Do you recommend taking the popular “green food” supplements that are on the market now? Will they help prevent cancer?

Supplements - Questions and Answers ABOUT FOODS AND CANCER PREVENTION AND SURVIVAL

QUESTION: Do you recommend taking the popular “green food” supplements that are on the market now? Will they help prevent cancer?

ANSWER: Vegetable-based supplements are increasing in popularity and often
come with a variety of health claims. Whether or not they have benefit, it is
important to consider that no single supplement can replicate all the healthful
components found in a variety of whole plant foods, including those that
ward off cancer. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes are packed
with healthful substances beyond vitamins, such as fiber, minerals, and
cancer-protective phytochemicals. Increasing your fruits and vegetables can
be almost as simple as popping a pill and is far more beneficial. Try these
simple ideas to get your seven (or more) servings a day:

■ Add vitamin-rich veggies, such as bell peppers, broccoli, carrots,
spinach, and tomatoes to salads.
■ Add puréed cooked pumpkin or winter squash to soups and stews as
a thickener.
■ Take a bowl of fruit to work each week (apples, bananas, oranges,
pears) and snack on them when hunger calls.
■ Pack raisins and other dried fruits in your purse, briefcase, or backpack
to keep you fueled with wholesome foods.

One supplement that is important, however, is vitamin B12, which is
needed for healthy blood and nerves. It is found in any common multiple
vitamin and in simple B12 supplements. It is also found in fortified cereals,
fortified soymilks, and some brands of nutritional yeast.