Eating Watercress May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Research conducted at Britain’s University of Southampton suggests that women could help to protect themselves from developing breast cancer by adding watercress to their diet. Molecular oncologist Professor Graham Packham and colleagues studied a small group of breast cancer survivors, who underwent a period of fasting before eating 80g of watercress and then providing a series of blood samples over the next 24 hours. Results showed that ingestion of watercress led to a rapid rise in plasma levels of a compound present in watercress called phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). Previous studies have shown that PEITC decreases the phosphorylation of the translation regulator 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Decreased 4E-BP1 phosphorylation has been linked to the inhibition of cancer cell survival and decreased activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), which helps tumors grow by promoting the growth of new blood vessels. Further analysis of peripheral blood cells from four participants revealed that phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 was significantly reduced 6 and 8 hours after eating watercress. Study leader Professor Packham, a molecular oncologist at the University of Southampton, commented: “The research takes an important step towards understanding the potential health benefits of this crop since it shows that eating watercress may interfere with a pathway that has already been tightly linked to cancer development.” The authors concluded: “Dietary intake of watercress may be sufficient to modulate this potential anti-cancer pathway.”

Exercise & Weight as Opposing Risk Factors in Breast Cancer

Previously, a number of studies have suggested that physical activity reduces breast cancer risk. As well, maintaining a healthy, controlled weight has been shown to beneficially impact a person's risk for a variety of diseases. Lauren E. McCullough, from the University of North Carolina (North Carolina, USA), and colleagues studied 1,504 women with breast cancer (233 noninvasive and 1,271 invasive) and 1,555 women without breast cancer who were 20 to 98 years old and were part of the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.  Women who exercised either during their reproductive or postmenopausal years had a reduced risk of developing breast cancer. Women who exercised 10 to 19 hours per week experienced the greatest benefit with an approximate 30% reduced risk. Risk reductions were observed at all levels of intensity, and exercise seemed to reduce the risk of hormone receptor positive breast cancers, the most commonly diagnosed tumor type among American women.  Further, when the researchers looked at the joint effects of physical activity, weight gain and body size, they found that even active women who gained a significant amount of weight – particularly after menopause – had an increased risk of developing breast cancer, indicating that weight gain can negate the beneficial effects of exercise on breast cancer risk. Writing that: "[Regular physical activity]at any intensity level during the reproductive and postmenopausal years have the greatest benefit for reducing breast cancer risk,” the study authors warn that: "Substantial postmenopausal weight gain may eliminate the benefits of regular activity.”

Brussels Sprouts Beat Breast Cancer

Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae), and include brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and bok choy.  Cruciferous vegetables are rich in glucosinolates, the body converts to isothiocyanates and indole-3-carbinol – compounds associated with anti-cancer properties.  Researchers from Zhejiang University (China) completed a meta-analysis of 13 epidemiologic studies, including 18,673 case-control breast cancer studies. The team combined the data to reveal that higher intakes of cruciferous vegetables resulted in a 15% reduction in breast cancer risk. They conclude that: "Findings from this meta-analysis suggest that cruciferous vegetables consumption may reduce the risk of breast cancer.”