Spinach Words

Nutrition facts and recipes from one of nature's best superfoods.

Another WebTrev.Com Health Services specialist sub-site. © Copyright2005 - 2011 , Trevor Johnson.

Spinach's Anti Cancer Properties

Given the vast array of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients found in spinach, it shouldn't surprise that modern research proves spinach to be a powerful anti cancer agent. In addition to cancer prevention for many forms of cancer, some evidence suggest also that it may be partially curative of some forms of cancer, too.

The author of "Feed Your Genes Right", Jack Challem, states that the Folic Acid, a B group Vitamin, found in abundance in Spinach works to make and to repair genes.

Research published in 2004 by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center shows that spinach is protective against bladder cancer. High dietary intake of the alpha-tocopherol form of Vitamin E found in spinach was associated with a 42 percent reduced risk of bladder cancer in their five year study. Another form of Vitamin E also abundant in spinach, gamma-tocopherol, serves to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

A 2001 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that chlorophyllin, a derivative of chlorophyll that is abundant in spinach, greatly reduces the risk of aflatoxin related liver cancer. Aflatoxin is a fungus commonly found in grains, soybeans and peanuts and is a known carcinogen that damages human DNA. Ongoing research is seeking to ascertain whether chlorophyllin may also be protective against colon cancer and smoking-related lung cancer.

Chlorophyllin aside, spinach is already protective against colon cancer due to its high antioxidant carotenoid levels, specifically of lutein and zeaxanthin. ^{(Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:575-82)}

Spinach has also been proven to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. ^{(International Journal of Epidemiology, 2001)}

Other studies attribute lutein and zeaxanthin found in spinach to the reduced risk of ovarian cancer. ^{(Cancer Causes and Control, 2001)}

Animal studies presented to the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 1999 annual meeting have shown that lutein also plays a preventative role and also slows the growth of existing mammary gland tumors. If these results are equally representative of human subjects, spinach may serve as a valuable preventative and suppressor of mammary tumors and breast cancer. The study concluded that lutein normalises immune response (commonly compromised in tumor & cancer patients), enabling the immune system to better fight the tumors.

Decreased breast cancer risk from regular spinach intake was also noted in a 1997 study. ^{(Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1997 Nov;6(11):887-92.)} This study believed that the beta-carotene found in spinach was the reason. In all likelihood, spinach contains multiple factors that are chemoprotective against breast cancer and other cancers.

Spinach also reduces the risk of skin cancer. Science is currently aware of thirteen (13) nutrients that improve the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of human skin. Of these, ten (10) are found in spinach.

In regards to human cancer generally, a 2005 Japanese study looked at the fruits and vegetables most commonly claimed to have cancer protection benefits. It studied human cancer cells under laboratory conditions and concluded that spinach was the most cancer protective of all. In additon to a preventative role, spinach had the strongest inhibitory effect on human cancer cell proliferation. ^{(The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry Volume 16, Issue 10, October 2005, Pages 594-601.)}

Additional information about cancer may be found at our sister-site CancerWords.com