Fisetin from strawberries may keep cancer at bay
We have known for a while that eating a diet rich in fresh fruit is associated with reduced risk of cancer. But why, specifically?
Aside from its micronutrients, fruit has a wide array of bioactive chemicals which perform different functions in plants. Flavonoids, for example, make flowers colorful, which entice pollinating insects. One flavonoid called fisetin, found most abundantly in strawberries, not only helps make strawberries red, but also may fight cancer. To better understand why, let’s first take a quick look at how certain forms of cancer grow.
Like other cells in the body, cancer cells need blood flow to grow. To make that happen, cancerous tumors release small molecules that stimulate blood vessels growth in the tumor. Once the blood vessels are formed, blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the tumor, which allows it to get bigger. So how do we stop this without damaging healthy tissue?
Fortunately, certain plant chemicals can suppress angiogenic factors and prevent tumors from growing and spreading. For instance, fisetin interferes with cancer cell growth by selectively disrupting the blood-flow signaling pathways used by cancer cells, while leaving normal cells alone!
Some studies performed in rodents used freeze-dried strawberries to deliver a high concentration of fisetin. But while these studies deliver a greater amount of this flavonoid than you’d get in a normal meal containing strawberries, it has been hypothesized that regular consumption of phytochemicals — including fisetin and hundreds of other such plant compounds — could suppress cancer angiogenesis over time in healthy people, thus keeping us healthy and cancer free.
So, a steady intake of flavonoids, including fiseting from strawberries, seems like a smart move to help prevent cancer at bay 24/7. Best of all, strawberries and other fruits are cheap, easy to find, and tasty too.
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