Ginger helps prevent the spread of cancer cells

Ginger helps prevent the spread of cancer cells by restraining the overly enthusiastic activity of our immune systems.

Having survived the recent pandemic I think we understand that many of the deaths were the result of an excessive immune response after detecting the virus; the so-called cytokine storm caused by aggressive inflammation that choked the lungs and other tissues.

In a not dissimilar manner, neutrophils which are the most common white blood cell can over-respond to infection and injury; they are the body's first line of defence by the immune system.

This then becomes an "autoimmune" response against our own tissues.

What is a NET?

A NET is a "neutrophil extracellular trap" that is released by WBCs to capture circulating viruses and bacteria; it also grabs onto cancerous tissue.

These NETs also play pivotal roles in non-infectious diseases like lupus and psoriasis.

This NET is a web-like structure; it is highly inflammatory in an effort to protect us from invading organisms. But scientists have now found that this excessive response also causes cancer cells to spread both locally and to migrate throughout the body.

They have been searching for safe agents to help prevent this aberrant immune response; to "attenuate" these NETs to use the scientific jargon.

Ginger

Ginger tea spicy recipeGinger, lemon and honey make a relaxing tea

It has previously been shown that the common spice ginger when injected into mice helps to inhibit this excessive neutrophilic activity; especially in the autoimmune diseases like cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and even Covid-19.

This is measured by the level of cAMP in the blood; it blunts "NETosis" by human neutrophils.

After ginger consumption there was a significant increase in cAMP; but within one week this returned to previous levels prior to ingesting the spice[4].

The take-home from this is that regular consumption of small amounts of ginger helps to prevent the cytokine storm that is so deadly to our blood vessels.

You may recall the price of ginger went through the roof during the recent pandemic; but soon this "fad" passed. It was not understood that the spice acts to prevent as well as treat disease.

Deep vein thrombosis

Clots formed in deep vein thrombosis also have high levels of these activated neutrophils that exhibit this exaggerated response to a perceived pathogen.

Whilst working only at this stage with white mice, scientists again found that ginger helps to blunt this dangerously increased autoimmune activity.

Research

Researchers have found that daily consumption of ginger by healthy adults inhibits the formation of these over-responsive inflammatory NETs[4]; of comparable effectiveness to a common medication.

In other research on humans and mice there is now a large body of evidence that these NETs are furthermore involved in "cancer progression and metastatic dissemination[2]."

They capture circulating cancer cells and promote metastasis; and cause organ damage not dissimilar to those folk with the autoimmune diseases.

Spicy ginger tea recipe

This ginger tea recipe is just one simple way to enjoy the powerful spice on a daily basis. Served ice-cold it is perfect on a hot summer's day or in the evening as a tonic to help us sleep better.

It can be used to make a peanut and ginger sauce to go on salads, in butternut soup and a host of different recipes.

One of the active ingredients, a phenolic compound called gingerol is also found in turmeric, another spice that is easy to grow; and having proven anti-oxidizing properties.

Freshly grated turmeric

Microbiome

Researchers have found that certain toxic microbes inside tumours are contributing to therapeutic resistance to different forms of cancer treatment. There is an incredibly powerful synergy between various phytonutrients like gingerol and the friendly bugs in the colon; one that helps overcome the pathogens within neoplasms.



"The impact of microbes both at the level of the tumor, the gut and other sites is critically important to virtually all forms of cancer treatment; and ultimately maybe even the prevention of malignancies[5].

- Jennifer Wargo, MD (Anderson Cancer Centre)



The take-home

The "take-home" from all of this about how ginger helps prevent the spread of cancer cells is the importance of regular consumption of a wide variety of herbs, spices and nutritious foods.

Each of them has its own distinctive benefits and there's no virtue in worrying about whether one has had enough gingerol or lemonin today.

There is strong science confirming that those who enjoy 7 or more coloured foods daily have wide protection against many diseases. Prevention always was and will remain for ever better than a cure.

Industrial chemicals



"Scientists advocate extreme caution regarding the continued use of many substances that can migrate into food."

- Univadis France



Ginger helps prevent the spread of cancer cells but what initiates the tumour in the first place? The simple answer is many things; the most ubiquitous are industrial chemicals many of them deliberately added to grocery store food.

Those materials like the plastic containers that yoghurt is sold in have chemical substances that can be introduced to the food and hence into our bodies.

Researchers in France[6] have done a massive study of over 14,000 of these chemicals; a quarter of them have been found in human tissue samples.

They are found everywhere. They line the cans from which we get much of our food, our non-stick cookware and babies' bottles.

Some like bisphenol, phthalates and the fluoroalkyl substances clearly initiate cancer; much is unknown. Many pesticides and even the antioxidants added to our food are being fingered too.

There is a fine balance that each one of us needs to find for ourselves; that spot between becoming utterly neurotic about what we consume and a completely lack of concern.

At our green home we grow as much of our own food as we can, use zero pesticides and do our level best to stay well away from plastic in all its many forms.

I cannot say it has been that arduous. Having firmly set our minds on the things that lead to life and health, returning to the basics of gardening and home cooking has been deeply satisfying. We justify the time spent by observing the many days and weeks the majority now need consulting doctors and standing in the queues at pharmacies.

Our green home

Mature turmeric plant ready to be harvestedMature turmeric plants ready for harvesting

It is my conviction and pleasure at Our Green Home that growing a wide variety of spices and herbs is actually very simple; most of them like thyme, marjoram and turmeric are hardy plants. They do not suffer unduly from a little neglect.

But let us not neglect to use them regularly in our cooking. They are profoundly important in helping to prevent the spread of cancer cells and many other diseases.

Usefulness

There is considerable skepticism concerning the effectiveness of so-called functional foods; those that promote wellness and help prevent disease. By our choices we live and die; enjoy good health or suffer from illness, disability and pain.

There is no real need to understand the science revealing how spices containing gingerol help prevent the spread of cancer cells; but I hope this has been useful in contributing to your grasp of the importance of the regular consumption of coloured fruits, vegetables and other plants.

The science is strong that turmeric and ginger help prevent the spread of cancer cells.

Ginger helps prevent the spread of cancer cells

Turmeric and ginger help prevent the spread of cancer cells via attenuated NETs.


Newsletter

Our newsletter is entitled "create a cyan zone" at your home, preserving both yourself and Mother Earth for future generations; and the family too, of course. We promise not to spam you with daily emails promoting various products. You may get an occasional nudge to buy one of my books.

Here are the back issues.

  • Lifestyle and ideal body weight
  • What are ultra-processed foods?
  • Investing in long-term health
  • Diseases from plastic exposure
  • Intensive lifestyle management for obesity has limited value
  • A world largely devoid of Parkinson's Disease
  • The impact of friendly bacteria in the tum on the prevention of cancer
  • There's a hole in the bucket
  • Everyone is talking about weight loss drugs
  • Pull the sweet tooth
  • If you suffer from heartburn plant a susu
  • Refined maize meal and stunting
  • Should agriculture and industry get priority for water and electricity?
  • Nature is calling
  • Mill your own flour
  • Bake your own sourdough bread
  • Microplastics from our water
  • Alternative types of water storage
  • Wear your clothes out
  • Comfort foods
  • Create a bee-friendly environment
  • Go to bed slightly hungry
  • Keep bees
  • Blue zone folk are religious
  • Reduce plastic waste
  • Family is important
  • What can go in compost?
  • Grow broad beans for longevity
  • Harvest and store sunshine
  • Blue zone exercise
  • Harvest and store your rainwater
  • Create a cyan zone at your home

Did you find this page interesting? How about forwarding it to a friendly book or food junkie? Better still, a social media tick would help.

Address:

56 Groenekloof Rd,

Hilton, KZN

South Africa

Website:

https://www.bernard-preston.com