"Remain calm, we are just here to cure any cancers you might have."
Posted on 01/09/2007 7:39:41 PM PST by NCjim
Scientists have discovered the key to the ability of spicy foods to kill cancer cells.
They found capsaicin, an ingredient of jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell death by attacking mitochondria - the cells' energy-generating boiler rooms.
The research raises the possibility that other cancer drugs could be developed to target mitochondria.
The Nottingham University study features in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
The study showed that the family of molecules to which capsaicin belongs, the vanilloids, bind to proteins in the cancer cell mitochondria to trigger apoptosis, or cell death, without harming surrounding healthy cells.
Capsaicin was tested on cultures of human lung cancer cells and on pancreatic cancers.
Lead researcher Dr Timothy Bates said: "As these compounds attack the very heart of the tumour cells, we believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers.
"The biochemistry of the mitochondria in cancer cells is very different from that in normal cells.
"This is an innate selective vulnerability of cancer cells."
He said a dose of capsaicin that could cause a cancer cell to enter apoptosis, would not have the same effect on a normal cell.
The fact that capsaicin and other vanilloids are already commonly found in the diet proves they are safe to eat.
This could make development of a drug containing them a much quicker and cheaper process.
Dr Bates said: "Capsaicin, for example, is already found in treatments for muscle strain and psoriasis - which raises the question of whether an adapted topical treatment could be used to treat certain types of skin cancer.
"It's also possible that cancer patients or those at risk of developing cancer could be advised to eat a diet which is richer in spicy foods to help treat or prevent the disease."
However, Josephine Querido, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "This research does not suggest that eating vast quantities of chilli pepper will help prevent or treat cancer.
"The experiments showed that pepper extracts killed cancer cells grown in the laboratory, but these have not yet been tested to see if they are safe and effective in humans."
Cancer Research UK recommends reducing the risk of cancer by eating a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables and fruit.
Dr Bates added that the mitochondria in cancer cells could also be targeted by other compounds.
He said the investigation and development of anti-mitochondrial drugs for cancer chemotherapy was likely to be "extremely significant" in the fight against cancer.
One Habanero to two cups of Chili. There are those of us who know and those who don't know.
Let me assure you, that Habanero's and chili, cure all ills!
"Tucks" ~
What's the cancer rate among your South Texas neighbors?
some of us have know this for years before the "experts" publish their "stuff"
capsaicin, ah sweet, capsaicin
check out the Hispanics, Thai & chinese who use it heavily.. sure they die but not of CV disease!
thanks for thread.
'
HOT salsa anyone?
Hmmm. wonder if horseradish helps?
Luv the stuff. Ain't all that crazy about chilis, but gotta have my wasabi.
Soups, salads, sandwiches, I think the only thing I didn't try it on is Cheerios!!
I've heard people say eating hot foods will keep you from getting intestinal cancer. Looks like they were headed in the right direction.
Oh man, my stomach started burning up just imagining that one.
I grow tons of red hot cayennes and orange habaneros in my garden. I have a real addiction to the stuff, so all the better if this is true.
It's 53 below zero here and your post warmed me up to at least 70 above. LOL
"Remain calm, we are just here to cure any cancers you might have."
That's 'cause your intestine is GONE... Burnt a hole right through it.
That's it. I'm eating more Thai and Korean food from now on. Love the stuff, now I have an excuse.
They say the same thing in Korea. At least as far as Korea is concerned, I believe it's the mixture of large amounts of spicy foods with large amounts of soju (Korea's equivalent to vodka) that causes the stomach cancers.
It might be the high amounts of vitamin C that peppers have as well.
The article says it promotes killing cancer cells, not prevent cancer. Completely different things. I think common sense says that people with GERD, whose esophageal tract is already probably inflamed, should stay away from spicy foods.
I read once that the body gets cancer nearly every damn day, but the immune system kills it and gets to live another day. Kinda like a cold. Sooner or later, hopefully much later, the body is overwhelmed and it finally sticks. Hot spices boost the immune system, to a point anyway. I like orange juice too.
If you think pharma pressures government you gotta another thing coming. It is government that applies an ever tightening vice on pharma. Before you know all healthcare will be like Canada. Trust me, you don't want that.
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