Sowing the seeds of cancer prevention
There’s nothing new about flax as a food. Ground flaxseed, which is the best way to eat it, has been used as a food in Ethiopia for 3,000 years. Only recently has flaxseed oil gained any popularity in the U.S.
Dr. Johanna Budwig of Germany has maintained for years that flax oil is effective in the treatment and prevention of cancer. A report from the University of Minnesota confirms this theory, crediting flax oil with protective effects against breast cancer. It seems that Dr. Budwig was 25 years ahead of her time.
Dr. Joanne Slavin of the University of Minnesota says her research indicates that blood levels of specific estrogens linked to increased risk for breast cancer “decreased significantly with flax supplementation.”
Flaxseed has a high content of a phytoestrogen called lignan, which is believed to inhibit production of a form of estrogen linked to cancer.
“Many people,” Slavin said, “are starting to use flax as an alternative to soy because of its high levels of phytoestrogens.”
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are available in most health food stores. Buy the oil cold-pressed (i.e., not refined) to add to salads, or sprinkle the crushed seed granules on your salad, oatmeal, smoothie, etc. If the flaxseed has been refined, and so stripped of its natural antioxidants, it is highly subject to oxidation and cannot be recommended as a food (even if it says “food grade” on the label). Please note that flaxseed oil is not recommended as a cooking oil, since exposing it to heat can cause it to oxidize or become rancid.
Berry good ginseng findings
We all know about ginseng root but most of us have never thought about the ginseng berry. (Did you even know there was a ginseng berry? I didn’t until a few months ago. That’s why I love this job – you learn something new every day.)
Anyway, one new research project from the University of Chicago has come up with some really exciting findings concerning the relationship of certain molecules in the berry and control of blood sugar and weight levels.
Reporting in the medical journal, Diabetes, Chun-Su Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., said that a specific substance in ginseng berry extract, called ginsenoside Re, completely normalized blood glucose levels, improved sensitivity to insulin, lowered cholesterol levels, and decreased weight by reducing appetite and increasing activity levels in mice bred to develop diabetes.
“Ginseng berry has a distinctive chemical profile and has not previously been used for therapy,” Dr. Yuan said. “We were stunned by how different the berry is from the root and by how effective it is in correcting diabetes.”
So far, the work has only been done on mice. Even so, it still seems too good to be true. But this is a respectable institution and the research is compelling. It could be the beginning of something big for weight loss and controlling diabetes. It will probably be a while before you can obtain a ginseng berry supplement, but I will continue to follow the research and keep you up-to-date.
