WHAT DO WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT AMYGDALIN?

First, it is very important for me to emphasise that I am not any kind of medical expert or adviser. Why is this so crucial to mention? Because we all know how difficult is when we are sick and when the only wish we have is to get well, no matter what. At that moment, human soul is easy to believe in all possible and impossible, following, sometimes, blind someone or something, hoping that would help. I am here not to claim anything or to argue with science, but just to share some thoughts of mine, with the world that is willing to listen.

Some months ago, I found and read the book “World without cancer: The Story of Vitamine B17” by Edward Griffin. His writing was very interesting for me since I am into nutricionistic and health matters and was myself pretty much interested in researching about origins of cancer disease. Why is this illness conquireing the world and what we can do to prevent it, on our micro level, before it is too late ? Those questions have followed me for years and this book helped me to achieve some new approach to the relevant issues. Mr. Griffin explained that cancer is occuring when our body is missing the basic balance, caused by food supplies. Actually, he is going forward and says that one basic and the most important component of the healthy organism is B17 vitamin.

My main problem with this book is that is written by someone who is known to be a name in conspiracy theories. This doesnt mean that all what he said is wrong but it should be taken within multidimensional perspective. The vitamin B17 is not a vitamin that we all know under the B range. It is Amydgalin or laetrile, a synthetic compound, which is is a cyanogenic glycoside compound that is mainly found in the kernels and pulps of fruits. According to some kind of research, this is claimed to be the natural substance in anticancer battle. Is it ? There is the following idea about this so-called vitamin:“There are four possible theories on how laetrile may fight cancer; two theories state that cancer cells are rich in enzymes that convert laetrile into cyanide. Since cyanide kills cells, this means that cancer cells may break down laetrile and kill the cancerous cells. The third theory suggests that cancer is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B17 (amygdalin). The last theory proposes that hydrogen cyanide, which is made by breaking down laetrile, will make cancer cells more acidic and cause them to die.“

If we trace the official science, we wont find encouring data about this compound which doesnt suprise. In the last years, we all know that the pharmaceutical industry has another view on the health area and the another interest to deal with it. So, we will deside to drag a bit into this topic. Somehow is always linked to the sucessful story of Pakistan’s Hunza Valley people that are, according to many writings, free from cancer disease. It is a fact that those people have long and healthy life, cancer free but is it because of diet based on apricot seeds ? It is not confirmed in spite of fact that those people and their way of life is an inspiration for many of researchers who try to find the formula of great, healthy life. There are certain medical experts who argued that Hunza people are considered to be myth in wellbeing and obviosly abused in the stories about cancer-free population. Are we sure that they do not have it ? According to some scientists, the team has found few inhabitatnts over there that suffered from cancer. Still, only few and the world we live in is dying from cancer, everyday, more and more people are targeted. How is possible that Hunza people do not have cancer, then ? There are some logical explanations to start with: they live their isolated life in raw nature, cultivating their own food and consimuning fresh water from glaciers. This means, no processed food, no rafined sugar, no stress. They are isolated and happy, nurtured by pure nature.

There are certain areas of the world, known as Blue Zones, with high concentrations of centenarians and longer life expectancies. Though the Hunza aren’t included on that list, they share some similar characteristics with Blue Zone denizens. Much like the Blue Zones, the Hunza live in an area of high elevation, where many work physically strenuous jobs, keeping them in peak physical shape, while breathing clean, fresh air.

It is thrilling to know also that they have a specific diet which is pretty much based on raw vegetables and fruit, with less cosuming of meat. This is what each and everyone is telling that helps against cancer prevention or cancer healing. You know the experiences of many people who get into raw food and fought the cancer 100%. Beside it, those people do not live in the Blue Zones but they do live in high elevation region, have active life and they do breath fresh air constantly. The Blue Zones area is known to be the one with less healthy problems and longer life expectancy. The following lands are in the Blue Zones: Italy, Greece, Costa Rica, Japan and some parts of US.

So, basically, how we can think about B17? Is it useful or dangerous ? I believe that is up to each of us, personally. When I was a child, I used to eat a lot of apricots seeds. It was something new and delicious, most of the time, bitter. But I consumed and many others of my friends. We have never been so sick as those kids nowadays. I believe that there is some truth about this natural component that is so wrapped into conspiracy. The US authoriries dont give an approval but why? Since when, they are so careful about human health? If they do give an approval, this element is available in nature and doesnt bring profit, so we have to make it look very dangerous and harmful. This is just one option. It could be that they are really altruistic oriented and they care about our health more than we do, ourselves. At the end of the day, oncology treatment and medicaments bring more money than one apricots seed.

I dont recommend anyone who is suffering from cancer to deal with this vitamin B17 on his/her own. They should consider some positive impacts but indeed need to hear more independent opinions from different doctors and then they have to decide, grounded on their own situation. If we dont change some deep eating and living habits, no amount of natural super cancer killers will help us alone. It is up to us to find our own balance. This is the balance of healthy eat, regurarly physical activity, stress-free life and positive mind. Myself, I gave a try to vitamin B17, reminding myself on the childhood with bitter apricots seeds and playing in dirt.