Every year, over 200,000 men in the world lose their battle with prostate cancer, and more are diagnosed with the disease every year. Naturally, we look for anything promising that might cure prostate cancer or prevent it, and in 2006 a few studies on the benefit of the chemical capsaicin, which is found in hot red peppers, suggest we may have found a way to treat more people with prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement.
According to a joint US/Japan study in mice, mice that had prostate tumors and receive high doses of capsaicin, had about an 80% rate of cell death or apoptosis of tumor tissue. Though researchers note that induced human cancers in mice are easier to treat, this is still a fairly noteworthy result. You can see from the study that capsaicin does not totally cure prostate cancer, but its use may be indicated to prevent tumor growth and as an auxiliary treatment for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It also appears that some men are aided by the anti-inflammatory properties of capsaicin, which might minimize discomfort and reduce growth of the prostate.
There is also some suggestion based on statistical evidence that hot peppers, though they may not cure prostate cancer completely, may prevent it. Men who live in countries where hot peppers are routinely consumed in foods tend to have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. This may indicate that while you can’t cure prostate cancer, you might want to add some spice to your meals in the form of hot peppers.
Of course, not everyone likes hot peppers. Some find them difficult on the digestion, and others find them uncomfortable to eat. Given the 2006 study, there has been an upsurge in a variety of capsaicin products on the market, including nasal sprays and supplement pills. These may be marketed as prostate health formulas, but men diagnosed with prostate cancer should not view them as a means to cure prostate cancer alone. Remember that in mice, they did not wholly resolve cancer and that mice are easier to treat. It’s still important to get traditional medical help for your condition.
Yet it’s certainly the case that capsaicin powder or some form of capsaicin may help reduce risk, and might be indicated as an additional treatment if you are tackling this form of cancer. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of capsaicin supplementation. If you are cancer free, you might want to discuss with your physician how you might increase your chances of remaining so through eating peppers or taking a capsaicin supplement.
