New research, much of it released in the last six months, reveals compelling results for natural substances helping in the battle against cancer. While traditional cancer drugs do save lives, many of these medications have serious side effects, which can become so intolerable patients are unable to continue using them. As well, these medications can also destroy healthy cells at the same time they kill cancer cells.
Cheese
It may surprise you to hear that cheese has anti-cancer properties. Although this news was first released in Europe a number of years ago, only recently has the information gained attention in the North American media.
Research from the Netherlands reveals that hard cheeses like Gouda, Emmental and Edam may slash the risk of some cancers. Researchers attribute vitamin K2 found in these types of cheese with an anti-cancer mechanism. While it kills cancer cells, K2 performs another vital function: it stops cancer from creating blood vessels. Without blood vessels to feed it, cancer is prevented from growing and spreading.1
Research shows these hard cheeses may help prevent the development of lung, breast and prostate cancer. About 2 slices daily of these cheeses can provide the therapeutic benefits against cancer.
Saffron
This expensive and highly prized spice has been used medicinally in many world cultures for centuries, including as a natural anti-depressant. Saffron is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Now research published in Hepatology shows saffron may have powerful protective properties against liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). In the Hepatology study, rats were injected with chemicals that induced liver cancer and then were given saffron. The spice slowed cancer cells from spreading and stimulated apoptosis (programmed cell death).
The authors of the research remarked: “This study provides evidence that saffron exerts a significant chemopreventive effect against liver cancer through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. This report also shows some evidence that saffron protects rat liver from cancer via modulating oxidative damage and suppressing inflammatory response.” 2
Whole Ginger Extract
Like saffron, ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. It is also one of the most widely used substances in traditional herbal medicine of India and Southeast Asia.
In an article published online in the British Journal of Nutrition, medical researchers looking into the effects of ginger compounds on prostate cancer discovered that whole ginger extract had considerable power to stop cancer cell growth and promote cell death in a variety of prostate cancer cells. The research indicated that consuming 3 ½ ounces of a whole ginger extract daily could deliver this therapeutic effect.3
Selenium
This important antioxidant mineral has received a fair amount of study by cancer researchers. For many years, it was believed that selenium played a preventative role against prostate cancer. However, more recent research has disputed selenium’s benefit in this area.
But the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
released research last year that showed selenium intake was linked to a lower risk of developing bladder cancer. According to the study abstract, the researchers noted “a significant protective effect of selenium, mainly among women, which they believe may result from gender specific differences in the mineral's accumulation and excretion in women.” 4
Coffee
We looked at the health benefits of coffee in an earlier edition of Wellness Express but new medical research on coffee has just been released in the last few months.
Coffee may reduce the risk of a specific cancer of the breast called anti-estrogen resistant estrogenreceptor (ER) negative breast cancer. A Swedish study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research revealed postmenopausal women who drank five cups of coffee daily had a lower incidence of ER negative breast cancer compared to women who drank only one cup a day. However, the researchers remarked it is unclear what exact compounds within coffee provide this protective effect. The study showed drinking coffee had no influence on reducing ER positive breast cancers.5
There is also good news for male coffee drinkers. The Harvard School of Public Health published a study that indicated men who consumed six or more cups of coffee daily cut their risk of any form of prostate cancer by 20% and they slashed the risk of developing an aggressive type of prostate cancer by a whopping 60%! Now, if you cannot stomach the idea of drinking six cups of coffee a day, you will be happy to hear that even one to three cups of java daily reduces your risk of this aggressive prostate cancer by 30%. The study authors commented the results were identical for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.6
There is also good news for male coffee drinkers. The Harvard School of Public Health published a study that indicated men who consumed six or more cups of coffee daily cut their risk of any form of prostate cancer by 20% and they slashed the risk of developing an aggressive type of prostate cancer by a whopping 60%! Now, if you cannot stomach the idea of drinking six cups of coffee a day, you will be happy to hear that even one to three cups of java daily reduces your risk of this aggressive prostate cancer by 30%. The study authors commented the results were identical for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.6
Always consult with your chiropractor before using supplements and herbal products.
Doyle Chiropractic Clinic serves the communities of Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville, and Lake Forest Park. Drs David Arthur and Suzie Shay have a combined 30 years of experience treating injuries related to car accidents, work, sports and Pediatrics. Please visit our website, www.bothellfamilychiropractic.com and our Facebook page facebook/doyleclinic.
1. Consumption and Fermented Milk Products and Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study in the Netherlands - Cancer research, July 15, 1989 49;4020.
2. Saffron: A Potential Candidate for a Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Hepatology; Published online: July 19, 2011 (DOI: 10.1002/hep.24433); Print issue date: September 2011
3. Benefits of Whole Ginger Extract in Prostate Cancer - British Journal of Nutriton, Available on CJO 2011 doi: 10.1017/S000711451003308
4. Selenium and Bladder Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 2010; 19(9); 2407 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-0544
5. Coffee consumption modifies risk of estrogen receptor negative breast cancer - Breast Cancer Research, 2011
6. Coffee Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk and Progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study - Journal of the National Cancer Institute, May 17, 2011 DOI:10.1093/jnci/djr151
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