Green leafy vegetable may be as important as wearing a hat, sunscreen and protective clothing to reduce the risk of skin cancer, says a study that highlights the importance of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Those who eat at least three serves of green leafy vegetables a week reduced their risk of skin cancer by up to 55 percent, the study by Jolieke van der Pols and other researchers involving 1,000 people in Nambour, on the Sunshine Coast found, according to ABC News online.
Green vegetables such as spinach contain a crucial cocktail of nutrients that can boost the skin's natural defence against sun damage, the 11-year study said.
"Other researches that have looked at individual nutrients haven't found very clear evidence, so it might be that actually the combination of nutrients as they occur normally in the foods that we eat, actually have the effect on the skin cancer," Pols said.
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Toothpaste Ingredient Guards Against Skin Cancer
A common antibacterial and antifungal ingredient in mouthwashes and toothpaste also can also guard against skin cancer.
The surprise finding was presented Oct. 19 at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Seattle.
Sanguinarine, an alkaloid present in the bloodroot plant, has been shown to enhance production of proteins that induce the death of cells damaged by ultraviolet-B radiation.
The substance also restricts skin cell production of proteins that promote the proliferation of cancer cells.
"This natural compound may protect skin from cells that acquire the genetic damage caused by UV radiation from advancing toward cancer," lead researcher Nihal Ahmad, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin, said in a prepared statement.
Cells pretreated with sanguinarine were 49 percent to 66 percent more likely to die off after exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation than were untreated cells, Ahmad found.
Sanguinarine is a known anti-inflammatory, and is used for the prevention of inflammatory conditions such as gingivitis.
The surprise finding was presented Oct. 19 at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Seattle.
Sanguinarine, an alkaloid present in the bloodroot plant, has been shown to enhance production of proteins that induce the death of cells damaged by ultraviolet-B radiation.
The substance also restricts skin cell production of proteins that promote the proliferation of cancer cells.
"This natural compound may protect skin from cells that acquire the genetic damage caused by UV radiation from advancing toward cancer," lead researcher Nihal Ahmad, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin, said in a prepared statement.
Cells pretreated with sanguinarine were 49 percent to 66 percent more likely to die off after exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation than were untreated cells, Ahmad found.
Sanguinarine is a known anti-inflammatory, and is used for the prevention of inflammatory conditions such as gingivitis.
