Do u eat the tangerine peel to prevent cancer?

Answer 1

No. They are just starting research, but no proof exists yet that it prevents cancer in human beings.

What they are researching is a compound that it is extracted from a tangerine peel (A team from Leicester School of Pharmacy found Salvestrol Q40) . . but it is only in the lab or experimental stage. Nothing has been disproved or proven . . . just like hundreds of other 'discoveries'. Until this can be scientifically proven by Clinical Trials using human beings . . it is only speculation. Many, many compounds 'work in the laboratory' but not in human beings, that's why research continues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6987200.stm

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1283680,00.html

"Medicinal chemist Dr Hoon L Tan said: "It is very exciting to find a compound in food that can target cancers specifically.

"However, it is still early days and many tests will be needed before reaching the clinical trial stage."

"Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's science information manager, said: "Many naturally occurring substances have anticancer properties, but while this research shows that salvestrols have an effect on cells in the laboratory, there is no evidence that they have a similar effect in patients."

Answer 2

Most tangerines and oranges, even organically grown ones, are fumigated during the shipping process and the skin should either not be eaten prior to serious washing or not be eaten at all. If you grow tangerines in your back yard and know they are not sprayed you could eat some of the inner peel but preventing cancer is a complicated issue and the likely hood of a single food item preventing cancer by itself is very low.

Answer 3

Dear all,

First, thank you for showing interest in our research. I would like to point out that the anti-cancer agent is EXTRACTED from tangerine peel and I've to clarify that I do not encourage people to eat tangerine or any citrus peels. A person has to eat a lot of kilograms a day of the peel in order to achieve high enough concentration of Salvestrol Q40 for it to be effective to combat ACTIVE cancers.

Salvestrol Q40 and other compounds that we are working on are phytoalexins produced by plant to fight off infections. Therefore, they are present at higher concentration in the skin and the outer layer of the fresh. Modern farming employs agrochemicals for crop protection but this practice has reduce the amount of Salvestrols in our food crops since they are not infected by pathogens and hence, no longer need to synthesize these compounds for protection. Apart from tangerine peel, Salvestrols are found in many food crops including brassicas, apple, pineapple, strawberry etc.

From prevention point of view, I believe eating organic produce will be beneficial because the amount of Salvestrols in the diet would probably stop the few cancer cells formed in the body to develop into clinical cancer. Another crucial aspect that I would like to point out is eating WHOLE fruit and vegetables is much more beneficial than just drinking the juice because juicing will leave behind most Salvestrols, including other beneficial antioxidants, in the skin and pulp of the fruit and veg.

Answer 4

I havnt heard that one before but it wouldnt do any harm in trying. I remember last year my mum tried many things she heard prevented cancer. noni juice, rose hip tea, tea-tree oil even red vegetables.

no harm in giving them a go I think.

Answer 5

I just saw the article about it. I will be following this.

Answer 6

that's a new one.