Prevent Cancer with an Ayurvedic Diet
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Today, let’s talk about how we can use an Ayurvedic diet to prevent cancer.
According to a study released this year at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, high consumption of vegetables appears to lower your chances of developing certain types of cancer, specifically, liver cancer.
The most important cancer-preventative vegetables, according to the study, were lettuce, legumes, cruciferous vegetables and carrots.
Well, legumes are the basis of the Ayurvedic diet. We do love our mung dal—a key ingredient in kichari—as well as red lentils, toor dal, urad dal, chickpeas and other beans. In fact, it almost wouldn’t be an Ayurvedic meal without some type of legume being featured. So it’s good to know that not only do legumes help prevent heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer; they also help prevent other kinds of cancer as well. Next time you tuck into a nice soothing bowl of kichari, remember to be grateful for the disease-preventing aspect of your food. Enjoy peas and beans as well, since they are legumes too.
At Alandi, we typically put carrots in our breakfast kichari, as well as in soups and stir-fries. Eat plenty of carrots for beta carotene, fibre and other benefits.
Cruciferous vegetables include cauliflower, the darling of Indian cuisine, as well as broccoli, mustard greens, turnip greens and kale. If you follow the rule of eating at least one green and one orange or yellow vegetable each day, you’ll probably get quite a bit of cruciferous vegetables.
According to the study, the greater the quantity of vegetables of all kinds that were eaten, the greater the benefit. For your 2023 New Year’s resolutions, try adding one additional cup of vegetables per day.
And, if relevant, perhaps cutting back on red meat should be another resolution. A study on red meat and gastric cancer done in Iran suggests that “avoidance of red meat and processed meat is probably good beyond [the prevention of] colorectal cancer.” Try substituting chicken for red meat, or include more vegetarian dishes in your cancer-preventative diet. This will protect you from heart disease as well.
So enjoy your vegetable kichari and stay healthy!
Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.
Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!
