A Simple Cancer Prevention Recipe

A seaweed salad.
Eating an inexpensive food common to Asian diets can assist in cancer prevention. (Image: Nicoleta Raftu via Dreamstime)

With the high prevalence of cancer, the medical profession has made efforts to conduct research in this area. They have found that fucoidan, an extract from brown seaweed, can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and reduce its recurrence. The study also confirmed the usefulness of fucoidan in Chinese medicine as an additional treatment to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy.

Fucoidan can inhibit cancer cells and slow down tumor growth

Seaweed is a general term for marine algae such as kelp, seaweed, and wakame. Research has found that fucoidan, which is extracted from seaweed, has the effect of inhibiting cancer cells and slowing down tumor growth.

Taiwan is surrounded by the sea and is rich in natural brown algae. After three years of clinical trials, Taiwan’s medical team concluded that fucoidan can help patients with liver, breast, lung, colon, and rectal cancers. The mortality rate of breast cancer was reduced, and the mortality rate of lung cancer was also reduced. Some scholars have also found that brown algae are more effective when combined with Chinese and Western medicine. In recent years, fucoidan has been regarded as a popular health product in the biomedical field to fight these diseases.

Fucoidan has an anti-cancer effect and can increase nutrition and strengthen immunity, so it can help patients to reduce many complications during treatment and reduce mortality. Chinese medicine doctor Lin Jianxiong said that side effects of chemotherapy, such as poor appetite, increased fatigue, and poor sleep, improve after patients eat brown algae.

An extract from seaweed has been shown to be an effective tool for cancer prevention.
An extract from seaweed has been shown to be an effective tool for cancer prevention. (Image: Daniel Poloha via Dreamstime)

Chinese doctor’s anti-cancer secret: Seaweed

A senior traditional Chinese medical practitioner from mainland China has been treating cancer patients for over 50 years. His anti-cancer secret is seaweed, which is commonly used in daily life to mix with cold dishes. He said that seaweed is actually a part of traditional Chinese medicine. There are ancient texts that mention using it to treat cancer, and its main function is to soften and disperse nodules. Modern medical research has also found that many ingredients in seaweed have very good anti-cancer effects, such as improving immunity and inhibiting tumors.

Anti-tumor

Seaweed contains a special protein known as glycoprotein, which has been found to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. Studies in Japan have also confirmed that the lower incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women is related to having seaweed as part of their normal diet.

Lower cholesterol

Some people use dried seaweed root to treat hypertension. In one study, more than half the participants treated had significant effects. Out of 158 people who received treatment, 86 showed significant improvement. The patients’ blood lipids also decreased, with 58 percent experiencing a decrease in cholesterol and 50.3 percent experiencing a decrease in triglycerides.

Heart protection

Seaweed is rich in selenium, which is important because selenium deficiency in the body is one of the causes of cardiovascular disease. Selenium also has anti-cancer and immune-enhancing effects.

Anti-constipation

Seaweed is rich in water-soluble fiber, and thus helps to prevent constipation.

Prevent strokes, reduce blood clots

Seaweed can greatly reduce the incidence of strokes. It contains a certain amount of essential fatty acids such as linoleic acids and linolenic acids. Brown algal polysaccharide (starch) extracted from fucoidan has a cholesterol-lowering effect and an inhibitory effect on arteriosclerosis.

Nourish the skin

Seaweed is rich in methionine and cysteine, which can prevent skin dryness. Regular consumption can give dry skin a shine. Oil secretion can also be improved in those with oily skin.

A simple and affordable cancer prevention dish: Cold seaweed

This variation of the seaweed radish salad is topped with chopped ginger.
This variation of the seaweed radish salad is topped with chopped ginger. (Image: Anneylier via Dreamstime)

Ingredients:

  • Green laver (seaweed)
  • White daikon radish

Directions:

  • If dried, soak the green laver in salt water and set aside.
  • Slice the radish into thin shreds.
  • Sprinkle the radish with a little salt and sugar and let sit for 10 minutes.
  • Discard any excess moisture that comes out of the radish.
  • Rinse the seaweed well and squeeze out the water.
  • Cut the seaweed into strips if necessary, the thinner the better.
  • Mix them together evenly.
  • You can add a spritz of vinegar, shredded garlic, sesame seeds, a touch of sugar, or any other flavor you want to try.

Effects:

Seaweed can dissolve phlegm, prevent cancer, and protect blood vessels. White radish can help digestion and improve bloating and constipation. The radish also contains lignin, which helps to fight cancer. The various enzymes it contains can break down carcinogenic nitrosamines and have other prevention effects.

Seaweed with white radish not only helps to fight diseases and prevent cancer, but also has the effect of resolving phlegm and coughing, and moistening dryness in autumn. Seaweed is cold in nature, so people with a cold spleen and stomach should not eat a large quantity of it.

Translated by Audrey Wang

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