Asparagus: Cancer Cure, or a Stalk of Green Hype?
You may have seen the e-mail circulating around: “Asparagus cures cancer!” True, or just another one of those empty e-mail promises?
As is typically the case with such rumors, there’s a little bit of truth with a lot of hype mixed in. Obviously, if there were sufficient evidence to support the idea that asparagus cured cancer, a lot more people would be drinking a green puree with dinner. And a lot fewer people would be suffering from the disease.
If we’re looking strictly at the cancer-fighting potential of the vegetable, however, asparagus is definitely a star. It’s packed with nutrients like folic acid, vitamin C, potassium, thiamin and vitamin B6. It’s low in calories, sodium and cholesterol. And—here’s the biggie—according to the National Cancer Institute, it’s the highest-tested food containing glutathione, one of the body’s most potent cancer fighters. (It helps repair damaged DNA, and ushers toxins out of the body.) Tests indicated that asparagus from Washington contain 70mg/100g of glutathione, more than twice the amount in any other common food. Additionally, asparagus is high in rutin, which strengthens blood vessels, and according to Food Paper author Rachel Levin, it also maintains digestive health with naturally occurring fiber and inulin.
So if you’re looking to help prevent cancer, sustain remission, or support your body during treatment, getting regular servings of asparagus is a great idea. However, don’t go overboard, particularly if you’re undergoing treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, high doses of folic acid can interfere with cancer treatments. Since asparagus contains a good amount of folic acid, keep servings to a max of two a day.
As to the rumored “cure,” consider it speculation. It was apparently started in an article entitled, “Asparagus for cancer” which, according to the circulated e-mail, was printed in the Cancer News Journal, December 1979. (We weren’t able to obtain a copy to confirm.) The article is supposed to have reported on the experiences of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S., who recorded several cases where an asparagus regimen preceded remission. However, other reasons for the remissions were not examined, and currently, there are no clinical studies proving that asparagus cures cancer.
There are, however, studies that link asparagus with potent cancer-fighting abilities. One in 2008 examined the anti-tumor activity of “saponins” taken from the vegetable. According to the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board, preliminary laboratory and animal studies have also shown glutathione to have some cancer-inhibiting properties.
Find some tasty recipes from author Melissa Breyer at Care2.com.
Have you seen a copy of the original article about Dr. Vensal’s findings? Do you have any recommendations on how to prepare delicious asparagus? Let us know!
Photo courtesy of sonicwalker via Flickr.com.
Tags: anti-cancer foods, asparagus, Richard Vensal
This entry was posted on Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at 9:01 am and is filed under Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
18 Responses to “Asparagus: Cancer Cure, or a Stalk of Green Hype?”
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April 26th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Many studies show that fruits and vegetables prevent and fight cancer. A diet of fruits and vegetables is almost like a cure for cancer. Many individual fruits and vegetables are now being tested for their ability to fight or cure cancer.
This is being done by John Hopkins School of Medicine’s Brassica Foundation. They have already bred and patented broccoli sprouts that are extra high in cancer fighting sulforophane.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:13 am
Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Thank you
July 14th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I myself am in treatment for breast cancer. I had 2 surgeries to remove the cancer and 3 extractions of invection. The last one of those calling for my breast to be opened up a third time. I’m now just starting 7 weeks of radiation therapy. Monday thru Friday every week for 7 weeks. I don’t know if the Asparagus works for everyone or not but I feel it’s a safe and possitive step in the right direction. Thank you for the info.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I find that the need for chemo. would be less if the powers that be would pay more attention to information such as this, but of course the price of one chemo. is this country is $5,000, and in Germany $500.
Vegetables like asparagus are significantly less expensive.
Da!!!
October 16th, 2009 at 11:05 am
All foods grown have health benefits. Each catagory of foods cover different needs for the body, so I know that green vegetables are definately powerful for many areas. That’s why we are what we eat. I’ve learned that sugar feeds cancer so we need to inform others of this as well.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
My wife had lung cancer 3 years ago, upper part of her rh lung was removed. Year and 7 mos after, she was diagnose of 4th stage leukemia and was given 6 mos max to live. The recomended dosage of chemo pills makes her very sick and incapacitated so we tried asparagus and Zeolite. With out the knowledge of her doctor, (she is taking 100mg pills every second day (still causes her cramps) instead of 400mg pills a day! ) One year to date now she is still alive, her blood test are remarkable, almost to normal.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
please let me know if you can eat asparagus any other way than puree
March 30th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I will have to follow up on this study. Thank you for sharing the resource. It is important for everyone to understand the benefit of a healthy diet and its aid in fighting and preventing disease.
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:11 am
I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. Nutrition is extremely important as you care for yourself during treatment. Please feel free to read about the other posts I did on remedies during treatment. Sending love and light your way, Britta
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:17 am
Funny but true Anne! We are especially at a disadvantage here in the US when it comes to our food and our health. That’s why it is so important for us to take care of ourselves inside and out. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. – Britta
April 7th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
I’m glad to hear that your wife is fighting this disease and incorporating nutritional aspects to help. Thank you for sharing this with us. Sending love and light to you and your wife, Britta
April 7th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Hi Kathy, there are several different ways to cook asparagus. Check out Care2.com or FoodNetwork.com for easy recipes. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Hope this helps – Britta
April 7th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I agree Barbara and thank you for commenting. Our over-consumption of sugar can be detrimental to our health and as you said it is important for us to inform others and encourage them to make healthier decisions. Thanks again for helping to spread the word. Best- Britta
May 20th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I believe that the drug companies do not want people know about important health news. More than 20 years ago I read in journal of medicine that the chemical used to make the plastic wrap soft causes cancer and that this chemical is released to our food up on contact. Later I read that if in Microwave the chemical is just dropped in to the dish it is covering even without contact. More than 20 years later 90% of our food in supermarkets are wrappe in plactic wrap. I have heard about this discovery several times through radio showes and interviews but does the government listen to this to ban the plastic wrap?
May 22nd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I beleive there are a lot of different opinions out there,some wanting to squash rumors about the fighting qualities of such foods as asparagus purely because they will take profits away from the drug companies who make HUGE profits for the small amount it costs to produce these drugs and then there is the other side of the story,those who sell the certain product and want to boast sales.What ever the reasons as far as I’m concerned,if you are looking at death from cancer you have noting to lose but to try such things.What have you got to lose!!!.Its like here in New Zealand (thats down south by Australia for those who dont know)a few years ago there was a guy here who produced a long life battery (it had 2 cells) that even if you left your lights on and it went flat there was a small part of it that would have enough power to restart your car,what happened to it,a large battery company brought the patent from him then shelfed it away….why because it would hughly cut there profits.To a lot of companies life is expendable and money come first,thats the sad reality.
May 26th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the comment Paul! You are absolutely right, what do we have to lose by improving our nutrition, increasing our exercise and reducing our exposure to toxins? Unfortunately, medicine is a big business and personal agendas can get in the way but we must spread the word and increase our awareness. – Britta
July 4th, 2010 at 2:18 am
Many years ago I read an article saying that the almond in apricots seed contains a cancer fighting element, same as in other fruit seeds and vegies?? The bible tells us: eat the fruits AND ITS SEED!!
Doesn’t hurt to try.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Thanks for commenting John and sharing some of this enlightenment! – Britta