Posts Tagged ‘vegetables’

Polyphenols are the natural life savers that are in the vivid colored fruits and vegetables. This is the non-manufactured life saver.

Research

Researchers have found that baking British garden rhubarb for 20 minutes increases its levels of anti-cancerous chemicals. The findings are from academics at Sheffield Hallam University, together with the Scottish Crop Research Institute, were published in the journal Food Chemistry.

These chemicals, called polyphenols, have been shown to selectively kill or prevent the growth of cancer cells, and could be used to develop new, less toxic treatments, even in cases where cancers have proven resistant to other treatment.

Dr. Nikki Jordan-Mahy, from Sheffield Hallam University’s Biomedical Research Center, said: “Our research has shown that British rhubarb is a potential source of pharmacological agents that may be used to develop new anti-cancerous drugs.”

Plant Polyphenols

The natural source of polyphenols is plants. Dietary polyphnols have caught the attention of nutritionists rather recently. Up till the mid-1990s, the studies centered on antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids, and minerals. After 1995 research began in earnest on flavonoids, and other polyphenols, and their antioxidant properties. Their effects on human health are now being studied.

Polyphenols have been found in a wide array of phytochemical-bearing foods. These include such fruits as apples, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, grapes, pears, plums, raspberries, and strawberries. The highest levels of polyphenols are found in the fruit skins.

Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, celery, onion and parsley are rich in polyphenols. Red wine is known for its health benefits, which in large part come from the grapes. Coffee is considered healthy because it is an alternative source of this, as is green tea, olive oil, bee pollen and whole grains.

Studies

Population studies have linked fruit and vegetable consumption with lowering the risk for many chronic conditions. These included heart disease and many cancers. What the medical community wants is to establish proof that documents the role of functional foods in healing.

Population studies found that elderly men with the highest intake of dark green and deep yellow vegetables had about a 46% decrease risk of heart disease compared to those who consumed the least amount. The men who consumed the darkest green and yellow vegetables had about a 70% lower risk of developing cancer than those consuming the lowest amount of these vegetables.

The most interesting part of the study was that the men that consumed the highest level which was more than two (>2.05 and >2.2) servings of dark green and yellow vegetables a day. The men at the lowest level consumed less than one serving daily (<0.8 and <0.7). This is proof that small consistent changes matter. (Gaziano et al. Annals of Epidemiology 1995; 5:255 and Colditz et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1985,:41:32)

This study was one conducted in 1995. Where are all the physicians advocating this diet change for their patients?

While many alternative health and wellness advocates have actually produced some remarkable discoveries, the scientific community has their head in a test tube.

Strategy

Searching for a strategy to remain healthy?  Follow Kathy Bee our nutrition/lifestyle educator with www.yourhealthupdates.com

The subject of vegetarianism usually centers on compassion for all the Earth’s creatures. This is noble and commendable. However, it is an illusion. While we concede that an animal is considered a higher form of life than a plant, we can’t negate the fact that a plant is a life form. This is the basis for the vegetarian dilemma.

Actually

Actually plants are more complex than we think. They like all living things want to survive and react to treats. It is known they respond to their environment. Playing music and talking to plants is not an uncommon practice.

Scientifically Speaking

“Plants are not static or silly,” said Monika Hilker of the Institute of Biology at the Free University of Berlin. “They respond to tactile cues, they recognize different wavelengths of light, they listen to chemical signals, they can even talk” through chemical signals. Touch, sight, hearing, speech. “These are sensory modalities and abilities we normally think of as only being in animals,” Dr. Hilker said.

Plants can’t run away from a threat but they can stand their ground. “They are very good at avoiding getting eaten,” said Linda Walling of the University of California, Riverside. “It’s an unusual situation where insects can overcome those defenses.”

“I’m amazed at how fast some of these things happen,” said Consuelo M. De Moraes of Pennsylvania State University. Dr. De Moraes and her colleagues did labeling experiments to clock a plant’s systemic response time and found that, in less than 20 minutes from the moment the caterpillar had begun feeding on its leaves, the plant had plucked carbon from the air and forged defensive compounds from scratch.

“Even if you have quite a bit of knowledge about plants,” Dr. De Moraes said, “it’s still surprising to see how sophisticated they can be.”

Fruitarians Argument

Fruitarians are known to take the high moral ground. There argument is when fruit is ripe it falls to the ground, without our help. This is for the most part true. Ripe fruit will leave the branches when fully done. Now the real argument is this healthy for long term sustenance for the human race?

In reality the vegetarian dilemma was not a part of the dialog of early man. You ate to survive, and survived on what was around.

Morally and Ethically

Our focus is to be stewards of the planet. Before we concede more, we must realize that what goes into soda pop, cookies, pastry, and processed food is where the argument should be. Pharmaceuticals are in our lakes, and drinking water. The more scientist invent the more we change the environment.

Grazing cows, deer, goats, and bison live off the pastures. Now if we want to be morally right we can consume the animals and leave the plants alone. Ethically living is to appreciate and not plunder the land. Cattle are not to be fed garbage so they become fatter faster.

The Wrong Argument

The argument that most of these groups ponder is neither going to solve or save the resources. The argument is usually among the groups that already believe in conservation. Fruitarians will try to up vegetarians who will then go on to up the people on paleo (cave man) diets. These are considered the diets of our distant ancestors, that roamed the earth eons ago.

Since most of us were not around to confirm this information, it would make sense to say that a whole food natural diet is fine. We always aspire to do the right thing and at the same time win the argument.

We are at a crossroad and semantics will not save the environment. We can’t dismiss the fact that we may never see eye to eye. What we need is to stop arguing among ourselves and engage in going forward together and find opportunities to steer the planet in the right direction. We can’t afford to be fighting while trying to survive on a planet in peril.

Eye health you can see is on your diner plate and in your shopping cart. Carrots are known to be good for the eyes, the same holds true for leafy green vegetables and fruit. University of Georgia scientists report that green leafy vegetables and fruits also may affect vision, and prevent age-related eye disease. This is according to a study in the Journal of Food Science.

Solid Evidence

These foods contain the carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which play an important role in vision and have a positive impact on the retina. Scientists led by Billy R. Hammond, PhD, a professor of neuroscience and experimental psychology at the University of Georgia, said in a review of previous research.

The evidence suggests that lutin and zeaxantine help reduce disability and discomfort from glare, enhance contrast, and reduce photo-stress recovery times, the researchers found. Also, at the same time may increase visual range.

Foods That Heal

Lutein and zeaxznthin are found in kale, spinach and other vegetables. For your health it pays to investigate the power of foods. A food saver isn’t only a way to store food, it is a way to save your life.

Researches write that their review on the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin is important because “it is clear that they could potentially improve vision through biological means.”

They cite a 2008 study that suggests the pigments protect the retina and lens, and may “even help prevent age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataract.”

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in kale and spinach, among other vegetables. This points to the fact the pharmacy in your garden is the solution and your partner in building health.

New Zealand blackberries contain anthocyannis that help reduce eye fatigue. Plant food can improve the quality of your life.

Overview

From broccoli, Brussels sprouts, to cabbage and sauerkraut the health benefits have out performed any pharmaceuticals. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts have been linked to a lower risk of colorectal, lung and stomach cancer. 

Research from Michigan State University in East Lansing found that those who ate raw or lightly cooked cabbage and sauerkraut more than three times a week were 72 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than those who had 1.5 or fewer servings.

Seeing

Nature provides stable and potent antioxidant protection in the right concentration. The bioavailability of these compounds provides better absorptions. With so many conventional treatment failures, the natural protection of nature’s formulas provides phenomenal results. Seeing is believing and we will put the evidence in plain sight, so everyone gets it.