Jim Rosica
In a joint appearance with representatives of the Moffitt Cancer Center, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam promoted cancer-fighting “superfoods” grown in the state, such as blueberries and broccoli.
“Our parents, our grandparents, they all knew that eating your fruits and vegetables is going to allow you to be healthier and live a more active and fulfilling life,” Putnam said Wednesday in a media event outside his Capitol office.
Dr. Nagi B. Kumar, a cancer-fighting researcher at Moffitt, said certain fresh foods are rich in “phytochemicals” that target the body’s pathways that cause cancer.
“Phytochemicals are substances found in plants that have been shown, used alone or in combination, to prevent cancer and heart disease, as well as control diabetes,” she wrote in an article on Moffitt’s website.
“The top 10 super fruits and vegetables include mango, oranges, papaya, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, cantaloupe, blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon,” she wrote. All are grown at various times of the year in Florida.
The cancer center and the department also are working together to tackle “growing concerns with Florida’s food deserts,” usually inner cities where the availability of fresh foods is low, “and how limited access to a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains can impact on a person’s risk of developing cancer, the leading cause of death in the state,” a statement said.
The announcement was part of the 11th annual Moffitt Day at the Capitol: “Advocates meet with lawmakers and share Moffitt’s mission to eradicate cancer and ask for continued state support for Florida’s premier cancer center.”
A video of the press event is available for a limited time at the Periscope website by clicking here.
