Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Prevention

Reprinted with the permission of:
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Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Prevention

As if you needed one more reason to load up your plate with healthful veggies, a recent study indicates that a higher vegetable intake may lower the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). According to lead researcher Linda E. Kelemen, MSc, ScD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, disease-fighting antioxidants in foods such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts may have a protective effect against this dangerous lymphatic system cancer that will afflict 58,870 new people in 2006.

ABOUT THE STUDY

To determine the association between antioxidants in vegetables and fruits and the risk of developing this type of lymphoma, Dr. Kelemen and her colleagues examined the diets of more than 800 American adults with and without NHL. Normal, everyday living can create excess free radicals or oxidants that damage cells and may lead to cancer, explains Dr. Kelemen. She compares it with the development of rust on an unprotected car. Fortunately, eating antioxidant-packed vegetables and fruits protect against damage to cells -- just like rust-proofing protects your car.

In the study, researchers found that...

People who ate the most vegetables a week (20 or more servings) had a 42% lower risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma than those who ate the fewest (eight or less servings).
Leafy greens such as spinach and green salad and cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) provided the greatest protection.
Two nutrients in particular, lutein and zeaxanthin (high in leafy greens, spinach and broccoli), were singled out for their potent antioxidant action.
The mineral zinc (common in certain nuts and seeds) also demonstrated a protective effect against NHL.
While researchers did not uncover any strong link between fruit intake and non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk, Dr. Kelemen points out that the benefits of eating whole fruits to reduce the risk of other diseases is well known.

These findings were published in the June 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

EAT YOUR GREENS

When I asked Dr. Kelemen whether the broccoli haters among us can compensate with dietary supplements, she responded that supplements do not contain the more than 100 antioxidants and phytochemicals found in fresh vegetables and fruit. If needed, they could be taken as an addition to -- not as a replacement for -- a healthy diet.

Reprinted with the permission of:
Bottom Line Daily Health News
Boardroom, Inc.
281 Tresser Blvd.
Stamford, CT 06901

http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com
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