Let's Hear it for Healing Fruits and Vegetables (Part One)People have an immune system to fight diseases while plants have developed their own form of immune system which are protective substances called phtyochemicals. Just as people are prone to viruses, bacteria and diseases so are plants. People have an immune system to fight diseases while plants have developed their own form of immune system which are protective substances called phtyochemicals. More and more studies are showing that phytochemicals from plants can also help to protect people from a variety of cancers as well as diseases. Some of the most protective of these foods include whole grains, dark and leafy green colored fruits and vegetables, legumes, orange, yellow, and red colored fruits and vegetables, cruciferous vegetables and anti-bacterial vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables that are dark in color consist of a big group of substances that contain something known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are found to be plentiful in a variety of fruits and vegetables which include blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, bilberries, cranberries, red grapes, red grapes, apples, onions, broccoli, peppers and eggplant. There are estimated to be well over 4,000 flavonoids in existence and they are then broken down into a variety of subcategories, which include anthocyanidins, polyphenolic acid, proanthocyanidins, ellagic acid, tannins and quercetic. Research studies into dark colored fruits and vegetables have shown that they are all very powerful when it comes to anti-oxidant properties and some are believed to have 50 times the anti-oxidant capability of both vitamin E as well as vitamin C. Further studies have yielded the results that flavonoids found in both fruits and vegetables are helpful in decreasing the risk of a variety of cancers as well as diabetes, arthritis and atherosclerosis. Flavonoids are beneficial when it comes to protecting the collagen protein found in blood vessels and joints from the damage that can be done by free radicals in the body. By protecting the collagen protein this is a way to reduce the incidence of hemorrhoids, edema and varicose veins.
A study done at Cornell University yielded the result that the flavonoid found in apples known as quercetin, was effective at protecting the brains against the onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease which are both classified as being neuro-generative diseases. This study was a follow-up to another study that was conducted at the same university by Professor Lee. Professor Lee discovered that the phytochemical found in both a variety of berries as well as apples had a greater "antioxidant protective effect" than did vitamin C when it came to fighting liver cancer cells and colon cancer cells. While blueberries and strawberries both have excellent anti-oxidant properties, blueberries have an estimated 40 percent more power to fight off diseases and t o heal. In a study done by neuroscientist James Joseph from Tufts University it was found that blueberries are excellent when it comes to fighting cancer and a multitude of diseases but they are also helpful in preventing or slowing short-term memory loss which can affect individuals as they age.
Next time you make a trip to the grocery store stock up on healing fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is the best to buy, with frozen being the second best. Canned fruits and vegetables tend to have a great deal of salt in them so opt for fresh if possible. For a change in paste whip up a salad with a variety of vegetables (and some fruits thrown in to add some tang) or whip up a delectable fruit salad for yourself and your family to enjoy
New Food Cures
01/17/2012 |
