Decreasing the chances to develop Cancer

Certain vitamins and supplements may help to decrease the chances to develop cancer by various biochemical mechanisms.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that originates from plant sources. It is a group of nutrients which include tocotrienols and tocopherol. Each has their own subgroups of Alfa, Beta, Gamma and Delta compounds.

Gamma tocopherol was found to be a potent antioxidant. Specifically, it scavenges the most dangerous free radical-Nitrogen Dioxide (a main element in car exhaust and tobacco smoke). The formation of this compound initiates the inflammatory response in the different organs in the body. Inflammation contributes to the development of various health conditions involving cardiovascular, neurological and immune systems maladies.

If the brand of Vitamin E taken does not contain the Gamma form, most likely you are not getting the complete prevention results from vitamin E. Most brands of vitamin E do not have the Gamma form. In other words, they do not have the best antioxidant effect. The vitamin E available at the local health food store or pharmacy is most likely Alfa-tocopherol. The Alfa-tocopherol is an important antioxidant. However, when combined with other forms of vitamin E, the antioxidant properties are significantly improved.

Flavonoids help to scavenge free radicals and support healthy collagen formation. Resveratrol counteracts Linoleic acid which promotes cancer cell growth. Linoleic acid is transformed to Arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is transformed to Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes. Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes promote an inflammatory response that, among other things, stimulates cancer cell multiplication. A study conducted in Japan has revealed that Resveratrol inhibits the multiplication of breast cancer cells and blocks the cancer promoting effect of Linoleic acid from the unhealthy diet.

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant plentiful in red tomatoes. Lycopene is a carotenoid which is the compound that gives the red color to tomatoes, red grapefruit, red peppers, and watermelon. It has one of the highest antioxidant activities of all of the carotenoids. Lycopene could be a very significant substance in supporting a healthy prostate.

Ellagic acid is a Polyphenol originating from pomegranate fruit. The researchers at Wisconsin University found that pomegranate fruit extract has strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. The extract was researched for its anti-cancer effects. The study concluded that pomegranate fruit extract may hold preventive action "in a wide range of tumor models".

These results support the conclusion of the studies done in 2003 where pomegranate seed was researched and foundto be an effective instrument against skin and colon cancer. Another study performed in 2002, showed pomegranate seed to be capable of suppressing the multiplication of breast cancer up to 90%. Ellagic acid, a Polyphenol originated from pomegranate, has been acknowledged to hold potent anti-cancer, antioxidant and atherosclerosis preventive properties.

Turmeric is a spice originated from the Curcuma longa, which belongs to the Ginger family. Curcumin is a Polyphenol that gives Turmeric its yellow-orange color. Curcumin has various biological properties in the body. However, the most significant function of Curcumin is the ability to suppress angiogenesis (the ability to form new blood vessels). Cell apoptosis is a programmed cell death of the cancer cells. Curcumin also has been found to bring up the arrest of the cancer cell cycle which would lead to cell apoptosis.