Most Cancers Are Preventable

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Most Cancers Are Preventable JoAnn Guest Jun 13, 2005 18:13 PDT

 

 

MOST CANCERS ARE PREVENTABLE:

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LATEST RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Andreas M. Papas, Ph.D.

http://www.willner.com/article.aspx?artid=56

 

Cancer is the number two killer in the United States after heart

disease. The National Cancer Institute estimates that over 1.2 million

new cases are diagnosed every year. Free radicals, harmful reactive

molecules in our body, increase the risk of cancer by damaging the DNA

that results in the production of abnormal cells. Poor diet, smoking,

ozone, excessive alcohol consumption and other environmental and health

stressors increase the production of free radicals.

The good news is that most cancers are preventable with healthy

lifestyle and proper nutrition including supplements. Diets rich in

fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of many cancers. Diets low in

saturated fats and high in fiber are associated with a lower incidence

of colorectal, prostate, breast and some other cancers. Thestrong

association of diet and cancer prompted researchers to search for

nutrients and phytochemicals, especially antioxidants that would help

prevent cancer. The results to date have been extremely promising.

Vitamin E, the master antioxidant, and selenium lead the pack. However,

consuming the right form of vitamin E family is critical for reducing

the risk of cancer. Unlike some vitamins, which consist only of a

single compound, vitamin E consists of eight different compounds, four

tocopherols and four tocotrienols (designated as alpha, beta, gamma and

delta). Our food contains all eight compounds. Most vitamin E

supplements on the market today, however, contain only alpha-tocopherol,

commonly as the synthetic, esterified form. The National Academy of

Sciences officially recognized the significant advantage of the natural

form of vitamin E over the synthetic.

Recent research shows that gamma-tocopherol and the tocotrienols have

very important and unique roles. Only products that contain the

complete vitamin E family - tocopherols plus tocotrienols - provide the

full spectrum of benefits. The typical American diet does not supply the

levels necessary to promote wellness and prevent disease. This means

that individuals must supplement their diet with the complete vitamin E

family to achieve the health benefits shown in research studies.

" In a study of over 29,000 elderly male smokers, vitamin E

supplementation for six years resulted in a 32% reduction in prostate

cancer and a 41% reduction in prostate cancer deaths as compared to

placebo. There was also a 16 percent reduction in colon cancer.

" In another study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, researchers

evaluated the effect of serum levels of alpha and gamma-tocopherol and

selenium on the risk of prostate cancer. Men with the highest levels of

gamma-tocopherol (top 20%) had a fivefold reduction in the risk of

developing prostate cancer when compared to those with the lowest levels

(bottom 20%).

 

For a good cancer prevention strategy the experts recommend.

1. Avoid controllable risk factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol

consumption and use appropriate sun protection.

2. Eat diets rich in fruits and vegetables, high in fiber and low in

saturated fat.

3. Take nutritional supplements, especially if you are at high risk or

have a family history of cancer. Choose a basic wide-spectrum

antioxidant, which includes selenium, natural carotenoids (alpha, beta

and gamma-carotene, lutein, lycopene and astaxanthin), vitamin C and

folic acid; and natural vitamin E containing 400 IU's plus 400

milligrams of the other tocopherols and tocotrienols.

4. Apply topically creams or lotions that contain natural tocopherols

plus tocotrienols especially if exposed to sunshine.

Additional vitamin E might be helpful for people with special needs (800

mg tocopherol concentrate rich in gamma-tocopherol for prostate cancer

and 400-1200 mg tocotrienol rich extract for breast cancer.) Other

nutrients and antioxidants with promising cancer prevention potential

include: folic acid for colon, breast and prostate cancer; carotenoids,

lycopene and lutein, for prostate cancer; and vitamin C for stomach

cancers, especially those caused by nitrosamines.

 

 

 

 

ANDREAS M. PAPAS, Ph.D. President, Yasoo Health Inc.

Dr. Papas is the Author of The Vitamin E Factor book and editor of the

scientific book Antioxidant Status, Diet, Nutrition and Health. He also

serves as an Adjunct Professor at East Tennessee State University's

Quillen College of Medicine and as a Senior Scientific Advisor at the

Cancer Prevention Institute at Harvard's School of Epidemiology. A

Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Papas is a graduate of the University of Illinois

and an expert on vitamin E and antioxidants.

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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