Alterative or nontraditional can take many forms. There are a wide variety of processes and techniques which are promoted to have benefit. Some involve the use of natural healing compounds. One such therapy involves the use of watercress which is being promoted as a potent anti-cancer superfood. We will look into these claims and find out more about this natural product.
Cancer is certainly a devastating illness which affects many people worldwide. There are many kinds of alternative treatments including vitamins, diet and physical changes and compounds known as superfoods. It has been found that there are some studies which point to the effectiveness of watercress in treating some forms of cancer.
In one study, it was found that the use of as little as three ounces of watercress has the potential to reduce the presence of breast cancer in just a few hours after consumption. Watercress contains a compound which stops a protein called hypoxia inducible factor from emitting a signal which tells new blood vessels to turn into tumors. Watercress has been found to be more effective than some pharmaceutical compounds including tamoxifen and Herceptin. And watercress is promoted as being safe and free from the harmful side effects of many traditional cancer fighting drugs.
Watercress is not only reported to be effective in fighting cancer in the short term. It can also benefit long term results and minimize the risk of cancer reoccurring. It has been reported that it can shut off the blood supply to a tumor. And daily ingestion of watercress reduces DNA damage as being able to enable the cells to resist DNA damage caused by free radicals. This may help to prevent the onset of cancer in the first place.
It is important to research any and all available controlled studies to try to verify the claimed benefits. Conclusive and controlled studies are minimal at this point. There was a study completed at the Cancer Research Center in Southampton UK which points to the effectiveness of watercress in reducing a key growth factor which causes tumor growth. It states that regular use of this superfood may be more effective than other cancer treatment drugs currently out there.
But at this point there is little scientific study which can be viewed as conclusive. No major medical organizations back up the claims made up to this point.
That is not to say that watercress may have benefit in treating cancer. It is just that potential users should proceed carefully and should not rely solely on the use of watercress as a cancer treatment method.
The use of watercress does not appear to have any negative effects so it should be able to be used along with traditional cancer treatments. Hopefully it can assist and support the effectiveness of traditional therapies in fighting the cancer and keeping it at bay for a long time.
But time will tell if watercress is indeed the superfood and compound which can quickly and effectively treat cancer on its own.
