I’ve known for years that the curry spice turmeric inhibits prostate cancer. In India, where curry is a staple, prostate cancer is uncommon. I’ve traveled to India many times and I’ve seen firsthand how effective this spice is. But I’ve just learned that there is a way to make this spice even more effective.
A group of scientists from Rutgers University in New Jersey was well aware that the active chemical curcumin gave curry its cancer-fighting qualities. The scientists also knew that phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a naturally occurring compound in cruciferous vegetables, also has anti-cancer qualities. So they wanted to find out how effective the combination of curcumin and PEITC would be in fighting cancer.
The researchers conducted the study in two parts. First, they injected mice with curcumin or PEITC, alone or in combination. The injections were given three times a week for four weeks. The day after the very first injection, they also injected prostate cancer cells.
They found curcumin or PEITC significantly slowed the growth of cancerous tumors. Using PEITC and curcumin together produced even stronger effects.
The second step was to see if the combination would help mice with well-established tumors. Their results showed that PEITC or curcumin alone had little effect. However, when they used both chemicals together, the combination significantly slowed tumor growth.
The cocktail appeared to inhibit tumor cell division. It also induced apoptosis (programmed cell death of abnormal cells).
The researchers conclusions were remarkable: Our results show that PEITC and curcumin alone or in combination possess significant cancer-preventive activities…. Furthermore, we found that combination of PEITC and curcumin could be effective in the cancer-therapeutic treatment of prostate cancers.
Wow! What have I been telling you for years about the power of plants? Imagine if this report were about a cocktail of patented chemotherapy drugs. It would have been on the front cover of every newspaper in the country. But you cant patent a head of broccoli — so this was not newsworthy.
Right now, you cant get PEITC in supplement form. And its not yet available as a doctor-administered injection. While I expect that to change before too long, you can get plenty simply by eating cruciferous vegetables every day.
These chemicals are more available when the vegetables are heated. But heat also causes a protein to be released that binds to sulfur compounds (PEITC). That reduces the chemicals effectiveness at fighting cancer.
But there is a simple way to overcome this problem. A researcher at the University of Illinois has discovered a method to maximize the benefit from these cancer-fighting chemicals of broccoli, while preventing the release of the sulfur-reducing protein.
Dr. Elizabeth Jeffery found that heating broccoli to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes maximizes the effectiveness of these cancer-fighting chemicals.
You can approximate this by lightly steaming your veggies for three or four minutes until they are between tough and tender in consistency (this is especially effective with broccoli). You can also do this with other cruciferous veggies, such as watercress, cabbage, winter cress, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and turnips.
Currys compound, curcumin, is available at any health food store as a supplement. I’ve suggested 500 mg twice daily for most people. And now I suggest you take the supplement when you eat your cruciferous vegetables.
Ref: Science Daily (://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/ 2005/03/050326114810.htm).