The immune system is a wondrous fighting machine that can fight cancer — especially when given the proper stimulus such as supplements. In this article I am going to discuss one supplement that I have found to be helpful in supporting the immune system’s fight against cancer.
The immune system is the complete anatomy of cells, structures and tissues that defend against invaders that cause disease. Recent scientific studies have revealed that the immune system has the ability to identify and destroy cancer cells.
Of the many different types of cells that are found in blood, the T-lymphocytes cells or T-cells are known to be cancer killers. These cells originate in the bone marrow and travel to the thymus where they mature. There are several different types of T-cells. The two that are the most relevant to eliminating malignant cancer cells are cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, or CTLs, and natural killer T-cells, or NKTs. There are also helper cells, called dendritic cells, that once mature travel to the lymphoid node where they help activate T-cells.
Since the immune system is responsible for manufacturing these cancer fighting cells, the idea of supporting the immune system in its efforts to identify and kill cancer cells before the cancer cells have a chance to take hold and multiply is becoming more relevant in the field of cancer research.
One way to support the immune systems is with supplements. AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compounds) is known as one of the world’s most researched supplements. It is the one of the top alternative treatments for patients with cancer in Japan, where it is widely used by doctors and hospitals as a complementary therapy that accompanies traditional chemotherapy and radiation.
How does AHCC affect the immune system? According to the AHCC Research Association, AHCC increases T-cell production by up to 200%. It also increases the natural killer cell production by 300%-800%. At the same time it increases the cytokine, macrophage and key dendritic cells production. The cytokine, macrophage and key dendritic cells respectively signal molecules that aid in cell communication in immune response, ingest foreign invaders in the body, and process and present antigen material to the T-cells.
It is important to note that AHCC is not an approved FDA substance. It technically falls into a group of supplements known as “super foods”. A super food is one whose high nutrient content is believed to have certain health benefits when consumed.
The advantages of AHCC have been carefully researched, tested, and documented through the use of clinical trials on both humans and animals and are not just the speculation of health-crazed nuts that are looking for the next great cancer cure.
The AHCC Research Association is a consortium of doctors and researchers that compile studies and information related to AHCC. In a study conducted by the Kansai Medical University in Japan, 127 patients with gastric and breast cancer were given AHCC over a period of 3 years. The study found that patients in the AHCC group had more than 40% higher survival rate than the average patient without the benefit of supplementation.
More information regarding the clinical trial information just mentioned and others is available at the website http://www.ahccresearch.com.
There are many such studies that clearly demonstrate that AHCC is a benefit in over 60% of the cases where it is used. Results like that are hard to ignore, especially in light of an ever-growing public interest in natural remedies.
Note that nutrients do not directly cure disease or destroy germs. Nutrients support the immune system, which naturally fights disease and germs. Although there is tremendous scientific research that supports the conclusion that nutrition has a powerful effect on immune systems and general health, all research is open to interpretation and contradiction.
Remember to always consult your physician before adding any supplement to your diet.
Kelly Thiel is the owner and Homeopath at Modern Day Wellness in Orange County, CA, where a broad spectrum of healing and wellness modalities and methodologies are offered – including homeopathy, gemmo therapy, karuna reiki® and the practice of mindful meditation.
Kelly Thiel is the owner and Homeopath at Modern Day Wellness in Orange County, CA, where a broad spectrum of healing and wellness modalities and methodologies are offered – including homeopathy, gemmo therapy, karuna reiki® and the practice of mindful meditation.
