Supplemental Health
You have heard all of the experts tell you that the best way to get your vitamins is to eat healthy, and that supplements are a waste of money. But Disease Proof points to some studies that suggest possible cancer-fighting benefits from a pair of supplements.
Disease Proof: Some Supplements Have Some Scientific Support
This kind of research deserves serious consideration because mushrooms have been demonstrated to hold promise in the prevention and possible treatment of cancer. Initial research in humans has yielded conflicting results. Some studies have tested mushrooms and mushroom extracts on humans with cancer and found no benefits, and other studies have claimed substantial benefits.1 Studies on animals and cell lines indicate a likelihood of some protective effects. Mushrooms are high in selenium and contain a wealth of beneficial phytochemicals. Whether concentrated mushroom extracts are beneficial when added to an excellent anti-cancer diet is still somewhat up in the air. But I would probably err on the side of caution and take the concentrated mushroom extracts since they have shown some benefits.
Modified citrus pectin (MCP), also known as fractionated pectin, is a complex polysaccharide obtained from the peel and pulp of citrus fruits. MCP is rich in galactoside residues, giving it an affinity for certain types of cancer cells. Metastasis is one of the most life threatening aspects of cancer, and the lack of effective anti-metastatic therapies has prompted research on MCP’s effectiveness in blocking metastasis of certain types of cancers, including melanomas and prostate and breast cancers. Citrus pectins have been shown to slow the progression of prostate cancer and are thought to have other beneficial effects on slowing the spread of cancer. The question remains if taking additional supplemental pectin is better than simply eating citrus fruits.