Who here isn’t familiar with the benefits of eating spinach? We all are part of the same population that has been raised while watching Popeye. Even though most of it was creative liberty. Yet spinach can be the right answer for cancer treatment.
According to the best doctors of top private hospitals in Pakistan, colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women alike.
CDC has reported that colorectal cancers apart from skin cancer are the leading cause of death worldwide. The colon and rectum both are parts of the large intestine.
What is Colon Cancer?
It is a cancerous growth that originates in the large intestine mainly targeting the colon. The cells will grow uncontrollably and will cause metabolic disturbances. Most of the time, adults or elders are the victims of this disease. But the chances of its occurrence are not limited to any specific age group. What starts as noncancerous lumps can transform into polyps.
At the start, the polyps may be small. That is why the doctor recommends cancer screening tests that will help in the early identification of this cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer
Some of the most common signs of this cancer are given below
- A sudden and persistent change in bowel movements. This bowel disturbance can cause diarrhea or constipation depending upon the severity of the disease.
- Continuous blood in your stool
- Intense bleeding of the rectum
- Abdominal discomfort
- Tiredness
- Sudden weight loss
This cancerous disease shows no sign or symptom at the early stage of the disease. But as the disease progresses and cancer spreads the symptoms become more visible. The signs also depend upon the size and location of cancer in the large intestine.
The Role of Spinach In the Story
A recent study at TAMU Health Science Center confirms at the global scale the properties of spinach which makes it one of the best vegetables ever. They have also found out in detail how the vegetable has such a positive influence on the bacteria that reside in the gut.
But the main reason why spinach is considered to be a superficial vegetable in the treatment of cancer is because of its ability to restrict colon polyps.
The study stated that the use of spinach has significantly reduced the development of polyps in rats. The type of cancer was similar to the one that heavily affects humans. Almost 80-90% of the colon cancer cases are sporadic.
The goal of the study is to explore the fact that spinach can be used for people who are suffering from genetically induced colon cancer.
The common treatment method for people who are suffering from this disease is surgery. In this invasive treatment, the cancerous cells are removed. In severe cases, the colon is also removed. After such removals, the surgeon mostly uses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs so that the polyps do not resurface in the duodenum.
Methodology of the Research
The researchers used frozen and dried spinach which was then fed to the rats. This step was repeated for 26 weeks. The end results of this dietary habit were highly beneficial. Spinach consumption leads to delayed polyp growth and thus the invasive treatment can be avoided.
This study also utilized the nowadays popular data-driven method which is multi-omics.
What is Multi-Omics
In this method, data is gathered from different systems of the body which shows close association with one another. The “one” at the end of these systems is what represents the omics.
The present study focused on three “omes”
- Microbiome: essential and beneficial microbes of the digestive system
- Transcriptome: a collection of RNA and mRNA of the cell
- Metabolome: active compounds that are produced during metabolic activity
During the study, the doctors were adamant that they would find a successful connection because of the chlorophyll. But it is the linoleic acid derivatives that are sealing the deal successfully.
Closing Remarks
Spinach is a wondrous vegetable. Even though it is not new and unknown to understand that vegetables have a positive influence on the digestive system. But this discovery is truly groundbreaking in a number of regards. This can rightfully change the perception that cancer is not a curable disease.