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This breakfast can reduce the risk of developing deadly breast cancer by 84 percent
Manuka honey – known for its antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant properties for your overall health and well-being, can now be promoted as an alternative treatment for breast cancer – without any side effects, a new study published in the journal Nutrition has revealed. According to the research, the honey – a popular breakfast delicacy with toast and tea – reduced tumour growth in the most common forms of malignant cancer by at least 84 per cent in studies conducted on mice. Read on to know more.
The antibacterial properties of Manuka honey set it apart from traditional honey
Manuka honey – an anti-bacterial and antioxidant with amazing health properties, could help treat and even prevent breast cancer, according to a new study. Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that manuka honey contains compounds that can reduce tumor growth by at least 84 percent in the most common forms of the disease.
Manuka honey is a honey native to New Zealand and is produced by bees that pollinate the flowers Leptospermum scoparium – commonly known as the manuka bush.
How is Manuka honey more effective than traditional honey?
According to scientists, the antibacterial properties of Manuka honey distinguish it from conventional honey. It is rich in methylglyoxal as an active ingredient, which is also likely responsible for its anti-cancer effects. Dr. Diana Marquez-Garban, associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, said, “This finding provides hope for the development of a natural, less toxic alternative to conventional chemotherapy.”
He added, “Although more research is needed to fully understand the benefits of natural compounds in cancer therapy, this study establishes a strong foundation for further exploration in this area.”
Manuka is rich in antimicrobial, antioxidant and healing properties, and contains compounds such as flavonoids, phytochemicals, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center said, “These compounds have demonstrated anti-cancer potential at the molecular level by inhibiting pathways activated in cancer that drive tumor cell proliferation, growth and metastasis.”
How is Manuka honey used to treat breast cancer?
Experts investigated whether Manuka honey could block estrogen receptors, so as to serve as an effective therapy – a nutrient and a medicine – against hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
And so, a series of experiments were conducted on breast cancer cell lines from both humans and mice, representing two of the most common types of the disease. They found that Manuka honey (MGO 550+) was able to reduce tumor growth in mice by up to 84 percent compared to the control group, without affecting normal breast cells or causing any major side effects.
The honey also reduced the speed at which cancer cells copied their DNA and divided, while not affecting the growth of normal cells, suggesting it may specifically target cancer cells. The researchers also found that manuka honey – a popular breakfast dish eaten with cereal and toast – helped destroy breast cancer cells and boost the effectiveness of existing treatments.
“This significant inhibition of tumor progression underscores the potential effectiveness of honey for cancer prevention or treatment,” the authors said. “The findings suggest that Manuka honey could potentially be developed as a natural supplement or even an independent treatment for ER-positive breast cancer, especially for patients who experience resistance to conventional therapies.”
Why seek alternative cancer treatments? More?
Experts have repeatedly stressed the “urgent need” for alternative treatments to help prevent recurrence and improve long-term survival of breast cancer – the second most common cancer globally, with more than 2,296,840 new cases expected in 2023 alone.
According to doctors, almost half of breast cancer cases occur in women who have no specific risk factors other than gender and age. However, among the youth, the rate is increasing among young premenopausal women aged 30-49 years. Experts believe this may be due to changing lifestyles, leading to genetic mutations.
Current options, such as chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, are effective but toxic and have a host of side effects, including fatigue, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, problems with thinking and memory, and even infertility.
When cancer cells develop ways to evade treatment, this can also lead to endocrine resistance.
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