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The Purlife
MacroNutrient Kit can dramatically help
Colon
Polyps & Cancer
Alfalfa Fights Colon Cancer
Sep 28, 2001 12:00 PM, Iowa State University
A chemical in genetically modified alfalfa may help prevent
colon cancer, says an Iowa State University researcher.
Diane Birt, director of Iowa
State’s Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition, is
working with an alfalfa modified at the Samuel Roberts Noble
Foundation. It’s high in resveratrol glucoside, which helps
protect plants from field rot during wet periods.
"Although the alfalfa was
developed for agronomic reasons, data in the literature
suggested that resveratrol … can prevent skin cancer," says
Birt. "We decided to look at how it works in the diet to
prevent colon cancer."
Working with mice, she found
that the chemical prevents colon cancer at a very early
stage. She plans to apply for a grant to fund further
studies.
Birt is a leading researcher in
the use of plant constituents to prevent chronic diseases and
promote good health. She recently was honored by the American
Association of Cancer Research for her work.
Cancer of the bowel
(colon and rectum)
This form of cancer
is the most common form of malignancy in Western countries, and causes the
most cancer deaths. Cancer of the intestine is rare. (See Fig 20.1,
appearing earlier in this chapter) There is no doubt, therefore, that
colon cancer is directly attributable to the poisonous milieu in the colon
caused by constipation and the residues of the high fat, high protein
Western diet.
Countries with a
high consumption of beef--Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, England,
Scotland and Argentina--suffer from a high incidence of bowel cancer.
Scotland has the highest bowel cancer rate in the world, with the worst
incidence around Aberdeen, the cattle raising center. The Scottish consume
19% more beef per capita than the English and their bowel cancer rate is
precisely 19% greater than the English.
Similar to the
relationship between beef consumption and colon cancer, there is also a
strong relationship between beer drinking and colon cancer.
This latter
relationship is held to be accountable for the higher incidence of colon
cancer among males.
<<
Read testimony on the left.
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What I need to know about Colon Polyps
On this page:
What are colon polyps?
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| Digestive tract |
A polyp* is extra tissue that grows inside
your body. Colon polyps grow in the large intestine.
The large intestine, also called the colon, is part of your digestive
system. It's a long, hollow tube at the end of your digestive tract
where your body makes and stores stool.
*Medical terms are defined in the glossary.
Are polyps dangerous?
Most polyps are
not dangerous. Most are benign, which means
they are not cancer. But over time, some types of polyps can
turn into cancer. Usually, polyps that are smaller than a pea aren't
harmful. But larger polyps could someday become cancer or may already
be cancer. To be safe, doctors remove all polyps and test them.
 |
| Colon polyp |
Who gets polyps?
Anyone can get polyps, but certain people are more likely than
others. You may have a greater chance of getting polyps if
- you're over 50. The older you get, the more likely you are to
develop polyps.
- you've had polyps before.
- someone in your family has had polyps.
- someone in your family has had cancer of the large intestine.
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| Find out if someone in your family has had
polyps. |
You may also be more likely to get polyps if you
- eat a lot of fatty foods
- smoke
- drink alcohol
- don't exercise
- weigh too much
What are the symptoms?
Most small polyps don't cause symptoms. Often, people don't know
they have one until the doctor finds it during a regular checkup or
while testing them for something else. But some people do have
symptoms like these:
- bleeding from the anus. You might notice
blood on your underwear or on toilet paper after you've had a bowel
movement.
- constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a week.
- blood in the stool. Blood can make stool look black, or it can
show up as red streaks in the stool.
If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor to find out what
the problem is. How does the doctor test for polyps?
The doctor can use four tests to check for polyps:
- Digital rectal exam. The doctor wears gloves and checks your
rectum, the last part of the large intestine,
to see if it feels normal. This test would find polyps only in the
rectum, so the doctor may need to do one of the other tests listed
below to find polyps higher up in the intestine.
- Barium enema. The doctor puts a liquid called barium into your
rectum before taking x rays of your large intestine. Barium makes your
intestine look white in the pictures. Polyps are dark, so they're easy
to see.
- Sigmoidoscopy. With this test, the doctor
can see inside your large intestine. The doctor puts a thin flexible
tube into your rectum. The device is called a sigmoidoscope, and it
has a light and a tiny video camera in it. The doctor uses the
sigmoidoscope to look at the last third of your large intestine.
- Colonoscopy. This test is like
sigmoidoscopy, but the doctor looks at all of the large intestine. It
usually requires sedation.
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| Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy testing |
Who should get tested for polyps?
Talk to your doctor about getting tested for polyps if
- you have symptoms
- you're 50 years old or older
- someone in your family has had polyps or colon cancer
How are polyps treated?
The doctor will remove the polyp. Sometimes, the doctor takes it
out during sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Or the doctor may decide to
operate through the abdomen. The polyp is
then tested for cancer. If you've had polyps, the doctor may want
you to get tested regularly in the future.
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| Polyp removal |
How can I prevent polyps?
Doctors don't know of any one sure way to prevent polyps. But you
might be able to lower your risk of getting them if you
- eat more fruits and vegetables and less fatty food
- don't smoke
- avoid alcohol
- exercise every day
- lose weight if you're overweight
Eating more calcium and folate can also lower your risk of getting
polyps. Some foods that are rich in calcium are milk, cheese, and
broccoli. Some foods that are rich in folate are chickpeas, kidney
beans, and spinach. Some doctors think that aspirin might help
prevent polyps. Studies are under way.
Points to Remember
- A polyp is extra tissue that grows inside the body. Most polyps
are not harmful.
- Symptoms may include constipation or diarrhea for more than a
week or blood on your underwear, on toilet paper, or in your stool.
- Many polyps do not cause symptoms.
- Doctors remove all polyps and test them for cancer.
- Talk to your doctor about getting tested for polyps if
- you have any symptoms
- you're 50 years old or older
- someone in your family has had polyps or colon cancer
Glossary
Abdomen (AB-duh-men): The area between the chest and the
hips. It contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine,
liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Anus (AY-nus): The
opening through which stool leaves the body. Benign (buh-NINE):
Not cancerous. Colonoscopy (koh-luh-NAW-skuh-pee): A test to
look inside the entire large intestine. The doctor uses a flexible
tube that contains a light and a tiny video camera. This device is
called a colonoscope. Large intestine: A long, hollow tube
in your body that makes and stores stool. Also called the colon.
Polyp (PAH-lip): An extra piece of tissue that grows inside
the body. Rectum (REK-tum): The last section of the large
intestine, leading to the anus. Sigmoidoscopy (SIG-moy-DAW-skuh-pee):
A test to look inside the lower section of the large intestine. The
doctor uses a flexible tube that contains a light and a tiny video
camera. The device is called a sigmoidoscope. Stool: The
solid waste that passes through the rectum as a bowel movement.
For More Information
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 550
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Phone: (847) 290-9184
Email: ascrs@fascrs.org
Internet:
www.fascrs.org
National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
Building 31, Room 10A16
31 Center Drive, MSC 2580
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
Phone: 1-800-422-6237 or (301) 496-6631
Internet: www.nci.nih.gov
Acknowledgments
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
would like to thank the following individuals for assisting with
scientific and editorial review of this publication. C. Richard
Boland, M.D.
University of California at San Diego Francis M. Giardiello, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Hospital Thanks also to Anne Barker, R.N., B.S.N., at
the Health Alliance, Columbia, MD, for facilitating field-testing of
this publication.
Special
MacroNutrient™
Health Kit
2 lb. Alfalfa Leaf
Powder
2 Bottles Oxygenz™
16 oz
Click to Buy
Try it Risk Free for 60
days. If you don't see results
simply return the unused portion for a full refund!
Just look at what all it does from the inside out!
-
Reduce your cholesterol
-
Reduce weight without diet
change
-
Prevent heart
disease and cancer
-
Maintain bone density
-
Inhibits cancer cell growth
-
Stimulates death of cancer
cells (apoptosis)
-
Relieve menopause symptoms
-
Healthier
skin, hair and nails
-
Tighten and tone your skin
-
Build lean muscle and lose weight
-
Lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels
-
Treat
eczema and acne from the inside out
-
Help to correct and prevent
prostrate problems
-
Shown to be effective in colon cancer prevention and treatment
The
MacroNutrient™
Health Kit
is made from 100%
Organic Medicago Sativa Leaf, the most nutritious plant in the world.
Major VITAMINS found in Alfalfa:
(for
a complete list of its components click here)
Vitamin A – for night vision. Builds resistance to infections,
especially in the respiratory tract; promotes growth ands vitality;
promotes healthy skin and is essential in pregnancy.
Vitamin E – protects cells against damage from sun's radiation and
air pollution; promotes heart, cardiovascular and muscle health and
improved immune function; promotes muscle tone in the body; helps bring
nutrients to cells and helps strengthen blood vessel walls, including
capillary walls; helps proper focusing of the eyes.
Vitamin U – promotes health of body to help overcome peptic ulcers.
Vitamin B6 – helps food assimilation and protein and fat metabolism;
promotes nerve and skin health; helps battle nausea symptoms.
Vitamin K – essential for blood clotting; important in liver
functions; may possibly contribute to vitality and longevity.
Vitamin D – regulates the use of calcium and phosphorus in the body
and is therefore necessary for the proper formation of strong and healthy
teeth and bones.
MINERALS found
in Alfalfa:
Calcium – builds and maintains bones and teeth; helps clot blood,
aids in vitality and endurance; regulates heart rhythm, soothes nerves.
Iron – required in manufacturing hemoglobin; helps carry oxygen in
the blood.
Potassium – necessary for normal muscle tone, nerves, heart action
and enzyme reactions; digests fats.
Phosphorus – needed for normal bone and tooth structure.
Interrelated with action of calcium and Vitamin D. Improves nourishment of
nerve tissue.
Chlorine (chloride) – an essential electrolyte which cleans and
purifies the body; regulates fat, sugar and starch metabolism.
Sodium – regulates fluid balance throughout body; neutralizes acids,
prevents clotting of blood; activates spleen, bowels and stomach functions.
Silicon Magnesium – helps body to deal with constipation; steadies
the nerves; has protective effect on skin and body; stimulates brain
function.
Other properties
of alfalfa:
High in protein – alfalfa has 18.9% as compared to beef at 16.5%,
milk at 3.3% and eggs at 13.1%. (Muscles are composed of protein and the
lack of it results in fatigue and weakness.)
Alfalfa's deep roots
seek out minerals in the subsoil, which are inaccessible to other plants.
The average alfalfa plant has roots 10 to 20 feet long or more.
Alfalfa leaves are
extremely rich in calcium...this accounts for the claims of herbalists and
doctors concerning the benefits of using alfalfa for repairing tooth damage
and strengthening the structure of the teeth. Calcium is also necessary for
proper muscle function--That includes the heart muscle as well. Calcium
regulates the heart rhythm. How much simpler to indulge in alfalfa early in
life rather than a pacemaker in later life.
The protein content
in alfalfa is quite high; in fact, pound for pound it outranks beef, milk,
and eggs. It not only does that but it is free of non-toxic, mucus-forming
elements which promote healing of the body rather than the abject
degeneration of the human system.
We have often heard
that there is no vegetable source of Vitamin D. The sun, of course, is our
favorite source. But did you know that alfalfa contains 4740 International
Units of Vitamin D per pound? We'll talk more about this later.
In addition to the
aforementioned nutrients alfalfa also contains Vitamins K, A, E, B, and U.
Vitamin K is essential in the clotting of blood and is a preventative
measure against hemorrhages. Many historical hemophiliacs would have
benefited themselves had they considered the lowly alfalfa plant as
something more than 'munchies' for their herds. We know of several cases
where women who have just delivered babies have eaten alfalfa tablets like
candy directly after the birth in order to shorten the postpartum bleeding
time. Alfalfa is also a remarkable herb to bring in milk in a nursing
mother. It has also been observed that Vitamin K is instrumental in
lowering high blood pressure.
Vitamin E is contained in alfalfa to the tune of
173.8 mg. per pound. Vitamin E is essential for the proper functioning of
the reproductive system, and the Vitamin E found in alfalfa is so much more
valuable than the synthetic variety which is not readily assimilated by the
body.
In order to
circulate within the bloodstream, cholesterol, which is water
insoluble (think of oil on top of water) must be bound to
special proteins (lipoproteins) of which there are two prominent
types, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) commonly referred to as 'bad
cholesterol' which transports cholesterol to receptor sites in
cells, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL),
or 'good cholesterol' which returns cholesterol to the
liver where it is metabolized once again. It is believed that
estrogen receptors in the liver stimulate the production HDL.
Upon reaching menopause,
levels of HDL decrease in relation to declining estrogen production
and the risk of heart disease increases dramatically.
Some cholesterol is stored in the gall bladder as 'bile acid' where
it is secreted into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of
dietary fat (also water insoluble). It is the consumption of
certain fats, particularly saturated and hydrogenated fats, that
affects the level of cholesterol within our blood serum.
The more fat we consume,
the more cholesterol the liver produces (namely LDL) in order to
ensure abundant bile acid for digestion.
Reabsorbed through the small intestine it enters the blood stream
once again where it can become bound to other sticky substances and
deposit onto arterial walls forming plaque which can restrict
blood flow and deprive vital organs of oxygen and nutrients. This
can result in a heart attack or stroke.
Alphalfa™contains
saponins that binds to bile acids in the intestines preventing them
from being reabsorbed into the blood stream thus preventing
deposit build up and heart attacks!
If not
completely satisfied within 30 days just call or write for a full
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