Walnuts Can Prevent Breast Cancer

If you ask what foods can prevent breast cancer risk, walnuts are the answer. The researchers from the Marshall University School of Medicine was trying to figure out what ingredients are in the walnuts.

Walnuts are not too popular than many other foods touted as anti-cancer foods such as soybeans, tomatoes and others. But studies show that walnut consumption on a regular basis can reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase healthy cholesterol (HDL) in the body.

Not only that, walnuts are also very well known to prevent and slow the progression of breast cancer. Walnuts are unique compared to other nuts because nuts are the only nut that contains alpha-linolenic acid, one type of omega-3 fatty acid that contains the most, as quoted from the Health, Tuesday (6/10/2009).

Sources other alpha-linolenic soybeans that is, flax seed, fish and some green vegetables, but only slightly and it implies nothing more than walnuts.

In his study, researchers wanted to know the effect of walnut consumption on the development of breast cancer in rats. Components contained in the walnut such as phytosterols, poly phenols, carotenoids, melatonin and omega-3 fatty acids are bio active components that can inhibit cancer formation of MDA-MB 231 or breast cancer.

To determine its effectiveness, an injected tumor cells in two groups of mice as a precursor of breast cancer. One group was fed the walnuts and the other group did not. After 10 days, tumor cells found in mice not given the growing walnuts, unlike mice that ate walnuts which was experiencing shrinking tumor cells.

From there, researchers from the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology know that walnuts can indeed inhibit the growth of cancer cells, especially breast cancer. Researchers also found the content of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) in the liver of mice given higher than walnuts mice not given the walnuts.

EPA and DHA are known to many in the marine fish such as salmon, sardines and others. But it also implies the canaries did not lose much. In addition to known benefits in preventing and inhibiting cancer growth, EPA and DHA also very good for the development and enhance the ability of the brain.

So next time you see the walnuts in a supermarket, there is no harm in buying it.