Study: Rats, Cheese, and Cancer
By
Natalie Moore
Posted July 16, 2016
- Was Pizza Rat on to something?
- Scientists reveal a naturally occurring preservative could change the fight against cancer. Find out more…
- Add this cancer-crushing and bug-busting food to your grocery list today!
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Remember Pizza Rat?
You know… the adorable rat that dragged a slice of pizza through the subway.
Source: Nationalreport.net
Well, if that pizza had extra cheese on it, Pizza Rat may have been getting more than a free lunch.
You see, according to research from the University of Michigan, nisin — a naturally occurring preservative in cheese and other milk products — is clobbering cancer and drug-resistant bacteria.
We’ll talk about its antibacterial properties in just a bit.
First, let’s talk about cancer…
More Cheese, Please
The study found that nisin can slow down or stop the growth of head and neck cancer cells. The researchers fed “nisin milkshakes” to rats afflicted with neck and head tumors.
And after just nine weeks, the scientists found that 70–80 percent of the tumors died!
Since oral cancers take the lives of millions every year, this research has the potential to save many. Moreover, oral cancer survival rates haven’t improved in decades, which makes this treatment possibly even more significant.
Dr. Yvonne Kapila, DDS, Ph.D., professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, had this to say about the findings:
The poor five-year survival rates for oral cancer underscore the need to find new therapies for oral cancer. The use of small antibacterial agents, like nisin, to treat cancer is a new approach that holds great promise. Nisin is a perfect example of this potential because it has been used safely in humans for many years, and now the laboratory studies support its anti-tumor potential.
Per the research, nisin is a nontoxic, tasteless, and colorless powder found in small doses in dairy foods. However, the dose given to the rats in the study was about 22 times the amount found in food sources.
But don’t worry, there is still a lot of power in just a slice of cheese.
Squash Superbugs With a Slice of Swiss
You see, nisin is also a powerful antibacterial agent. It can kill off drug-resistant bacteria or superbugs in smaller doses, according to a 1999 study in Science. In addition, Kapila and her team are also testing nisin’s antibacterial powers in her lab.
She reports, “To date, nobody has found bacteria from humans or living animals that is resistant to nisin.” There are two reasons for this…
Nisin binds to the bacteria and keeps them from mutating into superbugs. And nisin kills biofilms. These colonies of bacteria can join forces against antibiotics and make them useless.
While more research needs to be done on both cancer and superbug treatment, it looks like nisin is off to a promising start. In the meantime, you might want to pick up some cheese this weekend.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Common food preservative may slow, even stop tumor growth
[2] Food preservative kills cancer cells, superbugs
[3] Food Preservative or Powerful Antibiotic? Nisin Z Could Be Both
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Why Your Muscles Are Your Brain's Best Defense
Forget expensive brain scans and head-scratching cognitive tests that make you feel like you’re back in school. Japanese researchers have stumbled onto something that could change how we screen for memory problems—and it’s so simple, you’ll wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. A quick, painless measurement you can get during a routine checkup might...
Four Carbs that Could Add YEARS to Your Life
You’ve likely been avoiding carbs like the plague. Health gurus, fitness influencers, and diet books have convinced you that carbs are the enemy—that they spike your blood sugar, pack on pounds, and fast-track you to diabetes. So you’ve eliminated bread, sworn off pasta, and feel guilty just touching a piece of fruit. But what if...
Upgrade from Bananas and Apples to These Powerhouse Fruits
I’m often asked which fruits are the best. So, let’s talk about it. I’ll cut right to the chase: berries win this contest hands down. If you’re limiting your options to apples and bananas, you’re missing out on a universe of superior antioxidant power. Those everyday fruits are like bringing a knife to a gunfight...
The REAL Reason Americans are Getting “Fatter”
You’ve heard it a thousand times: “Americans are getting fatter because we’re lazy.” We sit at desks all day. We binge-watch Netflix instead of hitting the gym. We’ve traded physical labor for sedentary lifestyles. It’s a tidy explanation for why obesity has skyrocketed in developed countries. There’s just one problem—it’s completely wrong… A groundbreaking Duke...
Mailbag: Room Won't Stop Spinning? Do THIS First
“I’m dealing with vertigo issues, lightheadedness, and dizziness. As recently as this last Saturday I had multiple occurrences throughout the day. Is there anything I can do for this? I’m 69 and in good health. I work out 4 to 5 times a week.” —Spinning Hi Spinning, When patients approach me with similar complaints, I...
Hidden Number Secretly Sabotages Male Performance
Guys (and gals that love them), we should talk. You know how we’ve always been told that bedroom troubles are just part of getting older—that we just need to live with them? Well, it turns out that’s not true. Scientists recently wrapped up a six-year study that followed over 100 healthy men, and the findings...
Shocking Study Links Kids' Snacks to Dangerous Early Puberty
Kids are growing up in a world vastly different from the one we knew. Back in our day, if a child wanted something sweet, it was a piece of candy or a homemade cookie. Today’s kids are surrounded by products filled with artificial sweeteners that didn’t even exist when we were raising our own children....
Outdated Vitamin Guidelines Put Your Brain at Risk
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think twice about vitamin B12—until your doctor mentions it during a routine blood test. But new research published in the Annals of Neurology suggests we need to pay closer attention to this crucial nutrient—especially as we age. Turns out, current guidelines for this essential nutrient might be...
The TRUTH About Supplement "Liver Dangers" REVEALED
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about liver damage from supplements—so, let’s talk about it. Reports of supplement-induced liver injuries have some folks wondering, “Could my natural remedy actually be harming me?” But before you toss all your supplements in the trash, let’s separate fact from fear—and talk about how to use supplements safely....
The 10,000 Steps LIE That's Ruining Your Health
I’ll be honest—I’m a little sick of the 10,000-steps theory. You know, the one that insists you need to take at least that many steps daily to stay healthy? You won’t believe where that claim originally came from. The 10,000-steps theory wasn’t handed down from the fitness gods on stone tablets. It originated from a...