12 of the best supplements to fight cancer
Certain bioactive compounds, found in foods, are known to have strong epigenetic (cancer correcting) benefits. Supplements concentrate those benefits.
Dr. Young S. Kim of the National Cancer Institute studied Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) which lie at the heart of cancers. She showed in her 2012 research that a poor diet could help CSCs re-grow into a full tumour again after chemotherapy had reduced it by even 70 per cent. However, she also showed that certain bioactive compounds could prevent this re-growth. She talked of suforaphanes, curcumin, pipeline, vitamins A and E, genistein, theanine, choline, EGCG from green tea and others and she went on to add that you could obtain from quality supplements. Who are we to argue?
Although European and American research has shown a ’small but significant’ prevention factor (of about 7 per cent), we are not going to recommend you take a multivitamin and mineral if you already have the disease. Why? because the vitamins are usually synthetic and deficient, and the minerals include iron, which is known to help cancer cells thrive.
We think there are much stronger compounds to take:
1: FISH OILS
The number 1 supplement*: Long chain omega 3 is essential for cellular health, control of local inflammation, longevity and much, much more. Research shows supplementation, because it is daily and dose-controlled, actually provides more benefit than eating oily fish. Fish oils reduce the risk of cachexia, and can reduce polyps, the precursors to colorectal cancer.
2: SELENIUM
Helps displace heavy metals from the body. Anti-oxidant mineral recognised more and more as essential in the fight against cancer; for example, German research shows it lowers prostate cancer risk.
3: VITAMIN E
Powerful immune system booster. But take a natural form that ideally combines all 4 tocopherols and all 4 tocotrienols. You simply cannot eat the daily quantities shown to be effective in scientific studies.
4: CHLORELLA
Rather than take vitamin A, go for superfood chlorella. People simply do not eat enough ’greens’, and chlorella is a ’super-green’. Wonderful source of both natural cis- and trans-beta-carotene, minerals and vitamin B-12, especially important if you employ a meat-free diet. This is how to get your vitamin A; your body will make what it wants from beta-carotene.
5: VITAMIN D
The number 1 supplement*. If you cannot get a couple of hours in the sunshine every day, you should consider supplementation of 5000IUs, as recommended by Harvard Medical School. This vitamin is actually a hormone and has been shown to activate the immune system, reduce the risk of cancer and even correct cancer cells in research studies.
6: COENZYME Q10
Research shows antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-cancer benefits levels in tissues decline as you age. Essential to your mitochondria, US research clearly shows you can recapture the levels of your youth by supplementation. Max 50 mgs a day. Above is wasted.
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7: GRAPE SEED EXTRACT
Shown in the American VITAL study to be the top anti-oxidant commonly available. It is an OPC, and Pine Bark Extract (another OPC but not in the research study) may be even better.
8: CURCUMIN
The Number 1 supplement* equal with vitamin D and fish oils. Research shows a variety of health benefits; an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, this spice (Turmeric) seems to play a strong role in a number of anti-cancer pathways, and in other illnesses too. Prof. Aggarwal of MD Anderson claims he does not know a cancer it does not have a positive effect against. Take with olive oil and black pepper (pipeline) for maximum absorption.
9: B COMPLEX
B Vitamins are essential for correct cellular division and replication apart from playing a role in the nervous system and many of the senses. A pre-cursor to diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer has been shown to be the build up of Homocystein levels in the body. B Vitamins can keep this under control. Normally your gut bacteria MAKE your B vitamins (if you feed them fibrous foods). But after antibiotics and chemo, your gut bacteria will not be functioning properly.
10: RESVERATROL
Seems to play a prevention role in everything from dementia to strokes to cancer. It is now know to act as a pro drug with the CYP1B1 gene in cancer cells. The gene turns it in to picetannol whig kills the cancer cell. Research is coming thick and fast on this natural compound found in organic red grape skins.
11. MODIFIED CITRUS PECTIN
Again, new research abounds on the abilities of this compound to block the ’velcro patches’ on the outside of cancer cells, reducing their abilities to stick to each other and to new tissues. This reduces metastases.
12. INDOLE 3 CARBINOL
I3C can convert aggressive oestradiol into a safer sister, and even modify oestrogen receptor sites on cells (much like Tamoxifen) and prevent dangerous oestrogens binding there. But it also works against non-oestrogenic cancers via the
p27 pathway. Research shows clear benefits in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
It is important that you look for a source of naturally-sourced supplements. Many cheaper products are synthetic and limited in their content. Some research studies have indicated such synthetic products have dubious abilities. If you have already decided to supplement, you may want to see what supplements are available on
www.ournaturalselection.com (in the UK) who supply all natural products.
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