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| initiation of cancer. Usually, mutations do nor occur in both strands of the DNA helix and are therefore repairable. |
| A number of factors contribute to the ability of our cells to repair these mutations. Some of the ways the body is able to protect against the initiation of cancer are by: |
| Inhibition of a mutation (by reducing the overall number of mutational changes). |
| Repair of a mutation, once it has occurred. |
| Inhibition of a mutation by "turning off" a damaged cell so that it cannot proliferate and do further harm. |
| The ability to inhibit an overproduction of mutational changes depends on dietary and lifestyle exposures to exogenous factors that can both cause and inhibit mutation. Many nutrients are protective against mutation initiation, promotion, and progression. 5 Chapters 3 and 4, in particular, will cite many epidemiological and biochemical studies supporting this fact. As substantiated throughout this book, food and herbs are truly the best medicine We have. |
| Indeed, some of the most significant benefits of all herbs and pure foods are their antimutagenic properties. Some of the most powerful antimutagenic foods are burdock, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and citrus peel. Studies have shown that in order to promote cancer growth, oncogenes, mutated suppressor genes (like p53), and carcinogens must all be present. Normally, oxidative stress and mutations within our cells are repaired by various enzymes found in herbs and whole foods. However, if mutations build up and our enzymes can't keep up with the task of repairing the damage, serious illnesses (like cancer) can result. The good news is that our dietary choices can and do effectively modulate genetic susceptibility to cancer. |
| Oncoviruses |
| One cause of mutational change, insertional mutagenesis, occurs when cells are infected by viral genes. This brings the cellular oncogenes under the influence of viral promoters or regulators that cause mutations by adding new DNA rather than altering existing DNA. |
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