The role diet and nutrition have been playing on cancer risk, prevention and treatment has been a major focus of research, as certain nutrients in vegetables and dietary agents have been found to protect the body against diseases such as cancer.

And supporting evidence keeps on coming ...

According to a pair of studies by scientists at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, vegetables such as broccoli and spices like red chili pepper may provide a cancer-fighting benefit by slowing or preventing the growth of tumor cells.

Despite advances in surgery and other therapies, the findings looked at the effect of these dietary agents on cancers -- ovarian and pancreatic -- that have incredibly poor prognoses.

The Studies

The first study examined the potential of capsaicin, the ingredient in red chili pepper often associated with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties:

Researchers found capsaicin exhibited anticancer activity (it induced programmed cell death to human cancer cells without affecting normal cells) against pancreatic cancer, an aggressive form of the disease typified by exceptionally poor outcomes.

The second study examined the therapeutic benefits of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, on ovarian cancer, a disease often detected at an advanced stage and one of the leading causes of gynecologic cancer-related deaths among women in the United States:

After ovarian cancer cells were exposed to PEITC for 24 hours, researchers found the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -- which spurs the growth of ovarian cancer cells -- was significantly inhibited].

Innovations-Report April 20, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

The list of foods that exhibit medicinal properties is a long one. Certain foods, such as garlic, have a long and storied history of use for a variety of ailments. Even the tasty blueberry has turned out to be one of the healthier foods nature has to offer. The capsaicin found in red chili peppers is another well-known food component with healing properties. While its most common use has been as a component in topical creams for joint pain, it may even be capable of helping to lower insulin levels. With broccoli and other vegetables already being known to possess some potentially incredible healing attributes as well, the evidence is becoming undeniably clear. Eating vegetables and other natural, whole foods is good for you. Just more proof an optimized diet based on your body's unique nutritional type can do wonders for your health, and help you fight cancer all at the same time. Whole foods certainly can act like medicines in that they can protect and heal your body. You can use your nutritional type as a guide in selecting these foods and make them the focus of your diet -- the results can be truly phenomenal. nutritional typing by itself is one of the most powerful tools to treat and prevent cancer. We regularly use it for all the cancer patients that come to our clinic outside of Chicago. Related Articles: Does Acrylamide in Common, Cooked Foods Cause Cancer? Can You Fight Cancer With Ketchup? Link Seen Between Cooking and Cancer