Spinach may reduce colon cancer risk
A recent study from Gut Microbes showed that consuming spinach may reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women in the United States. It is expected to cause about 52,980 deaths during 2021.
Only approximately 5-10% of all colon cancer cases are hereditary, which are linked to genetic mutations from the maternal or paternal side. Most colon cancers are unrelated to genetic inheritance and develop due to components of diet and environment.
Dr. Roderick Dashwood, director of the Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention at the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology, said exposure to carcinogens over decades can change the way genes are expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can cause people to develop polyps in the colon and lower GI tract.
“We believe eating spinach can be protective for people who do not have familial adenomatous polyposis,” Dashwood said. “Spinach has many chemicals that are important in health and prevention of other diseases.”
Previous research has shown that spinach, a leafy green vegetable, contains nutrients and antioxidants that have anti-cancer properties by suppressing tumor recurrence.
Dashwood said his long-standing interest in chlorophyll directed him to research the antioxidant properties of the chemical present in spinach. Chlorophyll has been previously shown to prevent cytotoxic colon cancer cell proliferation.
“Baby spinach has high anti-tumor activity in colorectal cancer, but many mechanisms we studied didn’t explain it,” Dashwood said. “It wasn’t chlorophyll, but actually fatty acids and linoleic acid derivatives that were causing the beneficial effects.”
In addition to fatty acids that reduce colon cancer risk, spinach also contains other chemicals that support human health. Health benefits from ingesting spinach include strengthening the immune system, promoting eye health and reducing risk of cancer and heart disease.
Spinach is a rich source of vitamin K1, which may reduce the risk of cardiomegaly, an enlarged heart. Vitamin K1 has also been shown to reduce risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the build-up of fats and cholesterol in and on the artery walls.
Spinach also contains glutathione to support immune system health and combat oxidative stress. Glutathione has been shown to enhance immune system function and natural killer cell activity.
“Incorporating spinach into the diet is good, but having a diverse and colorful diet is important for human beings,” Dashwood said.
Dashwood said while consuming nutrient-rich foods will not eliminate cancer risk, it is a good preventative measure.
“The sooner the better,” Dashwood said. “You shouldn’t wait until colon polyps arise in order to start to do these sorts of preventive things. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”
