9 Smoothie Recipes That Can Help Lower Your Cancer Risk

You know that the food you eat does a lot more than just fill your belly — it can also provide you with energy, boost your mood, and lower your risk for several chronic diseases. One of those diseases is cancer, the No. 2 leading cause of death among Americans, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be more than two million new cancer cases and six hundred thousand deaths from cancer in 2024, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 30 to 50 percent of these cases are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices. Sadly, the Standard American Diet (SAD), which is high in calories and processed foods and low in fruits, vegetables, and nutrients, promotes inflammation and chronic disease, including cancer. In fact, a review published in June 2019 in JNCI Cancer Spectrum estimated that more than eighty thousand cancer cases each year are the result of poor dietary choices.

While no single food can prevent cancer and not all types of cancer are preventable, what you eat on a regular basis can help to decrease your risk of developing cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recommends that an anti-cancer diet be packed with plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Following this type of plant-rich diet has been proven to significantly cut cancer risk. In fact, all of the diets recommended by AICR to cut cancer risk are plant-based diets. If adding more fruits and vegetables feels daunting, smoothies may be the perfect way to add more produce to your day. Give these nine simple smoothies a try to start cutting your cancer risk today!