Fountain-of-youth Vegetables: Nature's Life Extenders

Pick any life-threatening disease--cancer, heart disease, you name it--and eating more broccoli and its cousins may help you beat it, according to new Johns Hopkins research.

Averaging just 4 weekly servings of cruciferous veggies--broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, for example--cut the risk of dying from any cause by 26% among over 6,000 people studied for 28 years.

Crucifers, which are packed with an array of disease-fighting nutrients and phytochemicals are plentiful in the fall and winter months. A dollop of creamy dressing made with olive or canola oil makes them irrestible--hot or cold. --Prevention, May 2005.

Suzanne

Vegetables: Too Much Work?

Is breathing too much work? Veggie are as essential for superior health as oxygen. They are chock-full of the nutrients we need for good living. Here are some tips for making them easier to prepare:

* Use frozen vegetables. They're already cleaned, cut and ready to use. All you have to do is steam, microwave or lightly saute them in olive oil with a little garlic.

* Chop up a ripe tomato and cucumber, dress with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and lemon juice, or a bottled dressing, and there you have it: a vegetable salad (which counts as 2 servings).

* Buy prewashed baby carrots, cut greens, grape tomatoes and chopped cauliflower, broccoli, etc. (And always wash them again before using). If time and expense are your stumbling blocks, figure out a way to get past them; veggies are worth every second and every cent you spend on them! --Prevention, April 2002.

Comment: It cannot be overemphasized: EAT YOUR GREENS!

Suzanne

More Good New About Veggies

There is abundant evidence that cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower can help repair DNA damaged by cancer-causing agents such as cigarette smoke and various chemicals. They may also reduce the risk of developing hereditary cancers. --Prevention, Oct. 2006.

Indeed, cell-protecting veggies should occupy a prominent place in our daily dietary regimen.

Suzanne

And Don't Forget Fruit

The low-carb approach to dieting pushed the limits of dietary common sense, but its most illogical move may have been making fruit taboo. Continuing research shows that dieters can help their waists and their hearts by revisiting the produce aisle.

Nutrition scientists at the University of Navarra, in Pamplona, Spain, asked 15 obese women ages 26 to 38 to follow one of two reduced-calorie diets: one group got 5% of calories from fruit; the other, 15%. After 8 weeks, all had lost the same amount of weight--an average of 15 pounds--but those on the high-fruit diet got an extra benefit: Blood markers for free radicals, which can contribute to cardiovascular disease, had dropped significantly.

Fruit contains antioxidants that help combat cell damage caused by obesity, according to the researchers. And the fiber in fruits helps to reduce cholesterol. --Prevention, Oct. 2006.

Comment: June is fast approaching. This time of the year is the perfect time to add more luscious fruit to the diet. What with peaches, apricots, cherries, watermelon and other melons, and the various berries in season, there is no excuse not to. Eat up for good health! Even now in early spring, various fruits are available: oranges, apples, grapes, etc. We have no excuse!

Suzanne

Tomatoes: Beyond Lycopene

The health benefits previously believed to come from the lycopene in tomatoes may actually come from different phytocompounds altogether, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and published in the journal Nutrition Research.

Researchers fed male rats a diet containing tomato powder for 30 days, then analyzed which compounds accumulated in the animals' prostate glands and livers. They found that in addition to lycopene, phytoene (PE) and phytofluene(PF) also accumulated in both glands.

PF concentrated more in the liver than PE or lycopene did, whereas lycopene concentrated most in the prostate, followed by PF and then PE.

In a follow-up experiment, the researchers fed the rats either a single dose of PE or a single dose of PF. In both groups, the concentrations of the chemicals in all tissues examined increased, with the exception of the adrenal gland. "Results from this work provide a better understanding of relative PE and PF tissue accumulation, compared to lycopene," said lead researcher Jessica Campbell.

Lycopene is well known for the role it plays in preventing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S., and is the second most lethal cancer, behind lung cancer. Prostate cancer is estimated to kill 200,000 men around the world each year, with 500,000 new cases yearly. The incidence of prostate cancer has increased by 1.7% over the past 15 years.

The FDA has approved claims that tomatoes reduce the risk of gastric, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers. But they have raised doubt as to the effectiveness of lycopene alone in protecting against cancers, saying that the evidence does not support this claim. Instead, the agency believes that tomatoes' protective effects come from either a different compound, such as PE or PF, or a synergy between various ingredients. --NaturalNews.com

Comment: Much has been documented about the health benefits of whole foods. Indeed, this study corroborates this concept. Yes, by eating the whole food we are getting all known and unknown nutrients put there by our Creator.

Suzanne

Violated Veggies

Those prewashed, prebagged supermarket salads may not be as clean as you think. Many of them contain high levels of bacteria commonly linked to poor sanitation and fecal contamination, according to an investigation by the Consumers Union.

Researchers tested over 200 packaged salad greens and found that 39% contained significant amounts of coliform bacteria and 23% contained another bacteria.

Consumers should buy prewashed salads at least 6 days before their use-by date. And even though the greens are "prewashed," you should also wash them yourself.

Suzanne

Pomegranate Juice Delivers More Antioxidants Than Red Wine

Pomegranate juice has the highest antioxidant content, activity and protective benefits of 8 different beverages tested, according to a study conducted by researchers from Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Calif, Los Angeles' David Geffen School of Medicine, and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

"Oftentimes, a beverage will make a claim about its superior antioxidant content based on the results of one test alone that provides the highest antioxidant capacity," said lead researcher Dr. David Heber. "What is important about this study is that all the beverages included were run against several tests resulting in a more complete assessment of a beverage's antioxidant activity and capability."

Researchers conducted a total of seven tests on 100% pomegranate juice, red wine, orange juice, blueberry juice, Concord grape juice, acai berry juice, white tea and green tea. Four of these tests evaluated the antioxidant strength of the beverages.

Pomegranate juice was found to have the highest polyphenol content of any beverage, even outcompeting recent "superfoods" such as acai berry or green and white tea.

Polyphenols are a naturally occurring family of plant chemicals that are known to function as antioxidants in the body. They are believed to help reduce the risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease and the effects of aging.

In addition to polyphenol content, the researchers also tested how well the various beverages performed at scavenging free radicals and preventing oxidation (decay) of LDL ("good") cholesterol. Once again, pomegranate juice outperformed all competitors, with an antioxidant potency composite index 20% higher than any other beverage tested.

This research marks the 11th study in the last 10 years to demonstrate the health benefits of 100% pomegranate juice. Prior studies have linked the juice to reducing the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer and even erectile dysfunction. --NaturalNews, Oct. 27, 2008.

Suzanne

Eat the Peel

The skin of apples, pears, potatoes, and other fruits and veggies are packed with nutrients, including fiber. When practical, eat fruit with the skin on and don't peel vegetables. But wash them thoroughly, and buy organic versions whenever possible. --Consumer Reports on Health, June 2010.

Comment: I always eat the skin of my baked potatoes, and leave the skin on when making potato salad. Trader Joe's (Do you have a Trader Joe's in Canada?) has organic potatoes at a reasonable price. I also buy whatever organic fruit they have. When buying fruits and veggies from the regular supermarket I wash thoroughly and soak in a citric acid solution for 15 minutes or so. And don't forget to ask the Lord's blessings on your food.

Suzanne

Enjoy the Many Benefits of Dark Grapes

by Luella May, citizen journalist

(NaturalNews) A growing body of evidence is proving that one of our most popular and delicious fruits is also one of the healthiest - dark grapes. Among the many benefits of dark grapes are protection against asthma, migraine, constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, macular degeneration, cataracts, high cholesterol, edema, and antibacterial activity. Perhaps the most exciting news about dark grapes is their ability to protect against age related memory decline and even improve memory.

A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggested that dark grape juice may be able to improve memory decline in older adults. In this study, 12 elderly adults with declining memory were divided into two groups. One group was given dark grape juice supplements daily for 12 weeks. The other group was given placebo supplements. At the end of the 12 weeks, tests focusing on memory and cognitive function were administered on the two groups. The group that had taken the dark grape juice supplement showed significant improvement not only in memory, but also in verbal and spatial recall. In addition, studies in laboratory animals have shown not only better performance in maze tests requiring memory skills, but also improved coordination and balance.

The high content of vitamins and minerals in grapes are responsible for their many health benefits. The fruit contains high levels of A, C, and B6, together with folate, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron, all the ingredients necessary to maintain a healthy body. Grapes also contain polyphenols which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce DNA damage caused by free radicals. Polyphenols have been the focus of research with regard to preventing such conditions as aging, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and even cancer. Recent animal research has indicated that polyphenols found in grape seeds can reduce the development of plaque in the brain that is associated in Alzheimer`s.

Not to be ignored are the grape seeds themselves, which provide added health benefits. Grape seeds are the source of the popular supplement, grapeseed extract. Besides being a powerful antioxidant, grapeseed extract is also anti-allergenic, an antihistamine, and anti-inflammatory. It strengthens blood vessels, aids in circulation, improves skin elasticity, and promotes healthy hair growth. Grapeseed extract contains bioflavonoids which help protect cell membranes and guard against oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

Grapeseed extract, itself, plays many roles in maintaining health. Its anti-aging properties may aid in the reduction of wrinkles. It provides cardiovascular protection by preventing oxidation of lipoproteins, making it more difficult for them to adhere to blood vessel walls. It also strengthens the linings of the arteries, making them less resistant to damage.

Useful in helping to control allergies, the catechins it contains inhibit enzymes involved in forming histamines, reducing the allergic response.

Much ado is being made with regard to the anti-aging properties of trans-resveratrol. Grape skins contain a high content of this compound. Studies done on the administration of trans-resveratrol in yeast, worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice have resulted in increased life spans. Trans-resveratrol may have extraordinary health benefits, including lowering cholesterol LDL levels and reducing cardiovascular disease. Laboratory studies reported in the December 9, 2009 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that trans-resveratrol is estrogenic, activating expression of artificially introduced "reporter" genes and naturally occurring estrogen-regulated genes in human cultured cells.

In addition to having many health benefits, grapes make a great tasting and nutritious snack.

http://healthmad.com/health/will-dr...
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocent...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...

Suzanne

I tried to go on a three day grape cleansing, but only lasted two of the three days for the reason that after two days of eating nothing but grapes, I just couldn't hack another day of grapes.

It also took a week or so before I could even eat grapes again.