(NaturalHealth365)  Strawberries are a summertime favorite, prized for their sweet flavor.  But research shows these berries may deliver even more than meets the eye.  It’s worth noting that berries have been studied extensively for their potential cancer-fighting capabilities.

Researchers have found that extracts from organic strawberries are particularly effective at stopping the growth of cancer cells.  Organic strawberries contained more antioxidants and a higher ratio of ascorbate compared to its oxidized form, dehydroascorbate.  To be clear: don’t eat conventionally grown berries, because they tend to be grown with the use of many unwanted agricultural chemicals.

Harness nature’s bounty: Strawberries’ potent cancer-fighting properties

The presence of ellagic acid in strawberries, particularly organically grown ones, is one of the key factors contributing to their cancer-fighting properties.  Ellagic acid has been shown in laboratory studies to prevent the development of various types of cancer, including bladder, lung, skin, esophageal, and breast cancers.  Its effectiveness is believed to stem from its ability to employ multiple cancer-fighting mechanisms simultaneously, acting as an antioxidant and utilizing various anti-cancer strategies.

Furthermore, strawberries contain a wide range of flavonoids, which provide an additional layer of anti-cancer benefits.  Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant compounds known for their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  They have been extensively studied for their potential role in preventing and reducing the risk of cancer.  The specific flavonoids present in strawberries have shown promising results in laboratory and epidemiological studies, demonstrating their potential to inhibit cancer cell growth and reduce the risk of cancer development.

In addition to ellagic acid and flavonoids, strawberries are also rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber, both of which play crucial roles in cancer prevention.  Vitamin C is known for its antioxidant properties and has been associated with a lower risk of esophageal cancer.  Dietary fiber, on the other hand, has long been recognized for its ability to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

It is worth noting that the mentioned research findings emphasize the potential benefits of organically grown strawberries compared to conventionally grown ones.  This difference could be attributed to variations in cultivation practices, pesticide use, and overall nutritional composition.  However, further research is necessary to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of organically grown strawberries in halting cancer cell growth.

Quercetin: Unveiling the “secret” weapon against liver cancer cells

A study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry focused on identifying the means by which fruit extracts or their components provide protection against human liver cancer cells.  Among the compounds tested, quercetin was found to be the most active polyphenol, with a significant reduction in cancer cell viability of up to 80 percent after only 18 hours of treatment.  Effective cell death from strawberry extract was also found to be amount- and time-dependent.

Strawberries and their major phytonutrient, quercetin, were also found to slow the normal cell cycle prior to cell death, suggesting that protective actions may occur along different phases of cancer cell development.  As a flavonoid, quercetin is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, as well as anti-cancer capabilities.

Previous studies have linked quercetin to the prevention or slowing of other types of cancer, including ovarian, breast, colon, leukemia, and lung cancer.  This more recent study not only supports earlier findings but sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms taking part in programmed cell death, paving the way for future studies of the anti-cancer effects of strawberries and other foods.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
I-SIS.org.uk
News-medical.net
AICR.org