Archive for the Cancer Category
Posted by Robin on April 24, 2010 at 19:45 pm
Published in the peer-reviewed journal NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY LETTERS:
“Thus, for the first time, a new mechanism has been found by which melatonin may bring about its anti-cancer action preventing the development of breast cancer.”
Read the accompanying Press Release
Read the complete research paper
The highest quantities of melatonin are found in tart cherries, particularly the Montmorency variety. Immunotec’s Cherry Concentrate is your best source for melatonin. Learn more about melatonin
Posted by Robin on April 24, 2010 at 19:29 pm
In this article from LifeExtensionsm magazine, author William Faloon asks is the American Food and Drug Administration is suppressing consumer information regarding the health benefits of cherries, and are they making life difficult for cherry growers and consumers.
Posted by Robin on April 24, 2010 at 19:19 pm
The healing and preventative properties of tart cherry concentrate are making it the juice of choice for health-conscious consumers. Learn why in this article from alive by author Sandra Tonn, RHN.
Posted by Robin on April 24, 2010 at 17:42 pm
New studies at Michigan State University (MSU), which were recently published in Cancer Letters, suggest that tart cherries may reduce the risk of colon cancer because of the anthocyanins and cyanidin contained in the cherry. Dr. Mauraleedharan Nair and Dr. Leslie Bourquin along with several graduate students worked on experiments that are part of ongoing research on the components of tart cherries.
“Based on previous observations that tart cherries can inhibit the Cox enzymes, we conducted experiments to test the potential of tart cherry anthocyanins to inhibit intestinal tumor development in mice,” says Dr. Bourquin, an associate professor in food science at MSU. The laboratory mice can very quickly produce the same type of tumors as humans. Mice consuming the tart cherry anthocyanins had significantly fewer and smaller cecal adenomas (colon tumors) than the mice consuming the control diet. The dosage given to the mice does not translate into a specific amount of cherries for humans. Data from animal studies, like this one, may spur human clinical trials. Meanwhile, consumers may have similar effects by eating cherries and drinking cherry juice. Read More
Posted by Robin on April 24, 2010 at 17:38 pm
While research on the health benefits of tart cherries is ongoing, the link between some common life-threatening diseases and diet is strong and well documented. Eating a healthful diet and being physically active can reduce cancer risks, according to the American Cancer Society. Evidence suggests that one-third of the 550,000 cancer deaths in the United States each year are a result of unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity.
The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends a plant-based diet of fruits (including cherries), vegetables, whole grains and legumes. A low-fat diet that includes at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily can decrease the overall incidence of cancer by 20 percent, according to the Institute.
The case is even stronger with colorectal cancer, for which the main causes are believed to be diet and related factors. Research suggests that up to 50 percent of the colorectal cancers could be prevented by diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat.
Posted by Robin on April 24, 2010 at 17:34 pm
The benefits of tart cherries, with their high levels of anthocyanins, perillyl alcohol and melatonin, recently caught the attention of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), based in Washington D. C. Because the natural substances found in cherries have been shown to fight cancer both individually and in concert, the AICR has begun to fund additional research on the ability of cherries to work as anti-carcinogens. The AICR recently funded two research projects both with the intent to identify the cancer-fighting potential of perillyl alcohol and certain anthocyanins.
Cleveland Clinic – Taussig Cancer Center
The Taussig Cancer Center, which is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, has just begun Phase I of a study on the effects of perillyl alcohol for individuals with a known history of cancer. The study will test healthy women with a history of breast cancer, which has not recurred.
Perillyl alcohol (POH) and similar compounds (called limonenes) are used as food additives and are found naturally in fruits, particularly tart cherries. There is some evidence that compounds of this class can inhibit the growth of certain cancers and pre-cancerous lesions, perhaps by helping the body to get rid of potentially cancer-causing chemicals or by interfering with signals that cause cells to divide rapidly. The aim of the study is to determine what level of POH should be used in future studies to assess whether this compound is useful in preventing cancer.
Michigan State University – Heterocylic Aromatic Amines
Researchers at Michigan State University have begun to analyze the antioxidant compounds in tart cherries to determine their effect on heterocylic aromatic amine formation (HAA) when added to meat. The formation of HAA’s can be carcinogenic or mutagenic and therefore, researchers continue to look for ways to inhibit their development. Similar experiments investigating the effects of organosulfur compounds found in garlic demonstrated some success in reducing HAA formation in cooked beef patties.
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