Having worked in publishing, reporting from the cutting edge of the clinical science industry, I know as well as anyone that there is a time delay between cancer research discoveries, and their dissemination and communication to clinicians. Then there is a further delay while rigorous testing and double-blind placebo studies are carried out and repeated. Finally, sometimes years later, the information makes it to the people who need it the most – the patients.
But what if there was information out there, right now, that could help people who are suffering from cancer?
NUTRACEUTICALS – FOOD AS MEDICINE
The juice recipe below was created based on scientific research studies into nutraceuticals (food as medicine). The recipe contains some of the most powerful anti-cancer food compounds known to man. This juice should be drunk daily by anyone suffering with cancer, in conjunction with their recommended medical treatments.
INGREDIENTS:
Turmeric – contains curcumin, one of the most promising anti-cancer food compounds available to us. Curcumin interferes with a tumour cells ability to grow and spread around the body, and has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast1,2, liver, mouth and stomach cancers3. Turmeric must always be taken in combination with black pepper, which increases its absorption into the gut by a whopping 2000%4.
Citrus – flavanoids and carotenoids have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition to this, limonoids from lemons have been shown to have a direct cytotoxic effect on tumour cells5.
Celery – contains apigenin, a compound that has been shown to kill up to 83% of lung cancer cells6, as well as having an anti-cancer effect on breast, cervical, colon and thyroid cancer7.
Green Tea – contains epigallocatechin (EGCG) that prevents tumour cells from dividing and also initiates cell suicide (apoptosis)8. Green tea powder should be used as it is much more potent than simply drinking hot water that leaves have been steeping in.
Red cabbage – contains indoles and isothiocyanates that stop tumour cells from growing and forming. They also induce apoptosis (cell suicide), inactivate carcinogens and have anti-inflammatory effects9.
DAILY ANTI-CANCER JUICE
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/8 tsp finely ground black pepper
- 2 oranges (peeled and seeds removed)
- 1 lemon (peeled & seeds removed)
- 2 stalks of celery
- 1/2 tsp Matcha green tea powder
- 1/3 red cabbage
- Juice the oranges, lemon, celery and red cabbage.
- Mix the green tea powder in a tablespoon of boiling water to dissolve, then add to the juice.
- Add the turmeric and black pepper to the juice, mix well then drink.
More information on the anticancer compounds found in foods, and foods that promote cancerous growth, can be found in the book ‘Food to Fight Cancer: What Your Doctors Aren’t Ready to Tell You Yet’, available on Amazon Kindle. More anticancer recipes and articles can be found at www.thegreenappleclub.com
References:
- Kakarala, M, et al. Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine. Breast Cancer Res Treat [Online] 2010; 122(3): 777-85. Available from: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10549-009-0612-x. [Accessed 19th April 2016].
- Li, Y, Wicha, MS, Schwartz, SJ and Suna, D. Implications of Cancer Stem Cell Theory for Cancer Chemoprevention by Natural Dietary Compounds. J Nutr Biochem [Online] 2011; 22(9): 799–806. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3248810/. [Accessed 19th April 2016].
- Aggarwal, B, Yuan, W, Li, S, and Gupta, SC. Curcumin-free turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities: Identification of novel components of turmeric. Mol Nutr Food Res [Online PDF] 2013; 57: 1510–1528. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248706255_Curcumin-free_turmeric_exhibits_anti-inflammatory_and_anticancer_activities_Identification_of_novel_components_of_turmeric. [Accessed 19th April 2016].
- Shoba, G. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med [Online] 1998; 64(4): 353-6. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9619120. [Accessed 19th April 2016].
- Kim, J, Jayaprakasha, GK, and Patil, BS. Limonoids and their anti-proliferative and anti-aromatase properties in human breast cancer cells. Food Funct [Online] 2013; 4(2): 258-65. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23117440/ [Accessed 21st April 2016].
- Pan, X, et al. Effect of apigenin on proliferation and apoptosis of human lung cancer NCI-H460 cells. [Article in Chinese]. J South Med Univ [Online PDF] 2013; 33(8):1137-40. http://www.j-smu.com/pdf2/201308/2013081137.pdf [Accessed 20th April 2016].
- Shukla, S and Gupta, S. Apigenin: A Promising Molecule for Cancer Prevention. Pharm Res [Online] 2010 Jun; 27(6): 962–978. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874462/ [Accessed 20th April 2016].
- Du, GJ, et al. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Is the Most Effective Cancer Chemopreventive Polyphenol in Green Tea. Nutrients [Online] 2012; 4(11): 1679–1691. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509513/ [Accessed 20th April 2016].
- Hayes, JD, Kelleher, MO, and Eggleston, IM. The cancer chemopreventive actions of phytochemicals derived from glucosinolates. Eur J Nutr [Online] 2008; 47 (2):73-88. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18458837 [Accessed 20th April 2016].
About the author:
Sonia Nicholas is a Biomedical Scientist and Freelance Clinical Science Writer. She has two degrees in Biomedical Science and been working in the field of clinical science for over 15 years. Sonia has a specialist interest in the use of food as medicine, particularly in the field of cancer.
