Cancer stem cells are the seeds of cancer that initiate cancer cells. Have you ever heard an oncologist or scientist say, “We all have cancer cells in our bodies?” Well, it’s true. Cancer stem cells are present in all of our bodies. Cancer stem cells are not only responsible for initiating many cancers, but also for igniting the recurrence of cancers after treatment. They are mutant cells that only become a problem when our God-given systems designed to eliminate and destroy them fail.
Mutant cells are cells that have a genetic defect that affects their phenotype or biological activity. Mutations can occur in cells due to cell division, a viral infection, or exposure to chemicals and radiation that damage DNA. Some mutations can be beneficial, some have no effect, and some are harmful. Some mutations can lead to cancer and other diseases. The number of mutations in cells increases with age. This is why the risk of cancer increases as we age.
Today, we’re going to look at the top five plant chemicals or phytochemicals proven to kill cancer and cancer stem cells. And these plant chemicals go back to the Garden of Eden where God told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:29, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”
In this verse, it is clear that the food God provided for us to eat comes from plants and trees that would reproduce themselves. Today, scientists and researchers can tell you every phytochemical or plant compound found in each fruit, vegetable, nut, seed, bean, legume, herb, and spice that God created for us to eat. We now know that these foods promote healing in our bodies and complement our DNA. Yes, these plants God created contain powerful plant chemicals called phytochemicals and antioxidants that promote healing in our bodies and protect us from cancer and diseases.
The average American only eats 2-3 servings a day of fruits and vegetables, when we should be eating much more than that. Let’s look at the plant chemicals that are proven to kill both cancer cells and cancer stem cells. The first one I learned at a cancer conference after hearing Dr. Brad Weeks speak on this very topic.
- Thymoquinone as found in Black Cumin Seeds.
When I first heard Dr. Weeks, an MD, say that chemotherapy may kill cancer cells, but it does not kill cancer stem cells,” he had my attention. This is not the first time I would hear this. Then when he said that plant compounds found in plants such as black cumin seed can actually kill cancer stem cells,” my mouth dropped open. As soon as I returned home, I ordered black cumin seeds and began putting a teaspoon or 2 in my daily smoothie. He had me at “killing cancer stem cells!.”
An essential component in black cumin, thymoquinone, known as TQ, has many biological activities such as significantly reducing the level of inflammatory-inducing compounds in cancer cells, which makes it anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer. According to a study in September of 2022, “Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have shown that TQ acts as an antitumor agent by altering cell cycle progression, inhibiting cell proliferation, stimulating apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, reducing metastasis and affecting autophagy.” That’s a mouthful of cancer-kicking potential, and the study concluded, “TQ can be considered as an additional therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer.”
In another 2016 study at NIH, “It was shown that thymoquinone (TQ), the active ingredient of the Middle Eastern herb, Black Cumin Seed, significantly inhibits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell growth and triggers induction of different proapoptotic signaling pathways in human PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo.
According to Dr. Brad Weeks:
“Black cumin seeds also have specific anti-cancer effects against both cancer TUMOR cells and cancer STEM cells. And, if that weren’t enough, black cumin seed sensitizes the cancer cell so that they are preferentially targeted by chemotherapy and radiation- a fact which SHOULD interest all oncologists since it would make their proposed therapies more effective with less side effects! Specifically, we see the effect of black cumin seeds (its component thymoquinone) against cancers of the blood: leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and cancers related to EBV.”
And then he lists 10 research studies to back this up! If interested, please visit his website at weeksmd.com
In time, I would learn there are many other plant chemicals that can destroy and kill cancer cells and cancer stem cells.
- EGCG or epigallocatechin-3-gallate as found in green tea.
This polyphenol found in green tea and matcha tea has many useful effects, including the ability to kill cancer stem cells. Scientists in China studied the effect of the ECCG polyphenol in the lab and found that it could reduce the growth of colon cancer stem cells by 50 percent.
In addition, EGCG forced the cancer stem cells to commit cell suicide through apoptosis. In another study from the University of Salford in England showed that a form of powderized tea leaf, or Matcha Tea can interrupt the metabolic pathway of breast cancer stem cells, depriving them of energy and causing cancer cell death.
I’d like to read from this research:
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the most common gastrointestinal cancer in the world. As predicted, more than 1 million people will develop colorectal cancer every year. Despite the advancement of major therapeutic strategies including surgery and chemotherapy, the main causes of death are metastasis and recurrence. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in various solid cancers including colorectal cancer. CSCs are a rare subpopulation of cancer cells that exhibit the abilities of self-renewal and multipotent differentiation. CSCs play a key role in tumor initiation and development. CSCs are also crucial for metastasis, drug resistance, as well as recurrence of malignancies Thus, targeting colorectal CSCs may be an effective approach to preventing the metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer.
The effect of the EGCG in green tea on targeting cancer stem cells may help explain the protective effects of tea against colon, breast, and other cancers.
Is it any wonder that my integrative medical doctor, Dr. Amber Passini, encouraged me to take a Green Tea supplement daily in my cancer journey and afterwards. Or you could simply brew your own green tea and drink 2-3 cups a day. I also use a teaspoon of powdered matcha green tea in my daily smoothie.
- Secoiridoids as found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Secoiridoids are polyphenols which make up 46% of the polyphenols found in olive oil. Might it surprise you to find that a study in Spain showed that olive oil polyphenols could dramatically reduce the growth of breast cancer stem cells. According to medical doctor and researcher, Dr. William Li, “After breast cancer cells were exposed to secoiridoids, the bioactives in these polyphenols changed the activity of 160 genes involved with controlling stem cells. (in a positive way!)
- Isothiocyanates such as Sulforaphane which are found in cruciferous vegetables.
These plant compounds promote detoxification, boost immunity, lower inflammation, improve healthy gut microflora, activate cancer inhibiting agents, and protect the body against many cancers including stomach, spleen, prostate, breast, and colon cancers. It’s best to eat 2 or more servings of cruciferous vegetables daily to obtain these effects. And broccoli sprouts contain 100 times more sulforaphane to create isothiocyanates. My naturopathic doctor at my cancer hospital recommended a sulforaphane supplement to me as well. And this is also the reason I use broccoli sprouts and cruciferous vegetables in my daily smoothie. If y9ou have an estrogen-fed cancer, these isothiocyanates are also excellent estrogen metabolizers meaning they help to remove excess estrogen from your body.
And
- Anthocyanins which are generally found in berries and grapes.
Anthocyanins inhibits the tumor growth pathway in cancer stem cells and also triggers apoptosis in cancer cells, and boost the productivity of genes that suppress tumors. Anthocyanins also help cut off the blood supply to cancer tumors. According to Dr. William Li, using these plant chemicals is as effective as the drug invented by his Harvard professor, Avastin. This drug cuts off the blood supply to cancer tumors. Without a blood supply, tumors simply can’t grow and multiply. This is exactly what we want to happen.
These aren’t the only plant chemicals that are anti-cancer. Others are curcumin, resveratrol as found in red grapes, quercetin as found in apples, silymarin from milk thistle, gingerole as found in ginger, ursolic acid as found in holy basil, piperine as found in black pepper, and lycopene as found in tomatoes. In fact, every plant that God created has cancer fighting power, with some more powerful than others.
It’s amazing to see how God loves us in the way He has created these foods for our good health and to prevent cancer. Just think of how these foods and plant chemicals can help you during and after a cancer journey with chemotherapy.
Before this video, did you know that plant chemicals could help to control and kill cancer stem cells? I must admit that it was Dr. Brad Weeks who first opened my eyes to this information in that workshop in Dallas, Texas.
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Top Five Plant Chemicals Proven to Kill Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, a finalist in Serious Writers Book of the Decade, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com. Ginny is on YouTube
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