Eat Celery!

Wow! Here’s something that sounds like good news: A new research study shows that a natural substance called apigenin, which is found in celery, parsley, and other natural sources, slows the progression of cancer cells.

Tumor cells shrunk

University of Missouri researchers published a study in the May 9 online edition of Hormones and Cancer showing that apigenin, a natural substance in many of the veggies found in the produce aisles of grocery stores, might show promise as a nontoxic treatment for breast cancer. The scientists tested apigenin specifically against breast cancer cells that were progesterone-receptor positive. And the experiment did indeed demonstrate that the tumor cells shrunk.

The potential of apigenin

Now, please don't start thinking that apigenin is a new wonder drug or a substitute for breast cancer treatment. It is, however, a potential complementary medicine that might benefit patients. More research is underway to try to determine how this compound works, which is critically important to determining its effectiveness and how it could potentially be used in the future.

So watch for more research findings about this discovery in the near future. It is refreshing to see researchers taking an interest in nutritional options for complementary medicine when treating breast cancer.