You may have a treatment for cancer right in your kitchen cupboard in the form of cancer fighting herbs. Today more than ever, scientists are discovering that what you eat can make a difference. They agree there's a potential to prevent as many as one third of the cancers through proper diet. The addition of herbs to your diet is not only one way to fight cancer, it's also low calorie way to add extra nutrients and spice up the meal a bit.

Of course, not all cancer-fighting herbs are common spices. Some are herbal remedies found in health food stores and others come from ancient cultures such as Chinese medicine. However, all have the same thing in common. They strengthen the body and fight cancer in one manner or another.

You can grow your own herbs to help stave off the dreaded disease and also add to your menu. Some the common herbs that help fight cancer are basil, parsley, oregano, mint, dill and garlic. Oregano, perhaps one of the more frequently used herbs for Mediterranean dishes, has potent antioxidants that protect the cell. Just one tablespoon of oregano has more protection than an entire apple. Of course, you probably wouldn't simply eat a tablespoon full, but adding it to a blend of cancer fighting tomato, garlic, onion and peppers to make a delicious sauce can satisfy any hungry family and help protect them at the same time.

Basil, that delicious smelling herb has an abundance of benefits. Several varieties of basil contain additional phytonutrients and wonderful exotic flavors. Cinnamon basil, lime basil and lemon basil all add a new taste treat to dishes calling for the ingredient but also is a powerful antioxidant that prevents damage to the cells from free radicals. It also helps to boost the immune system so your body is better prepared to fight the cancer cells.

Lowly little parsley, most frequently relegated to the role as a garnish also adds more than beauty and flavor to a dish, it adds potent cancer fighting apigenine. Apegenine fights cancer by preventing new blood vessels to form that feed cancerous tumors and therefore starve the cancer by shutting off its nutrients. The drug Avastin works much the same way and so does mint.

If you like a lighter, more delicate flavor, consider thyme. Thyme contains thymol that's a powerful antioxidant, antiseptic and antibacterial. The terpenes in thyme are similar to those in rosemary. Several studies show that used in conjunction with the drugs used for chemotherapy, Adriamycin and Vleban, it enhanced the effects of the drugs.

Those dill pickles you eat might also help fight cancer because of the dill they contain. Dill has monoterpenes in them that stimulate the body's production of the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, which acts as a powerful antioxidant to protect the cells from free radicals.

If you're looking for a serious cancer fighting herb, consider adding garlic to your food. The garlic, however, works it's magic best if it's used raw and not overcooked. It kills the precancerous cells and also prevents the body from producing compounds that could lead to cancer.

While more frequently considered spices, ginger, turmeric and chili peppers are also potent cancer fighters. Ginger contains gingerol, shown effective against breast, ovarian, prostate and colorectal cancer. Turmeric contains curcumin that prevents stomach, breast, colon, prostate and skin cancer. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, often used to soothe aching muscles. The capsaicin helps prevent the body from creating carcinogenic substances called nitrosamines.

While there are numerous studies on the effect of herbs not used at meals but frequently as home remedies, such as Echinacea, dandelion, burdock root and valerian or such Chinese herbs as Rei Shi, Lu Feng, Hornet Nest, Ban Zhi Lian and Scutellaria, you can decrease your potential for cancer, by simply adding common herbs to your cooking. These cancer fighting herbs not only add extra protection from cancer, extra nutrients but also a great deal of flavor.