Black raspberry: A tasty little cancer fighter

By pH health care professionals

Did you know that black raspberries are having a moment in medical research? Multiple studies have shown that black raspberries have unique aspects that make them good little cancer-fighters.

Here’s some of what we’re finding in the research:

• Cervical cancer cells died when exposed to black raspberry in the lab.

• Neuroendocrine tumors in the lab didn’t grow blood vessels as well when black raspberry extract (raspberry powder plus water) was applied. The extract even made anti-blood vessel drugs that cancer patients often take work better.

• Black raspberry seed compounds have shown anti-cancer activity against colon cancercells in the lab.

• In people with Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancer condition, taking the equivalent of two cups of raspberries per day in the form of powder resulted in increased detoxification activity in the pre-cancerous cells. This means black raspberries may inhibit progression from Barrett’s to esophageal cancer.

• In mice, black raspberry prevented esophageal cancer.

This begs the question, why do black raspberries fight cancer?

Black raspberries have:

• Antioxidants

• Vitamins

• Minerals

• Fiber

• Anthocyanins — the black pigment found in black raspberries, eggplant, purple potatoes, and other purple vegetables that is known to have anti-cancer properties

Will you eat more black raspberries?

Colorful fruits and vegetables are a great addition to any diet. This should give you some incentive to favor black raspberries. In particular, people at high risk of cancer (people who have smoked or who have a family history of cancer) could consider adding the fruit to their diets.

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!