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Promoting cellular health may be the key to cancer prevention. Here's how.
A cancer diagnosis is just about the scariest news anyone can receive. It can also be very confusing. The sheer volume of information is overwhelming and challenging. With that in mind, we've tried to simplify the most critical component for cancer prevention and treatment-cellular health. Put simply, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of a group cells turned bad. It begins within the DNA, affecting genes that regulate when a cell can divide and duplicate itself.
Cellular division is a complex process that involves turning on and off hundreds of genes. The "regulators" of the process play a critical role in controlling and limiting division. Without these regulators, cellular growth proceeds unchecked. Unfortunately, the cell division regulators are prone to damage from oxidative stress, toxins, and inflammation.
When these genetic regulators become damaged or disabled, the DNA is not protected, the cell becomes unhealthy, and cancer is the result. So prevention begins and ends with the health of the cell itself.
How do we keep healthy cells from turning bad? It starts with my least favorite vegetable to eat-broccoli.
Laboratory experiments offer evidence that cruciferous vegetables-such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale-help preserve the integrity of DNA. As a vital cell component, DNA is highly vulnerable to damage as mentioned above, which can contribute to the initiation of cancer and determine the overall health of the cell.
Extracts of broccoli, watercress, and rosemary, for example, provide bioactive compounds, including glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, carnosic acid, and carnosol, that have a multitude of favorable effects on DNA and healthy cell division.
If, like me, you detest broccoli, cabbageis another option. It provides a natural source of benzyl isothiocyanate., a compound known to maintain cellular health, likely through DNA protection mechanisms.
But here's the million-dollar question:
How much cabbage, broccoli, and watercress do we have to eat to obtain the benefits of healthy DNA and healthy cells? A lot! We're talking several servings every day.
This is why supplements are so important. A high-quality cruciferous vegetable supplement can provide optimal levels of the bioactive compounds necessary to affect your DNA. For most of us, food alone just can't do it.
Cruciferous vegetables-such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale-help preserve the integrity of DNA.
Curcumin's benefits are so diverse that they affect virtually every system in the body. It's no accident that the National Institutes of Health has funded numerous studies investigating curcumin as a treatment for diseases from cystic fibrosis to autoimmune diseases to various cancers. Even pharmaceutical companies are jumping on the bandwagon, working to derive patentable molecules based on curcumin, which they hope to market as anticancer treatments.
Scientists usually go out of their way to avoid hyperbole when describing the subjects of their research, but curcumin's amazing properties can tempt even the most staid researchers to throw caution to the wind.
"Curcumin... has emerged as one of the most powerful chemopreventive and anticancer agents," wrote Indian researchers last year. "Its biological effects range from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory to inhibition of angiogenesis, and it is also shown to possess specific anti-tumor activity."
A thorough review of curcumin's anti-cancer effects shows that this golden spice impacts several different cancers, including:
So how does curcumin support cellular health, and effectively prevent cancer? While the exact mechanism of action has not been determined, it has to do with curcumin's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Curcumin promotes your body's healthy response to inflammation by inhibiting key inflammatory factors such as NF-kappaB, a protein molecule that acts like an "on switch" in genes that govern the body's pro-inflammatory responses. Curcumin has been shown to exert powerful inhibitory effects on NF-kappaB activation.
Curcumin also inhibits the metabolism of the primary protein involved in inflammation, called arachidonic acid. A majority of the inflammatory response starts with this protein, and curcumin prevents it from starting the inflammatory cascade.
And that's just the beginning. Ultimately, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant. Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that attack healthy cells, causing considerable damage. They come from pollution, industrial chemicals, and even your own body. Free radicals are the reason we need antioxidants-and curcumin is one of the best.
Because free-radical-mediated damage of cell membranes, DNA, and proteins is believed to be associated with a variety of diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases, curcumin is thought to play a vital role against these pathological conditions.
Resembling a large pinecone, maitake mushrooms sprout in clusters at the base of oak and other trees. Long prized for its healing properties in Chinese and Japanese medicine, this fungus-which means "dancing mushroom" in Japanese-is native to northeastern Japan, as well as North America. Maitake's rich flavor and delicate texture make it a favorite dish in Japanese cuisine.
Culinary delights aside, maitake garners a lot of attention for its ability to strengthen immune function and reduce cancer risk. And deservedly so: the mushroom's bioactive extract, Maitake D-Fraction, contains a unique type of beta-glucan that supports the body's immune system in a variety of ways. Two studies show that Maitake D-Fraction activates numerous genes that promote apoptosis (cell death) in breast cancer cells. Other research supports the mushroom's use for high cholesterol, hypertension, and high blood sugar.
Maitake can be taken year-round to support immune and overall health in capsule or liquid form. Follow label directions for best results.
-Nicole Brechka
AMPK is an enzyme that serves as the body's master regulating switch. It inhibits multiple damaging stressors by promoting cell defenses and preservation tactics-keeping them healthier.
Increasing AMPK activation "turns off" many damaging effects of cellular aging, thus enabling cells to return to their youthful vitality.
Studies show that increased AMPK activity supports reduced fat storage, new mitochondria production, and the promotion of healthy blood glucose and lipids-all of which are critical to keeping cells healthy and cancer free.
So how can you "activate" AMPK? By supplementing with two plant extracts-Gynostemma pentaphyllum and rose hips. An extract of the plant Gynostemma pentaphyllum was traditionally used in Asian medicine to promote longevity, andscientists now know why-G. pentaphyllum promotes AMPK activation.
The second natural compound found to increase AMPK activity is trans-tiliroside, extracted from plants such as rose hips. Trans-tiliroside also boosts AMPK activity, but it triggers different downstream metabolic benefits than G. pentaphyllum.
Combining these two bioactive plant extracts provides broad-spectrum AMPK activation. By doing so, your cells can better manage energy and metabolism, and enhance cellular "house cleaning" efforts.
Keeping your cells healthy and functioning optimally requires a little work. For starters, drink plenty of water, limit your intake of sugar, and eat less. These three actions together help to keep cells healthy. But there's much more you can do.
For starters, increase your intake of deep, colorful fruits and vegetables, including broccoli. Throw in some kale, cauliflower, and watercress. Mix it all up with seeds and nuts and some good unsaturated fats.
For supplements, add cruciferous vegetable and curcumin extracts, along with AMPK activators, to your regimen, and you'll amplify your cellular health. Which is the best way to keep good cells from turning bad.
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