Scientific Study Finds Incidence Of Breast Cancer Reduced By High Consumption Of Walnuts, Pecans And Almonds
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Cancer occurs in the body when mutations or changes take place in the genetic material that regulates normal cell growth. These changes in genetic material allow the cell to divide and multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Breast cancer is cancer that results in uncontrol growth of the breast cells. It predominantly affects women but can affect men too.
Breast cancer has been reported as the most common type of cancer in women worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer. It contributes to almost 16% of all types of cancer in women. Multiple factors contribute to the development of breast cancer including diet, environment, and inherited factors. Certain food items like walnuts, peanuts, and almonds can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by a factor of 2 to 3. [1]
Peanuts contain several anticancer components that may help stop the spread of cancer cells. [2] Two compounds, phytosterols, and resveratrol have been identified in peanuts that have anticancer properties. They cut off the blood supply to cancer cells, thus inhibiting their growth. A high intake of peanuts has also shown a decrease in colon cancer.
Walnuts are a potentially high value diet component in strategies for the prevention of cancer. Walnuts contain different components like ellagitannins, melatonin, and gamma-tocopherol that reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and gene expression that lead to cancer cell production. [3]
Almonds have been found by study to exert a protective effect against breast cancer due to certain compounds present in them, such as phytic acid, phytosterol, and resveratrol that have antineoplastic effects on cancer cells. Almonds are also rich in flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties.
See also: Top 34 Anti-Cancer Foods https://www.herbs-info.com/anticancer-foods.html
References:
[1] Soriano-Hernandez, A.D., et al., The protective effect of peanut, walnut, and almond consumption on the development of breast cancer. Gynecol Obstet Invest, 2015. 80(2): p. 89-92. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26183374/
[2] van den Brandt, P.A. and L. Nieuwenhuis, Tree nut, peanut, and peanut butter intake and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer: The Netherlands Cohort Study. Cancer Causes & Control, 2018. 29(1): p. 63-75. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5752734/
[3] Hardman, W.E., et al., Dietary walnut altered gene expressions related to tumor growth, survival, and metastasis in breast cancer patients: a pilot clinical trial. Nutrition Research, 2019. 66: p. 82-94. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531718311904