RP398 Apricot Kernels: the Cancer Buster

 RP398 Apricot Kernels: the Cancer Buster?

In the war against cancer, allies can come from the most unlikely places. Take apricot kernels for example. These soft, bitter-tasting seeds are found by breaking open the hard pit of an apricot. While they may taste awful, some people are convinced that they can cure cancer.
The secret to the kernel's success is that it's high in amygdalin. Amygdalin contains two toxic substances, benzaldehyde and cyanide. Usually, these poisons are bound to other molecules so they can't hurt us. But when cancer cells show up, it's another story completely. Cancer cells contain an enzyme that unlocks the poison in amygdalin. That's bad news for the cancer cell. Therefore, amygdalin is kind of like a freelance killer that floats around your body looking for cancer cells to assassinate.
Most research pertaining to apricot kernels was originally conducted by an American biochemist named Ernst Krebs Jr. in the 1950s. Dr. Krebs claimed that people could remain cancer free if they just ate fifteen apricot kernels a day.
In 1996, an Australian named Paul Reid took Dr. Krebs's advice to heart. Paul had been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer that wasn't treatable using conventional radiation or chemotherapy. Instead of losing heart, Paul decided to explore alternative methods of treatment. He started a strict organic diet and ate 30 apricot kernels every day. Years later, Paul beat his cancer and went on to live well beyond the five years that his original diagnosis gave him.
Paul Reid isn't alone. There are many people who swear that alternative treatments like apricot kernels can cure cancer. However, there is no scientific evidence that proves apricot kernels are effective. In addition, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency has ruled that a mere two apricot kernels a day is the maximum safe dose. Under these regulations, the 30 that Paul ate daily to treat his cancer would be considered a serious risk of cyanide poisoning.
More studies need to be conducted before we' ll know for sure whether or not apricot kernels are the next wonder drug in the fight against cancer.