Blueberries:

According to recent research published in the British Journal of Cancer blueberries, which contain the compound lupeol can help to fight head, neck and mouth cancer in patients who have failed to respond to any other treatments. Tests on mice by a team at the University of Hong Kong suggest the compound may help to shrink tumours with few side effects.

 

The compound works by blocking a natural protein called NFkb, which helps to grow and repair all cells, even cancerous ones. At present patients with cancer of the head and neck are given chemotherapy and radiation and according to this research lupeol could be added to make these treatments more effective. Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day has also been found to reduce the risk of head and neck cancers which are often triggered by smoking and excessive drinking.

Black raspberries:

Other research suggests that eating black raspberries could help to prevent cancer of the mouth, oesophagus and colon. Previous studies on rats have shown that black raspberries, which look like blackberries but are actually a different species, can help to slow or stop the growth of tumours in the mouth, oesophagus and colon of animals. Now evidence is emerging from Ohio State University that the berries can also help with humans.

 

Researchers asked 20 men and women with chronic inflammation of the oesophagus that leads to an increased risk of cancer to eat a portion of freeze dried black raspberries every day. After 26 weeks all the patients had a significant reduction in DNA damage. Many also showed increased levels of an enzyme known to fight cancer causing molecules.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 4:50 pm and is filed under Cancer, Healthy Living, In the News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.