Cherries are recommended for breast cancer

Cherries contain substances that have been shown to be antiproliferative and antioxidant. While several studies have found that cherries might inhibit colon cancer, few studies have been performed that address the effects of consuming cherries on breast cancer.

Breast cancer-related effects of eating cherries

Cherries contain relatively high levels of anthocyanins (flavonoids that give them their intense coloration), giving them antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventative properties. Cherry extracts have been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Generally speaking, sour cherries have higher concentrations of anthocyanins than sweet cherries. Tart or sour cherries are also an important source of melatonin. Melatonin protects against breast cancer in several ways, including by reducing aromatase activity within the breast, thereby reducing estrogen production.

Additional comments

Non-organic cherries must be washed very thoroughly to remove pesticide residue.

Tags: anthocyanin, aromataseActivity, cherries, flavonoids, inflammation, melatonin, proliferation

Selected breast cancer studies
+ Show study summaries

Melatonin suppresses aromatase expression and activity in breast cancer associated fibroblasts Melatonin interferes in the desmoplastic reaction in breast cancer by regulating cytokine production A combination of resveratrol and melatonin exerts chemopreventive effects in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis Induction of apoptotic cell death by ursolic acid through mitochondrial death pathway and extrinsic death receptor pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells Anticancer Activities of an Anthocyanin-Rich Extract From Black Rice Against Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo Circulating melatonin and the risk of breast and endometrial cancer in women Role of melatonin in the epigenetic regulation of breast cancer Comparison of Antioxidant Potency of Commonly Consumed Polyphenol-Rich Beverages in the United States Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation in Vitro by Fruit and Berry Extracts and Correlations with Antioxidant Levels Detection and Quantification of the Antioxidant Melatonin in Montmorency and Balaton Tart Cherries (Prunus cerasus)