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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Antioxidants may actually cause cancer, says Nobel laureate

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Renowned geneticist James Watson, who was among the group of researchers who received the 1962 Nobel Prize for discovering the structure of DNA, has recently published an article in Open Biology, an online journal published by The Royal Society, suggesting that antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are ineffective as cancer fighters, and may in fact be causing certain types of cancer.

"In light of the recent data strongly hinting that much of late-stage cancer's untreatability may arise from its possession of too many antioxidants," he writes, "the time has come to seriously ask whether antioxidant use much more likely causes than prevents cancer."

Antioxidants such as Beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium have long been thought to reduce the risk of cancer. But, Watson argues that nutrition intervention trials "have shown no obvious effectiveness in preventing gastrointestinal cancer nor in lengthening mortality. In fact, they seem to slightly shorten the lives of those who take them."

He goes on to predict that "future data may, in fact, show that antioxidant use, particularly that of vitamin E, leads to a small number of cancers that would not have come into existence but for antioxidant supplementation. Blueberries best be eaten because they taste good, not because their consumption will lead to less cancer." BF

Current Issue

June/July 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Ontario farmers get boost for energy upgrades

Friday, July 11, 2025

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online

Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola

Thursday, July 10, 2025

As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online

Ontario crops respond to summer heat

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online

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