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Iron and Cancer

There is growing evidence that excessive iron build-up in the body can cause cancers and other seemingly unrelated diseases. Over the past few decades, many clinical investigations have consistently proven this fact. However, many people tend to focus on nutrition intake. Most os us worry about the lack of iron rather than the toxicity of iron. The problem of iron overload in the body has been overlooked, even by the vegetarian population around the globe. The link between cholesterol and health has been the only reason which justifies a a vegetarian lifesstyle.

According to the latest research, iron becomes carcinogenic because of two mechanisms:

1/ Iron is a pro-oxidant which can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage. A study has shown that the production of free radicals is largely proportional to the level of iron in the body.

2/ Iron is a nutrient for cancer cells and some disease-causing pathogens. E. Coli, for example, is fed on iron. Iron promotes cancer cell multiplication as well as growth of some disease-causing pathogens.

For health sake, there is a need to remove the surplus iron without overly harming the red blood cells. In general, iron can be absorbed but not excreted. Women can off-load some surplus iron through their periods, but this benefit does not apply to woman after menopause. To prevent excessive build-up of iron, a vegan lifestyle is a MUST. In addition, it is important to know how to manage the excess iron stores in our bodies without using any synthetic drugs.

To minimize surplus iron which can potentially cause cancer, it is very important to stay on a pure vegan diet. Meat is the biggest contributor of free iron radicals that can be readily absorbed by the body.

There are natural occuring substances that can remove surplus iron from the body. IP6 is one of those that can be found is the bran of almost every seeds. IP6 is a chelator of mercury, lead and cadmium as well as loose iron, copper and calcium. IP6 is one of those [1, 2]. IP6 can bind with mercurous ions (Hg2+) in the presence of chloride in the body [1].

In addition, IP6 is a selective chelator that does not bind to important electrolyte minerals required for heart rhythm, including potassium, sodium or magnesium. IP6 does not chelate calcium from the bone tissues or iron from red blood cells [3]. The chelated minerals are excreted via the urinary tract [3].

Additionally, various independent studies confirm that IP5 inhibits the formation of kidney stones and cal be used as an alternative treatment of calcium kidney stones [4, 5, 6].

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO REMOVE EXCESS IRON FRM THE BODY. 

Reference:

[1] Speciation of phytate ion in aqueous solution. Sequestering ability toward mercury(II) cation in NaClaq at different ionic strengths.  

[2] J Agriculture Food Chemistry 47: 4714-17, 999

[3] Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 35:495-508, 1995

[4] Scandinavian Journal Urology Nephrology 34: 162-64, 2000

[5] Scand J Urology Nephrology 32:261-5, 1998

[6] Arch Esp Urology 52:305-10, 1999