Brazilian berry 'Acai" destroys cancer cells

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Hi all

Came across this video on fox news about a brazilian berry popular in health food contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study, one of the first to investigate the fruit's purported benefits.

An article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry about this same study showed extracts from the berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested,

Watch the news video at the link below:-

Acai cancer cure

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Comments

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2009

    The berry has loads of antioxidants. Notice it is cells, not full tumours it is destroying. Blueberries also have a ton of antioxidants. Individual Leukemia and other isolated cancer cells will often self-destruct anyway without the right environment to grow in. We all have cancer cells roaming around in our bodies looking for the right time to multiply. That's why anitoxidents are so powerful.

  • JeninMichigan
    JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
    edited March 2009

    The Amazon Acai Beery contains a complete spectrum of essential fatty acids which are also beneficial for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.   It also contains Vit B1, B2, B3, Vit. C, E, iron, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.   Omega 6 and 9 and all the essential amino acids.  It has more protein than an average age.    Acai has up to 33 times the antioxidant content as red wine grapes.  When compared to wolfberry, noni and mangosteen juice products, the Acai is 6 times more powerful in terms of antioxidant content.  

    Some other benefits:  instant energy, increased vitality, ancient tonic for sexual disorders, anti-aging properties, anti-cancer, improves cardiovascular system, lowers LDL, protects the prostate, anti-bacterial, helps allergies, improve digestion, helps with stress, improves fat metabolism, feeling of awareness, improved mental focus, anti-oxidant, better sleep and sustained energy and strength.

    Drinking acaiberry juice though does not provide the same benefits as the actual whole berry.    

     check out www.riovida.com

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2009

    Truly a miracle fruit. You have to wonder why it hasn't been "found" earlier and cultivated for all. Someone is going to make a ton of money off this berry.... 

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited March 2009

    Well, apparently it's helped the economy of Belem, Brazil (pop. 2million), where the berry is harvested.  And these good folks also consume over 200,000 litres of it every day.  To see if it really does all that the American marketers say it does, perhaps some studies should first be done on the citizens of Belem????? JMHO!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    Jen, is that a site selling the wonderful (but clinically unproven) acai? If so, it's spam, please edit out.

  • anondenet
    anondenet Member Posts: 715
    edited March 2009

    Spam is defined as a product or service a person derives income or compensation from.

    Unless Jen is paid by the berry company, she is not spamming.

    >

  • JeninMichigan
    JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
    edited March 2009

    I actually have studied this product (and no I am not paid by the company) quite extensively.  They have done hundred of clinical studies on this total product all over the world .. United States, UK, Russia, etc.c   If I felt like typing a whole lot, I could site 44 studies right now in direct relation to breast, prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, regulation of cell-mediated immunity in patient with malignant tumors, immune response in carcinogenesis, immunologic resonse in pregnancy, autoimmune demyelinating disease, etc.  This is NOT a grocery store product touting immune system booster with no scientific background.    I certainly would not take or give my children anything that was not clinically studied and that I have not extensively studied either. 

    You should take more than a cynical cursory look before you dismiss it.   It is not just the acai berry alone that produces results however that is a great part of the product as well. 

    LJ13, how do you know this is clinically unproven.   I can show you otherwise.

    Jen

  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited March 2009

    Mangosteen is uppose to have wonderful anticancer properties as well

    Genesis makes 100% Mangosteen fruit juice..kind of pricy though. I was thinking of trying Acai.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    Please do Jen. I'm all eyes.

    Are these large scale, multi-center, randomized, well controlled, double blind studies?

  • motheroffoursons
    motheroffoursons Member Posts: 333
    edited March 2009

    Dear Jen,

    I went to the site you recommended, http://www.riovida.com/  On one of the screens there was a marketing thing trying to encourage me to become a distributor.  I thought that was odd you referred to this site as a scientific support of the statements.  I would want an unbiased review, not from the company that sells the product.  Perhaps there is a unbiased scientific study someplace, but it sure was not at the site you recommended.  Please verify the product with scientific studies you claim to know about.

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2009

    Jeninmichigan,

    I would like links to some of those studies if you don't mind.

  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 1,989
    edited March 2009

    Acai sounds like a great healthy fruit, similar to blueberries - but be careful of their so-called miracle claims and some fraudent practices online. The following article is from December 2008:

    'Superfood' Acai May Not Be Worth Price

    Oprah's Dr. Oz Says Acai Is Healthy but No Cure-All; Dieter Feels Ripped Off

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=6434350&page=1

  • JeninMichigan
    JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
    edited March 2009

    The reference of the site intended only for the product information as it relates to the acai berry.  Can't really help on that site there is a tab for the marketing stuff.   I didn't at all refer to the site as a scientific support of the statements.  Just as a resource for the product itself.    I never said the site was scientific support.   

    Please refer to www.transferfactorresearch.com.  Please click ONLY on the research button.   

    Additionally you may refer to:

    http;//www.globalfirst.co.uk/tfapplications.html

    Gosh, I am nearly afraid to post any more information as this is a rough crowd.   

    The rest of the information I have are abstracts of studies that if you are really interested in doing alot of in depth reading, I will fax it to you.

    Jennifer

    Jen 

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2009

    Jeninmichigan,

    I hardly think asking for a link to references you yourself referred to

    (QUOTE: They have done hundred of clinical studies on this total product all over the world .. United States, UK, Russia, etc.c If I felt like typing a whole lot, I could site 44 studies right now in direct relation to breast, prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, regulation of cell-mediated immunity in patient with malignant tumors, immune response in carcinogenesis, immunologic resonse in pregnancy, autoimmune demyelinating disease, etc.)

    can be characterized as a "rough crowd".

    ACAI BERRIES are touted as a powerful ANTIOXIDANT. Many chemotherapies rely on the production of FREE RADICALS to be effective. ANTIOXIDANTS combat FREE RADICALS and can possibly diminish the effectiveness of chemotherapy. ONE SOURCE: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69109.cfm

    I do think it is important that people are aware the use of antioxidants may have a negative impact on their treatment if they use them during chemotherapy.

  • TorchSong
    TorchSong Member Posts: 348
    edited March 2009

    And may I add that in my radiation class we were told to limit/eliminate our use of antioxidants while we were undergoing radiation therapy....because radiation, too, deends on free radicals.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    That's a very good point, BB.

    What is good for us, isn't always good for us. Particularly if it interferes with treatments.

    Yes, me too TS. I wonder how many alternative practicioners understand these principles on which treatment work.

  • JeninMichigan
    JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
    edited March 2009

    Here is a quote for you from Dr. Duane Townsend, MD in his book "A Maverick of Medicine speaks to Women".   Dr. Townsend is a world renowned and very prominent gynecologist.

    "It defies all reason, most physicians don't prepare the body for chemotherapy and don't repair it .  They simply prescribe a course of cell, tissue and immunity destruction and live it at that.   This makes no sense to me. When it comes to chemotherapy, physicians trained to heal the human body instead routinely prescribe therapies that poison and kill many living cells. While sometimes this may be necessary, my gripe is that they totally neglect the use of diet, supplements and other therapies that can strengthen and protect the body before, both during and after treatments. 

    In fact, some physicians are so misinformed that they discourage patients from taking antioxidants during chemotherapy.  Make no mistake, chemotherapy creates a glut of dangerous free radicals.  Why shouldn't antioxidants be recommended?  I've seen its benefits with many of my own patients, so much that I consider it a crucial component of any cancer therapy.  I don't believe that taking these compounds will interfere in any way with the action of the chemotherapy.   It will, however, help protect healthy cells from additional damage and support immune function.  

    Keep in mind that even a small nodule of cancer contains billions of cancer cells, and in order to kill just one cancer cell, the action of multiple immune cells is required.  Optimizing our diets and taking a strong array of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and immune building supplements can make a world of difference in how a patient responds to chemotherapy"

    I did not take any antioxidants during the first four rounds of chemo and I was on antibiotics twice for infections.   After the fourth rounds, I took alot of antioxidants and transfer factor, I have not been on any antibiotics since (this was July 08) and have not even had so much as a runny nose.   Fatigue was minimized even through rads.   

    Jennifer

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2009

    Jennifer,

    Does this mean you are not going to provide links to the studies?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    There are few MD's who wholly embrace alternative modalities. One in Dr. Weil.

    His position on use of antioxidants is: not immediately before, during, or immediately after conventional treatments. He also fully supports preventive lifestyle and diet factors. But when you've been diagnosed, his recommendation is to stick with tested and well characterized conventional protocols.

  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited March 2009

    LB13 said : "there are few MD's who wholly embrace alternative modalities". Where do you get the stats on that (since you are so big on "proving" everyting).. (very often with very little proof yourself to back up your comments)

    I don't think that even Dr. Weil would suggest he is 100% behind alternative modalities since he runs a clinic in Arizona that incorporates conventional/alteranative/complementary modalities.. ..  Almost all the doc's I have experienced in my life accept a piece of all of the modalities.. that's why it is referred to the "practice" of medicine"..  Some would even say (and have said) "medicine is more art than science"..  deal with it ....  There is room for all things that have potential benefit in medicine.. now science that is a different matter, science is a religion that doesn't tolerate any other religion...

  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2009

    I heard something about these berries also, but then that raised a question. Do berries (meaning all, not just acai) help only those tumors that are er/pr-, or can er/pr+ get some benefit from them, too?  I love berries!  Especially blue berries.  And strawberries....dewberries....mmmmmmmm!

    JeninMichigan, you said that these ladies are rough.  They are...but in a good way.  (Don't get mad at me, now, ladies....you are.) They are very thorough, and all do a vast amount of research. That's why I posted the question...they know.

    Ok---I will go back to lurking now. 

     Jennifer

  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited March 2009

    For what ever it is worth..

    Costco has been carrying its own brand of this juice for many months now

    it is very inexpensive there and it is good...I drink the Costco

    brand juice..but only as a juice, not as a cure...

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2009

    If you look at my signature line, you can see that I am stage IV. That means, for me, I don't have time to monkey around with alternatives that have no reputable science behind them. Often, I get intrigued by some of the posts in this section and would like to keep the information for the day when traditional treatments quit working for me. When someone posts that they know of clinical trials/studies that support a particular alternative, I request that information to see if it is something I want to keep in mind as a possible last-ditch option. I take great offense that my requests for information a poster CLEARLY STATED SHE HAD ACCESS TO is construed as an attack. Seriously, do you people just accept what a vitamin store clerk or advertisement says as the ultimate resource?

    Questions are not attacks.

  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2009

    ***Frantically waving white flag!!****Surprised

    I didn't mean to offend here. When I said that you and others here are "thorough"---that's what I meant.  I did NOT mean anything ugly.  Of course, I read your signature, Badboob.  Who else is going to watch my back door if I get excited over something as trivial as a berry as a cure??!? Not only are you looking out for us that are trotting in behind you, you are looking out for you. Do I think you believe everything that is posted?  No, of course not. Neither do I.   I may not even buy the darn stuff.  No Costco (whatever that is) here.  And it is too expensive, even as a juice.

    I do respect your opinions here, and I do listen to what you have said.  I think in the past you may have even answered a question. I guess, someday in the future, I will be the one asking the hard questions as you do.  And until that day rolls around, I have to rely on you.

    I'm sorry if I offended or anyone else.  And no, I wasn't attacked.  You say what you say, and move forward....I hope! Smile

    Jennifer

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2009

    NP, Jennifer...I took a cranky pill today.  :o)

  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited March 2009

    Why do you attack a berry that it can or can not cure cancer?  Chemo does NOT cure breast cancer. Show me the scientific proof were chemo cures breast cancer. Show me proof radiation cures cancer.  The difference is my insurance will pay for chemo. Why does everyone expect alternative to cure cancer when traditional treatment can't?

    Flalady

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited March 2009

    I DID NOT attack a frickin berry...........I ASKED JENINMICHIGAN FOR LINKS TO THE STUDIES TO WHICH SHE REFERRED.  Why is it an ATTACK if someone asks for further information?  WHERE THE FUe#*$%^& DID I ATTACK A F#$&%&% BERRY?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    Florida lady - I think we all know that chemo does not cure cancer!  I find that statement profoundly condescending and rude - not sure if it was meant that way. My nine year old told me there was no cure for cancer when I told him my diagnosis, so I really think we all know that. 

    I have been interested in learning more about this berry, and I too would like to read the scientific studies.  As I think YOU would on traditional medical claims.  WHY IS THIS AN ATTACK????

    I really don't get it - as long as it is non traditional, it is exempt from reality and no one can ask for further information?!  Most people reading this thread are looking for information to help, not to fight. 

    Please advise.

  • Youwearpink
    Youwearpink Member Posts: 87
    edited March 2009

    Hello All,

     Afraid to post on this strand Innocent.  How about a new strand starting fresh discussing the topic of "Possible Alternative Treatments and/or supplements to ward of cancer/improve health?"

    Just an idea???UndecidedSmile

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited March 2009

    I am so sorry but I am laughing so hard right now!!!! badboob67 you post about the f...ing berry!!! oh my goodness!!! Laughingsorry, I shouldn't be laughing..........youwearpink! I totally agree!Wink

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