Why you need to eat your greens when you have cancer

Have you been diagnosed with cancer?  Then start eating your greens.

Vegetables contain zeaxanthin, a nutrient more commonly associated with eye health, but it also strengthens our T cells and boosts our response to cancer.

Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that the nutrient, a carotenoid, helps the immune system fight cancer by enhancing the activity of key immune cells.  In particular, it enhances the cancer-fighting abilities of CD8+ T immune cells that play a central role in identifying and destroying cancer cells.

Zeaxanthin is a common over-the-counter supplement for eye health and is found in green vegetables such as kale and spinach, and in orange peppers.

In earlier studies, the researchers found that trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid found in dairy and meat, was another compound that enhances T-cell function through a different pathway.

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