Probiotics: Fighting cancer at the gut level

A number of studies have indicated that the "good" bacteria living in our intestines play an important role in managing obesity and preventing disease, and new research has found that gut bacteria also helps in preventing cancer.

The latest study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, showed that the anti-inflammatory properties associated with certain types of gut bacteria actually slow down or stop the development of certain types of cancer.

These findings may lead to cancer prevention treatments based on the use of probiotics that regulate the amount of anti-inflammatory bacteria in the intestinal tract.

As reported by Science Daily:

"Ultimately, doctors might be able to reduce a person's risk for cancer by analyzing the levels and types of intestinal bacteria in the body, and then prescribing probiotics to replace or bolster the amount of bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, said Robert Schiestl, professor of pathology, environmental health sciences and radiation oncology at UCLA and the study's senior author."

According to Schiestl, probiotic treatment is "not invasive and rather easy to do."

The role of 'good' gut bacteria
Our bodies contain trillions of bacteria cells, and our gut bacteria evolved over millions of years into what are termed "good" and "bad" types; the good bacteria prevent inflammation, the bad bacteria promote it.

The research team isolated and tested the most abundant strain of beneficial gut bacteria – Lactobacillus johnsonii 456:

"In the UCLA study the bacterium reduced gene damage and significantly reduced inflammation -- a critical goal because inflammation plays a key role in many diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, arthritis and lupus, and in the aging process.

"Previous research led by Schiestl presented the first evidence of a relationship between intestinal microbiota and the onset of lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the immune system. The new study explains how this microbiota might delay the onset of cancer, and suggests that probiotic supplements could help keep cancer from forming."

Both studies used mice with mutations that make them susceptible to a disorder that typically leads to the development of leukemia, lymphomas and other types of cancer. The intestines of the mice that received the beneficial bacteria produced cancer-preventing metabolites. These mice also showed improved metabolism, which may also help lower cancer risk.

Adding natural probiotics to your diet
There are a number of readily available foods with probiotic properties, making it easy to start adding "friendly" bacteria to your diet. The benefits are impressive: cancer prevention, stronger immunity to numerous diseases, better digestion, and even weight loss!

Yogurt has long been known for its probiotic properties, but it's not the only dairy product containing beneficial bacteria. Kefir, made with goat's milk and fermented kefir grain, is also an excellent probiotic. Be sure to avoid the sugary, processed versions of these foods, and buy local, organic products whenever possible. You can also easily make your own yogurt at home using organic ingredients.

Sauerkraut and other fermented foods such as kimchi, miso, tempeh and kombucha tea are also good sources of probiotics and beneficial nutrients.

Microalgae such as spirulina and chlorella have probiotic effects that increase the amount of friendly bacteria in the gut.

Even dark chocolate has probiotic properties, so there are plenty of delicious reasons to begin adding beneficial bacteria to your body's digestive system.

Natural medicine was right all along
It's encouraging to see research that acknowledges the role of the body's own natural systems in healing and disease prevention. If modern medicine begins to incorporate holistic principles in treating cancer, obesity and other diseases – instead of relying on dangerous synthetic pharmaceuticals – we will benefit greatly as a society.

These recent findings show what natural medicine proponents have known all along: that diet is one of the main keys to cancer prevention and maintaining good health.