Maaaring makatulong sa kababaihan ang pagkain ng blueberries upang maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng breast cancer, ayon sa isang pag-aaral sa New Zealand.

Isinagawa ng Massey University ang pag-aaral pinakain ng blueberries ang mga hayop at napag-alaman na 50 porsiyentong mas mababa ang incidence rate sa mammary tumors.

“Blueberries contain phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which may be responsible for the health benefits of blueberries,” ayon kay Dr. Janyawat Vuthijumnonk.

“They reduce free radicals in our system, decrease new blood vessel formation and increase the number of beneficial bacteria - all elements which help in the fight against breast cancer.”

Ang mga tumor sa hayop na nakakain ng blueberries na may fibre (in pomace form), ay may mas mailit at less aggressive kesa sa mga hayop na hindi kumain ng blueberry o uminom ng blueberry juice.

“We also found circulating estrogen - the steroid hormone which plays a key role in breast cancer promotion - was lower in animals that consumed the blueberry pomace supplemented diet,” paliwanag ni Vuthijumnonk.

“This shows that not only phytochemicals in blueberries play a key role for their health benefits, but the fibre in the fruits was also shown to play an important part.”

Sa New Zealand, aabot sa mahigit 20 porsiyento ang kaso ng may breast cancer, at ito ang may pinakamagastos na gamutan kumpara sa ibang uri ng cancer.

Ngunit ayon kay Vuthijumnonk, iba mag-respond ang hayop sa kanyang paligid, kaya hindi niya mapapatunayang ang pagkain ng blueberries ay talagang nakatutulong upang hindi magkaroon ng breast cancer ang tao.

“But we are able to say blueberry consumption may lower the risk of developing breast cancer at the population level,” aniya. (PNA)