Berry Good Health
by Susan
Thorpe-Vargas Ph.D.
Multiple studies
have discovered that phytonutrients found in raspberries
can protect us from cancer and can even shrink some
types of cancer tumors. These substances can also act
as an antibacterial and as an antiviral agent. Does
this sound too good to be true? One particular
substance found in this natural “medicine chest”, is a
series of compounds called ellagitannins. The highest
levels are found in raspberries, but the ellagitannins
are also in certain types of grapes, strawberries,
blackberries, blueberries and some nuts too. Recent
work (2001), published by Dr. Gary Stoner at Ohio State
University, showed that components in the seeds and
berry, but particularly ellagitannins, inhibited the
initiation and promotion/progression stages of
esophageal cancer. This is an extremely important
finding, considering the potential benefits. In
addition, edible berries, including raspberries also
inhibit angiogenesis. This is a term used to describe
the development of blood vessels needed for tumor
growth.
We do not as yet know all of the functions of the
ellagitannins in terms of cancer. A study at Hollings
Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina has
shown one of the ways they work is to “turn on” a normal
cellular process called apoptosis. Apoptosis is
“science speak” for something called programmed cell
death. This natural cell death is just one of several
ways our body protects us from cancer. As we age,
cellular replication mistakes can occur. Cancer cells
somehow become immune to the signals that cause cells to
self-destruct, so they become virtually immortal and
reproduce indefinitely.
The
disease with a thousand faces
Cancer is not just one disease but is the general name
for more than 200 different types of malignancies.
Cancers are classified by the tissue type from which
they arise:
· osteosarcoma-bone cancer
· melanoma-skin cancer
· lymphoma-cancer of lymph nodes
· leukemia- cancer of the blood
Every cellular type has its own form of cancer. The one
thing all cancers share in common is uncontrolled
growth. Cancer occurs when cells lose control over
critical checkpoints during the process of one cell
splitting and becoming two cells. This control over
cellular replication is in the hands of several specific
types of genes.
Two classes of genes are suspected of being associated
with the occurrence of cancer. A mutation in a tumor
suppressor gene is like having faulty brakes in your
car. Just as their name implies, tumor suppressor genes
function by making sure there are no mistakes in the
genes that are replicated prior to one cell becoming
two. In this "quality control" process, if errors are
detected, the cell is instructed not to divide. Thus,
tumor suppressor genes put the brakes on cellular
division. The other class of genes thought to be
involved with preventing cancer is called proto-oncogenes.
Researchers have found that these genes "code" for
proteins involved in mechanisms that regulate the social
behavior of cells. Signals from those cells in the
immediate environment induce their neighbors to divide,
differentiate and even undergo apoptosis. So, this type
of gene is involved in promoting the normal growth and
division of cells and could be likened to your car's
accelerator. A change in the genetic message - a
mutation, can turn the proto-oncogene into an oncogene
and cause your accelerator to become stuck, thus
initiating "runaway" cellular replication. Nevertheless,
there seem to be no pattern to these mutations. What is
so frustrating for both researchers and clinicians alike
is that different combinations of mutations are found in
different types of cancer and even in cancers of
supposedly the same type in different patients. What is
most important to remember is that cancer begins as a
single abnormal cell that begins to multiply out of
control.
So,
what causes most mutations?
We live in a polluted environment. For instance, the
outgassing from asphalt on a hot summer day produces the
deadly carcinogen benzo{a}pyrene, the same chemical
found on meat that has been charcoal broiled. This is
just but one example. Exposure to such chemicals in the
environment can cause the mutations in our genetic
material that lead to cancer. Even normal metabolic
processes like breathing and exercise produce free
radicals that can wreak havoc on our cellular DNA. We
can protect ourselves from mutations caused by
environmental toxins and free radicals by taking
antioxidants. Guess what? Ellagitannins are also very
good antioxidants and chemoprotective agents.
Researchers at Wayne State University have a theory
about how ellagitannins might work. The liver produces
enzymes that rid the body of toxins. These enzymes break
down or chemically change toxic substances we ingest or
inhale so that they can be excreted. During this detox
process, the breakdown products, called metabolites, are
frequently more damaging then the original substance. It
appears that ellagitannins are able to safeguard the
liver from damage caused by these breakdown products.
Another theory held by some investigators is that
ellagitannins are able to protect our genetic material
from certain types of chemical reactions that lead to
misreading of damaged DNA.
Why
does chemotherapy and radiation eventually stop working?
It is becoming clear that normal therapeutic cancer
treatment works by turning on apoptosis. We used to
think that chemotherapy and radiation killed rapidly
dividing cells, which is why these procedures were able
to shrink tumors. However, at some point these
treatments begin to lose their effectiveness. Why is
that? Scott Lowe, a research scientist at Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory may have found the answer. Instead of
killing these cells, chemotherapy and radiation damage
their cellular DNA. This alerts the cell watchdogs that
control the cell cycle that something is wrong and tells
the cell to stop dividing or to commit suicide.
Therefore, chemotherapy and radiation act somewhat like
a "vaccination" that works by helping the body help
itself. The evidence for Dr. Lowe's theory is pretty
convincing, because when these treatments start to fail,
researchers have found that the genes that control
apoptosis are no longer functioning.
Why
don't ellagitannins induce normal cells to commit
suicide?
As we know, cancer cells become immortal, this means
that they are able to replicate themselves after
something called the Hayflick limit has been reached.
The Hayflick limit is the number of "allowed" cellular
replications. Each cell type has its own limit. Human
cancer studies show that mutations in the tumor
suppressor gene called p53 account for many of the
tumors found. One of the functions of this gene is that
it normally prevents cells with damaged DNA from
proceeding through the cell cycle. The presence of the
protein product encoded by p53 turns on the waf-1 gene.
The waf-1 gene produces a protein that normally inhibits
the activity of several similar cellular proteins called
kinases. These proteins are involved in stopping cell
cycle progression. A mutation in either the p53 or waf-1
gene can cause the loss of that "emergency brake"
function and allow uncontrolled growth. However, only
"damaged" cells are induced to commit suicide and so
normal cells are not affected.
Other
Phytochemicals found in Raspberries
Besides ellagitannins, the short list of other
beneficial compounds found in red raspberries includes
anthocyanins, salicylic acid, quercitin and catechins.
Some recent work has shown that these anthocyanins are
more effective then Vitamin E in inhibiting the COX-1
and COX-2 enzymes. Both Cox-1 and Cox-2 are associated
with the pain of arthritis and other inflammatory
diseases, and Cox-2 inhibition is positively linked to
preventing breast cancer. Besides their anticancer
properties, anthocyanins provide many other health
benefits. Among these are controlling diabetes,
improving circulation and aiding the retention of motor
skills and loss of memory linked to aging. Salicylic
acid may have the same effects as aspirin in protecting
us from cancer and the progression of atherosclerosis.
Both quercitin and catechins are flavonals that are
known to have antioxidant benefits including cancer
prevention, and quercitin may act as an antihistamine
also. Besides the anticancer properties of
ellagitannins they can protect us against infections.
An Antibacterial and
an Antiviral agent
Ellagitannins can act as antibacterial agents and as
antiviral agents too, and now we know how. Think of the
genetic material of bacteria as a rubber band that is
all twisted up. In order to replicate, the DNA must
untwist itself through a process requiring the enzyme
gyrase. Ellagitannins inhibit gyrase activity so
replication of the bacterial DNA is restricted.
Importantly, bacteria cannot easily become resistant to
this type of antibacterial action. Resistance to
antibiotics has become a real concern to the
international medical community. A federal government
task force noted that antibiotic resistance was “a
growing menace to all people” but children, the elderly
and those with weakened immune systems are especially at
risk. Besides its antibacterial action, ellagitannins
have antiviral activity also. Viruses do not have the
ability to replicate themselves. Instead that must
“hijack” the host cell and insert their own DNA into the
host cell genome. This requires an enzyme called
integrase and the ellagitannins inhibit this enzyme
also. It is especially helpful with the retroviruses,
like HIV, as it inhibits reverse transcriptase
specifically.
Diabetes and the
Protective Effects of Ellagic Acid
New
data shows that ellagic acid is very effective in
preventing damage to the eyes, kidneys, heart and the
small capillaries of the feet and hands that occur with
high glucose levels. It does this by inhibiting an
enzyme called aldose reductase. This enzyme is
responsible for the production of protein-sugar products
called AGE (Advanced Glycation End-Products) These end
products cause the damage of small blood vessels that
leads to the blindness, kidney damage, stroke and heart
attacks and loss of limbs associated with both forms of
diabetes. In addition, ellagic acid as well as several
other constituents in raspberry seed powder, enhance
insulin action, decrease insulin resistance and lower
blood sugar., and have multiple anti-inflammatory
effects and decrease oxidative stress as well as lower
blood pressure.
Ridding
the Body of Heavy Metals
A
recent literature search showed the ellagic acid is
capable of chelating the heavy metal nickel. Chelation
is a process that involves surrounding an inorganic
metal mineral or chemical toxin with organic molecules,
thus allowing the body to eliminate these toxic
compounds safely. Although there have not been any
specific studies done one can assume that because of
their similar chemical properties, ellagic acid would
also be effective in chelating palladium, platinum and
the radioactive element darmstadtium.
Citizen: Heal Thyself. (With apologies to Mr.
Hippocrates)
People are turning to alternative forms of medical
treatment and prevention. Not only is the medical
delivery system failing but, our costs for heath
services are rising at an astronomical rate. What this
means for the medical consumer is that we need to be
more responsible for our own health. We need to look at
prevention instead of always looking to health care
providers to “fix” what exposure to a toxic environment
and/or years of unhealthy lifestyle practices have
wrought. The quality of medical care is uneven at
best. Too often, our insurance providers do not cover
necessary tests and procedures, especially those of a
preventative nature. However, we can become involved in
our own health care. A diet rich in fresh fruits and
vegetables is a good start towards preventing disease.
Unfortunately, current test show that our soil is
severely lacking in many minerals or electrolytes and
other components that are essential for proper
nutrition. It is necessary to sometimes take
supplements as it may not be physically or economically
possible to eat enough food to get the proper
nutrition. In addition, the cost of fresh fruits and
vegetables can be prohibitive. For instance, unless you
grow your own raspberries, the cost of the American
Cancer Institute’s recommended daily bowl of the whole
berries could run as high as $300 a month. Not only
that, but research has shown that the ellagitannin
content is much higher in the seeds then in the fruit.
In addition, the powdered seed may be much more
bioavailable then the whole fruit, especially so for the
short carnivorous gut of the cat or dog. So
nutraceutical supplements appear to be the answer.
Raspberry seeds contain many more times the
ellagitannins than the fruit at one-tenth the cost.
It’s your choice, whatever form you may decide to use –
the take home message is: “Eat your ellagitannins!”
SMDI -
Scientific Medical Devices, Inc.
Scientific Medical Devices, Inc. (SMDI) has established
itself as one of the leading suppliers of Meeker
Raspberry Seed Capsules, Meeker Raspberry Seed Powder
and Meeker Raspberry Skin Cream made from the Meeker
Raspbberry Extract. SMDI sells to consumers, web
suppliers, pet owners, health food stores and cancer
clinics worldwide. Raspberries contain one of the most
powerful antioxidants known – a series of ellagitannins
that are converted into ellagic acid in the body.
Raspberry ellagitannins are one of very few fruits that
have been clinically shown to be transformed into
beneficial levels of ellagic acid in the body. The
ellagitannin content in the seeds is much higher than in
the fruit.
The ellagitannin content of red raspberry seeds varies
dramatically with the variety of the berry. The highest
levels of ellagitannins are found in the Meeker variety
of raspberry seed. SMDI has selected a processor who
guarantees us greater than 90% Meeker raspberry content
and is willing to actively control their raw material
stream to satisfy our strict nutraceutical requirements.
SMDI has essentially tied up the production of the
Meeker variety of raspberry. SMDI processes the seed
into maximum bioavailable flour which frees the
ellagitannis for immediate adsorption and transformation
into ellagic acid in the body. SMDI’s Meeker Variety
Raspberry Seed products contain the highest amount of
ellagitannins available in nature per dollar spent.
There has been much research into ellagic acid, its
value as a potential anti oxidant and in its fighting
cancer. Ellagic acid has been found to inhibit the
promotion and progression of certain types of cancer.
Many pet owners are feeding the Raspex Raspberry Seed
Powder and the Raspex Raspberry Seed Capsules to their
pets. They are expericing dramatic results dealing with
tumor reduction and increasing and maintaining the
quality of their pets life
NOW SMDI is proud to bring you its line of
cosmaceuticals – that is a line of cosmetics made with
the Meeker Variety Raspberry Seed Extract. These
cosmetic products were developed by one of the world’s
leading skin biophysicists resulting in some of the most
effective skin restoration and preservation products on
the market today.
- Raspex Skin Gel
- Raspex Emollient Facial
Cleanser
- Raspex Anti Aging/Night
Cream
- Raspex Vitamin C Serum
- Raspex Analgesic Burn
Cream
- Raspex “Hot Raspberry
Pie” Foot Cream
- Raspex Progesterone
Cream
- Raspex Burn Ointment
Cancer &
Nutrition or Lack of
The connection between diet and
cancer has been known for years. In his book The
Cancer Recovery Eating Plan Dr. Daniel Nixon
discusses this connection. It is known the
countries where the population consumes diets
high in fat and calories and low fiber have a
higher incidence of certain cancers. In fact
certain studies have linked higher fat intake to
higher risks of breast and prostate cancer. It
is also known that Asiatic populations have
lower incidences of the same cancers.
There is some accumulation of
concern that Xeno-estrogens may also be
contributing to this problem. Xeno-estrogens are
homogenate hydrocarbon compounds (compounds
containing fluoride and chloride residues) which
are by products of plastic production and waste
run off from pesticides. These xeno-estrogens
can stimulate breast and prostate cancer growth.
It is further known that whole soy products may
have a protective effect against certain
malignancies by virtue of the fact that they
contain phytoestrogens. These are plant based
estrogen-like materials that block the estrogen
receptors on breast and prostate tissue and
therefore interfere with their harmful effects
of xeno-estrogens. There plant based estrogens
have no harmful effects themselves. In fact if
one looks at Asiatic populations consuming whole
soy there is a very low incidence of breast or
prostate cancer.
Consumption of diets high in fat
are definitely associated with a higher risk of
cancer and particularly breast and prostate.
Although the exact mechanism for this is not
known several possibilities do exist. It is
known that animal fat does store the xeno-estrogens
discussed above and consuming large amount would
expose one to increased levels of these material
Fat provides a lot of energy for cells to divide
and if malignancies were formed for other
reasons (mutations, pollution etc.) this easily
available energy could support their growth.
Cancer and Nitrates
When foods
are smoked certain carcinogenic
materials are picked up form the smoke
and deposited in the flesh of the meat.
These carcinogenic compounds are similar
to those in cigarette smoke Grilling
foods may deposit similar materials.
Consuming meats that are heavily laden
with nitrites and nitrates could lead to
the formation of nitrosamines in the
intestinal track. Nitrosamines are known
to be carcinogenic. |
ALCOHOL & CANCER
Alcohol
consumption associated with cigarette
smoking does seem to increase the risk
of certain head and neck cancers.
The American
Cancer Society has a guideline for
reducing a person’s chance of developing
cancer and they are:
Maintain
a desirable body weight
Eat a
varied diet
Include
a variety of both vegetables and
fruits in the daily diet
Eat more
high-fiber foods, such as whole
grain cereals, legumes, vegetables,
and fruits.
Cut down
on total fat intake
Limit
consumption of alcoholic beverages,
if you drink at all.
Limit
consumption of salt-cured, smoked
and nitrite-preserved foods.
What Are Ellagatannins?
How do they work?
Ellagatannins are large flat
molecules found in the fruit
and seeds of many fruits.
When eaten, the
ellagatannins are changed by
stomach acids into ellagic
acid. Ellagic acid works in
many ways:
As an anti-oxidant, it
neutralizes cell
damaging free radicals.
It protects the p53
gene. Most cancers are
caused by damage to this
gene.
It protects DNA from the
mutations that cause
cancer
It inhibits the viral
enzyme integrase
It inhibits the
bacterial enzyme gyrase.
|
What
are the benefits?
Raspberries, like many other
fruits contain ellagatannins,
compounds that have been
shown to have many health
benefits. These benefits
include:
Prevention of neural
tube birth defects.
Inhibits viral growth
Kills helicobacter
pylori bacteria which
causes ulcers
Antibacterial as it
retards bacterial
replication
Retards gum recession
Accelerate wound
healing, including
radiation burns
Reduce liver fibrosis
Cardioprotective
|
FRESH RASPBERRES ARE
EXPENSIVE!
One cup a
day from the grocery store
will cost me as much as
$300.00 a month.
HELP!
We have the answer!
Raspberry seeds contain much
more ellagic acid than the
fruit. We have found the
Meeker variety of
raspberries contain the most
ellagic acid of any
variety. We offer Meeker
seed tablets: four 1000mg
tablets contain as much
ellagatannins as one cup of
fresh raspberries!
This product was developed
for one reason: To make the
benefits of ellagatannins
affordable for those who
need it. It’s your choice:
One cup of fresh
raspberries a day for
$300.00 a month, or our
convenient tablets for
one-tenth the price.
But for your health’s
sake-do one or the other. |
The Raspberry
Revolution
the miracle berry
that helps fight cancer
With contributions by Susan
Thorpe, Ph.D.
There has
occurred over the last few
decades a revolution in the
way we view our healthcare.
No longer are people
passively waiting for the
doctor to “fix them”, but
are taking an active role in
maintaining their own
health. “Eating healthy”
used to mean simply not
eating “bad” foods. Now we
are learning more about
foods: they can be more than
simply fuel. Some chemicals
in certain foods are being
given credit as powerful
agents that can prevent or
cure diseases: Nutritional
Pharmaceuticals or
Nutraceutical. Simply put,
if a person’s family history
or lifestyle indicates a
high potential disease, to
minimize the effects of this
disease, or to improve the
healing process in
conjunction with other
traditional treatments.
So what is a nutraceutical?
A
nutraceutical is a food
substance or part of a food
that provides medical or
health benefits, including
the prevention or treatment
of disease. They are
naturally occurring
compounds of found in
plants, alga's, microbials,
and other biological sources
that support specific bodily
health functions.
Nutraceuticals are thought
to have their greatest
influence in preventative
medicine (I.e. cancer) and
for the treatment of chronic
diseases.
But
before we can explain to you
how these nutraceuticals are
able to prevent cancer we
must first know what cancer
is. What follows is a
history of the research, a
discussion of the basic
mechanisms of this disease
process, and how nutritional
factors can protect us. |
History of the Research
Influential scientists such
as Dr. Daniel Nixon of the
Hollings Cancer Institute
(Medical University of south
Carolina, USA) have been
working with certain
micro-nutrients and their
impact on human health. Dr.
Nixon’s most recent work has
been with raspberries and
specifically the
micronutrient ellagic acid
contained in the pulp and
seeds. His work with tissue
cultures has shown that
cancer cells (of many types)
exposed to ellagic acid
levels corresponding to
specific amounts of eating
fresh raspberries underwent
a natural cell death.
This is
incredibly important news,
because the amount of
raspberries needed to
develop this level of
ellagic acid was only one
cup!
Dr. Nixon
has also shown that human
cervical cells infected with
human papilloma virus (HPV,
warts) are also killed by
the same concentration of
ellagic acid. This is
important because human
papilloma viruses are
considered to be the main
cause of cervical cancer.
Other
scientist have found
positive responses using
ellagic acid in researching
many other conditions and
disease:
Periodontal disease
Protection of the liver
from toxic injury
Faster would healing
Radiation induced
chromosomal damage
Slowing the spread of
the HIV virus in the
human body
Slowing the degenerative
process of aging
Prevention of neural
tube birth defects
Neurodegenerative
diseases
Diabetic retinopathy
|
Basic
Mechanisms of the
Disease Process
We live in a remarkably
polluted environment. These
pollutants can combine with
the oxygen species known as
free radicals. These free
radicals seek to neutralize
their imbalanced electrical
charge by attacking weaker
molecules-and DNA is a great
target. Chromosomes have
their own defensive system
to deal with certain levels
of free radical attack, but
the burdens of modern life
can overwhelm these
defenses. |
The p53
gene
The p53 gene
exists in all
human cells and might be
considered one of the most
important human genes. It
controls an extremely
important cellular process
known as
apoptosis.
Apoptosis can
simply be described as
programmed cell death. The
reason we’re not all 20 feet
tall and weigh a thousand
pounds is that cells have a
limited lifespan. When this
lifespan has been fulfilled,
the p53 initiates a cascade
of processes that result in
controlled cell death and
the recycling of usable
cellular material. The p53
gene can also be described
as the protector of the
genome (our DNA) because if
harmful mutations occur
(those that could result in
cancer) it may also initiate
the mutation damages the p53
gene so that it cannot do
its job, cancer can result.
In fact, it is now believed
that as many as 50% or more
of human cancers result from
damage to the p53 gene.
|
How
Does the p53 gene work?
Although the exact mechanism
behind the process by which
ellagic acid induces
apoptosis:
There exists on the surface
of our cells certain
receptors know as FAS. When
these receptors are
stimulated by certain
proteins produced by the p53
gene a cascade of enzymes,
the caspace enzyme system,
is released which then
automatically digests the
cell. It is possible that
ellagic acid stimulates this
FAS receptor causing the
cascade of enzymes to be
released. There are other
receptors for p53 and other
gene proteins that stimulate
the enzyme release and
ellagic acid may be working
on these sites. |
Viral
Integrase, HIV infection and
Ellagic Acid
Recent studies have shown
that ellagic acid has some
activity in virto (the lab)
against HIV (the virus that
causes AIDS). This activity
is explained on the basis of
its anti-integrase activity.
Integrates are enzymes
necessary for virues to
insert their DNA into the
infected cells and then use
the cell machinery to
reproduce itself. The
ellagic acid binds to a
segment of the viral
integrase, rendering it
incapable of carrying out
its function. It thus has
anti HIV capability. |
The
Antibiotic Anti DNA Gyrase
Activity and
Capabilities of Ellagic Acid
Other laboratory studies
have shown the ellagic acid
can act to prevent super
coiling of certain bacterial
DNA. This super coiling
results in the twisted
double helix structure of
DNA of which most people are
familiar. If this twisted
double helix cannot develop
bacteria will cease to
function. It is known that
the twisting is produced by
enzymes known as gyrases.
The ellagic acid molecule is
known to bind to the gyrase
enzymes, preventing the
twisting of the DNA
molecule. |
Ellagic Acid, the phase II
enzyme
system
and DNA
Adducts
Ellagic acid has other
beneficial effects on human
health that take advantage
of its separate but
important anti-oxidant
potential. Again, to
understand this important
function we must have a
basic understanding of what
anti-oxidants are and how
they protect us.
The very act of breathing in
oxygen creates within living
systems very reactive and
damaging molecules which are
combinations of oxygen and
hydrogen. These reactive
species are catalyzed
(produced) by certain metals
that are located near our
DNA molecules. These
reactive species will seek
to neutralize their
imbalanced electrical by
attempting to combine with
nearby healthy molecules
creating damage. Since the
relative species are in
close proximity to DNA
molecules our genes can
become a likely target
resulting in DNA damage
(mutations). It is known
that ellagic acid can form
adducts (gentle wrapping of
our DNA molecules) with our
genes and itself become a
target for the reactive
species and thus protecting
the DNA. This protection of
necessary molecules could be
termed anti-oxidant
potential.
When we speak of
anti-oxidants we must also
mention the phase II enzyme
system and its function.
Within our cells and
particularly the liver there
are groups of enzymes that
may collectively be
characterized as the phase I
and the phase II system. |
Oxidative Stress and the
degenerative effects of
aging
If an organism’s ability to
generate reactive oxygen
species (free radicals) is
not balanced by equal
amounts of anti-oxidant
potential that organism is
said to suffer oxidative
stress. It is thought that
this oxidative stress and
the resultant free-radical
damage strongly contributes
to the degenerative effects
of aging, such as arthritis,
cataracts, decreased vision,
and cancer itself. |
Raspberries in the News!
Interest article.
Greetings Folks,
Someone kindly shared the
following information with
me that was in the June 04,
2002 issue of ‘Woman’s Day’
magazine, it had this to
say: (page 18 --Theme:
Brand-New Miracle
Weight-Loss Breakthroughs!)
Article title: The powerful
metabolism-booster
discovered in raspberries
This month, Japanese dieters
will be the first to try
what could soon become the
world’s most delicious diet
pill. Made from the compound
that gives raspberries their
fragrance, the chewable
tablets were proven during
trials to have three times
more metabolism-boosting
power than other popular
supplements. In fact, the
average test subject lost
2.2 pounds in a week without
making any other lifestyle
changes!
So when will the pill be
widely available? It could
be months or even years
before they make it to your
local drugstore. But there
is a simple alternative, say
researchers. Eat
raspberries! To get enough
of the fruit’s miracle
ingredient, called ketones,
you’ll need to incorporate
two or more cups of
raspberries into your daily
menus.
“It worked for me!”
When Susan Gombert, R.N.,
first invented a raspberry
diet for herself, she was
pretty
sure it’d help her shed a
few pounds fast. “I had
learned that raspberries are
one of the
highest fiber fruits—and
fiber helps reduce both
hunger and the number of
calories
our bodies can absorb,” says
the Port Washington, New
York, mom of four. “They’re
incredibly low in calories,
even lower than most other
fruits. Plus, I’ve found
that
raspberries can actually
take away my cravings for
chocolate!”
So Susan began aiming to eat
a pint of raspberries a day,
adding them to cereal or
just eating them straight
from the container. “I found
I could lose at least two
pounds
in a week this way, without
making any other changes,”
she reports. “Now if I
notice
my jeans getting snug, I
don’t make a big deal about
it, I just eat raspberries.”
This might be your
weight-loss miracle if. . .
you’ve always wanted to reap
the benefits of diet
supplements –reduced hunger,
fewer
cravings, reduced calorie
absorption and increased
fat-burning power—but have
felt
uneasy about taking pills.
“Raspberries are all natural
and truly slimming.”
promises Joy Bauer, R.D.,
author of ‘The 90/10 Weight
Loss Plan.’
6/18/02 Typed from article
in Woman’s Day Magazine,
June 04, 2002 Issue, Page 18 |
Anticancer Res 2001
Nov-Dec;21(6A):3903-8
Strong
antioxidant activity of ellagic acid
in mammalian cells in
vitro revealed by the comet assay.
Festa F, Aglitti T, Duranti G,
Ricordy R, Perticone P, Cozzi R.
Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita
degli Studi Roma TRE, Italy.
Oxidative stress due to oxygen and
various radical species is
associated
with the induction of DNA single-
and double-strand breaks and is
considered
to be a first step in several human
degenerative diseases, cancer and
ageing. Naturally occurring
antioxidants are being extensively
analysed for
their ability to protect DNA against
such injury. We studied three
naturally
occuring compounds,Ascorbic Acid,
Melatonin and Ellagic acid, for
their
ability to modulate DNA damage
produced by two strong radical
oxygen
inducers (H2O2 and Bleomycin) in
cultured CHO cells. The alkaline
Comet
assay was used to measure DNA damage
and a cytofluorimetric analysis was
performed to reveal the
intracellular oxidative species. The
data showed a
marked reduction of H2O2- and
Bleomycin-induced DNA damage exerted
by
Ellagic Acid. On the contrary
Ascorbic acid and Melatonin appeared
to induce
a slight increase in DNA damage per
se. In combined treatments, they
caused
a slight reduction of H2O2-induced
damage, but they did not efficiently
modulate the Bleomycin-induced one.
The Dichlorofluorescein diacetate
(DCFH-DA)cytofluorimetric test
confirmed the strong scavenging
action
exerted by Ellagic Acid.
-
Life Sci 2002
-
Mar
1;70(15):1821-39 Related
Articles, Books, LinkOut
-
Interactive gene
expression pattern in
prostate cancer cells
exposed to phenolic
antioxidants.
Narayanan BA,
Narayanan NK, Stoner GD,
Bullock BP.
Microarray
Systems Laboratory,
American Health
Foundation, Valhalla, NY
10595, USA. bhagavat@mindspring.com
Dietary phenolic
compounds are known to
elicite vital cellular
responses such as cell
cycle arrest, apoptosis
and differentiation by
activating a cascade of
molecular events. As
there is an increasing
interest to improve the
efficacy of these
compounds for use as
potential
chemopreventive agents,
we wanted to understand
the impact of phenolic
compounds on target
genes in prostate
cancer. In this study we
used human cDNA
microarrays with 2400
clones consisting of 17
prosite motifs to
characterize alterations
in gene expression
pattern in response to
the phenolic
antioxidants ellagic
acid (EA) and
resveratrol (RE). Over a
48-hr exposure of
androgen - sensitive
LNCaP cells to EA and
RE, a total of 593 and
555 genes respectively,
showed more than a two
fold difference in
expression. A distinct
set of genes in both
EA-and RE-treated cells
may represent the
signature profile of
phenolic
antioxidant-induced gene
expression in LNCaP
cells. Although
extensive similarity was
found between effects of
EA - and RE - responsive
genes in prostate cancer
cells, out of 246 genes
with overlapping
responses, 25 genes
showed an opposite
effect. Quantitative
RT-PCR was used to
verify and validate the
differential expression
of selected genes
identified from cDNA
microarrays. In-depth
analysis of the data
from this study provided
insight into the
alterations in the p53 -
responsive genes, p300,
Apaf-1, NF-kBp50 and p65
and PPAR families of
genes, suggesting the
activation of multiple
signaling pathways that
leads to growth
inhibition of LNCaP
cells. This is a first
study to look for
changes in a large
number of human genes in
response to dietary
compounds.
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