Guiliana Noratto says eat three peaches a day

Washington State University food scientist Guiliana Noratto has found that compounds in peaches can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells and their ability to spread. Here we learn more about the research, and why she recommends three-a-day Peaches can in inhibit breast cancer cells – how? Polyphenols in peaches can induce the cancer cells to commit suicide by turning on a cascade of cell signals inside the cells, this is the reason the growth of the tumours slowed down in mice with implanted breast cancer tumours. You recommend a dose of three peaches a day – why so many? And how are we meant to fit that into our diet? The polyphenols from peaches are also present in all the stone fruits including plums and nectarines, and several other fruits and vegetables. The general recommendation is to eat as much as possible of fruits and vegetables to provide our body with these active components. Why did you choose to study the effect of peaches on cancer? I was drawn to this research after doing work on the antioxidant activity of root plants in my native Peru. We have a huge tradition of medicinal plants; we are great believers that you can cure yourself by having a good diet and a good supply of medicinal plants. This work was preceded by a previous screening of stone fruit varieties including plums. The cancer growth inhibition exerted by plums and peaches was similar. Any of them could have been selected and the effects in inhibiting breast cancer growth would be the same because both stones fruits have similar combination of polyphenols. What is next for your research? I am focusing on identifying the mechanisms by which dietary active components in foods including the cereals wheat, quinoa, and barley; the fruits apples and raspberries, and dairy products including aged cheese can modify the bacterial communities that live in our intestinal tract and promote the growth of friendly bacteria. These active dietary components including the plant polyphenols have low absorption during intestinal digestion and most likely part of their health promoting effects are mediated by the bacteria that inhabits our gut. The big picture is that a healthy diet can provide benefits beyond nutrition and the combination of active ingredients can help to prevent or delay the progress of chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Who is your scientific inspiration? My inspiration is the motivation to depict how food can be our medicine and how a well-balanced diet can help to live longer and healthier.