It is rumored online that bananas and dragon fruits can prevent cancer. Is it true or not? Nutrition professor: There is no magic formula to fight cancer, you need to mix and match fruits

There is such a saying! It is widely rumored that eating bananas and dragon fruit can prevent cancer, and some even say that the more black spots there are on the skin of a black-skinned banana, the better the anti-cancer effect because the immune activity is higher. Where does the anti-cancer magic of pitaya, which is very nutritious, lie? How correct are these statements? Dragon fruit is not suitable for the elderly or people with weak constitutions. Professor Wang Jinkun of the Department of Nutrition advises everyone to remember the health tips of "there is no magic formula to fight cancer, and fruits should be mixed and matched".

Bananas are said to fight cancer

There is a saying that bananas can prevent cancer. According to Dr. Huang Yanqiang, a Chinese medicine practitioner and adjunct professor at Shandong University of Technology, in his book "100 Tips for Preventing and Fighting Cancer You Must Know", banana extract can effectively inhibit the functions of carcinogens such as Aflatoxin B1 and benzopyrene.

Banana extract can effectively inhibit the functions of aflatoxin B1 and carcinogens such as benzopyrene.

Aflatoxin B1 is commonly found in moldy dry foods such as peanuts, dried fruits, cheese, etc., while benzopyrene is a common carcinogen in barbecue and may also be released during the coffee roasting process. People are likely to ingest these carcinogens without realizing it, and bananas are the most convenient natural food therapy for people.

Nutritionist's advice:

Wang Jinkun, vice president of Zhongshan Medical University and professor of the Department of Nutrition, pointed out that the popular belief that bananas with black spots are more effective in fighting cancer has not yet been proven by experiments. Although bananas can help inhibit the function of Aflatoxin B1, eating more bananas will not necessarily be more effective. He reminded that a 180-gram stick contains about 120 calories, which is equivalent to half a bowl of rice. Ripe bananas have more fiber, which helps with bowel movements and prevents toxic substances from accumulating in the intestines. However, during the ripening process, the starch in bananas will be converted into sugar. Eating too much may cause a burden on your weight.

In addition, bananas are high in potassium ions, so patients with renal metabolic insufficiency should not consume them in excess.

Dragon fruit is said to be anti-cancer

According to the book "Fighting Cancer is Like Losing Weight" written by Dr. Yan Ronglang, a domestic oncologist, dragon fruit contains a large amount of anthocyanins with detoxification function. The most rare thing is that its content is even higher than that in grape skin and red beets. Anthocyanins become activated only after entering the intestines. In this form, they can eliminate reactive oxygen, inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and promote the apoptosis of cancer cells. In addition, anthocyanins also have the function of protecting the eyes and preventing dementia.

In addition, dragon fruit has high-fiber flesh, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and help defecation. Moreover, its plant protein can absorb some heavy metals and excrete them from the body through feces.

Dragon fruit has high-fiber flesh, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and help defecation. Moreover, its plant protein can absorb some heavy metals and excrete them from the body through feces.

Nutritionist's advice:

Red-fleshed dragon fruit contains more anthocyanins, so people can give it priority. Because pitaya is low in calories and high in fiber, it is very suitable for patients with obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, pitaya is also a cold fruit, and people with cold constitution should not eat too much.

【Health Tips】:

Professor Wang Jinkun also reminded that cancer is like a chronic disease, and fighting cancer must start with daily health maintenance. It is not that eating a certain kind of fruit is like a panacea that can effectively fight cancer. Instead, people should follow the principle of a balanced five-vegetable and five-fruit diet of "three bowls of vegetables and two bowls of fruits" and avoid over-reliance on a single ingredient, because extremes can backfire. If you eat bananas all at once, you may take in too much sugar or starch, which can cause obesity and induce more diseases.

As for dragon fruit, it is not suitable for the elderly or people with weak constitutions. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, people with poor body regulation ability who eat too much cold fruits will become more prone to fatigue, coldness, poor spirits, or diarrhea. Western medicine believes that the pectin in pitaya can promote gastrointestinal motility, and eating too much will cause diarrhea.

Professor Wang Jinkun advises everyone to remember the health tips of "there is no magic formula to fight cancer, and fruits should be mixed and matched", and to choose seasonal and local fruits so that they can eat fresh and healthy fruits.