Asparagus for cancer?

Here are some interesting facts about asparagus a friend emailed me this morning. I blogged here before about how I love asparagus even if I still don't know the benefits I get from eating this vegetable, I am already a fan. If this article is indeed true, I am happy that I have developed a liking already.

 

Here is the content of the email and I am copy pasting for your perusal.

`Asparagus for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal,December
1979.

I will share it here, just as it was shared with me: 'I am a
biochemist,and have specialized in the relation of diet to
health for over 50 years. Several years ago, I learned of the
discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer.

Since then, I have worked with him on his project. We have
accumulated a number of favourable case histories.

Here are a few examples:

Case No. 1,

A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease
(cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated.
Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors
were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on
a schedule ofstrenuous exercise.

Case No. 2,

A successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer
of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments,
including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus.
Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor
had

disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.

Case No. 3,

A man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971, he was put on
the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely
spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and
declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the
asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August,
x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had
disappeared. He is back at his regular business routine.

Case No. 4,

A woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin
cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were
diagnosed by asking specialist as advanced. Within 3 months
after starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her

skin
looked fine and nomore skin lesions. This woman reported
that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease,
which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney
stones, and was receiving government disability payments for
an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the
cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus.

I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of Materia
Medica', edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of
Pennsylvania , stated that asparagus was used as a popular
remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in
1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. We would
have other case histories but the medical establishment has
interfered with our obtaining some of the

records. I
am
therefore appealing to readers to spread this good news and
help us to gather a large number of case histories that will
overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple
and natural remedy. For the treatment, asparagus should be
cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as
good as fresh.

I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus,
Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these
brands contain no pesticides or preservatives.

PROCEDURE:
1) Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make
a puree, and store in the refrigerator.

2) Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and
evening.

Patients usually show some

improvement in from
2-4 weeks. It
can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This
suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly
larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases.

As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what
cures can prevent'. Based on this theory, my wife and I have
been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals.

We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with
breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers
hers cold.

For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys
taken as part of our regular checkups.

The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who
specializes in the nutritional approach to health, showed

substantial
improvements in all categories over the last one,
and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the
asparagus drink... As a biochemist, I have made an extensive
study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures.
As a result, I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with
the latest theories about cancer. Asparagus contains a good
supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be
active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I believe
asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell
growth normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and
inacting as a general body tonic. In any event, regardless of
theory,asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance.

The FDA cannot prevent you

from using it and it may do
you much
good.. It has been reported by the US National Cancer
Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food containing
glutathione, which is considered one of the body's most potent
anticarcinogens and antioxidants.