Compounds in Pomegranate may fight breast cancer!

Enzyme-blocking chemicals in pomegranates (phytochemicals) may reduce the risk of estrogen-fueled breast cancers, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

An acid found in pomegranates appears to block aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in the development of breast cancer, the researchers wrote in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

“We identified some of these chemicals in pomegranates that actually have properties that can suppress aromatase,” researcher Shiuan Chen, of the City of Hope cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, California, said in a telephone interview.

Many women who have had breast cancer take medicines called aromatase inhibitors — such as Pfizer’s Aromasin, Novartis’ Femara and AstraZeneca Plc’s Arimidex — to keep estrogen from feeding tumors.

Chen and colleagues studied whether compounds, or phytochemicals, in pomegranates can suppress aromatase and ultimately block cancer growth. They found that 10 natural compounds in the fruit may potentially prevent estrogen-related breast cancer.

Chen said the compounds would not be a replacement for aromatase inhibitors.

“We do not recommend people start taking this as a replacement for the AI’s,” Chen said. “They (pomegranate compounds) are not as potent as the real drugs so we think that the interest probably is more on the prevention end rather than in a therapeutic purpose.”

Other researchers not associated with the study told the journal that the results are promising, and suggested more studies involving animals and humans were needed to confirm the findings.

“It’s not clear that these levels could be achieved in animals or in humans because the (compounds) are not well absorbed into blood when provided in the diet,” said Gary Stoner of Ohio State University.

Dr. Powel Brown, an oncologist at the University of Texas, said in a statement that future studies should focus on testing pomegranate juice for its effect on estrogen levels, menopausal symptoms, breast density or even as a cancer preventive agent.

More than 400,000 women die from breast cancer globally every year. About 75 percent of breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive, meaning they are fed by estrogen.

Previous research has shown that pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants — vitamins and other substances — that may help prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pomegranate Products

Absolute Pomegranate Concentrate™ – Absolute Pomegranate Powder™

Acai-Max® – Mangosteen Elixir® – Maqui-Max™

Q: Good Afternoon,

I was hoping if you could tell me is goji juice rich in phyto-estrogens?

Thanks for your help

Frida C.

A: Dear Frida,

I am sorry but it isn’t. Soy is high in phyto-estrogens and there are many soy isoflavone products on the market.

Sincerely,

Dr. E

Response Back

Dear Doctor.

I wanted to sincerely thank you for your quick response to my question. You see, I had purchased a bottle from the health food store, and then I asked my specialist if it ok for me to drink it, as I am taking Arimidex for an estrogen positive breast cancer I had. She advised me NOT to take anything that would be rich in phtyo-estrogens, (as she was not sure if it was) so, naturally I ceased taking it, and have been emailing so many different people via the Internet, through the Lifestream manufacturers, but not one person has replied to me.

Thankfully I found your website and thought I would try to email you and ask you, and I am truly thankful for your quick response, the very same day!!

This shows such professionalism to me……and I wish more people would be so prompt in answering customer’s queries.

So, I just started taking it again. …..now that you have told me that it does not contain phyto-estrogens……..

Thank you sincerely for your help

Regards

Frida C.

Good Morning:

I am recommending Mangosteen, Goji, Noni, and Acai-Max products to my niece. She has breast cancer which has spread throughout her body, and I am wondering if it would be advantageous for her to “load-up” on the juices and to consume considerably more than two ounces daily of each. Also, is there any potential danger to consuming too much of these products?

Regards,

Bill

Dear Bill,

I am sorry to hear that news. I can’t see of any possible danger from consuming large amounts of the juices. Being that they are fruit juices the worst thing, I can imagine happening, would be a mild laxative effect. As far as being advantageous, I can not answer that. You must read all the data on these juices the net and library can provide and make your own informed decision.

I can tell you this, if a loved one of mine had cancer, I would try just about anything to get them better as long as it wouldn’t make things worse.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Hi Dr. Ettinger,

First I have to say that you are greatly missed here in Tustin. We hope everything is well with you and your family.

Last year on April 2 (my birthday) I found a lump on my right breast. After extensive testing I was diagnosed with 3 different forms of breast cancer. I had a 2.5 cn lump in my right breast, 8 mil lump in my left breast the tons of micro-calcifications in my right breast. There was also some cancer that had spread to some lymph nodes as well as my lungs. So, it was Stage 4 Breast Cancer. My doctor at the St. Joseph Breast Center stepped out of character and said rather bewildered, “You have a lot of disease.”

I called the office in Tustin where you used to practice and wanted to pursue some form of treatment through them, but due to finances (and his skepticism) my husband wouldn’t allow me to go that route. So the only avenue I had available to me was to do the traditional methods using Cal Optima as my insurance. However, after hours upon hours and days upon days of research on the internet, I determined that I would utilize herbal and supplemental support to try and protect my body from the adverse affects of the chemotherapy (5 rounds) and radiation (35 days). Sadly I also had to have a radical mastectomy of my right breast and a lumpectomy of my left; also removal of quite a number of lymph nodes on my right side and radiation treatment to those on the right side of my neck.

I was cleansing myself with Essiac tea, taking massive doses of numerous antioxidants, as well as specifically taking AHCC, Beta Glucans, Moducare, Colostrum, and NAC. I had read studies that said taking extremely high doses of antioxidants would protect me, while helping to boost the adverse affects to the cancer, rather than protecting the cancer. It’s also supposed to help keep the cancer from coming back or allowing the radiation to produce other cancers in the future.

I’ve also had an extremely positive attitude all along because I knew it was not my destiny to die. In fact 2 weeks after the diagnosis just as a little confirmation to support me, I got a fortune cookie (which I don’t normally take stock in but I felt it was providence) that said, “Long life is in store for you.” So I framed it and kept it as an inspiration and occasionally remind G-d that He isn’t a liar and wouldn’t tease me with something like that.

I totally went vegan for about 9 months (juicing often), but have reintroduced some meats and dairy in small amounts using only organic, antibiotic free and hormone free and have only been using organic fruits and vegetables. I had to make this change because it was too difficult to make separate meals for myself and the rest of the family for they didn’t want to go vegan.

Bottom line, I just went through all the follow-up tests (bone scan, CT, PET, mammogram) and there is absolutely no sign of any cancer in my system at all, as well as my blood work supporting the same.

I am continuing to take supplements (but not at extremely high doses, a little above normal) along with the AHCC, Beta Glucans, Moducare and NAC, but have swapped my Colostrum for Transfer Factor.

I’m telling you all this because if it weren’t for your influence in my life I may have just gone the normal route without seeking outside information and more natural ways of dealing with things to help protect myself. So I wanted to say thank you so very much. I wish I had had you around but I believe some of your wisdom must have sunk in.

If you have any advice or words of wisdom, I’d be more than happy to hear from you.

All my best,
K. Goldman

P.S. All the doctors were not necessarily happy about my choices because they kept saying things such as “Most people follow standard protocol.”, but they are pretty amazed at the outcome now.