The Cancer-Fighting Power Of Flaxseeds

From Dr. Joel Fuhrman, www.diseaseproof.com:
Fighting breast cancer with flaxseeds
What are lignans?

Plant lignans are one of the four classes of phytoestrogens (isoflavones, lignans, stilbenes, coumestans), phenolic compounds that are structurally similar to the main mammalian estrogen, estradiol.¹ Plant lignans are modified by bacteria in the human digestive tract into enteroligans. It is important to recognize the role of healthy bacteria in this process, because antibiotics can destroy beneficial bacteria in the gut resulting in long-term reduction in enteroligans.² Eating commercial meats exposes us to antibiotics, as does the overuse and inappropriate prescribing by physicians.

Which foods are good sources of plant lignans?

Flaxseeds are the richest source of plant lignans, having about 8 times the lignan content of sesame seeds [note that flaxseed oil does not contain lignans – they bind to the fiber]. The other plant foods on the list have about one-tenth or less the amount of lignans as sesame seeds per serving.^2,3 Chia seeds are also a rich source of lignans, however the exact amount is still debatable, so that number will be made available at a later date.

• Flaxseeds (85.5 mg/ounce)
• Sesame seeds (11.2 mg/ounce)⁴
• Kale (curly; 1.6 mg/cup)
• Broccoli (1.2 mg/cup)

Anti-cancer effects of lignans

Enterolignans are structurally similar to estrogen and can bind to estrogen receptors – this capability allows lignans to either have weak estrogenic activity or block the actions of estrogen in the body. For this reason, plant lignans are classified as phytoestrogens, and there has been much interest in the potential contribution of lignan-rich foods to reduced risk of hormone-related cancers.^2,5 Enterolignans inhibits aromatase⁶ and estradiol production in general, lowering serum estrogen levels.⁷ Plant lignans also increase concentration of sex hormone binding globulin, which blunts the effects of estrogens.^8-10 These benefits were documented when 48 postmenopausal women consumed 7.5 g/day of ground flax seeds for 6 weeks, then 15 g for 6 weeks – and significant decreases in estradiol, estrone, and testosterone were noted with a bigger decrease in overweight and obese women.¹¹

In a mouse model, a flaxseed diet (5%, 10%) shows dose-dependent inhibition of breast tumor growth.¹² Human trials also confirmed similar beneficial effects. A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of dietary flaxseed demonstrated dramatic protection. Women ate either a control muffin with no flax seeds imbedded or 25g flax-containing muffin starting at time of diagnosis of breast cancer for just 32-39 days until surgery. Tumor tissue analyzed at diagnosis and surgery demonstrated surprising benefits even in this short timeframe. There was a significant apoptosis (tumor cell death) and reduced cell proliferation in the flaxseed group in just the one month.¹³ Likewise women eating more flaxseeds with a documented higher serum enterolactone were found to have a 42% reduced risk of death from postmenopausal breast cancer and a dramatic (40 percent) reduction in all causes of death.^14,15 Flaxseeds are clearly super foods; even with a mediocre diet they offer powerful protection against certain types of breast cancer. Another interesting study on flax followed women for up to 10 years and found a 51% reduced risk of all-cause mortality and a 71% reduced risk of breast cancer mortality. The intake of dried beans was also associated with a 39% reduced risk of all-cause mortality.¹⁶ Endometrial and ovarian cancer have not been as extensively studied, but the few studies that have been conducted suggest a protective effect.^2,17
Bottom line; don’t forget to take your ground flax seeds (or chia seeds) every day. I sometimes forget too, but reviewing the science encourages me to remember. When used in conjunction with dietary exposure to greens, onions, mushrooms and beans, dramatic reductions in the risk of breast cancer are possible.

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Dr. Fuhrman's newest book, Super Immunity, addresses his full nutritional program to win the war against breast cancer.
References

1. Mense SM, Hei TK, Ganju RK, et al: Phytoestrogens and breast cancer prevention: possible mechanisms of action. Environ Health Perspect 2008;116:426-433.
2. Higdon J: Lignans. In An Evidence-Based Approach to Dietary Phytochemicals. New York: Thieme; 2006: 155-161
3. Milder IE, Arts IC, van de Putte B, et al: Lignan contents of Dutch plant foods: a database including lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol. Br J Nutr 2005;93:393-402.
4. Coulman KD, Liu Z, Hum WQ, et al: Whole sesame seed is as rich a source of mammalian lignan precursors as whole flaxseed. Nutr Cancer 2005;52:156-165.
5. Adlercreutz H: Lignans and human health. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2007;44:483-525.
6. Adlercreutz H, Bannwart C, Wahala K, et al: Inhibition of human aromatase by mammalian lignans and isoflavonoid phytoestrogens. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1993;44:147-153. < br />7. Brooks JD, Thompson LU: Mammalian lignans and genistein decrease the activities of aromatase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in MCF-7 cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2005;94:461-467.
8. Adlercreutz H, Mousavi Y, Clark J, et al: Dietary phytoestrogens and cancer: in vitro and in vivo studies. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1992;41:331-337.
9. Adlercreutz H, Hockerstedt K, Bannwart C, et al: Effect of dietary components, including lignans and phytoestrogens, on enterohepatic circulation and liver metabolism of estrogens and on sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). J Steroid Biochem 1987;27:1135-1144.
10. Low YL, Dunning AM, Dowsett M, et al: Phytoestrogen exposure is associated with circulating sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women and interact with ESR1 and NR1I2 gene variants. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16:1009-1016.
11. Sturgeon SR, Heersink JL, Volpe SL, et al: Effect of dietary flaxseed on serum levels of estrogens and androgens in postmenopausal women. Nutr Cancer 2008;60:612-618.
12. Chen J, Power KA, Mann J, et al: Flaxseed alone or in combination with tamoxifen inhibits MCF-7 breast tumor growth in ovariectomized athymic mice with high circulating levels of estrogen. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2007;232:1071-1080.
13. Thompson LU, Chen JM, Li T, et al: Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2005;11:3828-3835.
14. Buck K, Vrieling A, Zaineddin AK, et al: Serum enterolactone and prognosis of postmenopausal breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2011;29:3730-3738.
15. Buck K, Zaineddin AK, Vrieling A, et al: Estimated enterolignans, lignan-rich foods, and fibre in relation to survival after postmenopausal breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2011;105:1151-1157.
16. McCann SE, Thompson LU, Nie J, et al: Dietary lignan intakes in relation to survival among women with breast cancer: the Western New York Exposures and Breast Cance r (WEB) Study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2010;122:229-235.
17. Bandera EV, King M, Chandran U, et al: Phytoestrogen consumption from foods and supplements and epithelial ovarian cancer risk: a population-based case control study. BMC Womens Health 2011;11:40.

The Real Story About Genes And Cancer Risk (plus "Ask Amy")

You may have heard that genetics play a major role in the risk and development of cancer, but the research suggests otherwise:

 

From www.nutritionfacts.org:

 

5 to 10 percent of our cancer risk is genetic

 

25 percent is attributed to tobacco use

 

4 to 6 percent to alcohol consumption

 

10 to 20 percent from obesity

 

10 to 15 percent from pollution, x-rays, cell phones, etc.

 

And 50 percent of our cancer risk is from diet.

 According to the Canadian journal Nutrition and Cancer, total meat consumption is directly related to the development of most every type of cancer.

 

Ask Amy

 

Q: I'd like my children to eat more of a plant-based diet. How can I help them transition when they're so used to eating animal products?

 

A: This is exciting! Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Take advantage of "transitional foods", especially at first. These include soy sausage, mock ground beef, chicken strips, and lunch meat, and mock chicken nuggets and burgers. Although quite processed, these foods can help ease the transition for people who are accustomed to a diet heavy in animal products.

 

2. Experiment with different non-dairy milks and cheese (like Daiya). If your children taste-test different products and choose their favorites, they'll be more active participants in this transition.

 

3. For younger children, I recommend reading the book That's Why We Don't Eat Animals  by Ruby Roth. Older children might like Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet.

 

4. Visit farm sanctuaries, which give children an up-close and personal look at animals like those they consume. They'll learn about and observe the personalities of farm animals and hear their compelling stories -- some of these animals escaped from factory farms or fell off trucks on their way to slaughterhouses.

For a sampling of sanctuaries, check out www.farmanimalshelters.org. My favorite sanctuary is Animal Acres, located north of Los Angeles in Acton, CA. It offers an intimate look at a number of animals and helped inspire my children to go vegan.

 

5. Commit to cooking plant-based meals at home. If your children long for animal products, they can consume these elsewhere. This way, much of their diet will be animal-free. My children understand, in age-appropriate terms, what happens to animals raised for food. They understand that they have plenty of food options that don't involve animals. They know the health benefits of eating vegan and the personal costs of consuming animal products. They eat plant-based meals at home. Still, it's up to them to decide how they wish to eat when they're out in the world. When my children feel they have the freedom to choose, they're more likely to make choices that feel right to them. And most of the time, they opt for vegan foods.

The Top Cancer-Fighting Veggies

On his new website http://www.nutritionfacts.org/, Dr. Michael Greger combs the latest in nutrition research and presents it in free video clips.

In December 2010, he reviewed the most recent journal articles on cancer-fighting veggies.

Here are the results:

 

The Top Veggies For Suppressing Cancer-Cell Growth:

1. Spinach and radicchio, which stopped the development of breast, brain, kidney, lung pancreatic, prostate, and stomach cancer cells. Spinach also got high marks for stopping the growth of pediatric brain cancer cells.

2. Beets also performed well.

 

Unfortunately, the majority of veggies people often eat (potatoes, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, and cucumbers) have little effect on cancer growth -- although they are rich in certain vitamins.

 

3. Other cancer-fighting superstars are found in the Cruciferous (cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts) and Allium families of vegetables (leek, green onion, yellow onion, garlic)

 

What's amazing about these vegetables is their selective natures. They go after the cancer cells and leave the other cells alone.