FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER
It was the Father of Medicine Hippocrates who dished out this mouthful of wisdom: Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
Senior dietician Gerard Wong of Parkway Cancer Centre sifts through the benefits of some super fruits touted for their health properties (possibly preventing/fighting cancer).
• Mangosteen. This tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia (we have it down South, in Mindanao) is touted for its healing properties — it’s packed with polyphenols, antioxidants that help repair cell damage. And now, its juice is being promoted for cancer treatment and supplements containing mangosteen are flying off the store shelves.
• Soursop (guyabano). Soursop extracts are said to kill some types of liver and breast cancer cells. Extracts from its leaves have shown antiinflammatory, anti-microbial properties in animals (no studies have been done on humans).
• Pomegranate. Several studies support the claim that its juice can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Recent research reinforces the belief that it can help prevent or even cure cancer. Findings have shown that pomegranate extracts selectively inhibit the growth of breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer cells in culture. There have been no conclusive studies though. And diabetics are sweetly reminded to take note of the sugar content of the fruit.
• Noni juice. Remember the time when this juice was all the rage? Lab studies suggest that the juice has anti-bacterial, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant properties, and possibly anti-cancer effects in animals. On the other hand, take double note that the juice contains high levels of sugar and potassium, which can affect people with diabetes and kidney problems, respectively.
• Jamu juice. A traditional herbal medicine, it’s long been promoted as a health tonic and a cure-all for many diseases including cancer. One of its root-based versions is the widely popular (and controversial) turmeric which, according to animal studies, has anti-cancer properties in rats exposed to carcinogens. There’s not enough evidence to support the anti-cancer claims involving turmeric.
The bottom line is: Cancer is a complex disease affecting different people differently and claims that one type of food or fruit has the power to eradicate or prevent cancer entirely are a gross oversimplification, according to Parkway Cancer Centre.
While all these fruits (and their extracts) may contain some cancer-fighting properties, there’s no conclusive evidence that they can prevent cancer or kill cancer cells.
Your best bet, says Parkway Cancer Centre, is to eat a balanced diet and live a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of getting cancer.