Fruits, veggies help fight cancer, says doc

By Jose Rafael Cesar Atencio

Monday 21st of May 2012

QUEZON CITY, May 21 (PIA) -- A cosmetic surgeon specializing in alternative medicine on Monday urged employees of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables to avoid cancer.

Dr. Rommel Gloria, who was guest during Monday's flag raising rites PIA, said that eating the right food keeps people away from illnesses and diseases.

“Stay away from processed foods. You may use raw vegetables in making a combination veggie-fruit juice by using a blender so you can have a healthy meal,” Gloria explained in an interview by the PIA-National Capital Region after his talk on health and wellness.

“From the green leafy vegetables, we can get the right calcium which will be absorbed by our body,” Gloria said.

"Eighty percent of premature deaths can be avoided through healthy food,” he said. “Avoid smoking and regular exercise for at least 30 minutes, kicking the smoking habit, cutting intake of red meat like steak and increasing consumption of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits will help prevent the cancer disease."

Gloria said that a high intake of red or processed and barbecued meats, obesity or excess fat around the waist, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle were among the risk factors that can be controlled.

Some of the notable vegetarians are tennis player Martina Navratilova of Czehoslovakia and U.S. football player Joe Namath.

Gloria said vegetarian food, as part of anti-aging care, is also key to health and good basis for studies involving cancer alternative treatments.

He also said people can regain physical and mental balance by returning to traditional diet of whole natural foods.

Gloria said Macrobiotics and similar vegetarian diets are arguably preventive for cancers that were closely associated with high fat Western diet.

He said fiber helps decrease colon and rectal cancer. This cancer diet cure could be obtained from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

"Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts should be taken regularly to detoxify cancer-causing chemicals. The phytochemicals in these vegetables may detoxify cancer-causing chemicals. He said this is best when you eat more or undercook," he explained.

"Allum vegetables such as onion, garlic, chives to prevent cancer. These sulphur containing chemicals in alum vegetables may help prevent cancer. You need to eat more of these vegetables," he said.

"Beta-carotene for at least 15 mg. Vitamin E for at least 400 IU. Selenium for at least 50 ug. Daily supplement helps reduced cancer especially the stomach and the esophagus cancer," he added.

In 2010 alone, the Department of Health (DoH) said 5,787 Filipinos were reported to have been diagnosed with or treated for colorectal cancer. (PIA-NCR/RJB/JRCA)