Ways to reduce risk of breast cancer and help your body heal from it

For most women today, a diagnosis of breast cancer is not the end of the world. It is only a temporary distraction – one that can be treated with advanced medical modalities and with fewer side effects than before.

February 19, 2018 Health, Nutrition, Wellness

By Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar

A compound found naturally in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may reduce some of the harmful effects of Type II diabetes in overweight adults. — Photos: TNS

This means that we cannot just think about breast cancer in the context of treatment alone, but within the broader picture of moving on with life and preventing recurrence.

We can do a lot with the food we eat – choosing the right types of natural and wholesome foods, preferably organic, can give us access to the right nutrients, which can work in sync with many other as-yet-undiscovered compounds in food (particularly fruits and vegetables) to maintain optimal health and balance in the body.

However, it is becoming more difficult to put such foods on our table. Due to modern growing and harvesting methods and environmental toxins in the atmosphere, foods today contain less-than-optimal levels of essential fats, vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients.

Even when you do consume these nutrients, your body’s ability to absorb them may be depleted by the battering it has received from the disease and the treatment regimen. Here are a few ways you can help your body heal from breast cancer, and how to avoid the things that harm your body.

Helping Your Body

If your body is unable to absorb nutrients well, you may need supplementation. Supplementing your diet with vitamin D can have protective effects against cancer, as low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of breast cancer, as well as the risk of dying from it.

Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA have numerous antiproliferative effects on breast cancer cells and enhanced protective effects when combined with several chemotherapeutic agents. DHA and EPA are also recommended for breast cancer survivors as they are believed to reduce inflammation and fatigue.

Another omega-3, GLA, can also promote the anti-inflammatory effect by helping to maintain balance in the fatty acids.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, have long been known to have anti-cancer properties. The main active compounds in the vegetables that possess these protective roles are isothiocyanates and DIM (3,3’-Diindolymethane).

DIM inhibits cancer cell growth in oestrogen-receptor positive and negative cells, and also modulates oestrogen metabolism. Melatonin is a hormone that may help to improve survival in some cancers and may enhance the effectiveness of conventional therapy.

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is believed to inhibit many types of tumours while sensitising cancer cells to other therapies like chemotherapy.

There are also several vitamins that can help cancer patients after therapy. These include vitamin E and vitamin K2. The latter, which is the most stable of all forms of vitamin K, is associated with reduced cancer incidence and death.

As Asia is the cradle of traditional therapies, it comes as no surprise that several native herbs and spices also complement cancer treatment. One example is Scutellaria barbata, a herb that grows in South Korea and southern China. An extract of this plant has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and induce cancer cell death in advanced breast cancer.

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is believed to inhibit many types of tumours while sensitising cancer cells to other therapies like chemotherapy. Two components of milk thistle, silymarin and silibinin, have antiproliferative and antimetastatic properties.

Lastly, we look at the powerful role of functional ingredients, namely antioxidants. Catechins, which are found in green tea, have numerous antimetastatic and antiproliferative benefits, while also enhancing other therapies.

Red wine and grapes contain an antioxidant called resveratrol, which has the potential to influence the methylation of genes in women at high risk of breast cancer. Resveratrol may also have beneficial effects for women undergoing radiation therapy, as it is believed to reduce the toxicity of the radiation.

Quercetin can potentially inhibit breast cancer proliferation and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the cancer cells. This antioxidant can also alter the metabolism of oestrogen to less toxic compounds, making it more beneficial for HER2/neu-positive cancer.

Finally, grape seed extract has been shown to inhibit the development of breast cancer cells in response to several common toxins. It may also inhibit the enzyme aromatase, a factor in hormone-sensitive cancers.

You must seek the advice of your doctor or nutritionist before taking any of these or other types of nutritional supplements. If you take the wrong types or in the wrong dose, supplements can interfere with the effects of treatment for cancer and other diseases.

Harming your body

Some components present in our food can increase the risk of breast cancer. One example is DDT, a pesticide ingredient that is also a hormone-disrupting chemical. DDT interferes with the functioning of oestrogen and increases the risk of birth defects, infertility and type 2 diabetes. It can increase the risk of breast cancer by four times.

You may wonder why DDT is still a concern if it was banned almost 20 years ago in Malaysia. Unfortunately, the effects of DDT last for decades after exposure to it.

A large study of 20,000 women and 10,000 of their daughters has found that women exposed to higher levels of DDT while in their mother’s womb were nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, compared to women exposed to lower levels of DDT in the womb.

These findings provide evidence that the harmful effects of DDT are seen across generations. DDT and similar chemicals tamper with the body’s natural oestrogen functioning, also increasing a person’s risk of birth defects, infertility and type 2 diabetes.

DDT can last in the soil for a very long time – it takes two to 15 years for half the DDT in soil to break down. Therefore, food sources can still contain DDT long after the pesticide has been used on the crops.

We can be exposed to DDT from foods like meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, which had been exposed to DDT up to 15 years ago, and from imported foods from countries where DDT is still used. Eating fewer animal products and eating locally-produced food can lower our exposure to DDT.

We must continue to be vigilant against environmental causes of breast cancer that can pose a threat to generations of women. Also stop smoking; live healthily to avoid antibiotics and drugs; reduce animal proteins, dairy, well-cooked meat and high glycaemic carbohydrates; and avoid alcohol and fried foods.

https://www.star2.com/health/2018/02/19/ensure-breast-cancer-doesnt-come-back/

How to Clean Your Food

Grape Seed Extract - ... Might Save Your Kidneys

Mar 04, 2013

Carl Lowe

As you gain weight, your kidneys can be a victim of damage caused by the increase in body fat. But researchers think one type of antioxidant nutrient may help protect them.

According to a laboratory study from Tunisia, grape seed extract may be able to help the body avoid kidney damage linked to a diet high in harmful fats. In this research, large weight gains caused kidneys to be damaged by fat deposits and a low level of copper. But grape seed extract supplements eliminated some of the fat deposits, and the kidneys experienced a moderate recovery of function.

“In our research, obesity-induced leaky kidney and proteinuria are shown to be prevented by GSSE (grape seed extract), which suggests the use of GSSE as a preventive nutriceutical for high-risk patients,” says researcher Kamel Charradi with the Laboratory of Bioactive Substance at the Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC) in Tunisia.

Source :  This Antioxidant Might Save Your Kidneys

Grape Seed Extract Outperforms Chemo ...

Grape Seed Extract Outperforms Chemo in Killing Advanced Cancer Cells

Comments (11)

 

by Susan Patterson

February 15th, 2013 | Updated 02/15/2013 at 1:36 pm
 

Patients with colorectal cancer may benefit from the cancer-growth-inhibiting power of grape seed extract. Researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center report that the more aggressive the cancer cells are, the more effective the grape extract works at targeting and stopping the growth. Grape seed extract is amazing in that it attacks the cancer cells but leaves the healthy cells untouched. This is a departure from conventional cancer treatments that destroy all of the cells in an attempt to stop the spread of cancer.

 

Actually, the power of grape seed extract seems quite remarkable in this research. Molly Derry, a doctoral candidate in the lab of Rajesh Agarwal, PhD, and investigator at the CU Cancer Center and her team saw that while doses of chemotherapy only increase with more severe cancer cases, such as a stage IV instead of stage II, the amount of grape seed extract required actually decreased.
 

Derry explained:

“It required less than half the concentration of GSE to suppress cell growth and kill 50 percent of stage IV cells than it did to achieve similar results in the stage II cells.”

“We’ve known for quite a while that the bioactive compounds in grape seed extract selectively target many types of cancer cells. This study shows that many of the same mutations that allow colorectal cancer cells to metastasize and survive traditional therapies make them especially sensitive to treatment with GSE.”

Amazing Grapes

 

One of many berry types, grapes were introduced to America over 300 years ago. There are over 8,000 grape varieties with the main types being American and European. With only 100 calories per cup, grapes are a great source of vitamins K and C and are loaded with antioxidants.

 

Grape seed extract is made from the seed of the grape and is beneficial for a number of cardiovascular conditions such as poor circulation and high cholesterol. The extract has also been found useful in the treatment of diabetes-related eye disease, loss of vision due to aging, and swelling associated with injury. Currently, GSE is being studied in the treatment of leukemia and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Interestingly, past research also points to berries as a solution for colorectal cancer and many other cancers. In one study, the growth of new tumors in mice fed black raspberry decreased by 45 percent and the total number of tumors went down 60 percent. Other research found that foods rich in flavanols (berries, grapes, apples) also reduces the risk of colon cancer.

 

Advanced Cancer and Grape Seed Extract

 

The bioactive compounds in grape seed extract selectively target many types of cancer cells. With an increase in colorectal cancer, the findings of this study are timely. By the time most people are diagnosed with the disease, it is in the advanced stages. But thankfully, as mentioned, researchers found that it required less grape seed extract to kill advanced cancer cells than it did cells in the early stage. It is thought that the extract kills cancer cells by a process of oxidative stress.

 

Additional Sources:

MedicalNewsToday

Webmd

NBC News

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/grape-seed-extract-outperforms-chemotherapy-colorectal-cancer/#ixzz2LFKbu4v8

Grape Polyphenols Reduce Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

- No Article Date -

With all of the attention surrounding diabetes these days, you’ve probably heard of a condition called metabolic syndrome—a collection of risk factors that are linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, raised fasting glucose levels and a waist circumference measurement of 35 inches or more (think “beer gut”). If you have three of these five risk factors, then you may have metabolic syndrome, which puts you at increased risk of more serious complications.

Insulin resistance is the cornerstone of metabolic syndrome. Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which is necessary for the absorption and utilization of sugar in your diet. However, when you have insulin resistance, your body doesn’t respond as accurately to insulin, which causes the pancreas to produce more insulin.

This is where the merry-go-round starts, because the more insulin you have in the bloodstream, the greater your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Along with insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of metabolic syndrome. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by narrowed blood vessels, inflammation and pro-thrombotic properties. In fact, it is one of the first signs of atherosclerosis and impending cardiovascular disease.

Fortunately, research has shown that certain antioxidants can have a protective effect on the endothelium by stimulating the formation of nitric oxide (NO), a compound critical for healthy cardiovascular function.¹ Produced by the endothelium, NO plays a huge role in the creation of a substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which prevents clotting and promotes healthy dilation of veins and arteries.

When the endothelial lining becomes damaged, NO production suffers, making all the blood vessels susceptible to inflammation, clotting and other negative effects.

While there’s little doubt that antioxidants play an important part in protecting the heart, a team of researchers recently examined the effect of one particular type of antioxidant—grape polyphenols—on the reduction of metabolic syndrome risk factors, especially the cardiovascular ones.²

Grapes contain numerous antioxidant polyphenols—anthocyanins, flavonols and resveratrol, to name a few. Resveratrol, in particular, has been shown to be extremely heart healthy by reducing LDL cholesterol and inflammation.^3-4 As many wine lovers know, red wine is high in resveratrol, and when consumed in moderation (one to two glasses per day), has some impressive heart-protective properties.

Researchers chose to examine grape polyphenols in relation to metabolic syndrome because few studies had been done to evaluate their beneficial effects on this condition and its cardiovascular risk factors.

They followed 25 men (ages 30 to70) who had metabolic syndrome. The men were divided into two groups—those who took grape polyphenol powder (46 g/day), and those who took a placebo powder. After 30 days of consuming their respective powders, participants underwent a three-week washout period, and then were assigned the alternative treatment for another 30 days. During the duration of the study, researchers asked the participants to abstain from consuming other polyphenol-rich foods, including tea, berries, grapes and wine.

The results of the study showed that the grape polyphenols significantly improved vascular endothelial function and NO availability, while also reducing certain risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome.

Specifically, the participants had a lower resting systolic (top number) blood pressure reading after the grape polyphenol period (122+/- 11 mmHg) versus the placebo period (128+/- 10 mmHg). A difference of 6 mmHg may not seem dramatic, but according to researchers, the U.S. National High Blood Pressure Education program estimates that a 5 mmHg reduction of systolic blood pressure could result in a 14 percent overall reduction in mortality from stroke and a nine percent reduction in mortality from cardiovascular disease.

In addition, the inflammatory marker plasma sICAM-1 concentrations were lower after consumption of the grape polyphenols compared with placebo.

Go for the Grape

Because metabolic syndrome has so many different factors, no simple pharmaceutical solutions exist to treat it. The best solution doctors can offer is to adjust certain lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. This, of course, is sound advice.

Everyone should be eating a clean diet and exercising anyway, but those with metabolic syndrome could see dramatic changes in their condition with these two changes alone. However, considering the proven health benefits of grape polyphenols, it’s great news indeed that this nutrient can now be added to your arsenal in the war against metabolic syndrome and its health effects.

A good way to make grape polyphenols a part of your daily regimen—particularly if you have metabolic syndrome or if you are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease—is to simply make red grapes a regular part of your diet. Eat them as is, or add them to salads and smoothies. And, as mentioned earlier, red wine is a good option to boost your polyphenol intake. Just be sure not to overindulge—drink no more than one or two glasses a day.

However, to achieve real therapeutic benefit, you may want to think about taking grape polyphenols in supplement form. Fortunately, polyphenols like resveratrol and grape seed extract are readily available at most health food stores and vitamin retailers.

References:

1. Schini-Kerth VB et al. Pflugers Arch. 2010;459:853-62.
2. Barona J, et al. J Nutr. 2012 Sep;142(9):1626-32.
3. Zern TL and Fernandez ML. J Nutr. 2005 Oct;135(10):2291-4.
4. Xia EQ, et al. In J Mol Sci. 2010 Feb 4;11(2):622-46.

Source: Grape Polyphenols Reduce Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

How to Improve Circulation

- No article date -

Blood is an extraordinarily versatile vehicle for the body’s vital functions. It nourishes all of the cells with oxygen and nutrients while carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes. Its cells help detect pathogens and fight infection. In the event of tissue damage, the blood helps set repair mechanisms in motion.

Because the blood is in charge of so many tasks, anything that interferes with its ability to flow freely through the circulatory system can upset the body’s delicate balance.
Unfortunately, such problems are very prevalent.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, which increases the risk of death from heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, one-sixth of adults have abnormally high levels of cholesterol, which doubles the risk of heart disease and causes the blood vessels to become narrow.

There are several natural approaches that people may take in order to improve circulation. These may include an increase in physical activity and adjustments to one’s diet. While there are several vitamins and minerals that can promote good blood flow, scientists are continuing to study a wide array of natural compounds in order to diversify the supplements that are available to health-conscious consumers.

Tackle Cholesterol and Clotting Factors With Soy

For decades, there has been a growing interest in the health benefits of soy. Given this, it’s no surprise that there is also a good deal of attention surrounding natto, which is a fermented form of this food.

Nattokinase, an extract from soybeans fermented with the bacterium Bacillus subtilis natto, is made up of plasmin, isoflavones, carbohydrates, fat, minerals and vitamin K, according to a study published in Lipid Therapy. Past studies conducted in rodents indicated that nattokinase may have a positive effect on lipid metabolism.

In order to investigate whether the same was true in humans, a team of scientists conducted a study in which 30 individuals, all of whom were diagnosed with high cholesterol, consumed a low cholesterol diet. Meanwhile, they received either nattokinase supplements or placebo twice a day for eight weeks.

Results showed that by the end of the study period, total serum cholesterol levels were lower among subjects who took the nattokinase supplements, compared to those who received placebos.

Another study, published in Nutrition Research, detailed an open-label experiment in which 45 subjects consumed nattokinase capsules every day for two months, while the scientists measured levels of several factors related to clotting in the trial participants’ blood.

Ultimately, the researchers found that nattokinase decreased levels of fibrinogen and other clotting factors, suggesting that the soy extract could help maintain optimum cardiovascular health.

Sowing the Seeds of Good Circulation

Health-conscious consumers may be aware of the potentially beneficial compounds contained within grapes, particularly resveratrol, which has been linked to heart health. However, powerful substances can also be found within the grape seed itself.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), grape seed extract contains vitamin E, flavonoids, linoleic acid and other healthy compounds.

One study published in Clinical Science noted that the polyphenols of grapes, which have been linked to improvements in blood pressure, are often found in the skin and pulp of the fruit. However, more than 70 percent of the polyphenols are actually concentrated within the grape seeds.

Scientists from the University of California, Davis, conducted an experiment with grape seed extract in order to understand the effects that it had on blood pressure. Using rabbits, the researchers demonstrated that grape seed extract set off a specific chain reaction within the cells of the blood vessels that caused them to relax, therefore improving the blood pressure.

There is also early research to suggest that grape seed extract can reduce one’s levels of LDL, or bad, cholesterol, according to the UMMC.

A Brew for Healthy Blood Flow

Tea is the most highly consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. One reason for tea’s enduring popularity during the past two millenia is its potential health effects.

The three main types of beverage that can be brewed from the plant Camellia sinensis are green tea, oolong tea and black tea. The manufacturing process, including drying and fermentation, is what determines the kind of drink produced as the end result, as well as the nutrient content.

Most of tea’s health benefits are tied to the presence of antioxidants. These compounds help neutralize free radicals, which are pollutants that cause damage to the integrity of cells and DNA, potentially leading to cancer and other diseases. Free radicals may come from environmental pollution, ultraviolet radiation, smoking or unhealthy food. Furthermore, the body produces its own free radicals as a byproduct of ordinary metabolism.

The most prominent antioxidants in green tea are catechins, which include epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In the roughly three decades that scientists have been studying healthy compounds in green tea, EGCG has been the centerpiece of research projects on Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cancer and microbial infections, according to a review published in Life Sciences.

When it comes to cardiovascular disease, several studies suggest that the antioxidants in green tea may have positive effects on the tissues that make up the body’s blood vessels, therefore improving blood pressure, scientists from Spain wrote in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Furthermore, green tea has been tied to optimal levels of cholesterol. In order to find out how the beverage exerts this effect, one team of researchers from Australia and the U.K. conducted an experiment using rabbit models of high cholesterol. This study showed that the antioxidants of green tea did not affect the intestine’s ability to absorb cholesterol, but they may have had an impact on the liver’s ability to make the substance, as published in Atherosclerosis.

One potential obstacle to consuming adequate levels of antioxidants from green tea is the beverage’s caffeine content, which may have negative side effects. However, the manufacturing of certain supplements that contain green tea extracts may help minimize this risk.

Amazing Alpha Lipoic Acid

In the interest of understanding the wide range of antioxidants that can benefit the cardiovascular system, a great deal of research has focused on alpha lipoic acid (ALA).

This compound occurs naturally in organ meats, such as hearts, livers and kidneys, according to a review published in the Journal of Nutrition. Smaller amounts of ALA can be found in vegetarian sources like spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, garden peas, Brussels sprouts and rice.

One reason why scientists are so excited about ALA is that this antioxidant helps the body recycle and use other antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, more efficiently. Ultimately, this process can protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation. Therefore, ALA potentially prevents the buildup of harmful deposits on the walls of the arteries, keeping the blood vessels clear for optimal circulation.

Other studies suggest that ALA could help the body produce certain substances that help keep the blood vessels relaxed. Therefore, this antioxidant may improve blood pressure, as published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

Don’t Forget Healthy Lifestyles

When it comes to cholesterol, patients should curb their consumption of foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat, which can elevate levels of LDL. These include dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, products that have been deep-fried and certain meats. Foods that contain trans fats also have the same effect on LDL.

Conversely, you can improve your blood pressure by eating a diet that is low in both sodium and alcohol. It also helps for people to learn positive approaches to managing stress, which is a variable that increases the risk of hypertension.

Physical activity can support efforts to optimize both cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, aerobic exercise every week. For best results, these activities should be spread throughout the week in increments of at least 10 minutes.

Exercise is especially important for adults aged 65 and older because regular physical activity can help keep them mobile and independent. If possible, senior citizens should follow the same guidelines for physical activity that apply to younger adults. A healthcare provider can help you figure out what is safe and effective.

Source: New Supplements For Circulation

Lower Your Blood Pressure ...

How to Lower Your Blood Pressure with Nutrients

By Michael A. Smith, MD

High blood pressure is a silent epidemic that threatens the lives of one in every three American adults. For those who take blood pressure medications, actual control rates vary between less than half to only two-thirds. And the effects are even worse in the elderly.^1,2 That’s not exactly encouraging.

This means that the majority of those diagnosed with hypertension spend most of their day with blood pressure levels that are dangerously elevated. Since increased blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease, it acts as an accomplice in millions of additional deaths each year.³

Nutrients Shown to Lower Blood Pressure

Here’s an overview of the nutrients that can help you naturally manage your blood pressure. We’ve also included related clinical evidence for each nutrient along with basic dosing suggestions.

Are there other nutrients that might be beneficial in helping you manage blood pressure? Sure there are. However, since we’re an evidenced-based company and we always stay true to that, we only listed the nutrients that have human clinical research behind them.

Nutrient	Clinical Evidence	Extract Dosing
Pomegranate	Inhibits the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) which causes blood vessel constriction. Reduced ACE activity by 36% and decreased systolic pressure (the top number) by 5%.4	500 mg/day
Grape seed extract	Dilates blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide production.5Reduced systolic pressure and diastolic pressure compared to placebo an average of 12 points and 7 points in 4 weeks.6	150 to 300 mg/day
Arginine	Dilates blood vessels by producing nitric oxide. By diet or supplementation, arginine reduces systolic pressure by 6 points and reduces diastolic pressure between 5–7 points.7	1 to 2 grams/day
Magnesium	Acts like a natural calcium channel blocker and cofactor for the vasodilator prostaglandin E1.8Significant decreases in both systolic (average 5.6 points) and diastolic blood pressure (average 2.8 points).9	250 to 500 mg/day
Potassium	Reduces blood volume and blood pressure by increasing the excretion of sodium by the kidneys.10Decreases systolic pressure (top number) between 2.4–5.9 mmHg and diastolic (bottom number) 1.6–3.4 mmHg within 2–8 weeks.11	100 mg/day
Hawthorn	Dilates blood vessels by inhibiting the renin system and has mild diuretic activity (diuretics decrease blood volume and blood pressure).12,13Hawthorn demonstrated a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in 92 patients.14	500 mg/day

Other Nutrients with Clinical Proof

A quick listing of additional nutrients to consider:

• Milk Peptides
• Resveratrol
• Quercetin
• Garlic Extract
• Olive Leaf
• Soy Isoflavones

 

Diets that Help Manage Blood Pressure

Remember, supplements are intended to “supplement” a healthy diet. So when attempting to lower your blood pressure with our suggested nutrients, you should also consider following one of the diets below for the best results.

1. DASH Diet

DASH stands for the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. It’s very simple and can lower systolic blood pressure by 11 points.^15,16 Here are the basic components of the diet:

• Less than 2.4 grams of sodium a day.
• Increased potassium-rich foods.
• Increase magnesium-rich foods.
• Increase calcium-rich foods.
• Greater than 15 grams of fiber a day.
• No more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day for men and 1 a day for women.

2. Calorie Restriction Diet

Caloric restriction is the chronic reduction of dietary calories, typically by 30%, but without malnutrition. Restriction in energy intake slows down the body’s growth processes, causing a focus on protective repair mechanisms. The overall effect is an improvement in several measures of health.

Keep a Blood Pressure Diary

Here’s a suggestion for monitoring your own progress: Run your own one-person clinical trial. Start off by keeping a blood pressure diary to pinpoint your average blood pressure reading. Then, choose a nutrient from above and continue to document your results. This is a great way to tell what is actually working and making a difference.

Please let us know how it works out for you!

Want to read even more about this topic? Check out our magazine article on reducing high blood pressure naturally.

References

1. Clin Geriatr Med. 2009 May;25(2):179-89.
2. JAMA. 2005 Jul 27;294(4):466-72.
3. Circulation. 2011 Feb 1;123(4):e18-e209. Epub 2010 Dec 15.
4. Atherosclerosis. 2001 Sep;158(1):195-8.
5. Nitric Oxide. 2009 Sep;21(2):77-91.
6. Metabolism. 2009 Dec;58(12):1743-6.
7. Am J Hypertens. 2000 May;13(5 Pt 1):547-51.
8. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2008 Jul;10(7 Suppl 2):3-11.
9. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13:843-847.
10. Kidney Int. 1993 May;43(5):1097-103.
11. J Hum Hypertens. 2003 Jul;17(7):471-80.
12. Br Med J. 1939 Nov 11;2(4114):951-3.
13. Eur J Heart Fail. 2008 Dec;10(12):1153-7.
14. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2004;30(5-6):221-5.
15. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Feb 11;168(3):308-14.
16. Arch Intern Med. 2010 Jan 25;170(2):126-35.

http://blog.lef.org/2011/11/lower-blood-pressure-nutrients.html

Grape Seed Extract - Natural Compound Kills Cancer ...

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Natural Compound Kills Cancer, Leaves Healthy Cells Unharmed

For thousands of years, people have harvested grapes. Think of the ancient Romans… the Greeks. But not just because they taste great. As Hippocrates – the Father of Medicine – noted, these gem-like fruits have miraculous healing properties.

And modern science has proven him right. Scientists have discovered more than a hundred biologically-active compounds in grapes. And while the flesh might be the sweetest and tastiest part, the skin and seeds have the greatest nutritional value.

In fact, research shows that nutrients extracted from grape seeds can provide powerful protection against many forms of cancer. That includes stomach, breast, colon, lung, skin, and prostate cancer.

Here’s how it works…

Selective cytotoxicity is the most promising area of cancer research. It simply means that a compound can kill cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs fail to meet this standard. But there are natural compounds that can wipe out cancer cells and leave healthy cells to thrive.

Xianglin Shi, PhD from the University of Kentucky is a researcher who looks for compounds like this. “What everyone seeks is an agent that has an effect on cancer cells but leaves normal cells alone,” says Dr. Shi.

And he just may have found it in the seeds of a grape…

According to the journal Clinical Cancer Research, Shi exposed and treated leukemia cancer cells with a commercially available grape seed extract (GSE) in different doses.¹ He found that grape seed extract caused cancer cells to self-destruct. The higher the dose, the more cancer cells died.²

And even better…

GSE killed 76 percent of cancer cells within 24 hours, while leaving the healthy cells completely unharmed.

Dr. Shi says these results might be enough to start using agents such as GSE to prevent and treat cancer.

Another study, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, confirms his findings.³

Rajesh Agarwal, PhD conducted the study on mice with mouth or nasal cavity cancer. The mice received GSE in their feed. And just like in the previous study, cancer cells died. The healthy cells remained unharmed. The mice also showed no toxicity to GSE.

“Cancer cells have a lot of defective pathways,” said Dr. Agarwal. “And they are very vulnerable if you target those pathways.”

That’s just what the GSE did. But how?

Researchers in both studies found that the anti-cancer effect is due to GSE’s activation of a protein in our body called JNK. Once activated, JNK damages the DNA of cancer cells. This causes them to self-destruct. It does not have this effect on healthy cells.⁴

In cancer treatment, cell suicide is important. But keeping healthy cells alive is just as vital.

Chemotherapy doesn’t exclusively target cancer cells. It damages and destroys healthy cells too.

Perhaps even worse, according to a recent study in Nature Medicine⁵ (among others), chemotherapy can actually cause cancer.

These studies on grape seed extract are great news for anyone who wants to treat and prevent cancer.

But it doesn’t mean you should fill your grocery cart with grapes. The grapes that Hippocrates called “medicine” were very different from the grapes you’ll find in the store today. Most commercial grapes – especially the green seedless variety – were bred to be sweet and juicy. They are full of sugar and have little nutritional value.

If you do enjoy grapes, choose smaller varieties with red or purple skin. And always buy organic. Conventional grapes are loaded with pesticides.

But for the greatest nutritional benefit, consider taking a high quality grape seed extract supplement. They usually come in capsule form. And they can be easily found online. Also, while grape seed oil might be good for cooking, it does not contain the anti-cancer compounds found in the extract. So it should not be used as a substitute.

GSE is perfectly safe to consume. And research proves that it kills cancerous cells. It’s a win-win. It might just keep cancer – and chemo – at bay.

References:
¹http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=6557928&page=1#.UCnC8hwdCdw
²http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19118041
³http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22266465
⁴http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20581839
⁵http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nm.2890.html

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/08/natural-compound-kills-cancer-leaves-healthy-cells-unharmed/#Continue

Grape Seed Extract Kills Head and Neck Cancer Cells, Leaves Healthy Cells Unharmed

ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2012) —

Nearly 12,000 people will die of head and neck cancer in the United States this year and worldwide cases will exceed half a million.

A study published this week in the journal Carcinogenesis shows that in both cell lines and mouse models, grape seed extract (GSE) kills head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

"It's a rather dramatic effect," says Rajesh Agarwal, PhD, investigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

It depends in large part, says Agarwal, on a healthy cell's ability to wait out damage.

"Cancer cells are fast-growing cells," Agarwal says. "Not only that, but they are necessarily fast growing. When conditions exist in which they can't grow, they die."

Grape seed extract creates these conditions that are unfavorable to growth. Specifically, the paper shows that grape seed extract both damages cancer cells' DNA (via increased reactive oxygen species) and stops the pathways that allow repair (as seen by decreased levels of the DNA repair molecules Brca1 and Rad51 and DNA repair foci).

"Yet we saw absolutely no toxicity to the mice, themselves," Agarwal says.

Again, the grape seed extract killed the cancer cells but not the healthy cells.

"I think the whole point is that cancer cells have a lot of defective pathways and they are very vulnerable if you target those pathways. The same is not true of healthy cells," Agarwal says.

The Agarwal Lab hopes to move in the direction of clinical trials of grape seed extract, potentially as an addition to second-line therapies that target head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has failed a first treatment.

This work was supported by the R01 grants AT003623 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and CA91883 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Colorado Denver.  

Journal Reference:

1. S. Shrotriya, G. Deep, M. Gu, M. Kaur, A. K. Jain, S. Inturi, R. Agarwal, C. Agarwal. Generation of reactive oxygen species by grape seed extract causes irreparable DNA damage leading to G2/M arrest and apoptosis selectively in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. Carcinogenesis, 2012; DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgs019

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127140939.htm

IP6, Vitamin K2, Grapeseed extract

Superstar Nutrient #1 — Nature’s Powerful Heart Promoter: IP6

As you age, an imbalance can occur between calcium and certain chemicals in your body. That can cause the calcium to bypass your bones and teeth and go where it’s not needed or wanted—such as into your cardiovascular system, kidneys or other soft tissues.

This change in the finely tuned levels of calcium in your organs and soft tissues can ultimately impact your health.

Enter IP6. This amazing extract is derived from rice bran. Its mission in life is to sweep away that excess calcium—promoting the health of your cardiovascular system and supercharging the health of your entire body.

Superstar Nutrient #2 — Amazing Artery Defender: Vitamin K2

If you want a strong, vibrant, healthy heart, there’s one thing you must have: Arteries and blood vessels with optimal elasticity. They need to be able to bend and stretch to allow for easy, smooth blood flow.

The problem is... those unwanted calcium ions in your cardiovascular system can inhibit the production of elastin—the protein responsible for the elasticity of your arterial walls. And that can cause your arteries to lose their flexibility—which can be bad news for your heart health and circulation.

Vitamin K2 helps safeguard the elastic integrity of your arteries, so they can remain soft and flexible for optimal blood flow. But that’s not all...

This wonder vitamin also helps “shuttle” the rogue calcium from your cardiovascular system and soft tissues to your bones—where it belongs.

Superstar Nutrient #3 — Heart Guardian: Grapeseed Extract

As you grow older, your body naturally produces fewer antioxidants to combat the ongoing barrage of free radicals on your health. And that increases your oxidative stress load—especially in your cardiovascular system.

Grapeseed extract is a mother lode of antioxidant power. It contains proanthocyanidins, which have been shown to be 20 times stronger than vitamin C—and a whopping 50 times stronger than vitamin E.

This antioxidant powerhouse helps reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol... balance cholesterol levels... enhance arterial health... and protect your body from free radical damage—all vital for cardiovascular health.

Extract taken from:

http://landing.truehealth.com/products/advanced-artery-solution

Grape seed extract...an anti-cancer powerhouse

Grape seed extract emerges as anti-cancer powerhouse thanks to pro-active supplement users

Monday, October 03, 2011 by: Ethan Evers

(NaturalNews) The therapeutic potential of grape seed extract (GSE) as anti-oxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory is so well established that this natural supplement is now being used in seven on-going clinical trials, only one of which is on cancer (of the breast). But the spotlight may soon shift to GSE's anti-cancer potential as recent landmark studies on human patients have just uncovered remarkable protective effects of GSE against three major cancers: squamous cell carcinoma and prostate and hematologic malignancies. Even more remarkable is that this breakthrough in the science of natural medicine was not due to the foresight of medical practitioners who designed the trials, but to the patients who took GSE, on their volition, as a nutritional supplement to support general health.

74% Risk Reduction of Skin Cancer (SCC)
A recent study, just published in June 2011, was carried out in northern California on 830 participants to test the effects of general supplement use on the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common skin cancer). The supplements in use included vitamins A, C, D, E, multivitamins and GSE. Only the users of GSE experienced a significant reduction in risk (P = 0.031) of squamous cell carcinoma--by an astounding 74%. Multivitamin users experienced 29% reduced risk, but this was only borderline statistically significant.

62% Risk Reduction of Prostate Cancer
A much larger study conducted in Washington State tracked 35,239 male participants starting in the year 2000 in the VITamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort. Participants, aged 50-76 years, answered detailed questionnaires about specialty supplement use for the 10 years prior to the start of the study. Prostate cancer risk was assessed after a median follow-up time of 6.1 years. The results showed GSE to be the stand-alone winner. Men, who used an individual grape seed extract supplement with "high average use" over 10 years, experienced a significant 62% risk reduction of prostate cancer compared to non-users, while average users of GSE supplements experienced a 41% risk reduction. None of the other supplements observed in this study (CoQ10, fish oil, garlic pills, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, glucosamine, chondroitin or saw palmetto) were seen to offer protection against prostate cancer. Note, however, that green tea was not one of the supplements considered. This study was published in May 2011.

43% Risk Reduction of Hematologic Cancers
The same VITAL cohort as used for the prostate cancer study was also used to assess risk of hematologic cancers (involving blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes). The population was expanded to include women, for a total of 66,227 participants. Those who had ever used grape seed supplements saw a 43% risk reduction for hematologic cancers. This was only matched by those with a "high use" of garlic, who saw a 47% reduction of risk. No other supplements offered significant protection. This study was published in August 2011.

In addition to the above cancers, GSE has already demonstrated cytotoxicity to breast cancer, colon cancer, glioblastoma, and NSC lung cancer cells in laboratory studies. But the three study results on human populations given above provide a dramatic leap forward for the science backing GSE as an anti-cancer supplement. It is astounding, then, that none of the studies received much media attention. That will likely require full-blown clinical trials, which will almost certainly be kicked-off as a result of these studies, but will take years to complete. Until then, the latest findings on GSE make a compelling case for its consideration in any program or supplement regimen meant to reduce cancer risk.

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/r...
http://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033754_grape_seed_extract_cancer_prevention.html