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Sweet
Potato Root: The National Cancer Society cites sweet
potatoes as an excellent food to aid in the prevention of
several types of cancer. Sweet potato has been classified as an
“antidiabetic” food because it helped stabilize blood sugar
levels and lowered insulin resistance in animal studies.
Conclusive evidence by researchers shows a relationship between
a high fiber diet and lower chances of colorectal cancer.
Insoluble fiber moves potential carcinogens through the
intestines faster decreasing their contact time with the colon
wall. Soluble fiber absorbs bile acids stopping them from acting
on bacteria to produce fecapentanes, the cancerous substances
that are formed by decaying foods within the colon. There are
about 20 of these compounds that can mutate colon cells into
cancerous cells. Fiber also promotes the growth of healthy
bacteria that crowd out unhealthy bacteria that produce
fecapentanes. Soluble plant fiber absorbs many times its weight
in water resulting in softer, bulkier stools, which helps
prevent constipation and straining. This can help relieve or
avoid hemorrhoids. More bulk means less pressure on the colon
which helps IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and diverticulosis
(defects in the weakened wall of the colon. Digestive disorders
may be avoided, halted or even reversed by simply following a
high fiber diet. Fiber appears to be important in treating
diabetes, elevated cholesterol and colon polyps. |
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