Photo courtesy of respres
Here's an amazing example: Researchers at
Ohio State University conducted experiments on groups of rats. Some
rats were injected with a chemical that causes cancer (the same
kind found in fried bacon, cured meats, tobacco products, and
certain industrial compounds). One group of rats exposed to the
carcinogen nibbled away at a regular diet. In the second group, 5%
of the rats' diet diet consisted of black
raspberries, and a third group received 10%. Some of the rats were fed
the fruit before receiving the cancer-causing agent and others
afterward.
Among the rats fed 5% and 10% black raspberries both before
and after exposure, the number of tumors was reduced by 39%
and 49% respectively.
The berries also prevented cancer in
rats fed black raspberries only after exposure. By
the 15th week of the study, the 5 and 10 percenters were able to
reduce both tumor occurrence and size. By week 25, the
berry-rich diet resulted in 60% fewer tumors and
tumors that were 40% smaller.
By week 35, the rats fed 5% berries had the best outcomes. This may
be because the smaller amount of berries provided a level of
antioxidants that was "just right"
for fighting cancer. Previous studies have found that too high
concentrations aren't as effective and may even
be dangerous.
That's why getting antioxidants from a wide
variety of food vs. concentrated supplements is crucial. In
addition, too much of one type of food means less of another and
more studies are finding that a smaller amounts of a broader
spectrum of nutrients is much more powerful that high doses of
fewer types (I've blogged about this before). In
other words, loading up on too many berries squeezes out room for
protective watermelon or apples, so their nutrients
don't show up for work, resulting in less
protection. (See
hundreds of delicious, cancer-preventing recipes
here.)
Bottom line: you may not be able to prevent your genetic
predisposition to cancer or control your exposure to every
cancer-causing substance, but there is whole a lot you can do to
boost your defenses.
I just finished reading one of the best books
I've ever come across on this topic,
Anti-Cancer, a New Way of Life by David
Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, a physician diagnosed with brain
cancer. Prevention magazine just published an excerpt of
this book (read
it here). If you or anyone you know has been diagnosed
with cancer, I urge you to order it today, but I actually think
every adult should read this book. The theories apply to
not only cancer, but also every major disease, including heart
disease, stroke and
type 2 diabetes.
So, what are your thoughts on the potency of black raspberries? Do
you believe in the power of natural foods as much as I do? Please
share!
More ways to fight it with food:
Lower blood pressure, slash cholesterol, or reverse diabetes with food
30-day
food plan to beat diabetes