Sunny Health

They say prevention is better than cure. Consuming the following could result in better health!


Here then - and keeping all the above information in mind when preparing these foods - are the other 9 top anti-cancer foods.

Tomatoes. Besides loads of vitamin C, tomatoes are one of the richest sources of the flavenoid lycopene - which gives them their red colour - which has shown to defend, in study after study, against cancers of the lungs, cervix, prostate and mouth. Tomatoes are also one of the chief ingredients of "the Mediterranean diet", now well known for the many important health benefits it conveys.

Blueberries. In addition to plenty of flavenoids - the rich pigment of the berries - which has repeatedly shown to protect against several cancers, blueberries may also hold "the secret of youth". In a study published in Journal of Neuroscience, investigators found that elderly rats fed the human equivalent of at least 1/2 cup of blueberries per day, improved in balance, coordination and short term memory. A normal serving consists of one cup. Like other fruits and vegetables - and particularly so the 'dark' ones - blueberries contain chemicals that act as antioxidants, now believed by scientists to protect the body against "oxidative stress," one of several biological processes that cause aging.

Red Cabbage, Red Beets. All cabbages - including their kin broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts bok choy, and so forth - are not only rich in calcium, but recent research has shown that they are also extremely rich in anti-cancer flavenoids, the source of the purple colour of the red cabbages. But the red cabbage tops them all; it is the richest source of flavenoids among all vegetables, besides red beets, of course. Red beets have so much of these flavenoids that it can alarm people who are not used to them, because it turns urine red. But there is no reason to panic, it's just the abundance of the potent flavenoids in red beets.

Spinach. Also one of the "dark" vegetables, spinach is also a rich source of vitamin C, beta-carotene - both are potent antioxidants - as well as folic acid, now discovered to be so vital to our health that the US Dept. of Health has mandated that it is added to flour. In several studies (University of Minnesota, Environmental Health Services, and others), it has been found that people who include two or more servings of spinach per week in their nutrition have considerably lower lung and breast cancer rates.

Garlic. Studies focused on garlic have shown, again and again, that this pungent onion kin lives up to its age-old reputation of being a powerful all-around health promoting food. The sulphur compounds that give it its strong flavour have now been shown to protect against cancer by neutralizing carcinogens and slowing tumor growth. In a recent Iowa Women's Health study, investigators found that women who consume garlic at least once a week also have a 32% lower incidence of breast cancer. Garlic is, of course, also a major ingredient in the now well known "Mediterranean diet".

Whole Wheat. In a recent study at the University of Iowa, scientist found that the more whole grain there is in a woman's diet, the lower her risk of breast cancer, as well as heart disease. In this study, as well as an analysis of 40 other studies on 20 kinds of cancer, investigators established that consumers of whole wheat products (bread, pasta, cereals) have a 33% lower risk of these diseases than those who do not eat whole wheat products.

Oranges. Already well known for their high vitamin C content, much recent research in the food sciences has shown that oranges are also rich in many other potent anti-cancer compounds. Investigators have now found that oranges contain more than 170 photochemicals, including more than 20 from the potent carotenoid family alone. In addition, compounds called limonoids - which give citrus fruit their slightly bitter taste - appear to be highly active anti-cancer agents as well. Regular consumption of oranges is associated with significantly lower lung and stomach cancers.

Strawberries. In a study tracking the diet and health of 1.271 people, researchers at the Harvard School of Health found that people who love strawberries have a 70% lower incidence of cancer. But, and as many other studies have shown, the same holds true for all other colourful and deeply coloured berries, such as cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, red and purple grapes, and so forth.

Beans. Much recent research in the food sciences has established that all kinds of beans are loaded with protease inhibitors, compounds that make it hard for cancer cells to invade adjacent tissue. Fava beans contain much herein, which has shown to block carcinogens in the digestive tract. And soy beans are especially rich in isoflavones, which appears to reduce the risk of breast cancer by blocking the tumor-growing influence of estrogen. Lentils also belong to the bean family, and are one of the tastiest, most versatile, and easiest to prepare beans.


To read more, go to: http://www.truehealth.org/ahealt10.html

How was life like before the modern age? Many of us would probably envision laid back lifestyles, people running free across sunny green fields of fresh green grass, that sort of thing.

That isn't to say that it was an easy life. I'm sure we have all had to grapple with hardships of some kind regardless of the period they live in. As a case in point, food acquisition was much more difficult in the past than in modern times. With primitive farming and hunting techniques, we had to work much longer and harder to get the same amount of food than the effort we put in today. Of course, this is something that most of us have probably forgotten given the easy availability of food today.

Technology, thus, has been an immense benefit to our lives. It has helped to make living much easier. Yet, we seem to be working harder than ever before. Our society moves at a much faster pace, especially in bustling mega-cities like New York, London and Singapore.

This fast-paced lifestyle that we are subjected to has also resulted in more people living stressful lives. A Jan 2008 article written for the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)'s International Magazine cites figures from the French Institute for action on stress that shows excess stress at work affects over 32 % of women and 20 % of men.

The article goes on to state that, "...if there’s one area where stress has its stronghold, it’s in the workplace." In Japan, death by overwork, which has its own official term - 'Karoshi', has now been recognized as an official occupational disease. That's saying something isn't it?

Furthermore, the article states that, "...many scientific studies have pointed to a direct link between heart disease or high blood pressure and overwork. Similarly, workers with heavy working constraints are more inclined to suffer from depression. Examples of workers who committed suicide at their workplace abound. They account for 3 to 5 % of total workplace fatalities, and this number is similar in the western countries where it was evaluated."

The United States' National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also supports the view that stress has a negative impact on health. In a Jan 2007 article in its News in Health editorial, it states that, "it’s long been known that blood pressure and cholesterol levels go up in people who are stressed. Studies have now linked chronic stress with cardiovascular problems like hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke."

The NIMH's view is also shared by the United States' National Cancer Institute (NCI). According to NCI, "stress that is chronic can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, and various other illnesses. Stress also can lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating, smoking, or abusing drugs or alcohol, that may affect cancer risk."

The immune system is also affected by stress. A study performed at Ohio State University discovered that people under psychological stress have slower-healing wounds. The stress increases the levels of some hormones in the blood, which slow down the delivery of certain compounds to the site of the injury to start the healing process.

That's just a specific case of what could happen were our immune system affected by stress. The truth is that many more nasty things could occur. A weakened system for example, could mean a higher risk for getting cancer. NCI states that the results of some studies have "indicated a link between various psychological factors and an increased risk of developing cancer", though there is a "lack of a direct cause-and-effect relationship".

That being the case, there is more than enough evidence out there that tells us that too much stress is not good for our health.

Tips on how to combat stress coming in the next article... watch out for it!

http://www2.cnrs.fr/en/1070.htm
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/ilwound.htm
http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/January/docs/01features_01.htm
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress

We live in a world where fast food outlets dominate every street corner. Its inescapable. The reason for this is, well, because fast food is relatively cheap, tasty and, well, fast. And so, many people nowadays fill their stomachs with such morsels.

Most, if not all nutritionists agree that fast food is bad for your health. Their views are backed by the results of many research studies. In fact, a recent study at the University of Michigan in the US, found that the risk of stroke increases with the number of fast-food restaurants in a neighborhood. While the study did not throw any additional light on the reasons behind this phenomena, it does suggest an association.

But even without these studies, we've already known since we were young that fast food isn't healthy. Parents repeatedly extoll that to their children. Teachers include that knowledge in educating their students at school. But we succumb to temptation from time to time because honestly, fast food does taste great.

So how can you negate the unhealthy effects of fast food then? Well, the bad news is that you can't. However, what you CAN do is try to make smart choices about what you put into your mouth. Here are a handful of tips on how you can do that:

1. Pay attention to your selections - If possible, opt for grilled items rather than deep-fried. Choose lean meat if possible and also items that have more vegetables.
Also, look at the amount of calories that each dish contains. Usually, potato-based items like french fries and also sweet things like ice cream contain many calories, and it would be wise to exclude them.

2. Drink plain water - Instead of gulping down that soft drink, try a little plain water or unsweetened ice tea. If it tastes bland, try adding a slice of lemon to the drink. One 32-oz sized cup of cola contains roughly 425 calories, as opposed to 0 calories were you to drink plain water.

3. Choose smaller portions - Just because you feel a craving for a burger doesn't mean you have to go for the full works.

4. Watch your salt levels - A diet high in sodium can lead to all sorts of nasty ailments. Ask for reduced salt on your french fries.

5. Make it special - People don't do this often enough. Ask for one less slice of cheese, less sauce or dressing and more vegetables when you're ordering. Although most cashiers aren't expecting such orders, that doesn't mean they can't accommodate it.

6. Throw out the sauce - Think that little packet of chili sauce or tomato ketchup is harmless? Think again. Going through the ingredient list, one usually finds that sugar and salt are primary ingredients of such sauces. If you can't go without, try to use less.

References:
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/02/19/number.fast.food.restaurants.neighborhood.
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