For Your Health: Walnuts May Help Prevent Cancer

An American study published in the scientific journal Nutritional Biochemistry found that walnuts might slow the growth of colon cancer, which is the second most common cancer among men and women in Israel.

Researchers at Harvard University discovered that consuming walnuts can slow tumor growth in the colon. The study involved an experiment with two groups of mice. One group was fed a pre-defined diet supplemented with corn oil, while the second group received the same diet but with the addition of about 57 grams of walnuts per day. After twenty-five days, researchers found that the mice consuming the walnut-supplemented diet had smaller colon tumors. Additionally, the tumor tissues in these mice contained ten times the amount of fatty acids, omega-3, and other acids compared to the other group.

The fact that fatty acid levels were higher in the mice fed with walnuts indicates that dietary changes can affect the spread of certain types of cancer. The study's findings suggest that half of colon cancer cases could be prevented with a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.

The results of this study could, with help from *Hashem*, prevent illness and death among many. Annually, about 3,000 new colon cancer cases are diagnosed in Israel, and 1,300 people die from the disease. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in Israel, with about a quarter of patients being diagnosed at a late stage, significantly affecting their chances of recovery.