| Cancer is one of the leading causes of death | | | | specific disease. |
| known the world over. It affects various parts of | | | | Advantages and Disadvantages |
| the human body and for years now, scientists | | | | 1. Studies have shown that ellagic acid stunts the |
| and medical practitioners have been looking for a | | | | growth of cancer cells. Although further research |
| 'miracle' cure to this traitorous disease. | | | | needs to be done in order to prove that it can |
| A person affected with cancer has cancer cells or | | | | actually treat and prevent cancer, the anti-cancer |
| tumors caused by carcinogens. In the continuous | | | | properties that this substance has shows much |
| research conducted amidst the fight against | | | | potential. |
| cancer, studies have shown that ellagic acid may | | | | 2. The acid mainly acts as an antioxidant and has |
| spoil, stunt or stop the growth and spreading of | | | | been known to cause death in tumor or cancer |
| certain cancer-causing carcinogens. | | | | cells. Specifically, it aids in the removal of certain |
| Ellagic acid has shown such promise that scientists | | | | cancer-causing substances included in the patient's |
| are not discounting the fact that this may be the | | | | blood. |
| cure that they are waiting for to treat and | | | | 3. It also shows in studies conducted on |
| prevent cancer. | | | | laboratory animals that it may reduce defects on |
| 'The Basics' | | | | birth, liver problems, heart conditions, promotes |
| Ellagic acid is basically known as a 'polyphenol' | | | | and strengthens the immune system and aids in |
| compound. Polyphenol is the substance found | | | | fast wound healing. |
| mostly in plants and this substance gives some | | | | Recent studies conducted by researchers in Italy |
| plants their color. A tree leaf, for example, turns | | | | found men and women who undergo |
| brown during fall and green during spring. | | | | chemotherapy to treat cancer can use the acid |
| Polyphenol is the substance responsible for the | | | | to reduce the side effects of the treatment. |
| seasonal color change of a tree's leaves. | | | | Chemotherapy is not known to be 'kind' to the |
| Being a polyphenol compound, it is considered as | | | | patient who undergoes such therapy. With the aid |
| an antioxidant with antibacterial properties - which | | | | of the acid, these side effects are reduced and |
| can be applied to strengthen and improve the | | | | research is still being done as to whether it can |
| body's immune system. | | | | also slow the spreading of cancer cells on a |
| Sources | | | | patient's body. |
| Forty years ago, ellagic acid became popular in the | | | | 4. Other medical professionals found that it can |
| medical community because of its positive effects | | | | fight the substance that cause the spreading of |
| on blood clotting. | | | | tumor or cancer cells. |
| Due to its promising potential to be the main | | | | On the other hand, since most of these positive |
| ingredient in the fight against cancer, ellagic acid is | | | | effects provided by ellagic acid are based on |
| currently being nurtured and further studied. | | | | tests conducted in medical laboratories, it has not |
| Here are some fruits and vegetables: | | | | been entirely tested on humans yet. |
| -strawberries -cranberries -blackberries | | | | Although it is mainly found in fruits such as |
| -raspberries -pecans -walnuts -pomegranates | | | | berries, a normal diet cannot include these fruits |
| -other plant food | | | | alone. A cancer patient still needs a balanced and |
| These plants use ellagic acid to rid themselves of | | | | healthy diet - which can and should include ellagic |
| pests and prevent them from having infections. | | | | acid-containing foods and supplements. |
| Such plant foods, fruits and vegetables produce | | | | Currently, the acid is available mostly in the form |
| the acid and glucose which are easily absorbed by | | | | of dietary supplements. Cancer patients who are |
| the human body. In addition, berries and | | | | taking other medications should consult a |
| promegnates are found to have the most | | | | professional before deciding to take this dietary |
| amount of ellagic acid. | | | | supplement despite of its potential cancer-curing |
| Currently, the extracts from these food sources | | | | effects. |
| containing ellagic acid are used in dietary | | | | However, it does show such promising results in |
| supplements. They come in liquid, capsule or | | | | the fight against cancer that medical professionals |
| powder form and since they are used mostly as | | | | are not discounting the possibility of ellagic acid |
| dietary supplements, as of now they are not yet | | | | turning into the miracle drug for cancer. |
| proven effective in the curing or preventing of a | | | | |