With so many varieties of berries available, one has no excuse to exclude them of your shopping list - especially not when you learn that berries are all initiators of anti-carcinogens and anti-mutagens. This means that berries can prevent cancer and aid in cancer apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death). Each berry is unique in it’s composition of phytochemicals, a distinctive phenolic content – blocking cancer development one-way-or-the-other.

Specifically one group of phytochemicals found in all berries, is the cause of their red colour, called anthocyanins. This substance is most probably the major contributor in the health benefit of berries. One rule to follow is that the tinier berries and particularly those with brighter colours have the higher medicinal content. These are cranberries, black raspberries, red raspberries, red currents and acai berries. But always keep in mind that eating varieties of berries are better, as their benefits aren’t always equal. Eat berries on an empty stomach, or with plain yoghurt for optimal absorption of the ellagic acid found in them.

Ellagic acid binds bad, cancer causing chemicals in the body and as a result inactivates them. The ellagic acid found in red raspberries prevents carcinogens binding to DNA. It also blocks metabolic pathways that lead to cancer. Consuming ellagic acid has shown apoptosis within 72 hours in breast, oesophageal, prostate, pancreas cancers and HPV. Furthermore, it stops cancer cell division within 48 hours, and only one cup a day proves to be cancer preventative. For ‘berry benefit’ they may be eaten fresh, frozen, dehydrated, canned, boiled or baked – any form will do.

Although further studies are required, berries have thus far performed well in laboratories – inhibiting cancers like: leukaemia, colon, breast, prostate, skin, pancreas and especially oesophageal cancer. Black raspberries, blackberries and strawberries seem to be the most potent against cancer progression. Experimenting with acai berries have shown leukaemia cells to self-destruct by 86%. Blueberries are on the podium for colon cancer, and as there are over 30 different species – you shouldn’t stick to only one. Strawberries are amongst the highest in anti-oxidant vitamin C – in aid of cleaning up your body’s toxic waste after chemo-or-radiotherapy, subsequently rebuilding your immune system.

The overall winner in the berry category seems to be black raspberries. Filled with vitamins A, C, E and folic acid, zinc, selenium, calcium and higher anthocyanins like phenols, ellagic acid, coumaric and ferulic acid – they thwart cancer by stimulating self-destruction in the most potent way. Always keep in mind that this will not be a CURE but a great HELP in your fight against cancer.

To benefit your chances of eliminating cancer or a relapse – add berries to your diet. As their apoptosis have little or no effect on healthy cells, combining them with the other ‘miracle foods’ you’ve learned about can surely only aid in the cancer fight!