Foods that help fight cancer -Green tea, turmeric, broccoli, and pomegranate juice have strong anti-cancer properties – Studies
Certain foods have been identified by medical experts and several studies in helping to prevent cancer as well as fighting the disease in those who already have it. Prominent among these foods are Green tea, broccoli , pomegranate juice , turmeric and mangosteen.
Some studies show that there are compounds in green tea that prevents cancer cells from growing and spreading , particularly cervical cancer and prostate cancer. Green tea has also been proven to stimulate cancer cell death.
Research revealed that a specific extract from green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate also known as EGCG, can reduce cervical cancer cell growth.
For instance a study in the journal Cancer Letters showed that the catechins (epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).) in green tea have the potential of inhibiting cancer cell growth and killing off cancerous cells.
EGCG has also been found to reduce the viral activity of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The National Cancer Institute, also said the polyphenols in tea have been shown to decrease tumor growth in laboratory and animal studies and may protect against damage caused by ultraviolet UVB radiation.
Some studies have also revealed that women who eat a lot of broccoli have a lower risk of breast cancer. A compound known as sulforaphane found in broccoli, showed promise in preventing or slowing down prostate cancer.
Broccoli has been found to promote death of cells , suppress cell cycle progression and inhibit the development of new blood vessels of human breast cancer cells.
A study by researchers at Oregon University found that sulforaphane was able to target long, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human cancer cells and slow down the rate of growth. IncRNAs are present in many cancers, but when one particular strain (LINC01116) present in prostate cancer was treated with sulforaphane, it led to a fourfold reduction in the cancer cells’ ability to grow and form colonies.
Dr Rajeev Kaushal , a world renown oncologist ( doctor specialised in cancer treatment) with the Saudi German Hospital Dubai in an interview with Daily Trust said he often advices patients to make it a habit to take at least 3-4 cups of green tea. According to him, the American Oncology Society also recommends 3 to 4 cups of green tea.
He also suggested that prostate cancer patient should have at least t 400 to 500 gram of broccoli every week. He said some studies in the United Kingdom have also recommended this.
The oncologist said pomegranate juice also works strongly against cancer.
“I conducted a pilot study on prostate cancer patients who have relapse. It was a very small study, about 25 patients. We were able to control the rising PSA in about 30 to 40 % of the patients by just giving them pomegranate juice, one glass in the morning and one glass in the evening. With two to six weeks you begin to see the response,” he said.
He said that turmeric is another food that kills cancer cells, by more than 20 mechanisms. According to him turmeric contains a substance called circumin, “this is a highly isolated, purified form of turmeric, from 100 grams of turmeric, one gram of circumin is isolated, and this kills cancer cells more than various mechanisms, it attacks the cancer cells,” Dr Kaushal said.
The expert said it has a lot of effects in protecting patients from chemotherapy side effects.
The cancer specialist said another fruit seen as a wonderful ‘drug’ against cancer is Mangosteen, which is popular in The Philippines and Dubai. It is not a common fruit in Nigeria.
Dr Kaushal however, added that these foods are not cures for cancer in themselves but could be utilized as ways of prevention, and supporting cancer patients, during the treatment, and also when they finish conventional treatments.