According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, approximately 44,000 adults in the United States are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually. They add that pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. Nutrition can help reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer, and apples are one healthy food that may combat the development of pancreatic cancer.
Background
Your pancreas is a Swiss army knife of an organ that produces insulin, digestive enzymes and helps control blood sugar levels. Common risk factors for pancreatic cancer include being older, physically inactive, obese, diabetic or a family history of pancreatic cancer. Cigarette smoking is strongly linked to pancreatic cancer. Smokers have twice the pancreatic cancer risk of nonsmokers, the American Cancer Society reports. They add that regular consumption of coffee and alcohol can boost pancreatic cancer risk.
Connection
Like many cancers, pancreatic cancer develops from damage to your cell's DNA by harmful molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals are naturally produced in small quantities by your body as a byproduct of metabolism. However, exposure to stressors such as air pollution can increase free radical formation. Your body fights free radicals using antioxidants. Antioxidants are special compounds from plant foods that sequester and destroy free radicals. Apples are an antioxidant-rich food that helps protect the pancreas from free radicals.
Evidence
A special type of antioxidant known as flavonols are abundant in apples. Research published in the December 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" investigated the link between flavanol consumption and pancreatic cancer risk in a group of approximately 180,000 research subjects. They found that smokers who consumed the most flavonols in their diet had a 40 percent lower risk of developing pancreatic cancer risk compared to those who seldom ate flavonols. However, no connection between flavonols and pancreatic cancer was found in nonsmokers.
Considerations
Although promising, no scientific research has found that apples can prevent or treat pancreatic cancer. If you want to reduce your risk of this disease avoid tobacco, stay physically active and maintain a body weight that's healthy for you. As with all dietary changes, talk to your doctor before consuming apples on a regular basis.
