How Blueberries Improve Cancer Treatment by Helping to Kill Cancer Cells

    One of the most common treatments for cervical cancer is radiation. While radiation therapy destroys cancer cells, it also destroys nearby healthy cells. University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers studied in vitro human cancer cells to show that combining blueberry extract with radiation can increase the treatment’s effectiveness. That’s because a chemical in blueberries called resveratrol acts as a radiosensitizer, meaning it makes cancer cells more responsive to radiation therapy. With less radiation, doctors can reduce the side effects to healthy cells.