Good News on America's Favorite Berry

Strawberries now have another study to boost their reputation. A recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that strawberries just might be the most effective (of commonly consumed berries) at slowing the growth of cancer cells.

In the study, researchers tested the extracts of strawberries, raspberries, black raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries against human oral, breast, colon and prostate tumor cell lines in cell cultures. All the berry extracts slowed the cancer cell growth in each cell line studied, and as concentration of the berry extract increased more benefits were seen. Strawberries, though, stood out because their extracts were the strongest against colon and oral cancers.

Strawberries contain high levels of phytonutrients which exert antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neurodegenerative effects. These in turn protect against the development of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and mental deterioration.

In fact, strawberries may destroy cancer cells as well. Navindra Seeram, PhD, assistant director of UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and lead author of the study said, "In colon cancer cells, strawberries were also found to be potent inducers of programmed cell death, called 'apoptosis,' which is an important mechanism of cancer suppression."

The study was funded by the California Strawberry Commission and by the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition.
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