Treatments for prostate cancer
published: Friday | January 20, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

A DISH of cauliflower, curry with some kale on the side, could be used to help prevent and treat prostate cancer, research suggests. Both vegetables, along with green cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, watercress and turnips, contain a chemical that has significant cancer-preventing properties, say scientists at Rutgers University, New Jersey, U.S.A. Curcumin, a yellow pigment contained in curry powder, is also considered to have similar qualities.

Laboratory tests on mice injected with prostate cancer found that, separately, the compounds significantly retarded the growth of cancerous tumours. When combined, the effects were even stronger, said Ah-ng Tony Kong, professor at Rutgers university.

Mr. Kong was inspired to investigate diet as a supplementary therapy after noting that while prostate cancer is common in the U.S.A., the disease is rare in India and other Asian countries where plant-based diets and curry are the norm. So Jamaican males, cut down on the goat meat, eat more steam fish and curry vegetables.

I am, etc.,

STANFORD BEAN

s.w.bean@btinternet.com

United Kingdom

Via Go-Jamaica