Joel Fuhrman - Eat To Live

Eat to Live 59

The process of cellular disintegration is extremely prolonged, and

we know that many pre-neoplastic lesions (abnormal, but not yet

cancer) disappear spontaneously.^15 Studies on both humans and an-

imals have shown that plant-derived nutrients are able to prevent

the occurrence of, and even reverse, DNA damage that may later re-

sult in cancer.^16 Fortunately, we have the potential to suppress the

progression of cancer in its early stages by how we choose to eat. The

ability to remove and fix these partially damaged cells is proportional

to their exposure to phytochemicals.

When we consume a sufficient variety and quantity of phyto-

chemical substances to maximally arm our immune defenses against

cancer, we afford ourselves the ability to repair DNA damage, detox-

ify cancer-causing agents, and resist disease in general. These same

substances also activate other immune-enhancing mechanisms that

improve our defenses against viruses and bacteria, making our body

disease-resistant in general.

Green Plant Foods vs. Animal Foods

So now you know that it is not merely excess fat that causes disease.

It is not merely eating empty-calorie food that causes disease. And it

is not merely the high consumption of animal foods such as dairy,

meat, chicken, and fish that leads to premature death in America.

These factors are important, but most crucial is what we are missing

in our diets by not eating enough produce. Let's take a look at some

more of the reasons why plant foods are so protective and essential

for human health.

To illustrate the powerful nutrient density of green vegetables,

let us compare the nutrient density of steak with the nutrient density

of broccoli and other greens.

Now, which food has more protein — broccoli or steak? You

were wrong if you thought steak.

Steak only has 5.4 grams of protein per 100 calories and broccoli has 11.2

grams, almost twice as much.

Keep in mind that most of the calories in meat come from fat;

green vegetables are mostly protein (all calories must come from fat,

carbohydrate, or protein).