New research from South Dakota State University offers evidence that including flax in the diet may help prevent colorectal tumors or keep tumors from growing as quickly when they do form.

Distinguished professor Chandradhar Dwivedi, head of SDSU's Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, directed the study by departmental graduate student researchers Ajay Bommareddy, Xiaoying Zhang and professional doctor of pharmacy student Dustin Schrader.

"The study was conducted in a special strain of mice that develop spontaneous intestinal tumors due to mutation in a gene," Dwivedi said.

"This model is developed to investigate the effects of cancer preventive agents on genetically predisposed individuals," he said.

"Results indicated that mice on diets supplemented with flaxseed meal and flaxseed oil had, on average, 45 percent fewer tumors in the small intestine and the colon compared to the control group."

The scientists published their research findings in February in the academic peer-reviewed international journal Nutrition and Cancer.

"The results show that tumors in dietary flaxseed-treated groups, besides being few, were also very small in size when compared with what we found in the other experimental diets," Dwivedi said.

The study has important implications for human health, since colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Current statistics from the American Cancer Society showed that in 2008, 108,070 new colon and 40,740 new rectal cases were diagnosed in the United States, while colorectal cancers caused 49,960 deaths.

Flaxseed contains a high percentage of alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 fatty acid, and lignans, a group of chemical compounds found in plants that act as antioxidants.

The new SDSU study builds on past research carried out by Dwivedi's lab at SDSU looking at the chemopreventive effects of dietary flaxseed oil and flaxseed meal on colon tumor development.

"Dietary flaxseed oil and meal are effective chemopreventive agents against colon and intestinal tumor development in experimental animal models," Dwivedi said.

"Further studies are needed to establish the optimal amount of flaxseed that should be incorporated into human diets to get an anti-tumor benefit and to explore the possible mechanism of action by which flaxseed can help prevent colon cancer."

Other participating researchers included assistant professor Radhey Kaushik, who has a joint appointment in SDSU's Department of Veterinary Sciences and the Department of Biology and Microbiology; professor David Zeman, head of the Department of Veterinary Sciences; and professor Duane Matthees of the Department of Veterinary Sciences.
 

By Nancy Roberts  Link: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/can-a-low-fat-plant-based-diet-prevent-pancreatic-cancer-512804/

Diet can play a pivotal role in the risk of pancreatic cancer, which claimed the life of beloved actor Patrick Swayze. Swayze, a talented Hollywood legend best known for his role in "Dirty Dancing," passed away Sept. 14th at the age of 57, following a brave 2-year battle.

Pancreatic cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, is an extremely aggressive and painful form of cancer. In Swayze's memory, the Cancer Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, is promoting awareness about the link between diet and pancreatic cancer. Studies have associated a diet high in cholesterol, animal fat, and saturated fat with increased risk. Other studies have demonstrated that a plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including those high in folic acid and flavonoids, can reduce this risk.  

FRIDAY, Feb. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Giving dark chocolate to your Valentine might be more than sweet; it could help guard your true love against cancer.

"The great news this Valentine's Day is that in addition to being decadent and delicious, moderate amounts of dark chocolate may play a role in cancer prevention," Sally Scroggs, a health education manager at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Cancer Prevention Center, said in a news release from the university.

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that have been shown to combat cell damage that can lead to tumor growth. These antioxidants occur naturally in the cacao beans used to make all chocolate products.

"The main reason that eating dark chocolate, versus milk or white chocolate, reduces cancer risks is because it has a higher percentage of cacao, and thus antioxidants," Scroggs explained.

People should look for dark chocolate that contains at least 65 percent cacao, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Recommended servings for dark chocolate are seven ounces per week, or about one ounce per day.

"Savoring a small amount of dark chocolate is much better than gulping soft drinks or eating doughnuts. Remember, dark chocolate is still a calorie-dense food that can be high in fat. You can enjoy it daily as part of a balanced diet, as long as you keep your portion size in check," Scroggs said.

She recommended buying chocolate that can be eaten in small portions, such as individually wrapped chocolates or boxed chocolates. Check the ingredients to make sure the chocolate doesn't contain fats, such as palm and coconut oils, and that they are made without the use of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenate oils.

Article Source: www.sparkpeople.com/resource/health_news_detail.asp

I know all the women are loving the fact that chocolate has some benefits! Woot Woot!

Mauris Emeka has published a groundbreaking work on cancer, titled "Cancer's Best Medicine -- A Self-Help and Wellness Guide," second edition. "We are losing the war on cancer; our approach is all wrong," says Emeka. He points out that the malignant tumor commonly thought to be 'the cancer' is but a symptom of cancer. The book notes that cancer itself is the process that causes the tumor symptoms. It further notes that conventional treatment almost always ignores one proven fact: the fact that cancer is a chronic metabolic disease arising from dietary deficiencies.
This 64 page book explains that this disease is closely related to diet and lifestyle.  The good news is that each person can choose to nourish his or her body with foods and lifestyle practices that fortify it against the ravaging affects of cancer. To read the rest of this article go to www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29276227/. This is the only body you will have.  How are you taking care of it?  Our crackers can be part of a nutritious diet. 

For a limited time, if you order 6 or more of our crackers, shipping is FREE!  Have a great day.  Namaste.  Kathy

A new article was just released about the lignans found in flaxseed. “Lignans are a phytoestrogen, or plant estrogen, with antioxidant and other beneficial properties. They’re found only in plant sources, with flaxseeds being the strongest source, and they’re currently being studied for their potential cancer-fighting and cancer-prevention properties.”   To read the facts about flaxseed lignans go to: www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp. 

Thanks to another study the results suggest that patients who are going to receive radiotherapy may be better off incorporating some flaxseed flour in their diet because flaxseed lignans seem to be protective against damages from radiation.  To read the rest of this article go to: foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/Agri_amp_Environ_41/120408352008_Flaxseed_may_protect_against_radiation_harm.shtml
 

Ever since my Mom died of kidney cancer and secondary lung cancer in 2005, I have been interested in the reasons why people get cancer. When my Mom was 17 years old, she worked for several years as a court recorder for a small town in Florida. At this time, smoking was allowed in the court room. She never smoked herself, but I wondered if for some reason she had cancer cells that lay dormant and for some reason started growing? I knew another man who died of the same thing and had worked in the movie industry where smoking was allowed also.

I have just finished a book by David Servan-Schreiber entitled, Anti-cancer: A New Way of Life. The subtitle to the book reads that "all of us have cancer cells in our bodies. But not all of us will develop cancer." This subtitle intrigued me. The author, David, found out he had a brain tumor when he was doing some research for his PhD in neuroscience. As he deals with surgeries and chemotherapy, he spends many hours searching for answers to cancer and ways we can keep cancer in check. He explains in the book many factors that help fight cancer.

He tells us 1)why the traditional Western diet creates the conditions for disease and how to develop a science-based anticancer diet. 2) How and why sugar and stress feed cancer and ways to achieve life balance and good nutrition to combat it. 3) Why the effects of helplessness and unhealed wounds affect our ability to restore health. 4) How to reap the benefits of exercise, yoga, and meditation. 5) How to minimize environmental toxins. 5) How to find the right blend of traditional and alternative health care.

He devotes a full color mid section to Anti Cancer Action. This section goes over the foods we should be eating and avoiding. I appreciate the research and thought that has gone into this book. This is a great book for everyone to read. Thank you David. If you would like to see short video clip of David discussing his book, click on the following link: www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Life-David-Servan-Schreiber/dp/0670020346. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the video.

I would love to hear your comments if you have read this book.