It’s a fact of life that certain things are just better together. Peanut butter and jelly. Spaghetti and meatballs. Coffee and donuts. But this fact doesn’t just apply to food… it applies to cancer-fighting phytochemicals too.
In fact, researchers from St. Louis University recently identified two potent cancer-fighting compounds that work better as a team. Their combined cancer-killing powers are so effective that researchers think they could be an alternative treatment for colon cancer — one of the deadliest forms of cancer — down the line.
This dynamic cancer-slaying duo is curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, and silymarin, a compound found in milk thistle.
It makes sense that researchers decided to test these two compounds together, because each compound on its own has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. And why stick to just one cancer-killing compound when you could use two? Needless to say, their inquisitiveness paid off…
When they applied these two compounds to colon cancer cells in a petri dish, they were able to stop cancer cells from multiplying and spreading. Now, this would be a victory in and of itself, but the two compounds also killed existing cancer cells… which means they could have a potential colon cancer cure on their hands.
Animal and human studies are down the road so it will be a while before the medical establishment puts this discovery to use. But if you want to add these preventative powerhouses to your anti-cancer arsenal you can get started immediately…
Curcumin and silymarin supplements are both readily available in stores. Or, if you want to take a more whole food approach (which researchers recommend), just start cooking with more turmeric. You can also buy milk thistle seeds and add them to recipes like you would flax seed. In fact, here’s an immune-boosting breakfast recipe that includes both milk thistle seed and turmeric.
Source:
Montgomery, T. Adeyeni, K. San, R.M. Heuertz, U.R. Ezekiel. “Curcumin Sensitizes Silymarin to Exert Synergistic Anticancer Activity in Colon Cancer Cells.” Journal of Cancer, 2016; 7 (10): 1250.
“Immune Support Breakfast.” Bastyr University. http://www.bastyr.edu. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
