BC Raspberries: Part of a cancer-fighting diet?

Research is suggesting raspberries can prevent and fight certain types of cancer cells in addition to having antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Nearly everyone likes raspberries, and fortunately the little drupelets have something good going for them health-wise too. A good source of Vitamin C and dietary fibre, raspberries are also recognized for their abundant phytochemicals. 

Research has identified the phytochemical ellagic acid, a compound present in high amounts in raspberries, as a potentially potent anti-carcinogen. Red raspberries are shown to be the leading source of ellagic acid.

Much like an oxygen free radical, ellagic acid scavenges, looking to bind with cancer causing chemicals, rendering them inactive. It inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. In addition, current animal studies indicate that ellagic acid from red raspberries prevents binding of carcinogens to DNA, and reduces the incidence of cancer in cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens.

Nine years of study have shown that ellagic acid causes G1-arrest of cancer cells within 48 hours (inhibiting and stopping mitosis-cancer cell division), and apoptosis (normal cell death) within 72 hours, for breast, pancreas, esophageal, skin, colon and prostate cancer cells.

Clinical test also show that ellagic acid prevents the destruction of the p53 gene by cancer cells.

Healthy human cells have a normal life cycle. This process concludes with what is called apoptosis (natural cell death). The body replaces these dying cells with healthy ones; conversely, cancer cells do not die. They rapidly multiply by cell division (mitosis) making 2 cancer cells, then 4, 8, 16, 32 and so on. In lab and recent clinical studies, ellagic acid caused the cancer cells to go through a nontoxic, normal apoptosis process without damaging the healthy cells. 

European medical studies also demonstrate that ellagic acid is know to lower the incidence of birth defects, promote wound healing, reduce heart disease and may reduce heart disease and may reduce or reverse chemically induce liver fibrosis.

Australian scientists have recently reported that raspberry cordial (a stimulating medicine or drink) and juice had antibacterial activity, significantly reducing the growth of several pathogenic species of bacteria, including Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli under laboratory conditions.

Australian cattle and livestock farms routinely use raspberry cordial to prevent gastric outburst in their animals. Apparently when their cows start to develop gastroenteritis, instead of calling the vet, farmers just tip a couple of litres of raspberry cordial in the trough. One farmer interviewed in a study claims the mortality in his animals dropped from 40 per cent to zero by using cordial.

Strong Raspberry Industry in British Columbia

Did you know that B.C. is the largest raspberry producer in Canada? About 12 million kilograms annually is produced on just 5,000 acres of farmland. Only three percent of raspberries are sold fresh and the rest are processed into jams, jellies, drinks, canned and frozen retail and wholesale packs and bakery product.

  
The Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC) is supported by a ½ ¢ per pound levy on all fresh raspberries grown in BC. The Executive and Directors of the RIDC include producers as well as a processor (1) and a government representative.

The mandate of the Council is to promote raspberries and their use by providing information and educational services to as well as to link purchasers with producers and the Council also generically promotes raspberries with information about the industry to the public and other interested parties.

We are excited to share more about the raspberry industry on our blog and to educate the public about how wonderful raspberries are especially the ones grown in the Fraser Valley. Please help support our industry!

Fraser Valley Major Producer of Raspberries

With rich soil and plentiful rainfall, the sun-drenched Fraser Valley produces the most luscious raspberries you can imagine.

More than 80% of Canada's red raspberries are grown here, on just 5,000 acres. Fraser Valley growers harvest over 12 million kilograms of the finest quality raspberries each year for shipment across Canada and around the world.