Black Raspberries May Help Prevent Barrett's Esophagus Beacon NY
Black Raspberries May Help Prevent Barrett's Esophagus
When you're diganosed with a disease, one thing you need to know is if it has any long-term effects. According to a recent study, 2/3 of people with GERD do not know if the disease has any long-term risks. [1] This is rather troubling, given that one of GERD's long-term effects can be fatal.
Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which bile and stomach acid reflux into the esophagus, resulting in the tissue lining the esophagus being replaced by tissue similar to the lining of the intestine. Three important facts to remember about Barrett's esophagus are:
- It is virtually symptomless
- It affects about 1% of American adults, at an average age of 50
- It can lead to a deadly type of cancer [2]
Although, endoscopic treatments and surgery are available to help treat Barrett's esophagus, new evidence shows that people with Barrett's esophagus may be helped naturally using black raspberries.
Relying on previous animal studies that had shown how black raspberries reduce the risk of oral, esophageal, and colon cancers, researchers at The Ohio State University hypothesized that black raspberries could help patients with Barrett's esophagus reduce their risk of developing esophageal cancer. To compile data, the doctors had 20 patients with Barrett's esophagus consume about 1-1.5 ounces of freeze-dried black raspberries mixed into a drink each day. Before and after the study they assessed tissue, blood, and urinary biomarkers. The trial period lasted 6 months, and when it was over, the results were telling:..
