But it’s not just lower levels of testosterone that cause prostate problems for older men. The latest research shows that it’s also rising levels of estrogen. This discovery has led to a new treatment that is safe, effective and cheap. In fact, it’s available in every grocery store.
Dr. Mark Rubin, M.D. is a professor at Harvard Medical School. He is a recognized expert on prostate disease. He has written 170 peer-reviewed papers on the subject. And he has performed studies for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Rubin was also one of the first researchers to discover the link between estrogen and prostate cancer. Together with Dr. Kirsten Mertz of Harvard, he designed a study to find “the genetic fingerprint” of prostate tumors.
Digging into Your Genes
The researchers studied the DNA of over 2,500 men with prostate cancer. They found that high estrogen levels were present in over 50 percent of cases.
But then they went deeper. They developed a new technology for reading gene profiles.
“That led us to perform the largest gene-expression microarray analysis yet conducted in prostate cancer research,” says Dr. Rubin.
They studied over 6,000 different types of genes. And they found something brand new. They discovered that elevated estrogen isn’t just a common factor in prostate cancer. It actually causes one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Estrogen can cause genes to splice together. These “fusion genes” can trigger an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Their findings were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. And they conclude that inhibiting estrogen is a powerful way to fight prostate cancer.
Other doctors have been trying to do just that. And a new clinical study shows that you can lower your estrogen and slow the progression of prostate cancer by adding one simple thing to your diet.
Slow Cancer Growth with Eight Ounces of This Juice
Allan Pantuck, M.D. is slowing prostate cancer by blocking estrogen. And he’s doing it with a simple, all-natural remedy.
Dr. Pantuck is the director of cancer research at UCLA. He has specialized in the subject for over 10 years. The National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Army have honored him for his prostate research. And he’s also written over 150 peer-reviewed journals on the subject.
One of his recent studies followed 50 men for five years. Before enrolling in the study, every man had been treated for prostate cancer. The treatments included surgery or radiation. In all cases, the treatment had failed. The men’s cancers were back. And growing fast.
Each man’s PSA levels were rising quickly. For men with no history of prostate cancer, PSA levels are not an indicator of cancer. But for those who have been diagnosed and treated, PSA levels can be an accurate way to see if the cancer is in remission. When those levels rise quickly, they are a sign that the cancer has returned. That was the case for every man in the study.
Dr. Pantuck gave each man eight ounces of pomegranate juice each day. He provided no other treatment.
Within weeks the juice was stabilizing their PSA levels and slowing their PSA doubling times. Doubling time is critical in prostate cancer. Patients with short doubling times are much more likely to die from the disease.
But the pomegranate juice made a big difference. Dr. Pantuck and his team recorded a four-fold increase in doubling times. Instead of taking 15 months to double… it increased to 54 months for 82 percent of the men in the study.
“That’s a big increase,” says Dr. Pantuck. “We can give [older men] pomegranate juice and they may outlive their risk of dying from cancer. We’re hoping we may be able to prevent the need for other therapies which bring with them harmful side effects.”
The researchers’ results also showed a 12 percent decrease in cancer cell growth and a 17 percent increase in cancer cell death.
“Many substances in the juice may be prompting this response,” says Dr. Pantuck.
One of those compounds is ellagic acid. It may be a clue to the juice’s effectiveness.
The National Cancer Institute recently published a study that shows ellagic acid can inhibit aromatase. This is an enzyme which produces estrogen. The study concludes that foods containing ellagic acid – like pomegranate juice – can block estrogen.
Another study from the University of Quebec in Canada also shows that pomegranates can inhibit estrogen production. In this case, the researchers exposed human prostate cancer cells to punicic acid. That is a compound in pomegranate seeds. Just like ellagic acid, punicic acid also blocks the production of estrogens by inhibiting aromatase.
Not only did the cancer cells shrink, they also decreased in number.
That’s three independent studies that come to the same conclusion: Pomegranates cut estrogen production. And cutting estrogen combats prostate cancer.
“This is not a cure,” says Dr. Pantuck. “But pomegranate juice could be used to delay prostate cancer and the need for additional treatments.”
Dr. Pantuck gave his patients just eight ounces of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice each day. You can find this same juice at your local grocery store. And it contains no added sugars, colorings, or preservatives.
Because the Quebec study shows that pomegranate seeds themselves fight prostate cancer… you can also buy the whole fruit. Again, you can buy fresh pomegranates in the produce section of your local grocery store.
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