Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death, according to The Merck Manual. Symptoms of this disease include blood in the stool, weakness and fatigue. High-fat, low-fiber diets increase your risk of developing colon cancer, as do air and water pollution. If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer, you should consider improving your diet and possibly using some natural supplements in addition to the standard therapy. Talk to your doctor before taking asparagus or any other natural products for this condition.
Research
Adding more asparagus, onion, garlic, banana, chicory and artichoke to your diet may help prevent a variety of health concerns. According to a study published in September 2009 in "Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry," all these foods contain fructooligosaccharides, or FOS. FOS are plant compounds which are a good sources of fibers and have no calories. In addition, FOS help reduce your risk to develop cancer, lower your blood cholesterol levels, improve the absorption of some nutrients in the gut and prevent constipation, according to this study.
Another study featured in the August 2010 issue of "Phytomedicine" evaluated asparagus specifically for colon carcinoma, which is a form of colon cancer. Sarsapogenins and diosgenins, two key ingredients extracted from asparagus were found able to induce the death of cancerous cells of the colon.
Dosage
It is safe to consume asparagus as part of your diet. However, if you consider taking asparagus supplements you should seek advice from a health care provider. Currently there is no specific daily dose of asparagus established for managing colon cancer. Doses up to 2,400 grams of asparagus have been used in clinical studies, but there were some side effects reported, indicates Drugs.com.
Safety
Asparagus may cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals; in these cases symptoms like runny nose, asthma, skin allergies and even anaphylaxis have been reported. There are no documented drug interactions with asparagus. You should avoid asparagus supplements during pregnancy and lactation, as the safety of these extracts has not been fully evaluated.
Considerations
You can add more asparagus to your diet, because it is a good source of nutrients like vitamins C and E, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium, as well as FOS. Consult a health care provider to find out if you may benefit from asparagus supplements for your condition. Keep in mind that asparagus supplements do not replace and should not be used to replace any therapy for colon cancer.
References
- Drugs.com: Asparagus
- "Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry" ; Dietary Fructooligosaccharides and Potential Benefits on Health.; M. Sabbater-Molina et al; September, 2009
- "Phytomedicine" ; Apoptosis Inducing Activity of Steroidal Constituents from Solanum Xanthocarpum and Asparagus Racemosus; KK. Bhutani et al; August, 2010
- "100 Best health Foods"; Love Food; 2009
