Breast Cancer Prevention: Part One

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I am offering a two-part series on preventing breast cancer, and preventing a return of breast cancer.

Selenium
The mineral selenium has an extremely important function in the body—so much so that even the FDA has commented, "Selenium may reduce the risk of certain cancers. Some scientific evidence suggests that consumption of selenium may reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. However, the FDA has determined that this evidence is limited and not conclusive." What is this amazing mineral? Selenium is an element that is found in nature and in very small amounts in our bodies. It has been known to for its use in maintaining healthy thyroid function as well for boosting immunity. The latest research shows that selenium may actually prevent the aging of the DNA and protect against environmental stressors. Selenium is an antioxidant, and like other antioxidants it gobbles up and helps the body attack the free radicals that cause cancer. Other natural antioxidants include dark colored fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, and broccoli. 

Your body produces an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is known to protect your body from what is called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been previously identified as a cancer risk, so one of the keys to reducing cancer risk has been to find ways to reduce this oxidative stress by supporting glutathione peroxidase activity. This is where selenium comes in. a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the prestigious journal known as JAMA, showed that selenium may reduce the risk of cancer. This study was conducted with over 1000 participants over a four-year period, who took daily doses of selenium.

The form of selenium used by these studies is called selenomethionine. This is different from inorganic salts like selenite. A recent study found that selenomethionine reaches muscle, blood and liver tissue twice as efficiently as selenite.

Lycopene
Another cancer-fighting nutrient is called lycopene. This nutrient is found in tomato sauce and is important in maintaining a healthy heart as well as in cancer prevention. In fact, one study found that 14 ounces of pizza a week reduced the risk of heart attacks by 50%. The Journal of Nutrition reported that broccoli also contained cancer-fighting nutrients in the form of antioxidants. Adding broccoli and tomato tomato sauces, ketchup, and broccoli to your diet is an easy way to ensure you are getting the benefits for both cancer prevention and your heart.

Graviola
Compounds from the Graviola tree in the Amazon rainforest have been shown to kill malignant cells from 12 types of cancer, including breast, colon, prostate, lung and pancreas. Over 20 laboratory tests in the last 30 years have demonstrated what South American medicine men have known for centuries. Extracts from this tree kill cancer cells and slow the growth of cancer cells. Even the National Cancer Institute reported that Graviola's leaves and stems were “effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells." Research is still pending on this amazing botanical.

Polyphenols and Green Tea
Green tea is not only a powerful anti-oxidant, but it contains compounds that retard growth of tumors. The compounds, called polyphenols, act by restricting the growth of the blood vessels to the tumors. Black tea contains similar compounds, but the healing compounds are destroyed when the tea is processed by fermentation.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Though obesity can increase your risk of breast cancer, some fats can reduce your risk. The Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, especially fish liver slows tumor growth. Foods high in these fats are salmon, sardines, and anchovies. The omega-3 fats also have an anti-immunity effect, hence grandma’s admonition to take your cod liver oil!