12 September 2007

Go organic - cure cancer!

Ok, so it’s a somewhat emotive headline and inaccurate (probably), but it is prompted by reading this story on the BBC news website. It goes something like this…

It has been discovered that a compound called Salvestrol Q40 found in tangerine peel, but also present in brassicas, kills cancer cells. This can only be good news for cancer research that, hopefully, will benefit many people in the future. What I find even more interesting is what the article goes on to say. Salvestrol is produced in the highest quantities in plants that have come under attack from pests such as fungus or insects and that, “Therefore, the use of modern pesticides and fungicides, which have cut the risk of infections [in plants], have also led to a drop in Salvestrol levels in food.” There is no suggestion that eating food with high levels of Salvestrol could cure or prevent cancer, but I find it fascinating that this invisible side effect of the ‘perfect’ produce regime is potentially so significant. What other yet-to-be-discovered protective qualitites in our food have been diminshed through the widespread use of such chemicals?

A rather pleasing story for Organic Fortnight, I think.

Filed under: Organic — Clare @ 1:48 pm