Fruits fight cancer
A complex carbohydrate found in fruit and vegetables called pectin may help explain why diets rich in these foods can lower the risk of cancer. New research from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich suggests that certain compounds in pectin may bind to and inhibit the activity of gal3, a protein that helps cancer cells grow and spread through the body. This preliminary research does not mean you should eat more jam!
Gunning et al., 2008. Recognition of galactan components of pectin by galectin-3. FASEB J. 23 (2) 415-24.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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