Tacos get a bad rap. Drenched in saturated-fat-laden sour cream, cheese, and beef and encased in a deep-fried nutritionally questionable shell, tacos are not usually the first thing people think of when anti-cancer foods are mentioned. (Tacos, did, however, make it onto our Switch List.) But with a easy makeover of the traditional greasefest concoction, tacos can be a great way to include some of the top cancer-fighting foods in your diet and help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Celebrate National Taco Day with some of our favorite healthy recipes below, or use some of the following ingredients to create your own custom cancer-fighting taco.
Cancer-Fighting Taco Recipes
- Fresh Tuna Taco
- Southwestern Shrimp Soft Tacos
- Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa (substitute the sour cream with fresh guacamole on this one)
- Crispy Snapper Tacos with Avocado and Tropical Fruit Salsa
- Catfish Tacos with Tomato and Avocado Salsa
- Tropical Shrimp Ceviche Tacos
- Coconut Lime Shrimp Tacos
Anti-Cancer Taco Ingredients
Feeling creative? Try including some of these foods into your very own custom anti-cancer taco:
- Spinach or romaine — The high folate content protects against DNA mutations, which can lead to cancer. These are great substitutes for iceberg lettuce.
- Tomatoes — Include them plain or in a fresh salsa. The antioxidants lycopene and Vitamin C in tomatoes guard against free radicals which can trigger cancer.
- Citrus — The flavonoids in lemons, tangerines, grapefruit and oranges are anti-inflammatory and stimulate the liver to detoxify the body of carcinogens, cancer-causing substances.
- Fish — Increased intake of vitamin D, found in fish, can reduce breast cancer by 50%. The omega-3 oils are also cancer-fighting powerhouses. Substitute for traditional beef.
- Avocados — Rich in the antioxidant glutathione, avocados are quintessential Mexican garnishes, a great source of healthy fat, and the main ingredient in guacamole.
- Chili Peppers & Jalapeños — Capsaicin, which give chili peppers and jalapeños their heat, has been shown to kill off certain kinds of cancer cells.
- Onions & Garlic — The Sulphur compounds found in onions, shallots, leeks, chives, scallions, and garlic promote cancer cell-death. Bonus: they make great salsa additions.
What’s your favorite taco recipe? How have you modified your taco recipe to make it healthier? And of course, let us know in the comments below what you thought of the recipes and give us your custom taco ideas!
[Photo by TheCulinaryGeek]
