 |
| Design by Frank Miller. |
What does this have to do with oysters?
In recent research, oysters have shown remarkable potential to both prevent and even help heal breast cancer. Yep. The bottom-dwelling, mud-loving, dirt-eating oyster may save your life or your sister's life or your daughter's life or your husband's life.
*Just a reminder, people with breast cancer or any compromised immune system should not eat raw oysters.*
Cancer Fighter?
The secret may lie in oyster fat - the healthy kind. (Bear with me. You've heard some of this before.) Omega-3s, found naturally in fish and shellfish, have been the darling of doctors and TV talk shows for years. Dr. Oz, both an MD and a TV host, which makes him doubly enthusiastic, calls Omega-3 one of the 5 critical vitamins everyone woman should take. One of the many perks of Omega-3 is its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation has been shown to be at the route of many diseases, including cancer.
I know. I know. Omega-3s are yesterday's news, so I'm hoping most of you have stuck around for the a-ha. Oyster fat also has ceramides. What are ceramides? Well, here's the Wikipedia definition:
Ceramides (pronounced ser-A-mid OR seramide) are a family of waxy lipid molecules. A ceramide is composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid. Ceramides are found in high concentrations within the cell membrane of cells. They are one of the component lipids that make up sphingomyelin, one of the major lipids in the lipid bilayer. Contrary to previous assumptions that ceramides and other sphingolipids found in cell membrane were purely structural elements, ceramide can participate in a variety of cellular signaling: examples include regulating differentiation, proliferation, and programmed cell death (PCD) of cells.
Despite the uber-confusing definition, does the word "ceramide" sound familiar? Ceramides are the new hot thing in skin care. They are basically the "glue" that hold skin cells together and have been shown in many studies to help repair skin.
Now, researchers are linking ceramides, particularly oyster ceramides, to possible breast cancer treatments. The supersmart brains behind much of the research comes from Prof. Jack Losso from the LSU AgCenter. Along with a team of other smarty pants, he has shown that high concentrations of oyster fat (ceramides) killed both hormone dependent and hormone independent breast cancer tumors. Killed the tumors! In less than 48 hours. And that ain't all. He also showed that blood vessel growth that fuels cancer cell growth dropped 57% in a week. It's going to take a while to make the leap from the lab to clinical trials, but there's a lot to be excited about.
On the other side of the world, more research into the possible healing benefits of oysters is being pioneered by Austrailian researcher Dr. Kirsten Benkendorff from Southern Cross University. She has found that oysters and their kin have built up immunities to water pollutants that we humans may be able to use to fight our own cancer toxins, notably the toxins found to contribute to breast cancer.
Now, researchers are linking ceramides, particularly oyster ceramides, to possible breast cancer treatments. The supersmart brains behind much of the research comes from Prof. Jack Losso from the LSU AgCenter. Along with a team of other smarty pants, he has shown that high concentrations of oyster fat (ceramides) killed both hormone dependent and hormone independent breast cancer tumors. Killed the tumors! In less than 48 hours. And that ain't all. He also showed that blood vessel growth that fuels cancer cell growth dropped 57% in a week. It's going to take a while to make the leap from the lab to clinical trials, but there's a lot to be excited about.
On the other side of the world, more research into the possible healing benefits of oysters is being pioneered by Austrailian researcher Dr. Kirsten Benkendorff from Southern Cross University. She has found that oysters and their kin have built up immunities to water pollutants that we humans may be able to use to fight our own cancer toxins, notably the toxins found to contribute to breast cancer.
Approach with Caution
It's not all unicorns and rainbows. Oysters are also high in Cadmium, a huge component of pollution found in cigarette smoke, air from burnt fossil fuel, and some foods, like shellfish.
In a study published last year by the American Association for Cancer Research, women with elevated levels of cadmium were 21% more likely to develop breast cancer. However, this research came off the heels of another report from the Institute of Medicine that said while Cadmium pollutants may contribute to breast cancer, "it's probably a small part." The biggest drivers remain hormone-replacement drugs, alcohol, fattening foods, and cigarettes.So, the big question: Should you be eating oysters to help stave off breast cancer? Well, no. You should eat oysters because you like them. The next frontier of research is looking at how a lifetime of oyster eating may affect breast cancer rates in women and men. As for treatment based on the current research, the amount of oyster ceramides needed to treat breast cancer can only be found in concentrated doses mixed in a lab.
Sweet Louise, a New Zealand-based organization providing support and services to women and men living with secondary (also known as advanced or metastatic) breast cancer, published a book called 'Oysters for Lunch', a collection of creative writing by Sweet Louise members. The book takes its title from one of the stories where the author writes about the day she received the news that her cancer had spread and her husband asked what she would like to do with the time she had left to live. "I'd like oysters for lunch," she replied because they were a special and delicious treat, something she could enjoy 'in the moment' with her husband. You can order the book on the Sweet Louise web site. It's not currently available on Amazon.com.(Sweet Louise is in no way associated with the research into oysters and their potential benefits for breast cancer.)
 |
| Breast cancer survivor and memorial tree in Wrightsville Beach Park. |
I'm skeptical of the pink ribbon trinkets sold by Oriental Trading Co and Michael's. Breast cancer is too real to cost a dollar. But I'm always touched by the personal tributes. My small beach town draped a tree in pink ribbons dedicated to breast cancer survivors and those who passed away. My mother's name is on one of the pink ribbons. I'm thankful to call her a survivor.
Have a fantastic October. Please remember to get an annual mammogram. Then enjoy the moment and order oysters for lunch.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not a doctor. I'm an oyster lover and a blogger delivering the info. I'm also the daughter of a breast cancer survivor who believes that treatments and cures can come from anywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment