How Non-essential Nutrients Reduce Cancer Risk

Numerous studies show that those who eat thecompound found in red grapes. It decreases the
most fruits and vegetables have the lowest riskbad form of cholesterol (LDL) and the clumping of
of cancer and heart disease. Yet, when isolatedthe blood, associated with heart attacks and
vitamins are consumed, the results are mixed.strokes. It also reduces inflammation, associated
Why?According to Dr. Rui Lui of Cornell University,with arthritis and other degenerative
"The key question is whether a purified vitamindiseases.Flavonoids: This group includes over 5,000
has the same benefit as does the whole food."Dr.potent anti-cancer compounds. Fruits and
Lui concluded, "Our group found that, for example,vegetables contain the most flavonoids of any
that the Vitamin C in apples with skin accountsfood group.Flavnones: Found in oranges, lemons,
for only 0.4% of the total antioxidant activity,grapefruits, and berries.Anthocyanidins and
suggesting that most of the antioxidant activityAnthocyanosides: Found in blueberries and grape
of fruits and vegetables may come fromseeds.Proanthacyanidins: Found in blueberries,
phenolics and flavonoids in apples. We proposeGingko biloba, and other botanicals.Curcumin: A
that the additive and synergistic effects ofpowerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant found in
phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables aretumeric spice.Cinnamic Acid: An anti-cancer
responsible for their potent antioxidant andcompound found in cinnamon bark. It is clear that
anti-cancer activities."In other words, the powerfulthere are components in a plant based diet, other
benefit of fruits and vegetables come from thethan isolated vitamins and minerals, that can
antioxidant activity of the "non-essential" nutrients,reduce the risk of cancer.As Gary Young says in
in tandem with vitamins. The main categories ofhis new book, "The fruits richest in antioxidants,
these supernutrients are:Ellagic Acid: Twentysuch as wolfberries, raspberries, and
years ago, this antioxidant was unknown to thepomegranates may represent one of our most
scientific community. Today, it is one of the mostimportant natural therapies to slow the onset of
studied of the newly discovered supernutrientsdegenerative diseases."While the research on
found in food. A large number of studies havesupernutrients and superfoods continues around
documented the ability of ellagic acid to protectthe world, the good news is that adding more
against lung, colon, breast, intestinal, andfresh fruits and vegetables to the diet can
exophageal cancer. It may not only block theprofoundly improve health and combat illness.Faye
carcinogenic effects of chemicals, but, it can evenDurham is a former chemist and clinical research
halt the progession of cancer and prevent geneticassociate in the pharmaceutical industry. In her
mutations. It may be the key to explain whycurrent career, she is a researcher, writer, and
certain fruits and vegetables have better healthindependent distributor, specializing in nutrition. She
benefits than purified vitamins. Wolfberries containcan be reached through the website at
the highest amount of ellagic acid of any known"Discovery of the Ultimate Superfood" by Gary
food. Other good sources are raspberries andYoung, ND, Ronald Lawrence, MD, PhD, and Marc
pomegranates.Resveratrol is a powerfulSchreuder, compiled by Essential Science
anti-cancer antioxidant and cardioprotectivePublishing, or 1-800-336-6308.