36.9 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is so common these days and in many cases extremely hard to treat, but a study has found that a popular Asian food can eliminate some cancer cells.
Wasabi, a traditional Asian condiment that is also referred to as Japanese radish, contains active ingredients that have demonstrated an ability to eliminate pancreatic cancer stem cells. Who would have guessed that this zesty companion for all of your Japanese favorites would have the ability to combat one of the hardest variations of cancer to eradicate?
Typically, Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the hardest to treat, as well as one of the fatal cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 48, 560 people (24,840 men and 24, 120 women) diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They also predict that about 40,560 (20,710 men and 19,850 women) will die from it. According to those numbers that is well under 10% survival.
The low survival rate can be associated with the traditional cancer therapies that are used for treatment, and that is typically chemotherapy. The exact number killed by the therapy itself is unknown, however, as they list the cause of death as cancer rather than the toxic treatments that ultimately claim its patients.
The pancreas created insulin and proteolytic enzymes. Insulin is a hormone which regulates blood glucose, or sugar. This is possibly why there is a higher risk for type 2 diabetes patients to develop pancreatic cancer. Proteolytic enzymes that are strong enough to break down whole animal proteins and breakthrough cancer cells. The association between meat and sugar laden diets and cancer probably has something to do with this, and perhaps may be the reason for cancer diets which involve abstaining from sugar and meat.
Unfortunately, the downfall and failure of chemotherapy are that the cancer stem cells remain intact granting them the ability to create unlimited future cancer cells after the patient has achieved remission. Without targeting the stem cells there is not guarantee that future cancers won’t develop after the patient has battled and won against the initial threat.
So where does Wasabi come into play?
The Taiwanese in vitro (lab glass non-animal) study, “Effect of Wasabi Component 6-(Methylsulfinyl) hexyl Isothiocyanate and Derivatives on Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells” determined how the active ingredients in Wasabi were able to target and eliminate cancer stem cells. Stem cells are mother cells that duplicate themselves making it hard for chemotherapy distinguishes between stem cells, cancer cells duplicated by stem cells, or for that matter, healthy cells.
Due to the hard to palette spicy nature of Wasabi, it would be near impossible to consume in large quantities. The extracts are the key in providing effective and safe pancreatic cancer treatments in a holistic manner. It’s quite doubtful that the FDA would allow it to be promoted for its cancer destroying benefits. Well, there it is a natural and safe alternative to chemotherapy, that research seems to indicate is not only more effective but also possibly safer.