I used to grow small ornamental plants on my balcony just to add some greenery and ease my eyes. But after having kids, I switched to growing vegetables instead — cleaner, safer, and surprisingly useful.

Recently, I came across an article saying that certain everyday vegetables can help the body prevent malignant tumors. Even better, these are plants you can grow right on a small balcony. Clean, fresh, homegrown, and good for your health — why not give them a try?

Here are the ones frequently mentioned in health reports.

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1. Mint

Mint is a fragrant herb commonly used for cooking and making tea. Many families with children also use mint leaves to soothe coughs — and it works remarkably well.

Mint naturally repels mosquitoes and harmful insects, making it ideal for balcony gardening. It doesn’t need much soil or space.

Nutritionally, mint contains vitamin A, antioxidants, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium. Thanks to this rich profile, mint is believed to support the body in preventing abnormal cell growth and aiding recovery from serious illnesses.

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2. Chinese Chives (Garlic Chives)

Chinese chives grow easily and require very little care. As long as the temperature is suitable, they thrive beautifully — perfect for a balcony environment and rarely attacked by pests.

In traditional medicine, chives are known for warming the body, improving circulation, relieving congestion, and detoxifying. They are often used to treat chest discomfort, hiccups, itching, and minor injuries. Many people also use them as a natural remedy for colds and coughs.

Modern nutrition shows that chives are high in protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars like glucose and fructose. Most notably, they contain allium compounds, which are highly valued for their role in supporting the body’s defenses against cancer cells.

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3. Asparagus

Often called the “king of vegetables,” asparagus is delicious, highly nutritious, and surprisingly easy to grow in containers on a balcony.

Asparagus is 93% water and contains vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, zinc, fiber, protein, beta-carotene, and vitamins C, E, and K. These nutrients help reduce inflammation and support overall health.

Asparagus is also considered a strong enemy of cancer cells due to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and asparagine, which supports cell repair and protects the body from tumor formation.

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4. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow on a balcony.

According to Better Homes and Gardens, tomatoes are a superfood with anti-tumor properties. They contain lycopene — a potent antioxidant known for supporting heart health — along with abundant vitamins A, C, and E.

This combination helps the body fight oxidative stress and reduces the risks associated with abnormal cell growth.

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5. Garlic

Garlic is more than just a cooking staple — it’s a natural antibiotic.

It contains quercetin, which gives garlic its distinctive pungency, and allium compounds that are anti-inflammatory and known to help the body resist the development of gastric and colorectal tumors.