I recently attended an integrative oncology
seminar that ignited an interest in nutrition and cancer prevention, therapy
and treatment. I wanted to
share some of the eye opening information I learned in terms of oxidative
stress and its role in cancer development, and how nutrition therapy can help to prevent
its progresssion.
The
cells within our bodies undergo millions of divisions every day, and these
divisions are highly sensitive to oxidative damage
and stress. Oxidative stress occurs as a result of a build up of free radicals,
otherwise know as ROS (reactive oxygen species), these molecules are a
byproduct of energy consumption within mitochondria, the powerhouses of our
cells. Everyday activities such as breathing, eating and exercising produce
free radicals. These free radicals can
accumulate in high amounts and damage our cells and leave tissues unable to
function correctly, leading to the formation of health conditions and disease, including cancer.
There
is a specific time of cell division that is sensitive to oxidative damage known
as the spindle checkpoint, this is a stage of cell division that safeguards
chromosome division to ensure the correct number of chromosomes are formed, if
there is any error in cell division this checkpoint will halt division while
the error is fixed. Oxidative stress overrides this checkpoint and therefore
can result in aneuploidy, which causes an abnormal amount of chromosomes to
form in a cell and DNA damage. This cell instability can lead to malignant
tumor formation.
Aneuploidy
can be reduced by the lifelong supplementation of antioxidants.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring chemicals found in certain foods that
prevent cell damage, help to maintain tissues and prevent disease.
Chromosomal instability characteristic of cancer formation can be reduced via
the intake or supplementation of the following antioxidants:
CoQ10
– An antioxidant essential for basic cell function and co enzyme used in energy
production. CoQ10 is produced within the body but can be obtained via diet and
supplementation. CoQ10 is found
naturally in beef, poultry, fish, soybean & canola oil, sesame seeds,
pistachios, fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, oranges and
strawberries .
Vitamin E
– A fat-soluble antioxidant that is one of the body’s primary defenders against
free radicals, acting to prevent oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and
other lipids. Vitamin E is particularly beneficial in preventing LDL
cholesterol oxidation, reducing risks of heart disease. Vitamin E is found in polyunsaturated plant
oils, leafy green vegetables, wheat germ, whole grains, nuts and seeds .
Plant Flavonoids
– Found in green tea, soy, milk thistle, turmeric and ginger, flavonoids are a
group of phytochemical's with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that
act to maintain cell membranes.
Therefore, through regular intake of coQ10, vitamin E and a range of plant flavonoids, oxidative stress can be reduced effectively reducing cell instability caused by free radical damage and reducing risks of cancer progression.
Therefore, through regular intake of coQ10, vitamin E and a range of plant flavonoids, oxidative stress can be reduced effectively reducing cell instability caused by free radical damage and reducing risks of cancer progression.
No comments:
Post a Comment