G.O.M.B.S. stands for “Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries and Seeds.†This diet, developed by Dr. Joel Furman, is formulated to combat cancer using food. Thought of as nature’s medicine, food is a great way to improve health. Not really a diet, but more of a lifestyle, these foods will help maintain overall health. Let’s examine what the benefits from each of these foods are and how to include them in our daily meals.
Breakdown of the Foods
Greens – Green leafy vegetables like spinach, collards, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and cabbage protect the blood vessels because they contain nutrients that form a slippery coating inside the arteries that remove plaque and fat out of the blood vessels.
Onions – Anti-cancer nutrients from gasses that are released when onions are cut, and according to The Medical Journal of Clinical Nutrition’s recent study, large consumption of onions is shown to reduce most all cancers by up to 70 percent.
Mushrooms – The International Journal of Cancer’s recent study showed that women who eat 10 grams of mushrooms per day lower risk of breast cancer by 64 percent. Adding green tea to the daily mushroom consumption will lower the risk of breast cancer to 89 percent.
Berries – Berries are great for brain function as well as being full of antioxidants that help prevent cancer.
Seeds – Seeds and nuts decrease cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and help the body absorb healthy micro-nutrients.
How to Eat These Foods
Breakfast – Add nuts, flax seed, and berries to cereal or oatmeal in the morning. You can also make a smoothie with berries, spinach, and nuts for a super healthy start to your day.
Lunch – At lunchtime, add seeds and nuts to your salad for extra crunch, and be sure you toss in some mushrooms onions, and greens. If you are having a sandwich, add some grilled onion and mushrooms, then top with some leafy greens.
Dinner – The good thing about this diet is that you only concentrate on the dinner menu Monday through Thursday, and then you get the weekends free to eat what you want. On the G.O.M.B.S. days, start with a lean protein like fish, turkey, chicken or lean beef, and then add onion, mushrooms, and a large helping of sauteed greens. You will load up on the greens, but they can be very filling alongside of the protein and other vegetables. You can also choose a large green leafy salad with berry vinaigrette from fresh berries and sprinkle nuts or flax seed over it for extra crunch.
