Lower Your Risk of Colon Cancer, Naturally

Sep

18

Lower Your Risk of Colon Cancer, Naturally

Filed under: Resveratrol, health and nutrition; Tagged as: anticancer nutrients, Cancer Fighter, Cancer Growth, Cell Destruction, Colon Cancer, Colon Health, curcumin, ECGC, Flavonoids, Fruits And Vegetables, green tea, Natural Antibacterial, Nutritional Supplements, polyphenols, Precancerous Polyps, quercitin, Red Wine, resveratrol, Tumor Growth

While conventional medicine has made strides in treating colon cancer, the real goal is prevention and there is growing evidence that colon health may be promoted safely, effectively and naturally, using nutritional supplements.

Polyphenols, Plant-Based Anticancer Nutrients

Among the largest groups of plant-based nutrients with strong evidence of cancer-fighting potential is the polyphenol family. It includes the nutritional sub-groups tannins and flavonoids,which can slow, reverse or prevent cancer growth. The clinical evidence supporting polyphenols’ cancer-preventive power is considerable—and growing rapidly.These compounds are found in berries, tea, grapes/wine, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, walnuts, and most other fruits and vegetables.

Here are a few of the polyphenol family’s most powerful members:

Curcumin

Recently, curcumin has emerged as a leading cancer fighter. Its nutritional profile includes antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin ranks among the polyphenols capable of disrupting a cancer that has started to develop and slow or stop tumor growth by apoptosis (cell destruction) and angiogenesis which limits blood vessel growth that tumors need to spread. Studies have shown that curcumin suppressed tumor growth in lab cultures better than a known chemo drug and with no toxicity.

Recently, it was discovered that a combination of curcumin and another anti-inflammatory polyphenol called quercetin (see below) could cause precancerous polyps to diminish substantially.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a natural antibacterial agent and is found in many fruits and berries, including grapes, blueberries, and plums. It also appears in high concentrations in red wine. Clinical evidence suggests that resveratrol may specifically target colon cancer althought it is effective in fighting other cancers.
Researchers found that not only does it suppress cell proliferation—resveratrol activates the so-called “cancer-executioner protein” caspase-3. which starts apoptosis (cell destruction), but inflicts no cellular damage to normal human tissue. Resveratrol blocks the reproductive cycle in colon cancer cells by neutralizing the enzymes they need in order to replicate.

This makes resveratrol, along with curcumin, one of the most promising natural anticancer agents known to modern science.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a type of antioxidant called a flavonoid. Sources of quercetin are onions, garlic, tea, red grapes, berries, broccoli, apples and leafy greens. Quercetin also happens to possess a singular cancer-fighting feature: it can prevent cancer caused by chemicals. It blocks receptors that interact with carcinogenic chemical compounds. This makes it a perfect anticancer agent for the colon, where these chemicals tend to accumulate.

Quercetin dramatically suppresses one particular cancer-causing gene in colon cells so it is of great importance for individuals with a family history of colon cancer. As with curcumin and resveratrol, quercetin can block cancer development at many different stages.

Green Tea and EGCG

Green tea is rich in polyphenol compounds called catechins. The best-known cancer-preventive agent among them is called EGCG. Like resveratrol, EGCG slows blood vessel formation in tumors (angiogenesis), reducing the rate at which they can grow and spread. Consumption of green tea as a beverage may offer some protection against colon cancer. However, the higher, more concentrated doses of EGCG available in supplements may be required to get the maximum benefit. EGCG alongside curcumin and resveratrol is one of nature’s most potent polyphenols and a major force in fighting and possibly preventing colon cancer.

In addition, scientists discovered that green tea polyphenols generally deliver a direct preventive effect against colorectal cancer recurrence. In the study that was done, patients who had cancerous or precancerour polyps removed were given either a green tea-derived flavonoid mixture or a placebo. After four years. the placebo group experienced a 47% recurance rate and only 7% of the supplemented group had a recurrence.

The amount of research into plants-based treatments and prevention of many diseases is growing. While they don’t not have all of the answers, it is to our benefit to keep up with this every-growing body of information. We can indeed affect our health and in a very natural way.