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Rx: SPICING CANCER TREATMENT
The population of India is now over a billion with an estimated 1.5 million cases of cancer diagnosed per year. The population of the United States is 295 million, and yet 1.5 million cancers will be diagnosed this year. The accompanying Table shows that the incidence of breast cancer in the US is 660/million while in India, it is 79/million. Similarly, in the US, prostate cancer accounts for 690 cases/million, while in India, it is 20/million. Read More...
Two thirds of all cancers are related to diet. Associations between the two are difficult, if not impossible, to prove because of the formidable number of variables involved. Problems with the American diet are being increasingly appreciated because of the epidemic of obesity. Meats and poultry obtained from animals that have been fattened up on hormones or chemically preserved foods may be factors that contribute to the early onset of puberty in girls, and increasing incidence of chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. However, another possibility is that Americans not only consume (in large amounts) what is damaging, they also do not eat what could potentially neutralize and protect them against the carcinogenic effects of the former.
That protective effect for Indians may be provided by their diet which is rich in spices. Garlic, onion, soy, turmeric, ginger, tomatoes, green tea and chillies that are the staples of Indian cooking have been shown to be associated with a lower risk of a variety of cancers ranging from colon, GI tract, breast, leukemias and lymphomas.
Spices have been used for ages as food preservatives. Mothers knew millennia ago that meat spoils quickly in hot climates, and their children died if they ate left-over food. Being a rich source of protein for their children, meat was a precious commodity, especially in hunting gathering days and needed to be preserved. Mothers learnt through experience that adding spices could accomplish this goal. Geographically speaking, the number of spices in food has been shown to be directly proportional to how hot the weather is. In contrast, food is either chemically preserved or frozen in the Western countries. Spices kill germs, and are therefore highly effective as preservatives.
The precise mechanism by which spices prevent the development of cancer is not well understood. Spices are some of the best natural anti-oxidants, and may be acting by protecting the cells from DNA damage. There is a documented association between germs and cancer; estimates are that ~15% of cancers globally are caused by micro-organisms. It is possible that many cancers are initiated by pathogens and spices prevent this from happening by killing off the germs. More importantly, natural substances like onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, red chilly, tomatoes, and black pepper have now been scientifically proven to interfere with the very intracellular signaling which accounts for the excessive proliferation and loss of maturation in cancer cells. The bio-chemical properties of these substances are being widely investigated now, with over 1000 papers published in highly respected medical journals on curcumin and ginger in the last few years alone. In summary then, spices may act to prevent the various stages of cancer initiation and development through a combination of their anti-oxidant, anti-pathogen and anti-proliferative properties. Read More...
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What Men Don't Know About Their Health and Aging Can Hurt Them |
A national survey released today indicates that one third of American men over the age of 39 report experiencing two or more symptoms of low testosterone (Low T), a condition that affects four to five million American males, marked by decreased energy, low libido, reduced muscle strength, increased body fat, weaker bones, and mood swings. The survey of 522 men over age 39, which was commissioned by the Alliance for Aging Research and conducted by Harris Interactive, shows that of those men experiencing two or more symptoms, 95 percent say their doctors did not mention Low T as a possible cause, even though it is known that the condition can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
Given the high percentage of men experiencing symptoms associated with Low T, general lack of awareness and reported willingness to treat those symptoms, the Alliance for Aging Research, a nonprofit, independent organization promoting public health education, announced today the launch of the Men's Health and Aging in America campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of Low T, encourage testing for Low T, and educate the public about treatment options.
Prostate Difficulties Are Prevalent In Men
The scope of the problem is large and the statistics are rather sobering, but it is a fact of life that cannot be ignored. In the United States, 50% of the male population over the age of 40 suffers from an enlarged prostate gland. Typically starting as an annoying prostate infection, or prostatitis, which is difficult to treat effectively due to variations in severity and length of infection, this enlargement, known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), is characterized by a slow, progressive enlargement of the prostate that obstructs the urethra. BPH symptoms include problems such as frequent urination and difficulty with urination (hesitancy, decreased flow, intermittent stream and caliber of urinary stream).
It is estimated that 50% of American men are afflicted with BPH, with the figure jumping to 80% for men age 80 and over.(2) A doctor should be seen if any of the following symptoms appear: weak or interrupted flow of urine; frequent urination, especially at night; difficulty in urination; pain or burning during urination; blood in the urine, or a nagging pain in the back, hips or pelvis.
Because prostate illnesses are so prevalent in men, it is imperative that every male take affirmative action in understanding them and methods on how one can create natural support for the prostate.
Given that ninety-one percent of men over the age of 39 in America do not know any or are unsure about symptoms associated with Low Testosterone, the Men's Health and Aging in America campaign calls on patients and doctors to open the lines of communications to discuss Low T, its signs and symptoms, and proper diagnosis.
"Because of its association with health risks such as diabetes, depression and osteoporosis, low testosterone should be as much of a health concern for men over 40 as heart disease, cancer and stroke," said Andre T. Guay MD, Director, Center For Sexual Function/Endocrinology, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, North Shore.
Sometimes referred to as male menopause or hypogonadism, testosterone deficiency in men leads to symptoms that can often be treated when tested and diagnosed by their doctors. Typical symptoms of Low T include:
* Increased irritability or depression
* Fatigue
* Inability to concentrate
* Reduced muscle mass and strength
* Low sex drive and erectile dysfunction
* Decreased bone density and osteoporosis
* Increased body fat
Testosterone is the androgenic hormone primarily responsible for normal growth and development of male sex organs. It facilitates the development of secondary male sex characteristics such as musculature, bone mass, fat distribution, male hair patterns and deepening of the voice. The normal range for total testosterone in men is generally 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), depending on the lab performing the test and the methodology used. A simple blood test conducted by a physician can determine if a man has low testosterone.
(Contributed by A. Hankerson) |
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For a Healthy Prostate, Turn Up the Heat
excerpt from John Herring
If you're looking for a way to protect your prostate, look south of the border. New research shows that hot peppers can cause prostate cancer cells to "commit suicide."
A group of doctors at the University of California at Los Angeles found that the active ingredient in hot peppers - capsaicin (kap-SAY-sin) - caused 80 percent of active prostate cancer cells in mice to follow a pathway that led to cell death. What's more, the tumors of the mice that consumed the hot pepper extract were one-fifth the size of the tumors in the untreated mice.
According Dr. Soren Lehmann, who led the study, capsaicin also has "a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture." And the hotter, the better. The more heat you can take, the more benefit you'll get.
Can't take the heat? No problem. Cayenne pepper capsules - which are loaded with capsaicin - are available at your local health food store. And, by the way,. hot peppers are also a powerful anti-inflammatory. And they are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E, folic acid, and
potassium.
excerpt J. Herring
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A tomato a day may help keep prostate cancer at bay — but a
widely used dietary supplement derived from tomatoes may not be sufficient.
That’s the conclusion of the first animal study comparing the cancer-preventing
potential of tomato products to that of lycopene, a substance extracted from
tomatoes and taken by many men in hopes of warding off prostate cancer.
Research by scientists at The Ohio State
University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and
Richard J. Solove Research Institute and their colleagues showed that rats
with prostate cancer survived longer when fed a diet that included whole tomato
products but not when fed the same diet plus lycopene. The effect was most
apparent when the animals’ food intake was modestly restricted. The study was
published in the Nov. 4 issue of the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute.
“Our findings strongly suggest that risks of poor dietary habits cannot be
reversed simply by taking a pill,” says study co-author Steven K. Clinton,
associate professor of hematology and oncology and of human nutrition. “We
shouldn’t expect easy solutions to complex problems. We must focus more on
choosing a variety of healthy foods, exercising and watching our weight.”
“Our study does not say that lycopene
is useless. Instead it suggests that if we want the health benefits of tomatoes,
we should eat tomatoes or tomato products and not rely on lycopene supplements
alone.”
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A number of earlier studies have suggested that eating tomatoes and tomato
products such as sauce, paste and soup is associated with a lower
prostate-cancer risk. Scientists proposed that lycopene, a potent antioxidant
and the substance that makes tomatoes red, gives the fruit its anti-cancer
properties.
Clinton and his colleagues first separated 194 rats with prostate cancer into
three groups. A control group was fed a balanced diet containing no detectable
lycopene. The second group received the control diet plus lycopene, and a third
group received the control diet mixed with tomato powder made from tomato paste
that included seeds and skins.
Additionally, each group was subdivided into an energy-restricted group and
an energy-unrestricted group. Animals in the unrestricted group received as much
food as they wanted; energy-restricted animals received 20 percent less food
than the unrestricted group. The experiment lasted about 14 months.
Rats in the tomato-fed, energy-unrestricted group showed a longer
prostate-cancer free survival compared to controls. Their risk of dying from
prostate cancer dropped by 26 percent. Animals in the tomato-fed,
energy-restricted group fared even better, showing a 32 percent drop in risk. No
benefit from lycopene alone was seen in either the energy-restricted or
unrestricted groups.
“Our study does not say that lycopene is useless,” Clinton says. “Instead it
suggests that if we want the health benefits of tomatoes, we should eat tomatoes
or tomato products and not rely on lycopene supplements alone.”
Along with Clinton, John W. Erdman, Jr., professor of nutritional sciences,
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Thomas W.-M. Boileau, post doctoral
fellow; Zhiming Liao, research scientist; Sunny Kim, statistician; Stanley A.
Lemeshow, professor of public health and director, Biostatistics Program, all
from Ohio State, also worked on the project.
Funding from the National Cancer
Institute and " target="_blank">The Ohio State
University Comprehensive Cancer Center supported this research.
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Health
Vitamin supplements combat cancer
Vitamins may slow the progress of cancer
Vitamin supplements may help to slow the progress of some forms of cancer, scientists have claimed.
Several studies presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research show that supplements - ranging from ordinary multivitamins to specially formulated vegetable-based capsules - can have a positive impact in combating the disease. In one study, Dr Omar Kucuk and colleagues at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit found tomato supplements helped slow prostate cancer in men diagnosed with the disease. The supplements, made by LycoRed Natural Products in Beersheva, Israel, contained lycopene, the chemical that makes tomatoes red.
![[ image: Tomatoes contain a cancer-fighting substance]](http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/315000/images/_318083_tomato150.jpg) |
Tomatoes contain a cancer-fighting substance |
Lycopene, which survives cooking and is especially concentrated in tomato sauce and tomato paste, is a known antioxidant and a member of the carotenoid family of nutrients that include beta-carotene and vitamin A. It cancels out the effects of free radicals, charged particles which damage the body's genetic material and can lead to cancer. Dr Kucuk's team studied 30 men aged 60 to 80 who had prostate cancer and were waiting to have surgery. Half received 30 mg of the supplements a day, and half received dummy pills. Their tumours were then examined after surgery for levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a chemical that is produced by prostate cancer cells. PSA is not only a marker for prostate cancer but can also predict its severity. The men who took lycopene had lower PSA levels in their tumours, which were also smaller than those in men who took the dummy pills. Dr Kucuk said: "This shows that lycopene may not only be possibly preventive for prostate cancer but may in the future play a role in treatment." Dr Kucuk said other tomato products in the supplements may also have acted on the tumours. Head and neck cancer In a second study of 135 patients Bruce Trock and colleagues at Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington, found that men who took vitamin supplements and later developed head and neck cancer experienced a less agressive form of the disease. Dr Trock said previous studies had shown 60% of men with head and neck cancers - which affect heavy smokers and drinkers and especially African-American men - have mutations in a gene called p53, which is known to help control the mechanisms that lead to cancer. "Those patients who had been regular users of vitamin supplements prior to the development of disease had a three-fold reduction in the mutation of p53," Dr Trock said. When doctors checked to see which patients had taken known antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E, the effect was even stronger, with a four-fold reduction in the mutations. Dr Trock said having fewer genetic mutations could translate into a milder version of cancer. Other studies have shown that the more mutations there are in p53, the faster the cancer spreads and the less likely the patient is to survive.
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by William Faloon
Reviewed and critiqued by Stephen B. Strum, MD, FACP |
The acronym PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, the most abundant protein synthesized in the prostate gland. Men have their blood tested for PSA in order to detect prostate cancer at an early stage when it is often curable. The PSA test can also help assess the efficacy of various prostate cancer treatments.
Until now, PSA has been viewed only as a blood indicator of prostate cancer, infection, or inflammation. Emerging evidence, however, reveals that PSA may be more than just a marker of prostate health. It appears that PSA itself may play a role in the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer,1-3 thus opening up new therapeutic pathways for preventing and treating this epidemic disease.
A significant amount of published data associates high intake of certain nutrients with reduced incidences of prostate cancer.4-12 A few studies suggest that these same nutrients may even help control advanced stages of the disease.13,14
Scientists are now finding that some of these nutrients function to reduce or interfere with PSA activity in the prostate gland. With new data suggesting that PSA itself may be involved in the progression and spread of prostate cancer, the anti-PSA activity of these nutrients becomes significant and helps explain why men who consume certain nutrients have lower incidences and a slower progression of disease when prostate cancer has been diagnosed. Read more... |
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The Hardness Factor 
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"If hard is good, then harder is better - for your health, your libido, and your life! " This is the provocative premise behind Dr. Steven Lamm sThe Hardness Factor, a groundbreaking program that will help improve a man s sex drive, stamina, hardness, and most of all - his health!
This is one booklet you should not be without. The Hardness Factor There is a six-week program spelled out in the booklet. Get it!
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 PROSTATE CARE
OPC AND ORAC
Cognitin: Memory Support Formula
 ESSENTIAL OMEGA 111
Disclaimer: The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the content herein. Readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions
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