Thursday, January 5, 2012

Cancer Fighting Eggs

I own and have read a copy of the late David Servan-Schreiber's (MD, PhD) book, "Anti Cancer:  A New Way of Life."

One of my many takeaways was the powerful anti-cancer combination of Turmeric, Virgin Olive Oil and Black Pepper.

David says of olive oil, (pg. 112) "olives contain an abundance of antioxidants such as acteosides, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and phenylpropionic acids.  The direct effect of such molecules is to limit the initial development of cancer.  Particularly when it is virgin, olive oil also contains secoiridoids and lignans, both known antioxidants that have been linked with slower progression of cancer."

Of turmeric, he writes (pg. 114) "No other food ingredient has such a powerful antiinflammatory effect.  The principle molecule responsible for that effect is curcumin.  In the labratory, curcumin inhibits growth in a large number of cancers:  colon, prostate, lung, liver, stomach, breast, ovarian, brain, and leukemia, for example.  It also inhibits angiogenesis and forces cancer cells to die (through the process of cell suicide known as apoptosis.  In mice, curcumin prevents the development of several types of tumors caused by chemical carcinogens.  Additionally, curcumin inhibits the growth of human tumors when implanted in mice."

He mentions that Indians consume and average of 1/4-1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric each day and experience 1/8 as many lung cancers, 1/9 as many colon cancers, 1/5 as many breast cancers, 1/10 as many kidney cancers, and 1/50 as many prostate cancers as Westerners of the same age.  He cited this database.

BUT, here is the key.  He writes (pg. 116), "..when [turmeric] is not mixed with pepper or ginger -- as it has been in curry -- turmeric does not pass the intestinal barrier.  Pepper increases the body's absorption of turmeric by 2,000%.

So what do my eggs have to do with it?  Well, I was using organic (cage free) eggs and organic extra virgin olive oil anyway when I fried an egg. And I also always use fresh cracked black pepper.  After reading this book, I simply add a good does of organic turmeric to the mix and I have cancer fighting eggs!

Turmeric is not overpowering, so it doesn't alter the taste of the eggs much.  The most notable difference is the distinct yellow color.  But I am proud to explain to visitors why their eggs are yellow.

Try it at home and enjoy your own cancer fighting eggs and let me know how you liked them.

Add virgin olive oil, fresh cracked pepper and turmeric to other dishes as often as you can and pick up a copy of the anti-cancer book.

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