Did You Know…that an antioxidant compound in apples can significantly lower your risk of developing pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is among the most deadly cancers of all.
After an 8-year battle, it took the life of Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs. In just over a year it claimed one of cinema’s most beloveds, Patrick Swayze.
Whether you’ve lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer, or you’ve witness the struggles of public figures, you’re probably familiar with the death sentence that this “silent disease” brings.
If pancreatic cancer is not caught at the outset, it is virtually impossible to treat. Yet, early detection is exceedingly unlikely because there are few, if any, noticeable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. 
When symptoms do manifest, they mimic those of other diseases. After ruling out countless other health conditions, pancreatic cancer has already grown to deadly proportions.
For this reason, researchers have focused their efforts not only on treatment, but also on prevention.
The good news is that an antioxidant compound found in apple skins is a promising preventative measure against not just pancreatic cancer, but other cancers as well.
An Apple Peel a Day Keeps the Oncologist Away
UCLA researchers set out to uncover just how well natural antioxidants could curb pancreatic cancer. Published in the International Journal of Cancer, the study showed that quercetin benefits, an antioxidant compound in apple skins, slowed the spread of pancreatic cancer cells in mice.
Research was conducted in two stages.
- First, researchers measured the effects of quercetin benefits on pancreatic cancer cells in mice with no immune system. After injecting human pancreatic cells into the mice, researchers introduced malignant pancreatic cancer cells. The mice given quercetin survived 34% longer on average than those not treated with the compound. Researchers concluded that quercetin slowed the spread of pancreatic cancer cells and stimulated apoptosis (cell death).
- Second, scientists pitted quercetin benefits against other plant-based polyphenols such as rutin (found in green tea), trans-resveratrol (found in grapes and wine) and genistein (found in soybeans). All exhibited powerful cancer-fighting abilities except for rutin.
Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and conducted by researchers from Germany, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Southern California proved that flavonols such as quercetin benefitssignificantly lower your risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Researchers analyzed the food intake of 183,578 study participants, evaluating for intake of 3 flavonols: quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin.
Results showed that:
- Smokers had the lowest intake of flavonols and the highest incidence of pancreatic cancer
- Women had the highest flavonol intake and the lowest risk of developing pancreatic cancer
- 70% of the flavonols in the women’s diets came from apples and onions, the two foods richest in quercetin benefits
A Cancer-Free Tomorrow
While the majority of studies conducted thus far have been performed on cell culture and animals, the results indicate a promising first step in ending the threat of pancreatic cancer on humans.
Experts agree there’s good cause for you to eat a diet rich in antioxidants such as quercetin benefits, which is found in apple peels, onions and red wine.
Cigarette smoking and obesity dramatically increase your risk of contracting pancreatic cancer, so make lifestyle adjustments today to ensure a cancer-free tomorrow.
