How Superfoods Fight & Prevent Cancer

Superfoods could block hormones that help cancer spread

Several superfoods — mushrooms, pomegranates and grape seed extract — contain compounds with the ability to block the enzyme aromatase, which helps produce estrogen. Because most breast cancers are dependent on estrogen to grow, cutting down on the amount of estrogen may help kill the tumor. Mushrooms also work similarly in prostate cancer by blocking hormones crucial to their growth. City of Hope is testing medicine derived from shiitake mushrooms that could naturally help the body fight lung cancer by boosting the immune system.

Superfoods cut off tumors’ “life line”

City of Hope scientists found that cinnamon contains compounds that block tumor angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that fuels cancer cells' growth.

Mushrooms

Fight breast and prostate cancer

• City of Hope scientists were among the first to discover that white button mushrooms can help block hormones that cause breast cancer to grow and spread.

• Researchers are also studying these same hormone-blocking effects for prostate cancer.

Fight lung cancer

• City of Hope is testing medicine derived from shiitake mushrooms that could naturally help the body fight lung cancer by boosting the immune system.

Promote healthy metabolism

• Recent research at City of Hope shows that mushrooms may prevent fatty liver, slow down the formation of fat and reduce the incidence of metabolic diseases

Pomegranates

Fight breast cancer

• City of Hope researchers identified six natural compounds in pomegranates that suppress hormones that help breast cancers grow and spread.

Grape Seed Extract

Fights breast cancer

• City of Hope researchers discovered that grape seed extract naturally blocks a hormone that causes breast cancer to spread and grow — but without affecting healthy tissue.

Blueberries

Fight triple-negative breast cancer

• In City of Hope labs, studies of blueberries have shown they inhibit growth and the spread of triple-negative breast cancer, which is one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer and often resistant to standard treatment.

Cinnamon

Stunts growth of tumors

• City of Hope scientists found that cinnamon extract interferes with a tumor’s ability to grow by blocking the tumor from forming blood vessels to feed it.

Mixed Berry Parfaits

For more info on Super Foods for Super Health and City of Hope research visit:

http://cityofhope.org/superfoods#CityofHopesSuperfoodsResearch