In most cases, cervical cancer is caused due to human papillomavirus or HPV. A diet rich in folate, carotenoids, antioxidants, and flavonoids – which are found in fruits and vegetables, allows the body to fight the infection. Also, these diets prevent the infection from developing into cancer. Read on to know more about a diet to manage cervical cancer.

A diet to manage cervical cancer

Several studies have findings that link the benefits of some diets with cancer. The most recommended diet is the one that is plant-based, containing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans. 

You can follow a particular meal plan that contains nutritious foods. For example, you can do the following:

• For breakfast, eat a granola bar, yogurt, cantaloupe with orange juice.
• For lunch, you can eat a vegetable sandwich made with cheese, mushrooms, zucchini, and carrots.
• For dinner, you can eat whole wheat pasta with romaine salad, black beans, grapefruit segments, diced tomatoes, and chicken.

Foods to include in the diet

There are several foods that are deemed perfect for a diet to manage cervical cancer. These include the following:

• Foods that contain flavonoids

Chemical compounds known as flavonoids provide protection against cancer. These can be found in fruits and vegetables. To make sure that you are getting enough flavonoids, try to add the following to your meals:

• Apples
• Black beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cranberries
• Lettuce
• Lima beans
• Soy

Foods that contain folate

Folate or vitamin B is water-soluble and is known to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer in people who have contracted human papillomavirus infection. But how the consumption of folate plays a role in reducing the risk of cancer is yet to be known. It is a possibility that folate allows the body to fight the infection and stop it from coming back. 

To include more folate to your diet, you can add the following foods:

• Avocados
• Chickpeas
• Lentils
• Romaine lettuce
• Strawberries

Foods that contain carotenoids

Carotenoids are a rich source of vitamin A. Studies suggest that they play an important role in the prevention of cervical cancer. To add more carotenoids to your diet, you can eat the following foods:

• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Winter squash
• Pumpkin

Your diet plays an important role in the prevention of cancer. However, they cannot alone prevent the condition. Therefore, in addition to eating a healthy diet, it is also important to get annual check-ups done, get vaccinated to prevent HPV, and follow some other healthy lifestyle habits.