Cancer-Fighting Holiday Treat without Added Sugar

Cranberry sauces are commonly found on many tables during the holiday season, starting from Thanksgiving and continuing through New Year’s. While these sweet concoctions may not be a cure for cancer, cranberries without added sugar can provide health benefits. The tangy red berries are valuable additions to your diet year-round.

These berries contain natural sugars that have demonstrated potential to starve cancer cells in laboratory tests. Here is the narrative...

Aside from the natural sugars in cranberries, these fruits also harbor other natural compounds that can trigger cancer cells to undergo self-destruction via a process referred to as apoptosis. Similar to many other foods, cranberries can be viewed as a natural remedy.

Overview

When discussing “sugar,” most individuals think of sucrose (table sugar) or fructose (found in fruits, certain vegetables, and many processed foods as a sweetener). These sugars are metabolized by the body into glucose, which is blood sugar.

However, mannose is a distinct type of sugar. It is a sugar variation present in cranberries, as well as in various other foods like broccoli, cabbage, kelp, and shiitake mushrooms. Mannose reveals a variety of intriguing properties under close scrutiny.

According to scientists at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, “Mannose is a basic sugar with a complicated existence.”¹

An important aspect of mannose and cancer is that studies conducted in England have indicated that it can impede tumor growth and potentially serve as a valuable cancer therapy.

Its efficacy lies in the fact that cancer cells have a high demand for sugar, particularly glucose, to fuel their proliferation. Mannose can disrupt this process and restrict cancer cells’ access to the plentiful glucose they require.

Researcher Kevin Ryan explains, “Tumors necessitate substantial glucose to grow, so reducing the amount available to them should hinder cancer advancement. The challenge is that normal tissues also require glucose, so completely eliminating it from the body is not feasible. In our research, we identified a mannose dosage that could limit enough glucose to decelerate tumor growth in mice without negatively affecting normal tissues.”

Not a Universal Cure or “Magic Bullet”

While not all types of tumors responded to mannose in laboratory tests, researchers suggest that cancer cells may resist its anti-cancer properties if they possess an enzyme capable of breaking down mannose. Nonetheless, experiments have displayed that mannose was effective against skin cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic tumor cells.

Dr. Ryan notes, “Our next step is to explore why treatment is effective in specific cells to identify which patients might derive the most benefit from this approach. We intend to commence clinical trials with mannose in humans as soon as possible to evaluate its true potential as an innovative cancer treatment.”

However, researchers advise that while taking mannose as a medication or supplement can be advantageous for certain metabolic conditions and may assist in combating cancer and urinary tract issues, it could pose complications for individuals with diabetes by affecting blood sugar regulation.

That being said, consuming mannose through cranberries is completely safe. No one has ever become ill from consuming cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, and research indicates that consuming cranberries can improve blood sugar control in individuals with diabetes.²

Using mannose supplements is also safe for those with normal blood sugar levels.

Fighting Oxidative Stress

Another notable characteristic of cranberries is their ability to diminish oxidative stress in the body. This antioxidant attribute may function as a defense against cancer.

Oxidative stress arises from the accumulation of free radicals in the body – reactive substances that can cause harm to cell membranes and disrupt cellular functions. While oxidative stress is a natural consequence of cellular activities converting food into energy, environmental toxins, pollution, and other factors can elevate free radical levels to detrimental levels.

Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston propose that the onset of tumors and the dissemination of cancer cells are often associated with oxidative stress, where free radicals induce DNA damage.

Studies analyzing cranberries have shown that they contain a potent blend of antioxidant phytochemicals (plant compounds) capable of neutralizing free radicals.

Scientists suggest that cranberry compounds not only directly neutralize free radicals but also provide epigenetic advantages by activating genes that boost the body’s production of antioxidant enzymes.⁴

Furthermore, cranberries have been found to pacify immune cells, which can trigger inflammation – a common underlying factor in various diseases, including cancer. Inflammation occurs when the immune system erroneously attacks the body’s own tissues.⁵

Further research on cranberries suggests that they can:

• Retard the growth of prostate cancer by impeding the replication of prostate cancer cells.⁶
• Induce self-destruction in esophageal cancer cells.⁷
• Delay the progression of rectal and colon cancer by inhibiting cancer-related enzymes.⁸

Moreover, as I delve deeper into cranberry research, I am increasingly amazed by their health benefits.

For example, European studies propose that compounds in cranberries can safeguard oral health by shielding against gum disease. Cranberry juice has been revealed to prevent harmful bacteria from adhering to gum tissue, thereby reducing the risk of gingivitis, plaque formation, cavities, and overall body inflammation.⁹

Researchers also suggest that individuals with type 2 diabetes may experience benefits from consuming cranberries or cranberry extracts, especially when combined with omega-3 fatty acids in their dietary regime. Diabetics are prone to severe periodontal issues, and a study demonstrated that pairing cranberries with omega-3s substantially improved gum health and helped regulate blood sugar levels.¹⁰

One final piece of advice – if you choose cranberry juice, avoid varieties sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar. If unsweetened cranberry juice is too tart for your liking, consider sweetening it yourself by mixing it with apple juice or another sweetened juice.