TREE NUTS POSSIBLE MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN PREVENTING CANCER
The nutritional composition of tree nuts could also provide some degree of protection against cancer. Scientific studies which currently exist do not prove this link, but they are beginning to point in this direction. Thus, as Carlos E González explained in his paper entitled "Food of Vegetable Origin in Cancer Prevention" at the fourth Nucis conference, held in Madrid, the EPIC study seems to provide interesting data concerning the connection between tree nuts and cancer: women who consume tree nuts displayed a 30% reduction in the risk of suffering from colorectal cancer. The nutritional components present in tree nuts and which might provide a certain protective effect appear to be unsaturated lipids or fats, vitamin E, high dietary fibre content, selenium, isoflavons and folic acid. Thanks to them, tree nuts might have certain effects on the organism which would protect it from cancer, such as avoiding damage to genetic material (DNA), somehow preventing the multiplication and development of cancerous cells and controlling oxidation in the organism thanks to their antioxidant potential. Further research is therefore required to clarify whether protections against cancer exists thanks to tree nuts, though interesting data already exist in this area.Nucis (Health and Tree Nuts) Foundation is a non profit organisation born in 1999, headquartered in Spain, which main objectives are the study, investigation and the diffusion of the nutritional and dietetic characteristics of tree nuts, especially of the healthy beneficial effects. Nucis promotes the healthy qualities of almonds, Brazil walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine kernels, pistachios and walnuts. More information in http://www.nucis.org