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Garlic wards off cancer Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.msnbc.com/news/907803.asp http://www.msnbc.com/news/907803.asp Garlic seems to ward off cancer By Karen Collins, Special to MSNBC Recent studies have sparked debate about whether garlic can help lower cholesterol. While that discussion continues, another set of findings about garlic's health benefits tends to get overlooked. Mounting evidence suggests garlic in the diet is consistently linked to a lower risk for cancer. IN ONE OF the latest studies on this topic, less than a clove of garlic a day was enough to cut men's risk of prostate cancer in half compared to men who ate none. Garlic's link with lower cancer risk has been well established in highly focused laboratory studies involving cells and animals, as well as in studies that look at large human populations. Yet because people who eat more garlic also tend to eat more vegetables and engage in other healthy eating habits, it has not always been clear how much of garlic eaters' lower cancer risk is due to garlic per se. More recent studies, including this new study on prostate cancer, have tried to account for this by statistically controlling for such associations, and garlic is still coming up a winner. NOT ONLY PROSTATE CANCER And it's not just prostate cancer. Studies also tie garlic consumption to the prevention of colon, stomach and possibly breast cancers. One of the most prominent garlic researchers, John Milner, Ph.D., now with the National Cancer Institute, notes that the benefits of garlic are not limited to a specific tissue, which suggests that garlic probably has broad anti-cancer effects throughout the body. One key question about garlic's potential is whether we get the greatest benefit from garlic as a food or as a supplement. Several specific compounds in garlic have been isolated and are currently under investigation. The results from studies involving garlic that has been processed into supplements, however, have been inconsistent. This may be due to the wide variations that exist between different garlic products. It's also possible that the many different compounds in garlic offer the best protection when they occur in whole garlic, where they can interact with each other in complex ways we do not yet understand. CLOVES CAN PROVIDE BENEFIT Sometimes people turn to supplements because they think that large amounts of garlic are required to attain benefits, but this does not seem to be the case. Milner has reported benefits with the equivalent of one or two cloves of garlic a week; other researchers suggest that four or five cloves a week may be more ideal. In fact, loading up with large amounts of garlic every day increases the risk of digestive problems. Another misconception is that garlic must be consumed raw to be beneficial. It is true that when garlic is cooked immediately after peeling, certain enzymes are inactivated and cancer-fighting benefits are lost. But if you peel the garlic, let it rest 15 minutes (while you chop the other ingredients) and then cook it, the full benefits remain. For those who aren't garlic lovers, the good news is that the entire garlic and onion family contains cancer-fighting compounds. ONION FAMILY GOOD, TOO In the latest study on prostate cancer risk, higher total consumption of vegetables in the onion-garlic family was linked with almost 50 percent lower risk of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that while garlic, onions, scallions and leeks contain slightly different compounds, the substances that block cancer-promoting enzymes, promote DNA repair and regulate the cell life cycle are found in all these foods. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans all provide valuable nutrients and natural phytochemicals with a variety of cancer prevention benefits, so just adding garlic or onions to an otherwise poor diet is not the answer to good health. But if you have ever thought that healthy eating was bland and flavorless, these studies -- which show that the most pungent and aromatic vegetables have a place at a healthy table -- clearly put an end to that idea. Nutrition Notes is provided by the in Washington, D.C. MSNBC Terms, Conditions and Privacy ©2003

starches 1mil new skin cancer { May 27 2003 } 20 cancer fighting foods to eat all summer African american women higher breast cancer { December 7 2003 } All types of alcohol raise cancer risk Antibiotic use causes cancer Asians get cancer when in america Asians low cancer rate Beta carotene supplements Blacks more likely die cancer Breast cancer link to use of antibiotics Breast cancer risk reduced by exercise Broccoli helps prevent cancer { April 20 2005 } California sues mcdonalds and potato chips over cancer Cancer broccoli { May 28 2002 } Cancer causing drug found in british poultry { October 21 2004 } Cancer causing pesticides living in our bodies { June 21 2005 } Cancer deaths decline first time since 1930 { February 9 2006 } Cancer french fries { July 3 2002 } Car exhausts may cause child cancer Carbohydrates could be linked to breast cancer { August 9 2004 } Carcinogen sealed glass jar foods Carrots help cut cancer risk Curry fights cancer Curry fights prostate cancer study says { January 17 2006 } Curry shuts down melanoma cancer tumors Diet alcohol linked to one third cancer cases { May 20 2004 } Diet and tobacco account for most cancer Diet responsible for half cancers says fox files [wav] Doctor in africa discovers western diet is cancerous { February 28 1911 } Eating red meat increases risk of colon cancer Eu beef cancer { May 4 1999 } Fatty diet linked to cancer { March 21 2007 } Garlic wards off cancer Good night sleep fights cancer Green tea cuts risk of cancer Green tea reduces risk prostate cancer Hair dyes linked to kind of cancer { January 24 2004 } High fat diet increases breast cancer risk High fat linked breast cancer { July 18 2003 } High fiber reduces colon cancer { May 2 2003 } High sugar diet linked to cancer { March 21 2007 } Hormones in milk are linked to cancer Meat and alcohol cause breast cancer Meats and sweets boost cancer risk { July 10 2007 } Microwaving plastic causes cancer in foods Milk cause of cancer Miso soup cuts breast cancer { June 18 2003 } More causes cancer Natural solutions for estrogen New study says sun screen ineffective { June 15 2006 } Nonfat milk linked to prostate cancer Obesity linked to cancer { January 9 2006 } One third cancer caused by diet Pill linked to cancer { April 3 2003 } Processed meats raise risk of cancer Prostate testing debate Red meat cancer { April 30 1996 } Red meat diets cause cancer { April 7 2004 } Red meat fuels bowel cancer risk { June 15 2005 } Redheads risk of skin cancer without burns { August 29 2005 } Regular aspirin use linked to cancer cases { January 9 2004 } Study links breast cancer to antibiotic use { February 16 2004 } Sun exposure may aid skin cancer victims { February 2 2005 } Sunlight vit d prevents breast colon lung prostate cancer Sunscreen blamed skin cancer Sunscreens fails to prevent free radicals Sunshine helps fight against breast cancer { August 4 2007 } Sunshine may protect prostate from cancer { June 15 2005 } Tea may fight ovarian cancer Toxin in pet food eaten by chickens fed to people { May 4 2007 } Toxins in the kitchen { May 4 2007 } Vegetables and soy combats cancer Vegetarian diet helps man fight cancer { June 7 2007 } Vitamins tied to prostate cancer Western asians higher cancer than eastern { June 1 2001 } White wine increase risk of cancer Women double risk for lung cancer { December 2 2003 } Women plagued by lung cancer Files Listed: 78

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