Posts Tagged ‘healthy diet’

Selenium is a Powerful Chemopreventive Agent

Selenium is an antioxidant that is important for the immune system, and thyroid hormone metabolism. Selenium is a powerful chemopreventive agent. It works by protecting cells from damage.

The State University of New Jersey has discovered that selenium can help reset a cell’s “biological clock” when it is disrupted by a chemical cancer-causing agent. Selenium is a trace mineral found in whole foods.

Studies have shown that the circadian rhythm is responsible for regulating blood pressure, appetite, and immune function. It is critical to the growth of cells and how the cells react to environmental and internal stress.

Circardian Rhythm

Circadian rhythm is known to be disrupted by shift work. It also has been shown that shift workers have an increased risk of mammary and prostrate cancers. The findings could lead to ways to help prevent breast cancer.

If a simple dietary supplement can reverse the effect of shift work, as it has done in experimental models, than it is prudent to be sure that you are not deficient in selenium.

Only a small amount is needed by humans to protect the cells. Research has shown that methylselenocysteine (MCS), produced by plants, exhibits chemopreventive effects in the early states of tumor development by slowing growth when exposed to chemical carcinogens.

Selenium Under Attack

The soil’s condition is the key to the amount of selenium in plant foods or animal sources. Animals eat a diet that is based on what grows, and if the soil is poor their supply of selenium is limited. The mineral content of the soil has changed over the years. Studies show fewer cancers in areas where there is more selenium in the food. This is a universal problem that is causing an overfed nation to have an undernourished population 

Whole Foods To The Rescue

Selenium is needed in the diet on a daily basis. The good news is we need very small amounts, and with a whole food diet we will cover our basic requirement. 

In fact selenium is one trace mineral you want do not want to not load up on. It can be toxic in high amounts. That is one reason food sources are the best choice. Some consider 55 micrograms enough for adults. That is the recommended dietary allowance, many health care practitioners recommend anywhere from 100-200 mcg of selenium depending on the personal needs of the patient.

Brazil nuts are one of the most concentrated sources of selenium. All it takes is one to two Brazil nuts a day. It is a food source and that is preferable to a supplement. Besides being less expensive, it is safer.

Natural food sources high in selenium are nuts, legumes (soybeans), animal products such as beef, chicken, and cheese, seafood (tuna), oats, button mushrooms,  garlic, onion, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, whole grains, and seeds. Fruit such as dates, bananas, watermelon, mango, and pomegranate have trace amounts of selenium.

Although very high doses of selenium can be toxic, most people do not get enough from their current diet. It is in fact safe to add more selenium-rich foods, especially organic vegetables and fruits to your diet.

Fruits and vegetables cut senior moments. When seniors forget to eat a healthy diet, they will likely forget a lot of things. There is a significant correlation between consumption of fruits and vegetables and brain function.

 This Make Sense

Many nutrients are associated with cognitive functioning. Elderly individuals appear to need more nutritional help because they are utilizing less. It is easier for the senior population to be deficient in valuable nutrients. The diet must have micronutrients to sustain brain power. Glucose levels can enhance cognitive function. A rapid decline of glucose levels impairs cognitive function. That is why diabetics on medication show a higher level of decline than diabetics not on pharmaceuticals. 

The brain needs glucose to function at its peak. Also, Omega 3 is a component that is needed for brain health. The right fatty acids are a must for proper brain support. Why fruits and vegetables make sense is that they supply micronutrients, some good fatty acids, and can regulate sugar surges.

Superior Action

Playing the field is the way to get the most micronutrients. In your senior years this is in fruits and vegetables. There are provocative studies that show that variety is the spice of life in all things including fruits and vegetables. The latest research shows there is strength in numbers. This covers the amount and number of fruits and vegetables that you include in your diet.

This will help with the challenge of getting enough photochemical, vitamins, minerals, and essential fats. These nutrients combat inflammation which is also a cause of cognitive decline. Recent studies strongly indicate that beta-carotene, vitamins A, E, and Folate are associated with cognitive function in the elderly.

Micronutrients maintain and may enhance cognitive function. The superior action of fruits and vegetables on cognitive health is known, and the idea is to start dietary changes way before your senior years.

Association

People that eat three or more servings of vegetables on a daily basis had not only a decreased prevalence of cognitive decline, but also decreased their chances of having cardiac and other health risks. That is one of the reasons that people with good cognitive function are less likely to encounter other serious health issues.

The association could be that poor cognitive function means losing some of the ability to think, remember, plan and organize information.

Researchers at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia analyzed diet and cognitive data on 4,879 people (3,101 women and 1,778 men), age 70 and older, who took part in the U.S. Longitudinal Study of Aging. The participants were followed for an average of seven years.

What was Found

Those who ate three or more servings of vegetables daily had a 30 percent lower risk for dying from heart disease and a 15 percent lower risk for dying from any cause during the follow-up period than those who ate fewer than three servings of vegetables a day.

People who scored high on cognitive function tests were less likely to die from heart disease or any other cause during the follow-up than those with low scores.

The study is to be presented  at the American Heart Association annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

 High Priced Studies

The  most effective vitamins come from whole foods. These studies show that a good diet is the most effective way to guard your health. The broad-spectrum of available nutrients are not only naturally occurring but readily available. The best lab is the one in your body, that will inhibit, delay or reverse most conditions. Instead of recommending more high priced studies, inform, educate, and disseminate the needed information.