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According to Globocan, a World Health
Organization research project on cancer, globally there were 12.7 million new cases of cancer and
7.6 million cancer-related deaths in 2008. The most prevalent cancers around the world are lung
cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancers. Lung cancer has the highest death rate of all
cancers.
Mainstream treatments for cancer usually include chemotherapy drugs and radiation. However, both
patients and health professionals are increasingly looking for natural remedies to treat these
potentially deadly conditions. This is due in part to the harsh side effects of chemotherapy and
radiation. However, there is also a push to boost the body’s immune system to help fight cancer.
This is where healthy bacteria called probiotics are proving to be quite promising.
Causes of
Cancer
There are numerous factors that can cause you to develop cancer. They
include:
• Family history or genetics
• Aging
• Overexposure to sunlight
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Carcinogenic chemicals
• Being overweight or obese
• Poor diet and physical inactivity
• Alcohol abuse
However, the precise cause of cancer in any one person remains a mystery. For instance, any one of
these factors, such as smoking, may lead to cancer for one person but not for another. This
suggests that some people are more predisposed to developing cancer than others.
Probiotic Benefit for Cancer
Treatment
Regardless of the cause, if you’re diagnosed with cancer you need to
know about all the effective treatments available to you. Several studies have revealed that
probiotics can play a role in treating cancer, in particular colon cancer.
These bacteria occur naturally in the body, but through diet, lifestyle factors, illnesses or
antibiotic use they may become depleted. This causes an imbalance in favour of unhealthy bacteria
and weakens the immune system.
In a study in Nutrition Journal, researchers stated that probiotics or beneficial bacteria can ward
off cancer at various stages of development. They strengthen the immune system, improve mineral absorption
and increased the body’s ability to use food.
They also indicated that “probiotics produce short chain fatty acids in the colon, which acidify
the environment. Lower colon pH is associated with lower incidence of colon cancer.” These healthy
micoorganisms can also minimize the amount of cancer-causing enzymes in the body.
Two types of probiotics - Lactobacillus species and Eubacterium aerofaciens -
were linked to populations that had lower risks of colon cancer. Another probiotic strain, L.
casei, was used in two trials of patients with superficial bladder cancer. Researchers found
that L. casei resulted in a 50 percent disease-free time of 350 days compared to only 195
days for the control group. In the second trial probiotics was also more effective than placebo,
except in the case of multiple recurring tumours.
For the biggest health benefits from probiotics choose refrigerated sources that contain live
bacteria whenever possible. There is no hard-and-fast rule about how many of these organisms you
need. However, Harvard Women’s Health Watch recommend 1 billion to 10 billion colony-forming units
(CFUs) several days per week. If you experience any discomfort such as gas or bloating you can
always reduce the daily amount you take.
Source:
Nutrition Journal, 2004, 3:19. Nutrition and cancer: A
review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet. Michael S Donaldson
www.nutritionj.com/content/3/1/19
Next: Probiotics and H. pylori,
Ulcers
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