Sugar & Cancer

By Erin Dummert RD, CD


If you search the Internet for sugar and cancer, you will find a barrage of warnings that sugar causes cancer. You might also be warned that since your doctor is not a nutritionist, he or she does not know the dangers of eating sugar, and is not providing you with the tools to prevent or fight the disease. For a cancer patient, this is extremely frightening information! Here is the truth about sugar and cancer from a registered dietitian and cancer nutrition specialist.
Sugar and hormones

It is true that sugar feeds cancer. But it is not as simple as some would have you believe. And it is certainly not as simple as curing cancer by cutting out all sugar. Sugar feeds every cell in the body, including cancer cells. The rest of the story is more complex, involving hormones such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor. The body releases these and other hormones that promote cell growth in response to a rise in blood sugar. These growth-promoting hormones are the real problem for people living with cancer.
Good sugars and bad sugars

Why does sugar take the rap when hormones are really the problem? Sugar does cause the body to release growth-promoting hormones, but that is not the whole story. Sugar is very important to life. However, just as there are good fats and bad fats, there are good sugars and bad sugars.

Bad sugars, often referred to as simple sugars, are those in foods that do not offer any other nutritional benefit. Examples of simple sugars include foods like soda, sweets, sugar cereals, juice drinks, and refined grains.

Good sugars, or complex carbohydrates, are present in foods that provide nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Examples of complex carbohydrates include foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
Reduce simple sugar intake

Simple sugars enter the bloodstream quickly and cause a rise in insulin and other growth-promoting hormones. Research shows that high levels of these hormones may increase the growth of cancer cells. The key to reducing these hormones is reducing your intake of simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates do not affect insulin the same as simple sugars, and thousands of research studies have shown that they actually reduce the risk of cancer.
Increase consumption of complex carbohydrates

By substituting complex carbohydrates for simple sugars in your diet, you can reduce your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

To reduce the amount of simple sugars in your diet make the following substitutions:
Instead of…
Try…

Orange juice                                 A whole orange

Strawberry flavored yogurt          Plain yogurt with fresh strawberries

White bread                                 Whole grain bread

White rice                                    Brown rice

Sugar cereal                                 Whole grain cereal

Fruit snacks                                  Fruit leather

Prepared salad dressing                Homemade vinegar and oil dressing

Pretzels                                         Popcorn

सीगरेट पीने से ये आइटम आपको मुफ्त में मीलती है 

Smoking dangers

Despite the fact that we have known for years that smoking is the main cause of cancer, asthma, heart disease and many others, the number of people who die from smoking related illnesses is huge. Although we know about the smoking danger, many people seem to believe that cancer is something which will happen to other people. This is especially true amongst younger people, but the problem is that the younger you start smoking, the less likely you are to give up later. As a result, you could be condemning yourself to a long and protracted terminal illness and you could knock as much as twenty years off your life. We all know that smoking causes lung cancer, but not so many people know that it can also be responsible for cancers of the bladder, kidneys, pancreas and liver, as well as more obvious parts of the body such as the throat and mouth. Smoking not only has a detrimental effect on your health, it also has a negative effect on your looks, especially your face which will develop wrinkles earlier in life than otherwise. Heavy smokers also have horrible stains on their fingers. Although the dangers of smoking are printed on each pack of cigarettes millions it is not enough. Dangers of smoking today must be unknown to none and even small children must know that smoking can kill you. ook at the picture. It is real fact of smoking cigarettes. You should realize smoking dangers and quit smoking just now.  

How to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer?

The development of cancer is usually a relatively slow process which requires a substantial proportion of the lifetime of an individual. Cancer usually occurs from genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors. The bodies of most people will fight off cancer cells before they have a chance to multiply and grow; however, sometimes the body is unable to eliminate toxic cells. The best way to fight off cancer cells before they have a chance to attack the body is to make sure your immune system is healthy.

Although there are no proven ways to prevent cancer, there are steps you can take to decrease your risk.
Eat a variety of foods

No one food provides all the nutrients that a person needs. It is important to eat a wide variety of foods each day such as: fruits and vegetables; whole cereals; lean meats, poultry without skin, and fish; dry peas and beans; and low-fat dairy products. Eat 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily because they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances that lower the risk of cancer.
Minimize sugar and refined carbohydrates

White foods (sugar, white flour) are out; whole grains, fresh veggies and fruits, nuts, seeds, eggs and fish are in. Too much sugar and simple carbs in the diet keeps insulin levels high, which sets up a cascade of events in the body that predisposes a woman's body to breast cancer.
Exercise

Being active is good for your overall health and can lower your risk of cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and uterus. The recommended amount of exercise is 30 minutes a day, five times a week, but anything you can do to get your body moving is good. Try taking the stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus a stop earlier or dancing to your favorite song.
Maintain desirable weight

Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers. Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, stomach and uterus.
Avoid too much fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol

A diet low in total fat may reduce the risk for cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, and rectum. Such a diet will probably be low in saturated fat and cholesterol and may also reduce risk of heart disease. It is recommended to keep your fat intake between 20 and 30 percent of total daily calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
Eat foods with adequate starch and fiber

Most people eat a diet low in starch and fiber. Health experts recommend that we increase the amount of starch and fiber in our diets by eating more fruits, vegetables, potatoes, whole grain breads and cereals, and dry peas and beans. A high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer.
Stop smoking

Lung cancer is responsible for a quarter of cancer deaths and 80% of lung cancer cases are smoking related. Smoking has also been linked to several other types of cancer, including: bladder, cervix, esophagus, kidney, lip, mouth, pancreas, throat and voice box (larynx). Stopping smoking greatly cuts the risk of developing cancer. The earlier you stop, the greater the impact. But it's never too late to quit. Even if you don't smoke, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Being around others who are smoking may increase your risk of lung cancer.
Have alcohol in moderation

Your risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've been drinking regularly. Heavy drinking is associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, kidney and liver. Cancer risk is especially high for heavy drinkers who smoke. Alcoholic drinks are also high in calories and low in vitamins and minerals.
Take care in Sun

Taking care in the sun so that you don't get burned is an important way of preventing skin cancer. About one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the world and most are sun related. Most skin cancer occurs on exposed parts of your body, including your face, hands, forearms and ears. You can lower your risk for skin cancer by limiting the time that you spend in the sun, especially between 10 am and 4 pm - the time sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation peaks.
Manage stress

Chronic, unremitting stress, such as is often experienced by women who juggle the roles of wife, mother and employee, takes a heavy toll on the body, and in particular keeps the hormone cortisol high. When cortisol is chronically elevated, the risk of breast cancer is significantly increased. Find an activity that is relaxing, and take out time for it daily.
Get screened

Regular screening for certain cancers may not prevent cancer, but it can help find cancers early - when treatment is most likely to be successful. There isn't one screening test that works for all types of cancer. Cancer screening currently is recommended for only some cancers. Screening should include your skin, mouth, colon and rectum. If you're a man, it should also include your prostate and testes. If you're a woman, include cervix and breast cancer screening on your list.

Although there is no surefire way to prevent cancer, making healthy choices in your daily life may reduce your risk. If you don't feel capable of following all the anticancer guidelines, at least choose to do the ones you know you have a good shot of sticking to. You can add a few more later, once you've made some progress.

Prevent cancer with turmeric

Spice up your life with turmeric - and health Prevent cancer with turmeric, Teaspoon Of Turmeric A Day Can Keep Cancers At Bay.

 
If you chow down on curry dishes regularly, give yourself a pat on the back (or tummy). You probably gobble the spicy stuff because it's delicious, but here's another good reason to load curry sauce on your veggies: turmeric, the main ingredient in curry, is proving to have numerous health benefits. Ounce for ounce, few spices can compete with the health-promoting effects of turmeric. Commonly used in curry sauces in South Asian cuisine, this golden yellow spice is showing up with increasing frequency in medical journals all over the world as researchers identify the many health attributes of turmeric. 

 
A teaspoon of turmeric a day can keep cancers at bay. The good old grandmother's practice of putting a pinch of turmeric to spice and spruce up curries has now proved to be also protecting the human body.

Turmeric has anti-cancer properties and is known to protect the body from developing cancers. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been able to work miracles in even reversing cancers. Lots of studies in the world have shown that curcumin is a powerful anti-oxidant and can prevent cell damage that leads to cancers. Painting turmeric in the inner cheeks has led to preventing mouth cancers in women who have the habit of reverse smoking.

Dr Merina Benny Anthony, PHD, specialization in Plant Biochemistry, Dept. of Biochemistry University Centre, Kariavattom, who has done a research study on Curcumin extract said “Curcumin has been shown to inhibit the estrogen mimicking pesticide recedues in the food, water, fruits, milk, vegetables etc. Today, there are capsules available in the market that’s 100 percent turmeric extract. One such capsule is available in Kerala market which is known as Biocurcumax. The Curcumin present in Biocurcumax has 6 fold bio-availability compared to normal curcumin. Human body requires 400 mg of curcumin every day for its full benefits which is available from 10 gm turmeric in the diet or 2000 mg of curcumin capsule/tablet. The same 400 mg of curcumin is available from single capsule of Biocurcumax. The intake of just one capsule of biocurcumax is equivalent to 10 gms of raw turmeric the recommended dosage in Ayurveda.” 

Dr Merina Benny Anthony also faulted the change in lifestyle to the growing incidence of cancer worldwide saying, "there has been a sharp increase in cancers all over the world, especially in developing countries like India. The burden of cancer is going to be enormous in the coming decades." 

 
The only way to protect the human body against cancers is the three "N" formula-- nature, nurture and nutrition. Eating natural foods rich in riboflavin, selenium and vitamin a can reduce the incidence of cancers. Micronutrients present in fruits and vegetables too play a major role in checking the incidence.

Here's the lowdown on some of the most promising research to date.

Cancer 

 
Numerous studies have found that curcumin suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells.
* In one recent study on hamsters with chemically induced tumors, subjects receiving topically applied and orally ingested turmeric and/or curcumin developed significantly less tumors than the control group. Researchers concluded that turmeric or curcumin may have a chemopreventive effect on precancerous lesions of the mouth.
* A second study found that daily turmeric intake for 9 months contributed to regression of precancerous lesions in the mouths of humans. Thus, curcumin may be especially beneficial for smokers.
* Curcumin supplementation inhibited carcinogenesis in the stomach and colon, in mice, in another study.
* Other research showed that curcumin inhibited the growth of estrogenpositive, human breast cancer cells. The researchers asserted that including turmeric in the diet might help prevent hormone-related cancers resulting from environmental pesticide exposure. There's more than one theory on how curcumin protects against cancer. It may encourage apoptosis of cancer cells - in other words, getting the nasty cells to kill themselves off. Curcumin's powerful antioxidant ability is also attributed with the compound's anti-tumor activity. This makes sense, considering that antioxidants scavenge harmful free radicals that can lead to cancer-cell proliferation.If you would like to add turmeric to your diet via curry powders and sauces, be sure that turmeric appears on the list of ingredients. Many curry powders, sauces, and recipes use cumin, which is not to be confused with curcumin or turmeric. The health-promoting effects listed in this article are attributable to curcumin found in the spice turmeric.

20 Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:

1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.

5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.

6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.

7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.

11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.

13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.

16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.

17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.

18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

Science proves that garlic kills cancer cells

Here's the real story about this: people have been using chopped up garlic for hundreds of years to defeat surface tumors. Make a poultice of garlic and castor oil, paste it onto virtually any skin tumor, and the tumor will shrivel and die (or fall off) in a matter of days. 

It's hardly news to naturopaths (but still shocking to Western doctors). But the real news here is that the active ingredient in garlic is being used intravenously. Researchers are binding allicin to an antibody that binds with tumor cells, thus delivering the cancer-busting allicin payload directly to the tumor. It is seemingly the perfect blend of herbs and Western medicine: a natural substance delivered to tumor cells via a Western-developed targeting system. In reality, though, you don't need the targeting at all: just eat (or drink) raw garlic.

Blend up some raw broccoli, garlic juice, onions and ginger. If you can stand the taste, it's one of the most potent anti-cancer concoctions anywhere -- and the ingredients are available at your local grocery store. If you want even more cancer-busting power, take a few drops of graviola tincture every hour. Recommended reading: Eat To Beat Cancer.

Benefits of Garlic in Cancer

Health benefits of garlic are often reported. The most commonly known benefits of garlic are its potential role in heart disease and cancer. Benefits of Garlic: Cancer Prevention

Indeed, the first scientific report to study garlic and cancer was performed in the 1950s. Scientists injected allicin, an active ingredient from garlic, into mice suffering from cancer. Mice receiving the injection survived more than 6 months whereas those which did not receive the injection only survived 2 months.

Many studies showed that the organic ingredient of garlic, allyl sulfur, another active ingredient in garlic, are effective in inhibiting or preventing cancer development. Many observational studies in human being also investigated the association of using garlic and allyl sulfur and cancer. Out of the 37 studies, 28 studies showed evidence that garlic can prevent cancer. The evidence is particularly strong in prevention of prostate and stomach cancers. This particular study looking at the risk of stomach cancer was especially interesting. This study was conducted in China. Researchers found that smokers with high garlic intake have a relatively lower stomach cancer risk than smokers with low garlic intake.

A large-scale epidemiological Iowa Women's Health Study looked at the garlic consumption in 41,000 middle-aged women. Results showed that women who regularly consumed garlic had 35% lower risk of developing colon cancer.

It is thought that the allyl sulfur compounds in garlic prevent cancer by slowing or preventing the growth of the cancer tumor cells.
Garlic 

Key Message: 

In order to maximize the health benefits of garlic, it is suggested to wait 15 minutes between peeling and cooking garlic to allow the enzymatic reaction to occur to retain some health benefits of garlic. If you use garlic supplements, use the enteric coated tablets so that the healthy ingredients can survive the stomach and be absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestines Please be cautious if you are taking garlic supplements and blood thinners such as aspirin and warfarin at the same time. Garlic supplements will further thin your blood. In addition, it is suggested to discontinue garlic supplementation at least 7 days prior to surgery.

Garlic and Cancer Prevention: Questions and Answers

Key Points 

Preliminary studies suggest that garlic consumption may reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer, especially cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (see Questions 3 and 4). Most of the studies evaluated different types of garlic preparations and used them in varying amounts (see Question 5).
If garlic consumption does reduce the risk of developing cancer, the amount needed to lower risk remains unknown (see Question 7).
Although usual garlic consumption rarely causes problems, higher intakes can cause side effects, including gastrointestinal distress (see Question 8).

The information included in this fact sheet is not to be used as the basis for a health claim.

What is garlic?

Garlic is a vegetable (Allium sativum) that belongs to the Allium class of bulb-shaped plants, which also includes onions, chives, leeks, and scallions. Garlic is used for flavoring in cooking and is unique because of its high sulfur content. In addition to sulfur, garlic also contains arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and selenium, all of which may be beneficial to health 

The characteristic odor and flavor of garlic comes from sulfur compounds formed from allicin, the major precursor of garlic’s bioactive compounds, which are formed when garlic bulbs are chopped, crushed, or damaged. Bioactive compounds are defined as substances in foods or dietary supplements, other than those needed to meet basic nutritional needs, that are responsible for changes in health status.

What are the types of garlic preparations?

Garlic supplements can be classified into four groups: Garlic essential oil, garlic oil macerate, garlic powder, and garlic extract.
Garlic essential oil is obtained by passing steam through garlic. Commercially available garlic oil capsules generally contain vegetable oil, but only have a small amount of garlic essential oil because of its strong odor.

Garlic oil macerate products are made from encapsulated mixtures of whole garlic cloves ground into vegetable oil.

Garlic powder is produced by slicing or crushing garlic cloves, then drying and grinding them into powder. Garlic powder is used as a flavoring agent for condiments and food and is thought to retain the same ingredients as raw garlic.

Garlic extract is made from whole or sliced garlic cloves that are soaked in an alcohol solution (an extracting solution) for varying amounts of time. Powdered forms of the extract also are available.

Do findings from population studies offer evidence that garlic may prevent cancer?

Several population studies show an association between increased intake of garlic and reduced risk of certain cancers, including cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast. Population studies are multidisciplinary studies of population groups that investigate the cause, incidence, or spread of a disease or examine the effect of health-related interventions, dietary and nutritional intakes, or environmental exposures. An analysis of data from seven population studies showed that the higher the amount of raw and cooked garlic consumed, the lower the risk of stomach and colorectal cancer.

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is an ongoing multinational study involving men and women from 10 different countries. This study is investigating the effects of nutrition on cancer. In the study, higher intakes of onion and garlic were associated with a reduced risk of intestinal cancer.

The Iowa Women’s Study is a large prospective study investigating whether diet, distribution of body fat, and other risk factors are related to cancer incidence in older women. Findings from the study showed a strong association between garlic consumption and colon cancer risk. Women who consumed the highest amounts of garlic had a 50 percent lower risk of cancer of the distal colon compared with women who had the lowest level of garlic consumption.

Several population studies conducted in China centered on garlic consumption and cancer risk. In one study, investigators found that frequent consumption of garlic and various types of onions and chives was associated with reduced risk of esophageal and stomach cancers, with greater risk reductions seen for higher levels of consumption. Similarly, in another study, the consumption of allium vegetables, especially garlic and onions, was linked to a reduced risk of stomach cancer. In a third study, greater intake of allium vegetables (more than 10 g per day vs. less than 2.2 g per day), particularly garlic and scallions, was associated with an approximately 50 percent reduction in prostate cancer risk.

Evidence also suggests that increased garlic consumption may reduce pancreatic cancer risk. A study conducted in the San Francisco Bay area found that pancreatic cancer risk was 54 percent lower in people who ate larger amounts of garlic compared with those who ate lower amounts.

In addition, a study in France found that increased garlic consumption was associated with a statistically significant reduction in breast cancer risk. After considering total calorie intake and other established risk factors, breast cancer risk was reduced in those consuming greater amounts of fiber, garlic, and onions.

Do findings from clinical trials offer evidence that garlic may prevent cancer?

Few clinical trials (research studies with people) have been done to examine the potential anticancer effects of garlic.

Three randomized clinical trials have evaluated the effect of garlic intake on gastric cancer risk. In one study, which involved over 5,000 Chinese men and women at high risk for stomach cancer, researchers compared the effects of taking a combination of 200 mg synthetic allitridum (an extract of garlic used as a medicine in China for over 3,000 years) daily and 100 micrograms selenium every other day with taking a placebo (an inactive substance or treatment that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, an active drug or treatment being tested) for 5 years. In the group that received allitridum and selenium, the risk for all tumors combined was reduced by 33 percent and the risk for stomach cancer was reduced by 52 percent in comparison with the group that received only the placebo.

In contrast, findings from another randomized trial involving individuals with precancerous stomach lesions found that garlic supplementation (800 mg garlic extract plus 4 mg steam-distilled garlic oil daily) did not improve the prevalence (number of existing cases) of precancerous gastric lesions or reduce the incidence (number of new cases) of gastric cancer.

A third randomized study in Japan compared the effects of daily high-dose (2.4 mL) and low-dose (0.16 mL) intake of aged-garlic extract after 6 and 12 months of use on individuals with colorectal adenomas (noncancerous tumors). At the end of 12 months, 67 percent of the low-intake group developed new adenomas compared with 47 percent in the high-intake group.

The results of a small, nonrandomized study indicate that the application of garlic extracts to some skin tumors may be beneficial. In the study, which involved 21 persons with basal cell carcinoma, the application of ajoene (a sulfurous chemical found in garlic) to the skin for 1 month markedly decreased the size of 17 tumors, increased tumor size in 3 patients, and resulted in no change in 1 other patient (16). Changes in tumor size ranged from an 88 percent reduction to a 69 percent increase, with an overall median reduction of 47 percent.

What are the current issues and controversies surrounding the use of garlic in cancer prevention?

Study limitations, including the accuracy of reporting the amounts and frequency of garlic consumed, and the inability to compare data from studies that used different garlic products and amounts make an overall conclusion about garlic and cancer prevention extremely difficult. Since many of the studies looking at garlic use and cancer prevention have used multi-ingredient products, it is unclear whether garlic alone or in combination with other nutritional components may have the greatest effect.

Well-designed dietary studies in humans using predetermined amounts of garlic (intervention studies) are needed to determine potentially effective intakes. Studies directly comparing various garlic preparations are also needed.

How might garlic act to prevent cancer?

Protective effects from garlic may arise from its antibacterial properties or from its ability to block the formation of cancer-causing substances, halt the activation of cancer-causing substances, enhance DNA repair , reduce cell proliferation, or induce cell death.

How much garlic may be useful for cancer prevention?

The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, does not recommend any dietary supplement for the prevention of cancer, but recognizes garlic as one of several vegetables with potential anticancer properties. Because all garlic preparations are not the same, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of garlic that may be needed to reduce cancer risk. Furthermore, the active compounds present in garlic may lose their effectiveness with time, handling, and processing. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for general health promotion for adults is a daily dose of 2 to 5 g of fresh garlic (approximately one clove), 0.4 to 1.2 g of dried garlic powder, 2 to 5 mg of garlic oil, 300 to 1,000 mg of garlic extract, or other formulations that are equal to 2 to 5 mg of allicin.

What are the safety considerations?

Although garlic has been used safely in cooking, excessive consumption can cause some side effects, in addition to strong breath and body odors (4, 21). Garlic occasionally causes allergies that can range from mild irritation to potentially life-threatening problems. Ingestion of fresh garlic bulbs, extracts, or oil on an empty stomach may occasionally cause heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some animal and human studies suggest that garlic can lower blood sugar levels and increase insulin.

Garlic has been shown to interfere with several prescription drugs, especially the HIV medication saquinavir (brand names Invirase® and Fortovase®). Garlic can lower the serum levels of saquinavir by as much as 50 percent. Garlic also acts as a natural blood thinner and, thus, should be avoided by pregnant women, people about to undergo surgery, and people taking blood thinners, such as warfarin (brand name Coumadin®).

Garlic bulbs are sometimes contaminated with the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. C. botulinum can grow and produce botulinum toxin in garlic-in-oil products that are not refrigerated and do not contain antibacterial agents.

In addition, chemical burns, contact dermatitis, and bronchial asthma can occur when garlic is applied to the skin. Garlic should also be avoided by people who are prone to stomach conditions, such as ulcers, as it can exacerbate the condition or cause new ones.

Household cleaners may double breast cancer risk

Agency: ANI


Women who overuse cleaning products could be twice as likely to get breast cancer, according to a new US study.

Breast cancer researchers for the American Silent Spring Institute quizzed more than 1,500 women and found that housewives who battled to keep their bathroom, windows and homes smelling fresh, have higher risk of breast cancer.

"Women who reported the highest combined cleaning product use had a doubled risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest reported use," the Sun quoted institute's Julia Brody as saying.

"Use of air fresheners and products for mould and mildew control were associated with increased risk.

"To our knowledge this is the first published report on cleaning product use and risk of breast cancer," Brody added.

Insect repellents also boosted the chance of getting the disease - although there appeared to be little linking it to pesticides.

Cancer Symptoms in Humen Body

Since prevention is one of the most important cancer-fighting tools, it is important that cancer be detected as early as possible before it spreads.
Telltale Signs of Cancer include: A lump or thickening in the breast or testicles; a change in a wart or mole; a skin sore or a persistent sore throat that doesn't heal; a change in bowel or bladder habits; a persistent cough or coughing blood; constant indigestion or trouble swallowing; unusual bleeding or vaginal discharge; and chronic fatigue.
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see a physician for testing.

The following are symptoms that may occur in specific types of cancers:
Bladder cancer: Blood in the urine, pain or burning upon urination; frequent urination; or cloudy urine
Bone cancer: Pain in the bone or swelling around the affected site; fractures in bones; weakness, fatigue; weight loss; repeated infections; nausea, vomiting, constipation, problems with urination; weakness or numbness in the legs; bumps and bruises that persist
Brain cancer: Dizziness; drowsiness; abnormal eye movements or changes in vision; weakness, loss of feeling in arms or legs or difficulties in walking; fits or convulsions; changes in personality, memory or speech; headaches that tend to be worse in the morning and ease during the day, that may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting
Breast cancer: A lump or thickening of the breast; discharge from the nipple; change in the skin of the breast; a feeling of heat; or enlarged lymph nodes under the arm
Colorectal cancer: Rectal bleeding (red blood in stools or black stools); abdominal cramps; constipation alternating with diarrhea; weight loss; loss of appetite; weakness; pallid complexion
Kidney cancer: Blood in urine; dull ache or pain in the back or side; lump in kidney area, sometimes accompanied by high blood pressure or abnormality in red blood cell count
Leukemia: Weakness, paleness; fever and flu-like symptoms; bruising and prolonged bleeding; enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, liver; pain in bones and joints; frequent infections; weight loss; night sweats
Lung cancer: Wheezing, persistent cough for months; blood-streaked sputum; persistent ache in chest; congestion in lungs; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
Melanoma: Change in mole or other bump on the skin, including bleeding or change in size, shape, color, or texture
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin; persistent fever; feeling of fatigue; unexplained weight loss; itchy skin and rashes; small lumps in skin; bone pain; swelling in the abdomen; liver or spleen enlargement
Oral cancer: A lump in the mouth, ulceration of the lip, tongue or inside of the mouth that does not heal within a couple of weeks; dentures that no longer fit well; oral pain, bleeding, foul breath, loose teeth, and changes in speech
Ovarian cancer: Abdominal swelling; in rare cases, abnormal vaginal bleeding; digestive discomfort
Pancreatic cancer: Upper abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss; pain near the center of the back; intolerance of fatty foods; yellowing of the skin; abdominal masses; enlargement of liver and spleen
Prostate cancer: Urination difficulties due to blockage of the urethra; bladder retains urine, creating frequent feelings of urgency to urinate, especially at night; bladder not emptying completely; burning or painful urination; bloody urine; tenderness over the bladder; and dull ache in the pelvis or back
Stomach cancer: Indigestion or heartburn; discomfort or pain in the abdomen; nausea and vomiting; diarrhea or constipation; bloating after meals; loss of appetite; weakness and fatigue; bleeding - vomiting blood or blood in the stool
Uterine cancer: Abnormal vaginal bleeding, a watery bloody discharge in postmenopausal women; a painful urination; pain during intercourse; pain in pelvic area

How dietary supplement could block cancer cells

Scientists have found how a substance, which is produced when eating broccoli and Brussels sprouts, can block the proliferation of cancer cells.

Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) have found compelling evidence indicating that the substance, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), may have anticancer effects and other health benefits.

These findings show how I3C affects cancer cells and normal cells.

The laboratory and animal study discovered a connection between I3C and a molecule called Cdc25A, which is essential for cell division and proliferation.

The research showed that I3C causes the destruction of that molecule and thereby blocks the growth of breast cancer cells.

"Cdc25A is present at abnormally high levels in about half of breast cancer cases, and it is associated with a poor prognosis," said study leader Xianghong Zou, assistant professor of pathology at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

The molecule also occurs at abnormally high levels in cancers of the breast, prostate, liver, oesophagus, endometrium and colon, and in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and in other diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, he said.

"For this reason, a number of anti-Cdc25 agents have been identified, but they have not been successful for cancer prevention or treatment due to concerns about their safety or efficacy," said Zou.

"I3C can have striking effects on cancer cells," he explains, "and a better understanding of this mechanism may lead to the use of this dietary supplement as an effective and safe strategy for treating a variety of cancers and other human diseases associated with the overexpression of Cdc25A," he added.

For the study, the researchers exposed three breast cancer cell lines to I3C. These experiments revealed that the substance caused the destruction of Cdc25A.

They also pinpointed a specific location on that molecule that made it susceptible to I3C, showing that if that location is altered (because of a gene mutation), I3C no longer causes the molecule's destruction.

In the end, the investigators tested the effectiveness of I3C in breast tumors in a mouse model.

When the substance was given orally to the mice, it reduced tumour size by up to 65 percent.

They also showed that I3C had no affect on breast-cell tumours in which the Cdc25A molecule had a mutation in that key location.

The study was published online in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. (ANI)

Cap on cancer quota on trains

New Delhi, July 29 (PTI): The government today said it has put a cap on the number of berths allotted to cancer patients under an emergency quota to accommodate VIPs after receiving reports that the quota was being used by the patients.

“The limit was imposed after receiving references from zonal railways where they were unable to accommodate VIPs on self travel as the entire quota was being utilised by cancer patients,” minister of state for railways K.H. Muniyappa told the Lok Sabha.

In a written reply, he said such instances came especially during the rush season leaving railways with no emergency quota.

Railways provide 100 per cent concession to cancer patients in sleeper and 3-AC classes. In 2-AC and 1-AC they enjoy 50 per cent concession. A similar concession is also extended to people accompanying them.

Muniyappa said instances of cancer patients utilising all quota have been reported mostly in trains bound for Mumbai.

On April 17 and May 6, the minister said, all the 10 emergency berths in 3-AC in the Lokmanya Tilak-Chhaptra Godaan Express were utilised by cancer patients while all the 24 emergency berths in the Howrah-bound Gitanjali express were reserved on April 9, 22, 23, 24, 28.

Incidents of quotas being entirely booked by cancer patients have also been reported in trains linking Mumbai to Guwahati and Hatia.

The minister said a separate quota for cancer patients was also available in some trains.

How asbestos causes cancer

Published: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010, 15:34 IST
Place: Washington, DC | Agency: ANI


Washington, DC: For the past 40 years, researchers were trying to understand why asbestos causes cancer and now the mystery has been unravelled.


Researchers led by Dr Haining Yang and Michele Carbone at the University of Hawai'i Cancer Research Center, found that when asbestos kills cells, it does so by inducing a process called "programmed cell necrosis" that leads to the release of a molecule called high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1).


HMGB1 starts a particular type of inflammatory reaction that causes the release of mutagens and factors that promote tumour growth.


The researchers also found that patients exposed to asbestos have elevated levels of HMGB1 in their serum.


Thus, they stated that it might be possible to target HMGB1 to prevent or treat mesothelioma and identify asbestos-exposed cohorts by simple HMGB1 serological testing.


In the study, the researchers proposed that by interfering with the inflammatory reaction caused by asbestos and HMGB1, it may be possible to decrease cancer incidence among cohorts exposed to asbestos and decrease the rate of tumour growth among those already affected by mesothelioma.


This research emphasizes the role of inflammation in causing different types of cancers and provides novel clinical tools to identify exposed individuals and prevent or decrease tumour growth.


The researchers question if it will be possible to prevent mesothelioma, like colon cancer, simply by taking aspirin or similar drugs that stop inflammation. They are about to test this hypothesis.


The study is published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA.

Vit C can help block growth of cancer cells, shows research New Zealand researchers have established that vitamin C can help to block the growth of cancer cells.

A team from Otago University at Christchurch, in a paper published in leading international journal Cancer Research, have shown that vitamin C has a role in controlling tumour growth. They say their study of tumorous and normal tissue samples from women with cancer of the uterine lining provides the first direct evidence of a link between vitamin C and a protein called HIF-1.

HIF (hypoxia inducible factor)-1 is considered a key protein in tumour survival. High activity of it promotes tumour growth and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is linked with a poor prognosis for patients.

The Christchurch study, led by Associate Professor Margreet Vissers, of the university’s Free Radical Research Group, found that high-grade tumours had around 40 per cent less vitamin C than matched, adjacent, normal tissue.

The researchers say their study suggests that restoring the vitamin C levels in tumours would limit factors that promote tumour growth. 

Smptoms of Cancer

Many types of cancer do not exhibit conspicuous symptoms or cause pain until well advanced. Since early-stage cancer symptoms tend to be subtle, they are often disregarded for something less serious. Sometimes, cancer can be found before the disease causes symptoms. Checking for cancer (or for conditions that may lead to cancer) in a person who does not have any symptoms of the disease is called screening. In routine physical exams, the doctor looks for anything unusual and feels for any lumps or growths. Specific screening tests, such as lab tests, x-rays, or other procedures, are used routinely for only a few types of cancer, like those of the breast, cervix, colon and rectum.

Cancer can cause a variety of symptoms:

• Thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Obvious change in a wart or mole
• A sore that does not heal
• Nagging cough or hoarseness
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Unexplained changes in weight
• Unusual bleeding or discharge

When these or other symptoms occur, they are not always caused by cancer. Infections, benign tumors, or other problems may also cause them. It is important to see the doctor about any of these symptoms or about other physical changes. Some symptoms are specific to certain types of cancer, such as difficult urination for prostrate cancer, or flu-like symptoms for acute leukemias. Diagnostic tests are available for most common cancers. If diagnosed early, chances of surviving cancer are greatly increased. One should not wait to feel pain: Early cancer usually does not cause pain.
Diagnosis
If symptoms are present, the doctor asks about the person`s medical history and performs a physical exam. In addition to checking general signs of health, the doctor may order various tests and exams. No matter who makes the diagnosis, a second opinion by a cancer expert is strongly recommended. These may include laboratory tests and imaging procedures. A biopsy is usually necessary to determine whether cancer is present. Accurate identification of cancer allows oncologists to choose the most effective treatment. The most common diagnostic methods include: 

Biopsy
A small tissue sample is surgically removed and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. If cancer is present, the entire tumor may be removed immediately or during another operation. Endoscopy
A flexible plastic tube with a tiny camera on the end is inserted into body cavities and designed to view the suspicious area. 

Laboratory Tests
Blood and urine tests give important information about a person`s health. In some cases, special tests are used to measure the amount of certain substances, called tumor markers, in the blood, urine, or certain tissues. Tumor marker levels may be abnormal if certain types of cancer are present. However, lab tests alone cannot be used to diagnose cancer. 

Diagnostic Imaging
Several techniques are used to produce an internal picture of the body. Types of imaging methods include: X-rays, CAT scan (computerized axial tomography), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound.

Staging
When cancer is diagnosed, the doctor will want to learn the stage or extent of the disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Treatment decisions depend on the results of staging. The doctor may order more laboratory tests and imaging studies or additional biopsies to find out whether the cancer has spread. An operation called a laparotomy can help the doctor find out whether cancer has spread within the abdomen. During this operation, a surgeon makes an incision into the abdomen and removes samples of tissue.