Nutrition, Diet & the Healing of Cancer (8)
Cancer is a disease of civilisation. It is practically unknown to the
primitive races leading primitive lives. Hundreds of medical men who have practised for decades among the South African negroes have never seen a cancer case... On the other hand, cancer is not uncommon among the South African
negroes in the coast towns who for decades have lived more or less on the white man's diet... Cancer is essentially a nutritional disease. It is far more prevalent in the towns where people subsist on artificial food than in
the country where men eat fresh natural food, take plenty of exercise and are less troubled with intestinal
stagnation and auto-intoxication than are the sedentary inhabitants of the larger cities. We need not abolish civilisation in order to abolish cancer. We need only reform our lives in accordance with the dictates of nature...
Sir Arbuthnot Lane, Bart., C.B., M.B.,M.S., F.R.C.S., speaking in the House of Commons
Broccoli (Sprouts or Extract) May Halt Growth of Breast Cancer Cells
© Copyright 2004 Dr. Joseph Mercola
In recent years, medical researchers have been battling a top killer of women -- breast cancer. One study may have found answer in a component of broccoli.
Indole-3-carbino, which is found in broccoli, interferes with the breast cancer cell's life cycle in a way that hints at a totally new signaling pathway in the
cell. The chemical seems to be working by a very unusual mechanism. It turns off a gene for an enzyme important in the cell's growth cycle.
The chemical Indole-3-carbino (I3C) is a component of broccoli and other members of the Brassica family, such as brussels sprouts, bok choy, kale, chard and
turnips.
I3C has low toxicity but seems to be very effective in fighting breast cancer cells. According to the study, it is an effective agent at blocking tumorigenesis
in rats. When fed to them, I3C can block 95 percent of all breast cancers in rats. The compound also works independently of the hormone estrogen, unlike breast cancer treatment drugs like Tamoxifen.
I3C would be a good candidate for use in combination therapy with drugs those that do interfere with estrogen.
In fact, research shows that I3C does not act on estrogen at all. Instead the chemical actually stops the cell cycle. When I3C reacts with stomach acid, the
byproducts are the ones responsible for the anti-estrogen and certain toxic effects of the broccoli compounds. I3C initiates a sudden drop in the generation of the enzyme CDK6, or cyclin-dependent kinase 6.
Nutrition and Cancer 2004;48(1):84-94
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
From every way that I look at it I3C sure seems vastly superior to the drug Tamoxifen to treat breast cancer. It also is likely to be very beneficial in the treatment of prostate cancer since the two diseases have very similar contributing factors. However does that mean you should absolutely rush out and purchase supplements of I3C?
Compare Supplements & Herbs.
Absolutely not!!!
My strong recommendation would be to get the entire family of beneficial nutrients. One way to do this would be to eat broccoli but the best way is to consume broccoli sprouts, which are hundreds of
times more potent than regular broccoli.
I first wrote about this in 1997 when I posted information on using broccoli sprouts. They are an inexpensive and more effective cancer-treating alternative to
eating the whole vegetable. You can purchase organic broccoli seeds from Johnny's at (207) 861-3901. Reference item #148, four ounces are $9, or one pound is $26.15. For sprouting instructions call Jaffe Brothers at (619) 749-1133. Your local library or health food store may also have some instructions on sprouting seeds.
Eating sprouts is not the only course of action I recommend for preventing or treating breast and prostate cancer. Here are a few other guidelines:
Lower iron levels with IP6 (phytic acid). Excess iron can be a major cause of many cancers
Increase Vitamin D. Sunlight is the best source.
Compare Sunlight and Cancer Incidence - Can Sunlight Prevent Cancer?, Study Shows Sunlight Prevents
Cancer, Cancer Prevention & Sunlight, Light : Medicine of The Future
(incl. cancer treatment), Solar Energy Against Cancer and The Fat's Syndrome & Photons As Solar Energy.
Balance your omega-3 to omega-6 intake.
Compare Dr. Johanna Budwigs Healing Diet & Protocol.
Cut out sugar from your diet.
Compare 146 Ways Sugar Is Ruining Your Health and Sugar and Cancer.
Eat according to your metabolic type.
Avoid pesticides.
Compare Cancer Causes: Toxic Chemicals & Pesticides.
Related Articles:
(Links found at www.mercola.com/2004/sep/22/broccoli_cancer.htm)
More Reasons to Eat Your Vegetables
Vegetables That Prevent and Cure Cancer
Tamoxifen Increases Endometrial Cancer Incidence and Severity
100+ Nutrition Facts About 25 Well-Known Foods
Recommended Vegetables List
Compare Brassica vegetables and cancer risk.
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