Can Capsaicin in Chili Peppers Help Beat Cancer? by Dr. Mercola
Can Capsaicin in Chili Peppers Help Beat Cancer?
January 16, 2017|22,872views
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By Dr. Mercola
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2017 there will be 1.68 million new cancer cases and over 600,000 deaths.1
This means three new cases and one death every minute of every day. The
top five cancers diagnosed are estimated to be breast, lung, prostate,
colorectal and melanoma, in that order.
The link between obesity and cancer, and the high number of insulin receptors on cancer cells2 make sugar and a high-carbohydrate diet a significant risk for developing cancer.
A recent study from Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated a
significant link between sugar and some cancers, especially breast
cancer.3
As it is estimated that breast cancer will be diagnosed more than any
other cancer in 2017, and the amount of sugar in a standard Western
diet only continues to grow, it is very important to evaluate your
dietary choices to reduce your risk and improve successful treatment.
Interestingly, a recent study from Ruhr University in Germany has
identified a positive effect of the spicy molecule in chili peppers
against some of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer.4
Not All Breast Cancers Are the Same
Regardless of race or ethnicity, breast cancer
is the most common form of cancer diagnosed. However, with recent
breakthroughs in the ability to identify genetic markers in cancer
cells, scientists have been able to categorize different types of breast
cancer and also design more effective treatment protocols.
Although referred to as a single disease, breast cancer is
categorized by where it is found and the type of cells in the tumor.
Important to both diagnosis and treatment are the site of the tumor (if
it is found in the ducts or lobules of breast tissue), whether it is in
the walls or has become invasive, and the reproductive status of the
woman.5
Biological markers are also used to evaluate treatment options and
prognosis. These markers include Luminal A, Luminal B, triple negative
and HER2 types. The most aggressive of these subtypes is the triple
negative cell type. The name is derived from the tumor cells being
progesterone, estrogen and HER2 receptor negative.6
Within the triple negative subtype, there are also several subsets.
Between 15 percent and 20 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed are
triple negative, tending to occur most often in younger women and
African American women.7
The majority of cancers that develop in women with the gene mutation
BRCA1 are both triple negative and basal-like. Recent research tested
this most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, triple negative,
basal-like tumors.
Cancer Cells Succumb to Capsaicin
The active ingredient in hot chili peppers is capsaicin,
which is what makes your mouth burn and gives the peppers their pungent
odor. According to recent research, capsaicin also inhibits the growth
of breast cancer cells.8
Using the aggressive triple negative breast cancer cells, researchers
carried out experiments to determine the effect of capsaicin on the
tumor cells.
The team first confirmed the presence of olfactory receptors on the
tumor cells called Transient Receptor Potential Channels (TRPV1), which
are normally activated by capsaicin and the scent of a fresh ocean
breeze. Next, they activated these receptor cells by adding capsaicin to
the cell cultures for several hours to several days.9
As a result, the tumor cells began dividing much more slowly and began to die in large numbers.10
The surviving cells also lost the ability to move quickly and reduced
the ability to metastasize or develop secondary growths away from the
primary site.
Past studies had demonstrated the antiproliferative activity of
capsaicin, but the molecular basis to induce cell death had not been
identified.11
Existing research had also suggested that transient receptor
potential (TRP) channels played a significant role in influencing cancer
cell growth. One of those receptor channels were olfactory, TRPV1.
The goal of this latest study was to investigate how the expression of TRP channels in breast cancer tissue could influence cell growth, and how it may be used in treatment protocols. Dr. Lea Weber, co-author of the study, commented:12
"In this study, we aimed to identify the TRP channels in
different breast cancer subtypes and to investigate the effect of TRPV1
ligand on breast cancer progression.
To our knowledge, no studies have yet conducted a large-scale
comparative study of the TRP channels expression profiles in breast
cancer cell lines.
In our experiments, a significant reduction in cell proliferation
after capsaicin stimulation was observed. This finding was in
accordance with the results of other scientists, who demonstrated a
significant decrease in the cell growth rate of MCF-7 breast cancer
cells upon capsaicin stimulation."
Combining Ginger and Chili Peppers May Boost Anti-Cancer Activity
While capsaicin alone is a powerful molecule, in combination with 6-gingerol found in raw ginger root,
it becomes even more important to your health. In a recent study,
researchers discovered mice who were prone to lung cancer experienced a
reduction in diagnosis when fed a combination of capsaicin and
6-gingerol.13
Together the chemicals had an increased ability to bind to a receptor
that is responsible for tumor cell growth. This ability reduced the
potential for developing lung cancer in the experimental animals. During
the study, researchers fed one group just capsaicin, another just
6-gingerol and the third a combination of the two.
While under observation, all of the mice who received capsaicin
developed lung tumors, half of the mice who received 6-gingerol
developed lung tumors but only 20 percent of the mice who were given the
combination developed cancer.14
However, even on their own, both ginger and capsaicin have powerful health effects. Ginger has a long history of calming nausea15 related to surgery,16 morning sickness17 and chemotherapy.
The anti-inflammatory properties have given many people relief with the pain of osteoarthritis.18
As ginger also increases the motility of your gastrointestinal tract,
it has been used for the treatment of chronic indigestion.19
Significantly reducing pain associated with menstrual disorders,20 lowering cholesterol levels21 and improving brain function22 are other health benefits associated with ginger.
Capsaicin has a long list of benefits as well, including inhibiting
pain transmission that can help prevent headaches and prevent
inflammation in your body.23 Chili peppers also have more vitamin C than oranges, to help support your immune system.24
Diet and Nutrition Influences Cancer
Having battled cancer himself, Dr. Gary Fettke came to realize the
influence of nutrition on cancer, and the importance of eating a diet
high in healthy fats and low in net carbohydrates (total carbs minus
fiber, i.e. non-fiber carbs).
In this video, Fettke explains the metabolic model of cancer and how
you can use this knowledge to prevent abnormal growths and help treat
those which may have already occurred.
Simply put, scientists have thought that genetic defects typically
were responsible for cancer. However, these changes actually occur after
mitochondrial damage has been done. This dysfunction is at the core of
all diseases, putting your mitochondria at the center of any wellness or
disease prevention strategies.
Your mitochondria
produce energy aerobically in the cell. In the presence of oxygen,
cancer cells over produce lactic acid, normally produced in anaerobic
activity. Called the Warburg Effect after Dr. Otto Warburg, this
activity indicates that cancer cells are fed by sugar and unable to use
fat for fuel. Normal cells have the flexibility to use either sugar or
fats, but cancer cells are limited to primarily sugar.
Since cancer can be accurately classified as a mitochondrial
metabolic disease, the good news is you can optimize your mitochondrial
function through lifestyle choices, thus reducing your potential for
developing cancer, or to help improve treatment success.
The inflammatory process is a major driver of disease, and several of
the key culprits of increasing this response are polyunsaturated fats
(PUFAs), trans fats, artificial ingredients and sugar in all forms,
including refined grains and high-fructose corn syrup. As you reduce the
amount of net carbs you eat, you drive down inflammation, and when inflammation disappears, your body can heal.
Cancer requires glucose for fuel, and building materials from
surrounding cells to continue to thrive. The process cancer uses to
invading surround tissue is known as the Reverse Warburg Effect, relying
on hydrogen peroxide generation triggered by oxygen free radicals and
water. Fettke explains these processes in the featured video.
Understanding these concepts presents a new set of cancer prevention and
treatment strategies.
Strategies That May Prevent Cancer
Cancer screening is often portrayed as the best form of "prevention"
you can get against various forms of cancer. But early diagnosis is not
the same as prevention. And some forms of cancer screenings do more harm
to your health than good. I believe the vast majority of all cancers
could be prevented by strictly applying basic, common-sense healthy
lifestyle strategies, which includes the following:
Eat Real Foods
Avoid processed foods
and sugar to avoid feeding cancer cells. Limit or eliminate PUFA oils
and trans fats. Limit protein to 0.5 gram of protein per pound of lean
body mass. Increase your fresh organic vegetables (antioxidant intake)
to counteract free radical damage and increase your fat from high
quality organic sources such as avocado, raw butter, seeds, nuts and
cacao nibs.
Stop Eating at Least Three Hours Before Bed
There is compelling evidence demonstrating that fueling your
mitochondria at a time when they don't need it increases leakage of a
large number of electrons that liberates reactive oxygen species (free
radicals), damaging mitochondria and eventually nuclear DNA.25
There is also evidence to indicate that cancer cells uniformly have
damaged mitochondria, so the last thing you want to do is eat before you
go to bed.26
Optimize Your Vitamin D Level
Vitamin D
influences virtually every cell in your body and is one of nature's
most potent cancer fighters. Vitamin D is actually able to enter cancer
cells and trigger apoptosis (cell death).27 Vitamin D works synergistically with every cancer treatment I'm aware of, with no adverse effects.
Limit Protein Intake
Recent research has emphasized the importance of the mTOR pathway that, when activated, accelerates cancer growth.28,29
To quiet this pathway, used in protein metabolism,30
I believe it may be wise to limit your protein to 1 gram of protein per
kilogram of lean body mass, or roughly a bit less than half a gram of
protein per pound of lean body weight. That is roughly 40 to 70 grams
per day for most people.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
This will come naturally when you begin eating a diet low in
carbohydrates and high in healthy fats, as well as including a
consistent exercise routine. It's important to lose excess body fat
because fat produces estrogen and obesity is linked to higher rates of
cancer.31
Exercise Regularly
One of the primary reasons exercise
works to lower your cancer risk is because it drives your insulin
levels down and regulates your leptin receptors — two powerful ways of
preventing inflammation and cancer cell growth.
Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is triggered by exercise, causing cancer cells to die.32
Exercise may also help lower estrogen levels, which explains why it is
particularly potent against estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.33 Exercise also increases the creation of more mitochondria, essential to fighting cancer.34,35
Improve Insulin and Leptin Receptor Sensitivity
The best and most efficient way to accomplish insulin
and leptin receptor sensitivity is to avoid sugar and grains and
restrict non-fiber carbs to under 100 grams per day, and include regular
exercise, especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
Eliminate Unfermented Soy Products
Unfermented soy
is high in plant estrogens, or phytoestrogens, also known as
isoflavones. In some studies, soy appears to work in concert with human
estrogen to increase breast cell proliferation, which increases the
chances for mutations and cancerous cells.36
Balance Your Omega-3 and Omega-6 Ratio to 1-to-1
Include plenty of high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fats
in your daily diet through eating high quality, non-toxic fish or
through a high-quality krill oil supplement. The standard American diet
tends to be high in omega-6 fats, which need to be balanced with omega-3
fats to reduce your potential risk of cancer.37
Include Curcumin
This is the active ingredient in turmeric and in high concentrations can
be a very useful adjunct in the treatment of cancer. For example, it
has demonstrated major therapeutic potential in preventing breast cancer
metastasis.38 It's important to know that curcumin is generally not absorbed that well, so I've provided several absorption tips here.
Avoid Alcohol
Limit or eliminate alcohol as it is a known carcinogen.39
Avoid Electromagnetic Fields
Limit your exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in your bedroom by removing your cell phone and electric blankets, and moving your alarm clock to the far side of the room.
Avoid Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy
Especially if you have other risk factors for breast cancer,
synthetic hormone replacement may increase your risk. Several different
types of breast cancer are estrogen receptor positive. According to a
study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI),
breast cancer rates for women dropped in tandem with decreased use of
hormone replacement therapy.
If you experience excessive menopausal symptoms, you may consider
bioidentical hormone replacement therapy instead, which uses hormones
that are molecularly identical to the ones your body produces and do not
wreak havoc on your system. This is a much safer alternative.
There is compelling evidence linking iodine deficiency with certain forms of cancer. Dr. David Brownstein,41 author of the book "Iodine: Why You Need it, Why You Can't Live Without it," is a proponent of iodine for breast cancer.
It actually has potent anticancer properties and has been shown to
cause cell death in breast and thyroid cancer cells. For more
information, I recommend reading Brownstein's book.
I have been researching iodine for some time ever since I interviewed
Brownstein as I do believe that the bulk of what he states is spot on.
However, I am not convinced that his dosage recommendations are ideal. I
believe they are five to six times higher than optimal.
Reduce Grilling Your Meat and Avoid Charring
Charcoal or flame broiled meat
is linked with increased breast cancer risk. Acrylamide — a carcinogen
created when starchy foods are baked, roasted or fried — has been found
to increase cancer risk as well.
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