Powerful anti-cancer compound in red onions found to “destroy” cancer tumors

 A study published in Food Research International revealed that red onions contain powerful antioxidants that effectively kill cancer cells. As part of the study, a team of researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, examined five varieties of onions and tested their anti-cancer compounds against lab-grown colon cancer cells. The health experts found that red onions effectively eliminated colon cancer cells. The team also noted that the “Ruby Ring” was the most potent onion variety to kill the malignant cells.

According to the research team, red onions contained significantly high concentrations of the flavonoid quercetin. The experts also noted that red onions were rich in anthocyanin, a compound that fortified quercetin’s scavenging properties. The study also revealed that red onions were equally potent in eliminating breast cancer cells.

“Anthocyanin is instrumental in providing colour to fruits and vegetables so it makes sense that the red onions, which are darkest in colour, would have the most cancer-fighting power. We found onions are excellent at killing cancer cells. Onions activate pathways that encourage cancer cells to undergo cell death. They promote an unfavourable environment for cancer cells and they disrupt communication between cancer cells, which inhibits growth. The next step will be to test the vegetable’s cancer-fighting powers in human trials,” lead author Abdulmonem Murayyan said in ScienceDaily.com.

However, outside expert Dr. Justine Alford was wary of the results. Dr. Alford currently serves as senior science information officer for Cancer Research U.K.

“The researchers found that extracts from certain types of onions could kill bowel cancer cells in a lab, but that doesn’t mean the same would happen in a person’s body which is much more complex. If scientists can tease out which molecules in onions have these apparently beneficial effects, then perhaps they could be investigated as a potential drug in the future,” Dr. Alford told DailyMail.co.uk.

Cornell study demonstrates onion’s anti-cancer properties

The recent findings were reflective of a 2004 study carried out by researchers at the Cornell University. As part of the study, the research team took extracts from 10 onion varieties and shallots and used them against colon cancer cells. The scientists found that the pungent yellow and Western Yellow onion varieties provided the strongest protection against colon cancer cell proliferation. The study also revealed that shallots, the pungent yellow, and Western Yellow onion varieties also offered the greatest protection versus liver cancer cell proliferation.

According to researchers, onions and shallots are excellent sources of phytochemicals called phenolics and flavonoids. The phytochemicals stave off cancer onset by eliminating free radicals and inhibiting the production of reactive compounds that may damage otherwise normal cells. In addition, the research team noted that onions and shallots contain varying levels of these phytochemicals. (Related: Follow more news on anti-cancer compounds at Anticancer.news.)

According to the team, shallots had six times higher phenolic content compared Vidalia onions. On the other hand, Western Yellow onions contain 11 times more flavonoids than Western White varieties.

“Our study of 10 onion varieties and shallots clearly shows that onions and shallots have potent antioxidant and antiproliferation activities and that the more total phenolic and flavonoid content an onion has, the stronger its antioxidant activity and protective effect,” lead author Dr. Rui Hai Liu told the Cornell Chronicle.

The findings were published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 

Sources include: 

DailyMail.co.uk

ScienceDaily.com

News.Cornell.edu

Pubs.ACS.org

Researchers claim commuting to work on a bike cuts your risk of cancer by almost half

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have delivered good news for avid cyclists everywhere. Taking your bike to work could reduce your risk of cancer by 45 percent, as well as your risk of heart disease by 46 percent, the investigative team revealed.

For the purposes of their study, the researchers evaluated the data of over 264,337 people from the UK Biobank project, an international health resource. The team then questioned the participants on their methods of traveling to work. From there, the researchers maintained contact with the participants for five years. The average age of the participants was 53 years at the beginning of the study. Any cases of heart attacks, cancer, and deaths that occurred during that time period were carefully analyzed and then connected to the participants’ mode of travel, reported CNBC.com.

By the end of the study, the researchers discovered that commuters who covered ground by way of a bicycle had a 41 percent reduced risk of premature death. Similarly, walking to work had been linked to lowered risks of developing heart disease (27 percent) and dying from heart disease (36 percent); there were no significant reductions to the risks of cancer nor premature death, however. According to the Independent.co.uk, of the 2,430 people who died during the course of the study: 496 deaths were from hearth disease while 1,126 deaths were from cancer. Moreover, 3,748 people developed cancer over five years while 1,110 underwent events that related to heart disease, like a stroke or heart attack.

In a statement, Dr. Jason Gill, Associate Academic at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing, said: “Cycling all or part of the way to work was associated with substantially lower risk of adverse health outcomes.”

Dr. Carlos Celis-Morales, Research Associate at the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, added: “Walking to work was associated with lower risk of heart disease, but unlike cycling was not associated with a significantly lower risk of cancer or overall death. This may be because walkers commuted shorter distances than cyclists — typically six miles per week, compared with 30 miles per week — and walking is generally a lower intensity of exercise than cycling.” (Related: Stunned researchers discover that the impact of walking dramatically boosts blood flow to the brain, boosting cognitive function)

If their findings are indeed causal, Gill has said that “policies designed to make it easier for people to commute by bike, such as cycle lanes, city bike hire, subsidized cycle purchase schemes and increasing provision for cycles on public transport may present major opportunities for public health improvement.”

“A shift from car to more active modes of travel will also decrease traffic in congested city centers and help reduce air pollution, with further benefits for health,” said Professor Lars Bo Andersen, a professor at the Department of Sports Medicine in the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.

Jason Torrance, Policy Director of cycling charity Sustrans, has told the Independent.co.uk that cycling to work was “a proven way for people to improve their health, to help their local economies and to improve their productivity at work,” before adding “There’s an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists and transforming local roads and streets into places that people feel safe and want to be. Some cities are taking a leading role in doing that, like London and Manchester, which are doing some fantastic things. But more needs to be done.”

If there are any further developments in the world of health, then you can read all about them at MindBodyScience.news.

Sources include:

CNBC.com

Independent.co.uk

Gla.AC.uk

BMJ.com

Tattoos may lead to HEAT STROKE by impairing your skin’s natural sweat production

Tattoos may increase the risk of suffering heat stroke, a small study found. To carry out the study, researchers at Alma College, Michigan used a drug called pilocarpine to induce sweating among participants, then collected the sweat samples. The first batch of samples were taken from the tattooed skin, while the other batch was taken from the participants’ non-inked skin at the opposite side of the body. Sweating is a key component of the body’s temperature regulation. Perspiration helps the body cool down as sweat evaporates from the skin.

According to the study, tattooed skin produced less sweat and contained higher sodium concentration compared with the non-tattooed skin. “We are not sure whether it is the ink or the trauma or a combination of both that is responsible for the results that we saw,” said study author Maurie Luetkemeier in DailyMail.co.uk. However, researchers inferred that tattoos inhibit the skin from releasing heat during warm weather. Limited heat loss in turn may lead to higher body temperature and significantly increased risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

The findings were published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Tattoo-related health risks are beyond skin deep

Tattoos have become a pop culture staple over the last few decades. In fact, recent statistics showed that 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo. According to statistics, 36 percent of adults aged 18 to 25 years, and 40 percent of adults aged 26 to 40 years have at least one tattoo. The tattoo industry is estimated to generate revenues of up to $1 billion by 2020.While considered an art form on its own, tattoos pose health risks that go beyond skin deep. These risks include a wide range diseases from chronic allergies to cancers.

A 2015 study found that tattoos induced both short-term and chronic complications in participants. In order to assess the adverse effects of tattoos, researchers examined 300 tattooed participants and found that 10 percent of them experienced some form of short-term complications such as bacterial infection, swelling, and itching. Among these participants, about six in 10 suffered chronic complications. However, researchers found that while many participants experienced swelling or itching for years, few have actually allotted time to have the symptoms checked. The findings were published in journal Contact Dermatitis.

In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new warnings about health risks associated with tattoo ink such as allergic reactions and infections.

Another study revealed that tattoo exposure was linked to an increased risk of hepatitis C infection. The infection can be transmitted through contaminated needles. As part of the research, health experts at Tulane University School of Medicine examined nearly 2,000 patients and found that HCV-infected patients were more likely to have one or more tattoos compared with non-infected controls. The results suggest that “tattoo exposure is associated with HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection, even among those without traditional risk factors. All patients who have tattoos should be considered at higher risk for HCV infection and should be offered HCV counseling and testing,” the researchers wrote in MedicalDaily.com. The findings appeared in the journal Hepatology.

A report by the European Chemicals Agency (ECA) noted that tattoo ink may contain potentially toxic chemicals that may trigger cancer onset. According to the agency, red inks appeared to be the most potentially hazardous color. The report has also stressed that blue, green, and black inks may also lead to certain adverse health effects. “Many reports show concerns for public health stemming from the composition of inks used for tattooing. The most severe concerns are allergies caused by the substances in the inks and possible carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxic effects,” the agency stated in an article in News.com.au.

Keep yourself risk-free by keeping tabs of the articles at Prevention.news.

Sources:

DailyMail.co.uk

NHS.uk

StatisticsBrain.com

LiveScience.com

MedicalDaily.com

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com

News.com.au

CBSNews.com

Skin care expert reveals the 20 most toxic chemical ingredients in beauty products… are you poisoning yourself?

Renowned skin care expert Dr. Trevor Cates lists 20 of the most toxic chemicals found in personal care products. “What we put on our skin should be as clean as what we eat. But for most people, it’s not. Even in tiny amounts, many of the chemicals commonly found in our cosmetics can have a tremendous health and hormonal impact, and we are only beginning to understand the consequences,” Dr. Cates writes in DailyMail.co.uk.

1. Fragrances – According to Dr. Cates, fragrance mixtures may contain hundreds of individual chemicals that may trigger allergies and disrupt certain hormones. He suggests avoiding fragrances unless in their natural form such as pure essential oils.
2. Formaldehyde – Nearly one in five personal care products contain this chemical. This toxic chemical can be found in hair care products, adhesives and nail products. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), formaldehyde is a carcinogenic chemical associated with the onset of various forms of cancer.
3. Ethanolamines – According to the skin care expert, impurities in these chemicals may trigger the onset of certain types of cancer.
4. Mineral oils – These oils, along with petroleum, are key ingredients in cosmetic products such as foundation, moisturizers and cleansers. However, these chemicals contain dioxane. According to Dr. Cates, dioxane is found to be carcinogenic in various animal studies.
5. Oxybenzone – This harmful chemical is commonly found in lip balms, sunscreens, and other products that contain SPF. Oxybenzone is found to be easily absorbed in the bloodstream, and is associated with the onset of early puberty in girls.
6. Parabens – Parabens are commonly used preservatives in various beauty products. The chemical is linked to breast cancer cell growth in women and lower testosterone levels and sperm count in men.
7. Hydroquinone – According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hydroquinones may cause ochronosis, a skin disease characterized by disfiguring and irreversible lesions on the skin. Hydroquinones are also found to be carcinogenic.
8. Coal tar – Coal tar is a known carcinogenic. The chemical can be found in dandruff shampoos, creams, soap, and ointments.
9. Toluene – According to Dr. Cates, toluene is a potent neurotoxic chemical and may trigger impaired breathing and nausea. Toluene is commonly found in nail care products.
10. Butylated hydroxyanisole – BHA is a waxy compound that is used in various cosmetics and personal care products such as eye shadow and lipstick. The U.S. National Toxicology Program has identified BHA as a potential carcinogen, while the European Union (EU) classified the chemical as an endocrine disruptor.
11. Triclosan and triclocarban – These chemicals are commonly used as antibacterial agents in personal care products. Both chemicals are known endocrine disruptors.
12. Mica, silica, talc, and nanoparticled titanium dioxide – According to Dr. Cates, these minute particles may lead to lung disease when they accumulated in the body over time.
13. Heavy metals – Heavy metals — such as mercury, lead, arsenic and aluminum —  can cause brain and nervous system impairment and hormone disruption. These heavy metals are also known carcinogens.
14. Carbon black – Carbon black is a commonly used pigment in make up and nail polish. This chemical is known to cause cancers.
15. P-phenylenediamine – This chemical is commonly found in hair dyes. Exposure to this chemical may lead to organ toxicity, adverse skin reactions, and cancer.

Other toxic chemicals commonly found in personal care products include resorcinol, methylisothiazolinone and teflon as well as phenoxyethanol and acrylamide.

“The personal care products industry is inundated with extremely toxic, cancer-causing chemicals,” explains the Health Ranger, founder of the Health Ranger Store which formulates and retails hundreds of non-toxic personal care products. “The average consumer poisons themselves with over 300 synthetic chemicals before they even leave the house each morning, and these chemicals are deliberately added to personal care products by manufacturers that care more about profit than consumer safety,” he adds.

Personal care products — such as cosmetics, body washes and hair and skin care products — have been subject to scrutiny for years due to potentially hazardous chemicals that most of them contain. These chemicals, when in contact with human body, may cause adverse health effects. In fact, a study by Herb Research Foundation reveals that the skin may absorb up to 60 percent of toxic chemicals found in personal care products.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

OSHA.gov

Decrease your risk of breast cancer by avoiding these foods

As with any disease, breast cancer is a condition full of complexities and nuances. Factors such as genetics and family history are uncontrollable factors that can make one more susceptible to developing breast cancer. Smoking habits and diet are individual decisions that can greatly affect one’s chances of acquiring the disease; and according to MedicalNewsToday.com, avoiding these foods may help.

Avoid

• Red meat and processed meats: Compounds in grilled red meat, heterocyclic amines (HCA), spur on cancers, states NBCNews.com. The amino acids present in red meat are also said to increase the risk of cancer by increasing oxidation and promoting insulin production within the body. Most processed meats and cold cuts often contain high amounts of fat, preservatives and salt, none of which are favorable for cancer prevention. Some of these foods include beef, pork, ham, hot dogs, and bacon, which also contain sodium nitrite, a cancer-causing additive.
• Sugar: In a study administered by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, they found that mice that ate sugar-rich diets are more likely to develop mammary gland tumors. Sugar can elevate blood glucose levels, forcing the body to deliver more insulin. The insulin produced encourages growth in cancer cells and can also raise estrogen levels. As reported by FoodForBreastCancer.com, sugar consumption also contributes to other breast cancer risk factors like increased breast density and systemic inflammation.
• Alcohol: Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages can cause damage to DNA cells and increase estrogen level, according to BreastCancer.org. A woman’s genetic makeup can also greatly affect her chances of acquiring the disease, as fast metabolizers of alcohol were shown to be at higher risk than slower metabolizers. At the most, one can drink a glass of wine every other day with food.
• Fats: While not all fats are bad—vegetable and fruit fats are usually associated with a decreased risk— some are worse than others. Similar to alcohol, large and routine consumption of foods containing trans-saturated fats increases the chances of developing breast cancer. Trans-saturated fats are often used in fast foods and processed foods like pastries and snack foods.

There are many other foods that experts have warned against. Grapefruit has many health benefits, but some researchers believe that its estrogen level-boosting properties make it a prime candidate in increasing breast cancer risk. Dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese (which are often from pregnant cows with hiked-up estrogen and progesterone levels) are also sometimes prescribed against. Experts also urge avoiding other meat-derived foods such as gravy and lard because of certain protein that can stimulate cancer cells to grow. Some vegetable oils like soybean and sunflower are high in polyunsaturated fats; even foods with partially hydrogenated oils, like mayonnaise, peanut butter and margarine, can be risky. Learn more about cancer prevention at Prevention.news.

If you can’t totally cut these foods out of your diet, severely limiting them will help. Making other conscious body choices can also contribute to your risk of getting or preventing this deadly disease. Simple things like regularly exposing yourself to sunlight to absorb vitamin D and becoming more physically active can make a difference. Adding certain foods like dietary fiber, fatty fish, and green tea are recommended. (Related: Green Tea and Breast Cancer Prevention: What the Experts Say)

No single food can cause or prevent breast cancer. The culmination of different foods does. Tiny, seemingly innocent selections will add up in time. That hamburger you had yesterday can become a problem for you, several years down the line. Awareness of what you put in your body is your greatest form of protection against breast cancer.

Sources:
MedicalNewsToday.com
NBCNews.com
FoodForBreastCancer.com
BreastCancer.org
MDAnderson.org

Researchers reveal that brushing your teeth may help prevent cancer

Being mindful of oral health care —  brushing, flossing, and regular dental check up — may help prevent the onset of cancer, experts say. Various studies have shown that oral bacteria may be a contributing factor to the development of certain types of cancer. As such, gaining insight on the connection between oral bacteria and cancer may help health care practitioners determine a person’s cancer risk just by examining the bacterial composition in his mouth.

Dr. Jiyoung Ahn, an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at New York University School of Medicine, confirmed in an article in DailyMail.co.uk that examining body’s microbiome composition is a relatively new field in health care science. According to Dr. Ahn, various studies from the past five years showed that 80 percent of bacteria living in the human body cannot be grown in a lab dish. While certain risk factors such as smoking and alcohol intake may alter the oral microbiome, researchers still hope that changes in the mouth’s bacterial composition may one day improve cancer diagnosis and aid in the development of potential treatments. (Related: Know more about potential cancer treatments at CancerSolutions.news).

Bacteria in mouth may cause breast, pancreatic cancer

A 2011 study revealed that oral bacteria may play a major role in breast cancer onset. Data on more than 3,000 women aged 30 to 40 years revealed that the risk of developing breast cancer was more than doubled in women who had chronic gum disease or had lost teeth due to periodontal disease compared with those who had healthier gums. The results were published in the Journal of Pharmacy & BioAllied Sciences.

Health experts at the University of Buffalo in New York also found that gum disease-causing bacteria may trigger breast cancer onset. Researchers examined  73,000 postmenopausal women and found that women who had the gum disease had a 14 percent increased odds of developing breast cancer. The study also revealed that among women who quit smoking with the past twenty years, those who suffer gum disease had a 63 percent elevated risk of breast cancer. According to the scientists, oral bacteria may enter the body’s circulatory system, which then negatively affects breast tissues.

Poor oral health was also associated with increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, another study found. According to the study, people with higher levels of the oral bacteria P. gingivalis were 60 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared with those who had lower levels. Data also revealed that the oral bacteria  A. actinomycetemcomitans was tied to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Oral bacteria may trigger esophageal, bowel cancer

A 2016 study revealed that an oral bacteria called fusobacterium may raise the odds of developing bowel cancer. The bacteria was known to cause gum bleeding, and was found to be more common in cancerous tumors that normal cells.

Another study showed that the oral bacteria F. nucleatum may influence the onset of esophageal cancer. Researchers at the Kumamoto University in Japan assessed DNA in cancer tissue samples of 325 patients. Data showed that patients who tested positive for the oral bacteria had shorter survival times than those who tested negative for the bacteria.

“This study suggested that the oral cavity bacterium F. nucleatum may be involved in the development and progression of esophageal cancer via chemokines. It should be noted that it is still unknown whether F. nucleatum itself causes esophageal cancer. Further analysis by more institutions, preferably world-wide, is desired since intestinal flora differs between individuals. In future research, after elucidating the role of F. nucleatum in esophageal cancer development in more detail, we should be able to develop new drugs to better treat this form of cancer,” said lead researcher Professor Hideo Baba, as reported in AsianScientist.com. 

Sources:

DailyMail.co.uk

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

AsianScientist.com

Signs Your Body Is Too Acidic And 9 Ways To Quickly Alkalize It

A variety of physical problems and diseases are caused by acidity. The vast majority of the populace in industrialized nations suffers from problems caused by acidification, because both diet and modern lifestyle promote acidification of the body’s internal environment.

Acidic bodies are unhealthy bodies. When the body is acidic, it creates an unwanted environment where illness, bacteria, and yeast thrive. When the body is overly acidic, the body takes minerals from vital organs and bones to neutralize the acid and remove it from the body.

Because of this, the body’s mineral reserves such as calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium can run dangerously low and cause damage that can go undetected for years, until it reaches unhealthy levels, causing acidosis.

Most of us are already consuming enough acid forming foods, such as dairy, grains, meats and sugar. Since the body is constantly generating acidic waste products from the metabolism, those waste products need to be neutralized or excreted in some way. In order to neutralize the constant acid generation, we need to supply the body with more alkaline foods.

Consider The Health Problems Caused By Mild Acidosis (Poor pH Balance):

Inflamed sensitive gums, cavities

Immune deficiency

Sciatica, lumbago, stiff neck

Respiratory problems, shortness of breath, coughing

Yeast fungal overgrowth

Low energy and chronic fatigue

Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood vessels and reduction in oxygen

Heart problems, arrhythmias, increased heart rate

Weight gain, obesity and diabetes

ladder and kidney infections

Accelerated free radical damage

Premature aging

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Osteoporosis, weak brittle bones, hip fractures, bone spurs

Headaches, confusion, sleepiness

Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup

Allergies, acne

Doesn’t The Body Adjust pH On Its Own?

Yes it can, but it does so at a price. The normal pH for all tissues and fluids in the body, except the stomach is alkaline. With the exception of blood, all of the body systems have a wide pH range, in part so they can shift to maintain the blood pH, which must be maintained at the very narrow margin of 7.35 to 7.45.

For example, if the system becomes too acidic, the blood will take alkaline forming elements from the digestive enzyme system of the small intestine. This now creates a less than optimal environment for proper digestion. So while the body can adjust pH on its own, it does so at a price to other systems in the body, which can lead to additional health problems.

Start By Knowing Your pH

pH testing is important because it allows an individual to get a numeric representation of the current level of acidification in their body. A healthy average pH reading will range anywhere from 6.75 to 7.25. The optimal pH numeric reading is 7.36. To learn more about ph testing check references at end of article.

You Can’t Tell If Food Is Acidic Or Alkaline By taste Alone

For example, many people think of lemons as acidic, while it is classified as an acidic fruit, it is actually an alkaline forming food. During the process of digestion the acids are oxidized into carbon dioxide and water, therefore they do not create an acid condition in the system.

Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium are the main alkalizing minerals. Foods that are high in this minerals are considered alkaline forming food. Most foods have both acid and alkaline minerals in them. If acidic minerals are greater in concentration than that food is considered acidic and vice versa.

The Body Has Limits

The body has limits for how much it can compensate for acid imbalance. Therefore food intake plays a critical role in maintaining the acid-alkaline balance. Many diseases and general malaise are the result of the body’s attempt to rebalance the internal environment.

Generally speaking, if the diet includes too many acid forming foods, such as high amounts of meats, grains, dairy, sugars, the body becomes more acidic. If you eat too many alkaline producing foods such as greens, fruits, sea vegetables the body can become too alkaline. Balance is key.

How Does Your Body Respond To Specific Foods?

It’s important to realize that the way your body responds to various foods depends on your dominant constitutional type. If your dominant type is oxidative then fruits and vegetables move the body to the more acid side, while proteins make your body more alkaline. If however you are more dominant to the autonomic system (ANS) then proteins cause your body to become more acidic and fruits and vegetables shift the body to a more alkaline environment.

How To Improve Your Alkalinity

Check your pH regular

Drink plenty of water (alkaline water when possible)

Remove acidic foods

Replace a traditional lunch with a large green salad.

Use lettuce leaves and collard greens as wraps.

Try not to consume processed foods Eliminate soda, sugars and coffee. Replace them with herbal tea, herbal coffee and green drinks

Replace dairy milks with coconut or almond milk

Add green juices or smoothies to your diet

What You Eat Matters

Improving pH levels may require a little more thought, but you’ll appreciate the rewards of your efforts as you begin to feel more energetic and vibrant and your overall health improves.

There is no question about it, what you eat has a direct impact on your overall health. It was Ann Wigmore, founder of the renowned Hippocrates Health Institute who said, “The food you eat can be either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”

References:

Understanding pH

Acidosis

The Alkaline Diet: Is There Evidence That an Alkaline pH Diet Benefits Health?

Diet, evolution and aging–the pathophysiologic effects of the post-agricultural inversion of the potassium-to-sodium and base-to-chloride ratios in the human diet

Minerals and Disease; Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 10, No. 3 & 4, 1995; Joseph D. Campbell

Credits:

The Hearty Soul, Real Farmacy.

Coconut Oil: A New Cure for Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. It is also one of the most difficult ones to treat – often, patients are unaware of early warning signs of this disease or are not compliant with regular colonoscopies to visualize and diagnose possible cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions. Thus, by the time the disease is diagnosed, it is well-advanced and leaves patients and clinicians with few options for treatment.

However, there are natural ways to help prevent and treat colon cancer. Keeping a healthy weight and eating a diet that is high in fiber and antioxidants as well keeping hydrated are all good ways to reduce the risk. And now a new study has come out about another possible natural cure for this disease: coconut oil.

The New Research

The new research which has so many people talking involved a study where scientists studied the effect of lauric acid from coconut oil (this constitutes about 50% of coconut oil) on colon cancer cells. It found, amazingly, that this acid was able to kill around 93% of these cancerous cells after 48 hours of exposure. It was found that the lauric acids acted on the cancer cells to kill them in two important ways: first, it decreased levels of glutathione in the cells, then increased their oxidative stress, which the cancer cells were more susceptible too after their glutathione levels were lowered. It apparently was an extremely effective strategy.

More research needs to be done on lauric acid, with a view to developing a nature-based cancer treatment, the preliminary results from this study are certainly intriguing, particularly if similar studies are applied to other, common forms of cancer such as cancer of the breast or prostate.

More on the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Another, indirect way in which coconut oil likely helps fight cancer is through improving the body’s general health to make it easier for it to fight off disease and mutation. Coconut oil, for instance, is great for heart health, lower LDL while raising HDL cholesterol levels to improve the overall cholesterol ratio. It is also an effective weight loss aid, particularly for the loss of stubborn abdominal fat, and weight loss is a great way to prevent many kinds of cancer, including that of the colon. In short, it is of great worth for a variety of bodily ailments.

So, while coconut oil is not a panacea, it certainly comes close. More studies on the anti-cancer effects of lauric acid should certainly be conducted in order to give patients more information on what natural therapies are available, not only for cancer but for neurological and cardiac conditions as well.

Sources:

naturalnews.com

thevirgincoconutoil.com

coconutresearchcenter.org

complete-health-and-happiness.com