Cancer Fighting Foods
It is no secret that what we choose to eat impacts our health on a daily basis. Some foods are rich in anti oxidants, and some foods are known to contain healthy amounts of beneficial bacteria. Could some foods fight abnormal cell growth that occurs when one is diagnosed with cancer? Consider these foods and the effect that they can have on the effects of cancer, as well as prevention.
Avocados have chemicals in them that are rich in antioxidants and attack free radicals within the body. Free radicals are one of the known cancer causing cells, and avocados assist in the attack of these cells. Avocados are not only good for liver cancer, but are good for fighting liver damage and contain more potassium than bananas. They block the intestinal absorption of certain fats into the body.
Nitrosamines are cancer causing substances and can lead to specific types of stomach cancer. Chili peppers and jalapenos as well other hot peppers contain the chemical capsaicin which can neutralize these cancer causing substances. Peppers have been known to have healing powers for centuries, so next time there is pasta being made put in some extra fresh peppers.
It is a common saying to eat vegetables that are rich in color, many say the greener the vegetable and richer the color the more beneficial that the vegetable is for you. Broccoli has been known to prevent colon and prostate cancer for decades and is looked upon as one of the most heart healthy vegetables due to its rich green color.
Flax is another food that has antioxidants and when the seeds are crushed beneficial oils are released. It can easily be added to a variety of foods and available at most health food stores. It is one of the highest foods that can fight cancer and protect against heart disease. Flax seeds and flax oil are some of the most common health supplements.
Garlic is good for the immune system and can increase the activity within our bodies to promote a healthy immune system and therefore is important in indirectly preventing cancerous activity within the body. Garlic has been discovered to block carcinogens and slow the development and growth of tumors. Studies have shown that those who consume garlic are at half the risk of developing many types of stomach cancer than those who do not consume the helpful root. There are certain bacteria within the stomach that have been known to cause stomach cancer and garlic protects against h. pylori - one of these cancer promoting bacterium.
Grapefruits, grapes and oranges as well as other citrus fruits can sweep carcinogens from the body - literally! Because of the high instances of vitamin c, folic acid and beta carotene eating these citrus foods can inhibit the growth of many cancer cells, including breast cancer. Grapes contain an important cancer fighting ingredient, resveratol which inhibits the enzymes and these enzymes can inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. Citrus foods also seem to slow the growth of tumors within the body.
We are what we eat, and many times we can prevent certain illnesses, including cancer - it gives us more incentive to eat healthily.
Can Green Tea Improve Your Chances of Surviving Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is one of the most frightening diseases faced by today's women. In fact, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, after nonmelanoma skin cancer. About 13% of American women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. And, it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, after lung cancer.
Scientists are continuing to look for new information to determine what causes breast cancer as well how to prevent and treat this disease. Today, we still don't know what causes breast cancer, but we do understand some of the risk factors.
In addition, we have come a long way in treating breast cancer - though many women still die each year. Some of the research is very promising, including research on green tea.
One group of breast cancer sufferers who cause doctors a great area of concern are those who have a higher than average expression of the epidermal growth factor Her-2/neu. Her-2/neu is a growth factor that sometimes presents itself in a tumor. An over expression of this growth factor is a concern for breast cancer patients.
During routine testing of patients who have been recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, doctors will determine the level of Her-2/neu. If the level is high, this information is used to guide treatment. The level of this growth factor is important because studies have shown that patients with an over expression of Her-2/neu have a higher likelihood of their cancer metastasizing, and have an overall lower survival rate. The Her-2/neu is high in about 30% of breast cancer patients.
As part of the ongoing research to find effective treatments for breast cancer, scientists have been looking seriously at the benefits of green tea, both on preventing cancer and treating it. Asian cultures have used green tea for its healing properties for centuries, and their overall rate of cancer is much lower than that of the Western world.
Tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. You'll hear tea referred to as green, white or black. These differences do not result from actual different types of tea leaf, but rather from differences in how the tea leaves are processed. Green and white teas are not fermented during processing, but black tea goes through such a processing.
Tea leaves contain catechins, part of the flavan-3-ol class of flavonoids, which are anti-oxidants. EGCG is one of the catechins contained in tea, and is a potent anti-oxidant. Fermenting the tea leaves converts the catechins to other compounds that are not as healthy as those in unfermented tea. So, the focus of research has been on green tea, because of its healthier form of anti-oxidants.
What's So Great About Anti-Oxidants?
During our body's process of converting food to energy, we create free radicals in our body. These free radicals are damaging to our cells and DNA if we don't combat them. Left unchecked, free radicals contribute to speeding up the aging process and to causing diseases such as cancer, heart attack and stroke.
Anti-oxidants, however, can help us combat these free radicals, and a diet in anti-oxidants is linked with preventing cancer, heart disease and stroke. So, doctors recommend a diet high in anti-oxidants - which means eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking green tea each day.
However, scientists also seem to be finding out that green tea may be able to increase the effectiveness in some cancer treatments. Several studies conducted on mice already diagnosed with cancer have shown that taking green tea along with the cancer treatments can increase the effectiveness of the traditional therapy and may slow down the progression of cancer to other cells. There is promising research; some of it directly related to breast cancer treatment.
One particular study of interest was conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine. In this study, female mice with breast cancer whose Her-2/neu levels were very high were treated with green tea along with their regular cancer treatment. Mice that ingested the green tea showed a slower growth of their tumors and a slower progression of their cancer than those who were treated with the same medicine without green tea as an adjunct therapy.
Researchers who found these results also believe that if green tea can inhibit the growth of tumors in patients already diagnosed with cancer, it may also be effective in preventing cancerous cells from forming and growing in the first place. This coincides with other research that indicates that green tea may be significant in preventing cancer. In addition, it helps explain why Asian cultures have such a low cancer incidence compared to the Western world.
This is very promising news for a group of breast cancer sufferers who have traditionally had a lower survival rate than others with breast cancer. If we can slow the rate of cancer progression in those with over expression of Her-2/neu to approximately the same rate as other breast cancer patients, we may be far more effective at treating these patients.
Far more research is needed in the area of breast cancer prevention and treatment. In addition, scientists will be spending more time examining the benefits of green tea in cancer prevention and treatment. But, it seems clear that green tea has a place in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancer.
Even though there is more research to be done, there is no downside to adding green tea to your diet to help prevent disease or to improve your health if it is already failing. Scientists have found no risks involved with drinking green tea. It has no side effects, and is a healthy alternative to coffee because of its high level of anti-oxidants and because it is much lower in caffeine than coffee. So, get a jump start on your anti-oxidants by drinking green tea!
Fruits, Phytochemicals & Breast Cancer
If you love sinking your teeth into juicy delectable fruits, you are in luck, particularly if you know someone with breast cancer or are a breast cancer patient yourself. New research indicates that substances found in pomegranates and mangoes may be natural alternatives to breast cancer medication and other treatment options. Pomegranates and mangoes are considered to be superfruits, or fruits that are known for their exceptional nutritional richness and antioxidant qualities. The wonderful thing about fruits as natural medicines is that they are delicious, contain a variety of nutrients, and there are no side-effects as a result of their consumption.
Pomegranates
In reference to the results of a study published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research, researchers say they've found a natural substance in pomegranates that could prevent the development of hormone-dependent cancer and stop the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors. Pomegranate fruit contains phytochemicals, specifically Urolithin B, that work like aromatase inhibitors.
Aromatase inhibitors are used by physicians to block the synthesis of estrogen in an attempt to subdue the growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancer tumors. According to the Mayo Clinic website, AI drugs come choc-full of side effects such as severe joint pain, muscle aches, hot flashes, headaches, bone fractures, fatigue, and even a risk of heart disease.
The research team for the aforementioned study discovered that natural phytochemicals found in pomegranates suppress estrogen production, thereby preventing the spread of cancer cells and the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors. One particular substance found in pomegranates - dubbed Urolithin B - significantly inhibited the growth of cultured cancer cells in the laboratory.
Mangos
At Texas A&M University's AgriLife Research department, laboratory experiments indicated that mango fruit prevented or stopped cancer growth in certain breast and colon cell lines. The experiments also showed that mango extract demonstrated some anticancer abilities when tested on prostate, leukemia and lung cancer cells. When tested on the most common breast and colon cancers, however, mango compounds were found to have even stronger cancer fighting abilities than when tested on the other types of cancer cells.
In the experiments, the researchers documented that the cancer cell division process was interrupted by the mango extract. In fact, the mango extract caused the colon and breast cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
What do mangoes contain that may eventually have the scientific and medical communities singing their praises as worthwhile adversaries of breast cancer? The answer is polyphenols, the natural phytochemicals found in plants. Polyphenols are antioxidants with the potential to protect the body from disease.
When husband and wife food scientists Dr. Suzanne and Steve Talcott performed the experiments at Texas A&M, they evaluated specific polyphenols for effectiveness. What they found was that gallotannins were the most active cancer-fighting agents in mangoes. Gallotannins are a class of natural polyphenolic compounds believed to aid in the prevention or halt the growth of cancer cells.
So, pomegranate and mango lovers, eat and drink up! Both fruits have the potential to alter some of those dismal breast cancer statistics by preventing the spread of cancer!
Red Wine and Heart Health
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin (anti-fungal and anti-bacterial chemical) produced naturally by grapes and other plants in response to fungal infection. Found abundantly in the skin of red grapes, Resveratrol shows promising results in combating diseases like cancer, cardiovascular and related heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Research also looks promising for its role in extending life span, promoting anti-viral activity and increasing physical stamina.It is important to note that research on Resveratrol has been done only in test tubes or rodents. While evidence is still inconclusive, the volume of research and positive inferences suggest that Resveratrol could have massive, revolutionary possibilities for treating human beings!
Longevity
Resveratrol became the first-ever supplement known to activate a longevity gene. Aging and death is caused by older cells losing their ability to perfectly replicate DNA, producing DNA "mistakes". DNA mistakes accumulate forming "DNA debris" which eventually stops a cell from functioning. Studies show that Resveratrol reduces the frequency of "DNA debris" by 60% through the longevity gene that it stimulates.
(Ref. Hall, S.S., 2003. Longevity research. In vino vitalis? Compounds activate life-extending genes. Science 301, 1165).
Cancer
Study of Resveratrol done at the University of Rochester shows mounting evidence that suggests Resveratrol kills cancer cells while protecting healthy cells from radiation treatment. It does this by disabling the cancer cell's mitochondria (DNA power source). Dr. Paul Okunieff, lead author of this research announced, "Resveratrol seems to have a therapeutic gain by making tumor cells more sensitive to radiation and making normal tissue less sensitive". He further stated, "this research indicates that resveratrol has a promising future as part of the treatment for cancer."
(Ref. Mounting Evidence Shows Red Wine Antioxidant Kills Cancer", Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center., 2008-03-26. Retrieved on 2008-03-26).
Atheltic Performance
Mice that were fed resveratrol for 15 weeks showed better treadmill endurance. The study supported a hypothesis that the effects of resveratrol are due to the activation of SIRT1.
(Ref. Johan Auwerx, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology in Illkirch, France).
Antiviral Effects
The study of Resveratrol has shown promising results, in vitro, in increasing the potency of some anti-retro-viral drugs against HIV. Study also showed 90% effectiveness when resveratrol was added six hours after an influenza virus infection.
(Ref. Revel, A. et al. Resveratrol, a natural aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, protects lung from DNA damage and apoptosis caused by benzo[a]pyrene. J. Appl. Toxicol. 2003;23:255-61).
Heart Disease
Research of Resveratrol and its effects on the heart have reported Resveratrol to have extensive potential benefits: As a potentially potent antioxidant activity. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant. It helps prevent lipid peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein. A study published in Free Radical Research reported that testing of Resveratrol, Vitamin E and a synthetic antioxidant resulted in resveratrol as the best defense against scavenging artery-damaging radicals.
(Ref. Tadolini, B. et al. Resveratrol inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Free Radic. Res. 2000;33:105-14)
In helping prevent damage to blood vessels. A recent British research claims Resveratrol protects against cellular damage to blood vessels caused by high production of glucose in diabetes. These elevated levels of glucose can cause heart disease, kidney disease, and blindness. Dr. Matt Whiteman, lead researcher, stated, "...our research shows the link between high levels of glucose, its damaging effect on cell structure, and the ability of resveratrol to protect against and mend that damage."
In helping reduce cholesterol. Resveratrol has been shown to modulate the metabolism of lipids, and inhibit the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, thus helping to regulate cholesterol levels.
In helping protect the blood circulation and heart function. Nitric oxide, a major component in heart/artery function allows blood vessels to "relax," thus enhancing blood flow. A diet high in cholesterol has been found to decrease the function of nitric oxide by about one third. Research found Resveratrol supplements significantly reversed this trend, helping protect blood circulation and heart function.
(Ref .Zou JG, et al. Effect of red wine and wine polyphenol resveratrol on endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Int. J. Mol. Med. 2003;11:317-20).
In helping prevent platelet aggregation which leads to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. Resveratrol keeps blood cells from sticking together. Canadian researchers found that nothing else they tested was active against this aspect of heart disease except Resveratrol, which inhibited not only thrombin, but a host of other stickiness-promoting factors.
(Ref. Pace-Asciak, C.R. et al. The red wine phenolics trans-resveratrol and quercetin block human platelet aggregation and eicosanoid synthesis: implications for protection against coronary heart disease. Clin. Chim. Acta. 1995;235:207-19).
Sources of Resveratrol
Foods containing resveratrol are red wine, peanuts, cranberries, blueberries, Japanese knotweed.The concentration of Resveratrol in red wine varies from wine to wine. Excess consumption of wine can also be harmful to health, and addictive. The best way to obtain a standardized amount of Resveratrol daily is to take a Resveratrol supplement. Trans-resveratrol in the powder form is used in making Resveratrol supplements, like Red Defense. This is also a good option for people who do not consume alcohol.
Green Tea And Prostate Health
Prostate health is something that should be treated with a balanced diet your whole life. Keeler sums it up: "Prostate health is an issue that men should consider throughout their lifetime, not just when symptoms appear. Because of this location, when prostate health is compromised, it ends up causing many problems.
With the graying of the baby boomers prostate health is looming large and concern for cancer has become an increasingly frequent topic of conversation. The most effective supplement for prostate health is Saw Palmetto berry extracts.
New research suggests that green tea may help prevent the spread of prostate cancer. Specifically phytochemicals in green tea, called polyphenols attack growth factors and proteins, interrupting growth processes of tumors, thus preventing them from spreading to other organs. Since earlier studies suggests that the same natural plant substances might also help prevent the start of prostate cancer, researchers indicate that more studies are needed on green tea's affect on fighting this common cancer. The best way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer still lies in eating a mostly vegetarian diet.
Studies on diet and cancer also show that green tea when tested with mice with an aggressive form of cancer can decrease the spread or metastasis of prostate cancer to liver, bone, and other parts of the body. Additional study of green tea may help develop a treatment to prevent the dormant, non threatening type of prostate cancer many men have in their 70's & 80's from becoming aggressive and fatal. Around six cups of green tea per day would contain the equivalent amount of polyphenols for individuals to help block the spread of cancer. Other data shows that the phytochemicals in green tea could inhibit the early phases of prostate cancer development.
Green tea contains compounds known as polyphenols which are antioxidant and are credited with protecting against cancer, heart disease and aging. Green tea diet is also widely recognized as a substance that can protect against many different cancers such as stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the colon, oral cancer, prostate cancer, and breast and cervical cancers.
Japanese men, who commonly drink four to six cups of green tea daily, have a significantly lower mortality rate from prostate cancer than Westerners. And the incidence of prostate cancer in China, whose population consumes green tea regularly, is the lowest in the world. Whatever the benefits of green tea, it would be a mistake to rely on tea alone for prevention. Studies show that other food nutrients, including saw palmetto, potassium, zinc, selenium, soy and green tea may also lead reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer... To Read More!
What to Do About the Chemicals Found in Tap Water
There was a time when good, clean, safe water was abundant in America, but not any more. Poisons such as chlorine and chloramines are added to our water to "purify" it. Chemicals we use every day, such as weed killers, household disinfectants, and others, many of them toxic and/or carcinogenetic, and even pharmaceutical drugs such as antibiotics, sex hormones and chemotherapy medications have found their way into water supplies throughout this country. In this article we will discuss some of the worst offenders and how we can protect ourselves from them.
The worst offender, found through the U.S. and most developed nations, is chlorine. Chlorine is a deadly poison that is added to our water supplies by the utility companies to destroy water-borne bacteria. Since chlorine dissipates over time, federal regulators require our water suppliers to add enough chlorine to the water to insure its presence even when it enters the last home on the water system's pipeline.
Consequently, if your home is near the water company the amount of chlorine present in your tap water may be huge. I have tested water in many such homes and found it to be in excess of what is considered unsafe for swimming pools!
While government regulators continue to insist low levels of chlorine in drinking water is safe, there is now a wealth of evidence showing this is not true. For instance, the U.S. Council of Environmental Quality stated, "Cancer risk among people using chlorinated water is as much as 93 percent higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine."
And, "One common factor among women with breast cancer is that they all have 50-60 percent higher levels of these chlorination byproducts (THMs) in their fat tissue than women without breast cancer..." (BreastCancerFund.org)
Also, there is increasing research linking dangerous health risks to pregnant women drinking chlorinated water. These risks include miscarriage, neural tube defects and reduced fetal growth.
Finally, "We are learning the hard way that all the time we thought we were preventing epidemics of one disease, we were creating another. Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water the present epidemic of heart trouble and cancer began."
Joseph M. Price, PhD
What about the other chemicals found in tap water?
We are just now realizing what we flush down the drain, or put on our lawns, or our crops, or allow into the environment in any way will come back to haunt us. We will eventually find it in the water we drink.
Many of the 80,000-plus synthetic organic chemicals we are spreading throughout our environment are toxic and/or carcinogenic (they cause or promote cancer).
How prevalent are they in our water systems?
Years ago, The Ralph Nader Research Group reported, after studying government documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, "U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer."
Again, government regulators claim low levels of these chemicals in our drinking water are not harmful. But, these claims are based on the effects to an adult and, even then, are not based on long-term studies. And scientists have shown that, even in low, "harmless" levels, these individual chemicals can combine and produce new chemicals a thousand times more powerful.
So, once again, evidence contrary to government reports is building. Rivers and streams that are the sources of the drinking water for many cities are polluted with these chemicals and plant and animal life are showing the effects. For example, fish in the Potomac River, the source of the drinking water for Washington, DC, have been found to have both male and female characteristics from exposure to estrogen-like substances.
You must realize the facilities that treat our water do not remove these chemicals! They typically use sand filtration to remove the visible particles and add bleach. That's it!
Nor do they remove any of the pharmaceutical drugs we are flushing, unused or not metabolized, down our toilets. Drugs like anti-depressants; heart, cancer and blood pressure medications; sex hormones, birth control medications, and more are finding their way into our drinking water.
The point is, these problems are real, widespread and extremely dangerous to your family's health. The only way to protect your family is to filter the water you are drinking, bathing in or cooking with before you use it, after it comes into your home.
So, please, protect your family, and yourself, and get a good water filter system. Any system you get will be better than using your body as a filter but some are better than others when it comes to removing all the contaminants mentioned here, and more, with safety.
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