on the systematic study which researchers conducted on previous data available on the chemo-preventive effects of orange.
Previous studies have shown that orange juice helped prevent leukaemia in children and also in chemoprevention against hepatic, mammary and colon cancer.
However, excess intake of orange juice can prove to be risky, particularly for children who are hypertensive, kidney-compromised and diabetic. Researchers said that when consumed in large quantity, people who belonged to the above category experienced noxious effects, hyperkalemia and food allergy.
"OJ could contribute to chemoprevention at every stage of cancer initiation and progression," the researchers wrote in their study, according to a news release by AlphaGalileo Foundation in London. "Among the most relevant biological effects of OJ is the juice's antigenotoxic and antimutagenic potential, which was shown in cells in culture and in rodents and humans."
According to the non-profit organization, Helpguide.org, cancer can be prevented by including more plant-based foods vegetables (broccoli, spinach, corn, peas, tomatoes, sprouts, potatoes) nuts, grains, beans and fruits (apples, grapes,pears, bananas, berries, mango, citrus fruits, apricot) to the diet as they are less in fat, more in fiber and cancer-fighting nutrients. They also recommend the public to avoid processed foods, add more fiber to the diet and lower fat intake, particularly meat products. Eating fish, replacing vegetable oil with olive oil, restricting fast food, packaged or fried food are some other effective methods that help prevent cancer.
Apart from these, flaxseed, soy, ginger, garlic, sweet potato, green tea, turmeric, basil, rosemary, raisins, prunes and raisins are some of the other cancer-fighting foods.
