Three Everyday Foods Are Discovered to Be Powerful Weapons Against Prostate Cancer

Apples, curry, grapes: They all contain ingredients that can starve prostate cancer cells, potentially offering a new way to fight one of the deadliest cancers men face.

Knowing the early signs and taking steps to protect yourself can help you catch prostate cancer—the most common male cancer in the United States—before it turns deadly. But now scientists from the University of Texas at Austin believe they’ve made a breakthrough in treating the condition, using natural compounds found in plants.

In the new study, published in Precision Oncology, scientists began by testing 142 natural compounds found in turmeric, apple peelings and green tea, which had already been identified as effective at thwarting the growth of cancer cells. They tested these plant-based compounds on cells from mice and from humans, and identified the three most effective compounds. Then, they set out to see if combining them increased their power to thwart cancer cells.

The three chemicals they focused on included ursolic acid (a waxy natural chemical found in apple peelings and rosemary); curcumin (the yellow compound found in turmeric); and resveratrol (present in cinnamon, red grapes, and berries).

Stefano Tiziani, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dell Pediatric Research Institute at UT Austin, explained the results in Science Daily: “After screening a natural compound library, we developed an unbiased look at combinations of nutrients that have a better effect on prostate cancer than existing drugs. The beauty of this study is that we were able to inhibit tumor growth in mice without toxicity.”

Why were the compounds so effective? When cells are damaged and weakened by chronic infection, inflammation from auto-immune diseases, or obesity, they’re more likely to mutate into cancerous cells. The plant-based nutrients minimize inflammation, lowering the risk of those cells becoming malignant.

Cancer cells need nutrients to help them grow. They get this from glutamine, an amino acid that is important in breaking down proteins in our diet. The plant compounds stop the cancer cells from “feeding” on glutamine, literally starving them of their nutrition.

The discovery of such powerful weapons against prostate cancer in ordinary foods is definitely a significant step. However, simply eating foods that contain these compounds is unlikely to be enough to protect you against prostate cancer. Tiziani emphasizes that they need to be concentrated in order to have a positive effect.

“These nutrients have potential anti-cancer properties and are readily available,” he says “We only need to increase concentration beyond levels found in a healthy diet for an effect on prostate cancer cells.”

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11 Yoga-Inspired Stretches to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

If you're losing sleep over losing sleep, we've got the news to help you snooze. Try these stretches tonight to wake up refreshed tomorrow.

Rising Crescent Moon

We're a sleep-deprived nation, but you probably already know that since one in every three adults in this country doesn't get enough shut-eye, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Logging less than seven hours per night is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even problems on the job. It's no surprise we're always scoping out new sleep tricks and tips, but some experts suggest you first understand why sleep is proving to be so elusive, first. There are many possible reasons, but here's a solution that could address nearly all of them: "Stretching before bed resets ourselves and wipes the slate clean from the stresses of the day, which we carry in our bodies," says Susanna Harwood Rubin, author of the comprehensive lifestyle guide, Yoga 365 and an international yoga teacher with a home base in New York City. Additionally, making stretching part of your nighttime routine can automatically set the scene for these better bedtime habits. In creating this sequence of stretches for sleep, Susanna kept the focus on the pelvis, spine, and hamstrings because "they don't get enough movement throughout the day, whether we spend it sitting or standing. The tightness makes it difficult to relax and release, which is necessary for turning our time in bed into a restful time." With that in mind, Susanna's sequence begins with what she calls the "Rising Crescent Moon," which can be done beside the bed. It is essentially a lunge with the back knee on the ground, the torso fully upright (perpendicular to the ground), and the toes flexed. Having the toes flexed is an added bonus for releasing the soles of your feet (you're welcome, aching feet). Susanna's using blocks in the photo, but you can support your hands by reaching out and holding onto the the edge of your bed. Hold the pose for a slow count of ten on each side, Susanna says—plan to hold every stretch for that long. "It's a wonderful release of the hip flexors, the fronts of the thighs and the sole of the foot."

Resting Crescent Moon

After you've done Rising Crescent Moon on each side, it will be time for you to climb into, or rather, onto, your bed. After doing this a few nights in a row, it will come to signify the transition into bed in a gentler and more pleasant way than simply putting on pajamas and brushing your teeth (although bedtime routines are crucial to sound sleep). Once on your bed, you should gather your pillows and have one under each hand as you get into your Rising Crescent Moon position. Now, instead of holding the torso upright, however you can let your torso sink down, slowly, gently, to come to rest on your front thigh. If your torso doesn't reach your thigh, that could indicate lower back tightness or hip-flexor tightness, which will ease in time. For now, use another pillow or a folded up blanket on top of your thigh to bridge the gap to your torso. The important thing is to feel supported. From here on in, every stretch will be done on the bed, supporting a gentle transition into the bed, under the covers and out of wakefulness.

Hero's Rest

After you're finished with your second side of Resting Crescent Moon, tuck your feet under you and sit on your calves. If this feels pinchy on your knees or thighs, then place a pillow between your rear and your calves. Place your palms on your knees, and keep your torso upright as you breathe 10, slow, victorious breaths, because, as Susanna says, "You've already conquered your day. Now take a moment and reflect on it quietly, without judgment, regret, or worrying about tomorrow." The Hero's Rest focuses on releasing your front-thighs. Your feet are stretched out behind you. Your hands brace your upper body. This stretch should calm the mind, lightly stretch the front thighs, and continue the stretch of the feet begun in the Crescent Moons.

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