Antioxidants block prostate cancer

In experimental mice that naturally develop prostate cancer, supplementing with antioxidants vitamin E, lycopene and selenium effectively blocks the development or progression of prostate cancer.

According to a study published in the journal Cancer Research, dietary antioxidants (vitamin E, selenium, and lycopene) inhibited prostate cancer development in a group of mice that naturally develop prostate cancer. The prostate cancer disease process in these mice is similar to the human process in many respects, providing a good research model for the natural history of human prostate cancer.

Treatment of animals with the antioxidants resulted in a 4-fold reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer compared with the untreated animals. Prostate cancer developed in 73.68% (14 of 19) and 100% (19 of 19) of the animals from the standard and high fat diet, respectively.

In contrast, tumors developed in only 10.53% (2 of 19) and 15.79% (3 of 19) of the animals in the standard and high fat diets supplemented with antioxidants.

These observations support results from a growing body of research indicating a significant protective benefit of antioxidants on the development of prostate cancer.

Cancer Res. 2004 Aug 15;64(16):5891-6.

There's been a lot of talk lately concerning anti-oxidants and for good reason! Research like the study above are just beginning to scratch the surface of what antioxidants are capable of in the human body. Men will naturally take notice to studies like this which have clear implications for them.

As this study indicates, men's prostate health may be improved through proper nutritional supplementation. In addition to the antioxidants listed above (Vitamin E, selenium, and lycopene) other research has shown the benefits of saw palmetto in lower prostate cancer risk.

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Vitamin D reduces the risk of certain cancers

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health, has found that vitamin D deficiency may account for several thousand premature deaths annually.

The researchers reviewed 63 studies on the relationship between vitamin D and certain types of cancer worldwide between 1966 and 2004. The majority of studies found a protective relationship between sufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer, especially in cancers of the colon, breast, prostate and ovary.

Vitamin D is acquired either through the diet or through exposure to sunlight. Food sources include milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified orange juice. A typical serving provides approximately 100 international units (IU). Researchers suggested that people might want to consider a vitamin supplement to raise their overall intake to 1,000 IU's per day. Supplementing with additional vitamin D could be especially important for people living in northern areas, which receive less vitamin D from sunlight.

The evidence suggests that improving vitamin D status through diet and supplements could reduce cancer incidence and mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects.

It is fantastic how much people can reduce their risk of several types of cancer just by taking supplements. The problem with relying solely on sunlight to cause our skin to produce Vitamin D is that sun exposure can contribute to skin cancer. Furthermore, our daily lives are so hectic that it is extremely difficult for most of us to eat the necessary foods that would provide adequate amounts of Vitamin D, nevermind the rest of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidant sources, and nutrients our bodies need to fight off degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.

It has never been easier to supplement our diets with the highest quality supplements on the market, ones that have been produced using the same Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) that the pharmaceutical industry uses. USANA Health Sciences offers supplements that have been ranked #1 in North America by the Nutrisearch Comparative Guide to Supplements, which ranked about 500 companies' supplements for accuracy, completeness, and bioavailability. Try them now at: www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com and get your Vitamin D, as well as just about every other known essential vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and miscellaneous extracts that research shows helps our bodies to stay healthy and to age gracefully!