Research supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that dark purple, blue, and reddish fruits may potentially help to prevent obesity. The reason for this is because the pigments responsible for giving the fruits their rich, dark colors may have healthful qualities, as well.

The pigments, known as anthocyanins, were found to prevent obesity in animals that were fed high fat diets. Over the course of eight weeks, animals that consumed high quantities of fat but were also given water infused with purified anthocyanins extracted from blueberries and strawberries experienced lower weight gains and less body fat than control groups, which were given water only.

Interestingly, the same benefits were not seen from eating the whole fruit, which in the experiments may have even contributed to obesity.

In a related story, scientists found that anthocyanins were able to slow the growth of colon cancer cells in culture and animal models. Again using extracts, researchers exposed colon cancer cell lines to levels of anthocyanins and were able to determine the amount of the compound that was necessary to cut cancer cell growth in half.

The amount of anthocyanin necessary to have the anti-cancer effect varied according to the source, with extracts from purple corn being the most effective. Chokeberry and bilberry extracts were a close second, with radish extracts coming in third. The extracts did not have any adverse effects on health cells.

Additionally, the researchers found that a daily diet of anthocyanins fed to animals induced with colon cancer reduced the presence of tumors by as much as 70% when compared to controls. Extracts from chokeberries and bilberries are often used as flavorings and in jams and jellies. Chokeberry extracts have also been shown to control obesity in animal models.

Part of the challenge of harnessing the berry’s healthful qualities is that it is not efficiently absorbed into the blood stream. However, it may be effective in addressing gastrointestinal (GI) cancers because it does pass through GI tract, where it can be absorbed by the surrounding tissue.

Obesity and cancer are two separate chronic conditions affecting our society that are also profoundly linked. Experts have stated that obesity is associated with cancers of the colon, breast, kidneys, and esophagus. Maintaining a healthy body weight through exercise and proper diet can reduce a person’s risk for several forms of cancer, and even a reduction in weight by as little as 5% to 10% can make a difference.

Other studies have indicated that an estimated 14% of male mortality from cancer and 20% of female mortality from cancer were due to being overweight or obese. The relationship is therefore hard to ignore.

It is therefore in a person’s best interest to work towards keeping their weight within a normal, healthy range by way of diet and exercise, not just in an effort to reduce their risk for cancer, but in order to maintain a higher quality of life overall. Part of that effort can include the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, including dark ones.

To learn more about eating a healthy diet, speak with your physician or a nutritional expert. For more information about obesity and cancer, visit the website for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This post was included in Bayblab's Cancer Carnival #33.