Chile Peppers to Fight Prostate Cancer?

Chile peppers, or jalapenos, contain capsaicin, which burns the tongue and mucous membranes of those foolish enough to indulge too much. UCLA researchers have examined if capsaicin can attack human prostate cancer cells – it’s not quite clear why they decided to do this, though.

Eighty percent of human prostate cancer cells in culture, as well as those grown in mouse models, committee a sort of cell suicide (aptoptosis) when exposed to capsaicin. The dose of pepper extract fed to mice was equivalent to about 400 mg of capsaicin given three times a week, or approximately 3 to 8 fresh habanera peppers (the strongest kind).

Before we men get too excited about this news, we should remember that 3-8 fresh habanera peppers a week is a fairly intolerable amount for the average person; second, why do Mexicans (and New Mexicans, for that matter) still get prostate cancer? Let’s wait for the result of the double-blind studies (how will they manage the double blind, I wonder!).

Comments

[Sensbachtal]

Just wanted to say Hello to everyone.
Much to read and learn here, I'm sure I will enjoy !