In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Malaysia’s premier fresh fruit juice and smoothie company Juice Works Malaysia, has launched “Juice Works Breast Cancer Awareness” campaign to highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy diet with readily available fruits and vegetables.
While temperate countries often have to source for fresh fruits and vegetables, natural harvests in all colours, sizes and shapes are readily available to us around the clock. So any time is right to get into the habit of adding more colour into our daily diets.
“Our bodies need a healthy diet to function at its best and this is especially crucial if we have cancer,” explains Juice Works Malaysia founder, Ling Mooi Li, who is a trained pharmacist.
“Optimal nutrition is very important because when we are eating well, it helps us feel better overall, strengthens us, and builds muscles, all of which supports us in tolerating the side effects of treatments for cancer. Fresh fruits and vegetables offer a boost to our immune system to hasten recovery and also decrease chances of infections.
“In line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are eager to share the incredible benefits of natural fruits and vegetables that can be incorporated into our daily lives. When selecting these natural produce, aim to go for a variety of colour, literally, eat as much colour as you can!
“Deep, dark shades indicate that the fruits and vegetables are rich with anti-inflammatory phytonutrients including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which have been shown to help fight chronic illnesses, prevent cancer and strengthen the immune system.
“Bright and cheerful orange-coloured produce like citrus fruits, pumpkins or sweet potatoes have a great supply of phytochemicals especially carotenoid antioxidants including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and cryptoxanthin.”
The berry family is an especially potent source of antioxidants including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. The rich greens of leafy spinach, kale and lettuces are also chockfull of fibre and vitamins. Scarlet tomatoes contain stores of lycopene while cantaloupe melons have vitamins A and C, minerals and hydrating water.
Studies have shown that higher intake of cancer-fighting foods like fruits and vegetables, fish, and fibre are associated with a decreased risk of colorectal, lung and breast cancers. Among the most highly regarded cancer-fighting foods abundant in markets and supermarkets in our neighbourhoods include:
Leafy green vegetables – rich supplies of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes, yet very low in calories, fats, and sodium. Think spinach, kale, romaine, and watercress. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) found in leafy greens, which are made from glucosinolates, have been reported to help detox your body at the cellular level.
Cruciferous vegetables – examples like broccoli and cauliflower are powerful cancer fighters with rich stores of Vitamin C and glutathione, a potent antioxidant.
Berries – renowned antixodant rich with vitamin C, vitamin A and gallic acid, a powerful antifungal/antiviral agent that increases immunity. Berries are rich in proanthocyanidin antioxidants, capable of lowering free radical damage.
Herbs and spices – even the humblest natural ingredients hold the key to health such as turmeric that contains curcumin, proven to decrease tumour size and fight breast and colon cancer. A single teaspoon of turmeric powder consumed daily helps or in the form of supplements.
In line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Juice Works Malaysia has launched two delicious drinks designed to offer some of the most potent health boosting properties to the body:
CHERISH YOUR HEART offers a naturally scintillating selection of strawberries, apples, spinach and pineapple to zest up your day. This is a potent potion designed to boost the immune system.
Strawberries are a member of the cherished berry family known for its extraordinary high levels of antioxidant content. Spinach gives a knock out punch to cancer, as studies have shown that the leafy green inhibits cancer cell growth. A new study from Harvard Medical School has shown that women on diets rich in the flavonoid kaempferol had a 40% reduction in ovarian cancer risk compared to women who ate the least amount of food containing the flavonoid. And an apple a day literally keeps the doctor away, as laboratory studies have shown that their potent phytochemicals help suppress breast cancer tumour growth.
SWEET HEART combines the juiciness of fresh plump strawberries with fragrant apricots blended to perfection with creamy bananas, muesli, low fat soymilk and mango yoghurt. Not only is the musky fragrance of apricots irresistible, these lovely golden fruits are rich in plant antioxidants. Yoghurt helps balance the digestive system and loads it with healthy probiotics, or friendly bacteria with live cultures.
Each 600ml cup of concoction is retailed at RM14.80 inclusive of GST.
Juice Works will be offering customer a 50% off any Meal Replacement (power, 600mL) drinks with purchase of BCWA pink ribbon/pin.
For every purchase of BCWA ribbons/pins will be contributed back to BCWA in support for the cancer patients.
