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Scientific Research shows Fruit Juice Reverses Cancer Tumours
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Scientific evidence exists proving certain foods have the ability to reverse specific cancers, without the need for drugs or chemotherapy. These foods are said to be 'chemopreventive? and might one day offer the key to a safer and more effective method of treating cancer. In this article, I hope to lead you through the current research pertaining to the consumption of fruit and vegetable juice, and the associated health benefits in relation to the management of cancer.
Nutrients Play an Important Chemopreventive Role
For several years scientists have been aware of the research showing that eating a diet of raw fruit and vegetables protects against cancers of the colon, oesophagus, stomach, lung and pharynx, endometrial, oral cavity and pancreas[1]. Although the exact reason was often poorly understood, the fibre content of the food was given the credit. However, as more research is completed, findings are now supporting the fact that some nutrients found in vegetables and fruit, rather than their fibre content, have the ability to help the body fight against cancer. The new research is also providing evidence that some of these nutrients actually help reverse cancers. Diets high in vegetable and fruit juice, once regarded as 'quackery? might one day gain medical acceptance due to the high quantity, and quality, of these nutrients.
Fruit Juice Reverses Cancer Development
One juice exciting scientists with its 'chemopreventative? nature is pomegranate juice. This juice has such a powerful chemopreventative nature that research has shown it can reverse the development of prostrate cancer[2] and lung cancer[3]. The research of other scientists has also shown its anti-tumour nature[4] and the juice's ability to restrain breast cancer[5]. Pomegranate juice contains high levels of compounds called polyphenols, which is thought to be reason why the juice is so potent. Those looking for a quick fix polyphenol pill will be disappointed to hear that polyphenols on their own are not as effective as the whole juice[6]. While drinking the juice has benefits, topical application of pomegranate seed oil has been found in be successful in protecting against skin tumours.[7]
Fruit and Vegetable Juice Prevents Cancer
'Prevention is the best cure? as they say and many juices have already been shown to offer significant help in preventing cancers. For example; Orange juice has been proven to inhibit breast cancer cell growth[8] and colon cancer [9], possibly due to the high quantity of citrus flavaniods found in the juice. Oranges are also rich in folate, which has been confirmed to decrease the risk of breast cancer for women who drink alcohol[10], and vitamin C, which is has been shown to reduce the risk of gastric cancer[11] and prostrate cancer[12]. Apples, onions and white grapefruit, high in a flavonoid called quercetin may also help to protect against some types of lung cancer[13]. Red Grape juice is high in flavonoids and a compound called resveratrol that has anti-cancer effects[14] and can prevent oxidative stress[15]. Preventing oxidative damage is important, as it is believed to be a significant factor in developing cancer. The humble carrot has also been shown to protect us from cancer by significantly reducing DNA damage in our cells[16]. While Tomato juice[17], on it own and with broccoli[18], has been confirmed to inhibit the development of prostrate tumours and exhibits a preventative nature against lung cancer[19]. Fruits and vegetable juices contain vitamins and minerals for which other studies exist. For example; Vitamin A, vitamin E, and selenium have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer[20] in populations prone to oesophageal (42% reduction[21]) and stomach cancer.
Another compound found in green vegetables is chlorophyll. Although there are not many research papers regarding its relationship with cancer, there has been research on the water soluble form known as Chlorophyllin. This been shown to have the capacity to prevent our body?s assimilation of some compounds that are potentially carcinogenic[22]. Amazingly, chlorophyllin also reduces the oxidative damage caused by radiation and some chemicals[23] [24]. This may explain the role of wheatgrass in an anti cancer diet.
The Whole Juice and Nothing but the Whole Juice
When isolated from their natural fruit or vegetable source, many nutrients tested produce disappointing results; however, when the nutrients are left in their natural combined state, a potent anti-cancer cocktail results[25].
Ironically doctors such as Max Gerson were promoting variations of such theories as early as 1958 but have generally been denigrated due to the lack of accepted scientific protocols used in their research. For years the idea that cancer can be treated by diet has been dismissed, and even now many are unaware or disagree with the breakthroughs in knowledge that are being made. However, scientists and doctors seem to have started a journey that might result in widely accepted acknowledgment that eating and drinking fruit and vegetables may be useful for managing cancer[26] as well as preventing it.
[1] Steinmetz KA, Potter JD.
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[2] Arshi Malik, Farrukh Afaq, Sami Sarfaraz, Vaqar M. Adhami, Deeba N. Syed, and Hasan Mukhtar
Pomegranate fruit juice for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer
PNAS 102:; published online before print as 10.1073/pnas.0505870102
[3] Carcinogenesis. 2007 Jan;28(1):163-73. Epub 2006 Aug 18.
Pomegranate fruit extract inhibits prosurvival pathways in human A549 lung carcinoma cells and tumor growth in athymic nude mice.
Khan N, Hadi N, Afaq F, Syed DN, Kweon MH, Mukhtar H.
Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
[4] J Med Food. 2004 Fall;7(3):274-83.
Pomegranate extracts potently suppress proliferation, xenograft growth, and invasion of human prostate cancer cells.
Albrecht M, Jiang W, Kumi-Diaka J, Lansky EP, Gommersall LM, Patel A, Mansel RE, Neeman I, Geldof AA, Campbell MJ.
Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
[5] J Med Food. 2005 Winter;8(4):469-75.
Anticancer activities of pomegranate extracts and genistein in human breast cancer cells.
Jeune MA, Kumi-Diaka J, Brown J.
Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science,
Florida Atlantic University, Davie, FL, USA.
[6] J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Jun;16(6):360-7.
In vitro antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidant activities of punicalagin, ellagic acid and a total pomegranate tannin extract are enhanced in combination with other polyphenols as found in pomegranate juice.
Seeram NP, Adams LS, Henning SM, Niu Y, Zhang Y, Nair MG, Heber D.
Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
[7] J Med Food. 2003 Fall;6(3):157-61.
Chemopreventive effects of pomegranate seed oil on skin tumor development in CD1 mice.
Hora JJ, Maydew ER,Lansky EP, Dwivedi C.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State
University, Brookings, SD 57007, U.S.A.
[8] Nutr Cancer. 1996;26(2):167-81.
Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation and delay of mammary tumorigenesis by flavonoids and citrus juices.
So FV, Guthrie N, Chambers AF, Moussa M, Carroll KK.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
[9] Nutr Cancer. 2000;36(2):224-9.
Inhibition of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer by orange juice.
Miyagi Y, Om AS, Chee KM, Bennink MR.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
[10] Shumin Zhang; David J. Hunter; Susan E. Hankinson; Edward L. Giovannucci; Bernard A. Rosner; Graham A. Colditz; Frank E. Speizer; Walter C. Willett
A Prospective Study of Folate Intake and the Risk of Breast Cancer
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Plasma and dietary vitamin C levels and risk of gastric cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-EURGAST).
Jenab M, Riboli E, Ferrari P, Sabate J, Slimani N, Norat T, Friesen M,
Tjonneland A, Olsen A, Overvad K, Boutron-Ruault MC, Clavel-Chapelon F, Touvier M, Boeing H, Schulz M, Linseisen J, Nagel G, Trichopoulou A, Naska A, Oikonomou E, Krogh V, Panico S, Masala G, Sacerdote C, Tumino R, Peeters PH, Numans ME, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Buchner FL, Lund E, Pera G, Sanchez CN, Sanchez MJ, Arriola L, Barricarte A, Quiros JR, Hallmans G, Stenling R, Berglund G, Bingham S, Khaw KT, Key T, Allen N, Carneiro F, Mahlke U, Del Giudice G, Palli D, Kaaks
R, Gonzalez CA.
Nutrition and Hormones Group, IARC-WHO Lyon, France.
[12] The Prostate 1997;32(3): 188-195
Carlos Maramag, Mani Menon, K.C. Balaji, Premveer G. Reddy, Seethalakshmi Laxmanan
TI: Effect of vitamin C on prostate cancer cells in vitro: Effect on cell number, viability, and DNA synthesis
[13] J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Jan 19;92(2):154-60.
Intake of flavonoids and lung cancer.
Le Marchand L, Murphy SP, Hankin JH, Wilkens LR, Kolonel LN.
Etiology Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii,
Honolulu 96813, USA.
[14] Curr Med Chem Anticancer Agents. 2003 Mar;3(2):77-93.
Resveratrol and cancer: chemoprevention, apoptosis, and chemo-immunosensitizing activities. Cal C, Garban H, Jazirehi A, Yeh C, Mizutani Y, Bonavida B. Department of Microbiology, UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
[15] Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Dec;76(6):1367-74. Comparison of the antioxidant effects of Concord grape juice flavonoids alpha-tocopherol on markers of oxidative stress in healthy adults. O'Byrne DJ, Devaraj S, Grundy SM, Jialal I. Center for Human Nutrition and the Division of Clinical Biochemistry and Human Metabolism, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
[16] Carcinogenesis. 1997 Sep;18(9):1847-50. Consumption of vegetables reduces genetic damage in humans: first results of a human intervention trial with carotenoid-rich foods.
Pool-Zobel BL, Bub A, Muller H, Wollowski I, Rechkemmer G.
Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany.
[17] J Natl Cancer Inst. 1995 Dec 6;87(23):1767-76.
Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer.
Giovannucci E, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Willett WC.
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
[18] Cancer Res. 2007 Jan 15;67(2):836-43. Epub 2007 Jan 9.
Combinations of tomato and broccoli enhance antitumor activity in dunning r3327-h prostate adenocarcinomas.
Canene-Adams K, Lindshield BL, Wang S, Jeffery EH, Clinton SK, Erdman JW Jr.
[19] Am J Epidemiol. 2002 Sep 15;156(6):536-47.
Dietary carotenoids, serum beta-carotene, and retinol and risk of lung cancer in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cohort study. Holick CN, Michaud DS, Stolzenberg-Solomon R, Mayne ST, Pietinen P, Taylor PR, Virtamo J, Albanes D. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
[20] J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993 Sep 15;85(18):1483-92. Nutrition intervention trials in Linxian, China: supplementation with specific vitamin/mineral combinations, cancer incidence, and disease-specific mortality in the general population. Blot WJ, Li JY, Taylor PR, Guo W, Dawsey S, Wang GQ, Yang CS, Zheng SF, Gail M, Li GY, et al.National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md 20852.
[21] Cancer Res. 1994 Apr 1;54(7 Suppl):2029s-2031s. Prevention of esophageal cancer: the nutrition intervention trials in Linxian,China. Linxian Nutrition Intervention Trials Study Group. Taylor PR, Li B, Dawsey SM, Li JY, Yang CS, Guo W, Blot WJ. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
[22] Mutat Res. 2003 Feb-Mar;523-524:209-16. Chemoprevention with chlorophyllin in individuals exposed to dietary aflatoxin. Egner PA, Munoz A, Kensler TW. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
[23] Mutat Res. 2003 Dec 9;542(1-2):89-97. Inhibitory effects of chlorophyllin, hemin and tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin on oxidative DNA damage and mouse skin inflammation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate as a possible anti-tumor promoting mechanism. Park KK, Park JH, Jung YJ, Chung WY. Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, 134
Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemoon-Ku, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
[24] Biochim Biophys Acta. 2004 May 3;1672(2):100-11. Effect of chlorophyllin against oxidative stress in splenic lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. Kumar SS, Shankar B, Sainis KB. Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bioscience Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Modular Laboratories, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India.
[25] J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Jun;16(6):360-7.
In vitro antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidant activities of punicalagin, ellagic acid and a total pomegranate tannin extract are enhanced in combination with other polyphenols as found in pomegranate juice.
Seeram NP, Adams LS, Henning SM, Niu Y, Zhang Y, Nair MG, Heber D.
Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of
California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
[26] Carcinogenesis. 2007 Feb;28(2):233-9. Epub 2006 Dec 6.
Apoptosis by dietary factors: the suicide solution for delaying cancer growth.
Khan N, Afaq F, Mukhtar H.
Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Sciences
Center B-25, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
