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The Breast Cancer Diet

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May
01
2011
The Breast Cancer Diet

Has it ever occurred to you that there could be a connection between breast cancer and your diet?  Some researchers say that there are two key things in preventing cancer- estrogen regulation and immunity boosting.  Dr. Kristi Funk, MD, founder of  The Pink Louts Breast Center in Beverly Hills, CA says that while a genetic change is the root of all breast cancer,  breast cancer is fed and fueled for the most part by estrogen. Dr Funk believes that if we can decrease estrogen in our bodies, we can remove some of that fuel that makes cancer cells multiply and divide.  How do you do that? Here are 7 things, directly from a blog that Dr. Funk wrote, that help suppress estrogen. Dr. Funk also discussed this on a Dr. Oz show that aired in 2010. 1. Three cups of green tea a day can prevent breast cancer by as much as 50% because of its high EGCG antioxidant content. Squeeze a little lemon into your cup and increase the antioxidant power of your tea. 2. Garlic is a good immunity … [Read more...]

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So, What’s So Special About Green Tea?

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Apr
14
2011
Green Tea Benefits

Green tea for thousands of years has been one of China's best-kept secrets to good health. This simple, unassuming drink contains lots of immune system boosting antioxidants. According to Web MD, green tea contains eight to ten times the antioxidants as your average fruit or vegetable. That's an amazing bonus from something made in a few moments and that you can drink in just a few seconds. Of course, savoring your tea is perfectly fine too. Green tea contains several types of antioxidants. Some of the most important found in green tea are falconoid, mostly made up of catechins, thearubigins, and epicatechins. These antioxidants are shown to protect cells from free radicals, which can cause cancer and certain types of heart disease. Simply drinking two or three cups a day helps protect your heart. Some experts even recommend drinking up to ten cups a day of this stuff. Luckily, one can't overdose on it. Iced green tea makes a refreshing drink after a hard workout. … [Read more...]

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Lose Weight With Cayenne Pepper

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Jan
11
2011
Cayenne Pepper Benefits

Dieting is rarely an exciting experience. More often, it is a grueling exercise in monotonous self-discipline, a daily battle against the forces of pleasure. Adding to the misery is the blandness of the food you are expected to consume. Whilst your higher brain may recognize that the quivering pile of green and white on your plate is good for you, your taste buds protest to the edge of mutiny. Is it too much to ask for a little spice? As it turns out, spice is exactly what you should be asking for. That's because cayenne peppers, the party starters of all sorts of exotic cuisines, are quickly becoming the dieter's must-have ingredient. Although widely used in South and Central America as far back as 9000 years ago, Christopher Columbus was the first to bring the cayenne pepper to the rest of the world's attention. Legend has it he paused his Caribbean expedition to inspect a cayenne shrub, before summoning his explorer's pluck to pop the unknown pepper into his mouth. Although the … [Read more...]

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Does Drinking Extra Water Help You Lose More Weight?

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Dec
12
2010
Drinking Water

What’s completely calorie-free and helps you lose more weight? If you said “water”, you’re right on target. A new study shows drinking water before a meal helps boost weight loss. Plus, it keeps you well hydrated too. Drink Water to Boost Weight Loss Researchers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia put the power of drinking water to the test. They gave 48 middle-aged and older adults either two 8-ounce glasses of water to drink before each meal – or nothing. Both groups ate a low-calorie diet during the three month study. At the end of the study, both groups were weighed. Who lost more weight? The group who drank nothing before their meals lost an average of eleven pounds over twelve weeks. On the other hand, the water drinkers lost an average of fifteen pounds during the same time period. Why Do Water Drinkers Lose More Weight? In a previous study, researchers found that dieters who sipped two glasses of water before a meal ate an average of eighty fewer calories … [Read more...]

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Giving Thanks For Cranberry’s Healthy Benefits

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Nov
21
2010
Health Benefits Of Cranberries LR

Many people load up on cranberries around the holiday season. Who doesn’t enjoy homemade cranberry sauce or a fresh cranberry salad? But many people forget that the health benefits of eating cranberries are available throughout the year. This amazing red berry is a rich source of phytochemicals that make it a natural disease fighter; and the nutritional value of cranberries make it a good choice for the dinner table any day of the year. Here are some of the many health benefits of eating cranberries. Health Benefits of Cranberries: Cancer Prevention It’s the proanthocyanidins in cranberries that pack a punch against cancer. Studies show that these natural compounds stop the growth of human lung, colon, and esophageal cancers in the laboratory without harming normal cells. Of course it’s easier to stop a cancer in the laboratory than it is in the human body and it may take relatively high doses to get these effects; but it’s possible that lower levels could prevent certain … [Read more...]

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Are Low Vitamin D Levels Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease?

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Nov
18
2010
Vitamin D and Alzheimer's Disease

Vitamin D may be the wonder vitamin of the decade and one that few Americans get enough of. Studies show that low vitamin D levels can contribute to a variety of chronic disease including diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and even mental illness such as depression. Despite this, most people are deficient in this important vitamin when blood levels are tested. Now, it’s hypothesized that low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia in the aging population. Is there an association between Alzheimer’s disease and low vitamin D levels? Do Low Vitamin D Levels Cause Alzheimer’s Disease? In an article published on foodnavigator.com, Dr. William Grant from the Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center expressed his belief that Alzheimer’s disease and low vitamin D levels are strongly linked. He emphasized that vitamin D appears to help prevent many of the … [Read more...]

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Vitamin D: The Vitamin That Could Save Your Life

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Nov
07
2010
Vitamin D

It seems that vitamin and nutritional supplements have come under scrutiny lately as some studies have shown that certain vitamins when taken in supplemental form not only don’t work but may increase the risk of disease. Fortunately, there’s an inexpensive vitamin supplement that seems to have a significant impact on your risk of mortality and on the incidence of contracting disease. This important vitamin is vitamin D and most of us don’t get enough of it. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that vitamin D supplements appear to be associated with reduced mortality from all causes and that low vitamin D levels may be correlated with higher risk of such chronic diseases as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The reduction in mortality risk was seen with the intake of daily doses of vitamin D supplements which ranged from 300 to 2,000 international units. How do we get vitamin D naturally and why do so few of us get enough of it? One of the most … [Read more...]

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Whole-Grain Popcorn: Is It As Healthy As Vegetables?!

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Oct
26
2010
Whole Grain Popcorn: Healthy as Vegetables?

Most people don’t think of popcorn as a health food. Imagining this salty treat may conjure up the image of hot popcorn movie theater style – freshly popped corn in a cardboard cup doused with artificial butter and packing over a thousand calories. There’s certainly nothing healthy about this picture. Surprisingly though, popcorn and health may not be mutually exclusive - at least according to a recent study presented at the meeting of the American Chemical Society. It turns out that popcorn and other whole grain snacks may pack as much nutritional punch as some fruits and vegetables. Popcorn and Health: A Study A study carried out by the University of Scranton showed that whole grain snack foods such as popcorn have surprisingly high levels of antioxidants, particularly polyphenols. Although whole grain popcorn made the top of the list of high antioxidant snacks, other popular whole grain snacks such as whole grain crackers and cereals were also high in antioxidants. It … [Read more...]

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Is Instant Tea As Healthy As Brewed Tea?

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Oct
03
2010
Is Powdered Tea Healthy

More people are drinking tea these days, but not everyone has the time to brew up a steaming pot of tea from loose tea leaves. Tea companies have responded to the demand for a fast cup of tea by offering instant tea powders that can be mixed with water and enjoyed in seconds. It sounds like the ideal way for a health conscious person to get the benefits of drinking tea - but is it really? Is powdered iced tea healthy? How Is Powdered Tea Made? Instant tea granules are made by using low pressure to extract liquid from fresh tea leaves. The liquid is then freeze dried to form a powder. Unfortunately, this type of processing destroys most of the antioxidants that make tea such a healthy drink. In fact, according to reports by the USDA, powdered iced tea loses more than ninety percent of its antioxidants when it’s processed – and some instant teas have almost no antioxidant catechins, once it’s reduced to a powder. If you’re drinking tea for its health benefits, you’re … [Read more...]

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Add Fiber to Your Daily Routine

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Sep
29
2010
High Fiber Foods

Once associated with rather embarrassing products like Metamucil, fiber has been making headlines in recent years. We’ve all seen advertisements for high-fiber breakfast cereals and fiber-rich snack bars, but most of us don’t completely understand the importance of adding fiber to our diets. What’s Fiber? Dietary fiber is a virtually indigestible substance that’s found in plants. There are two main types of fiber and they have different effects on the body. Although scientifically different, insoluble fiber and soluble fiber both contribute to a healthy diet and lifestyle. Insoluble fiber will not dissolve in liquid. It is often found in vegetables. Insoluble fiber keeps the digestive tract free of anything that could cause a blockage, which is why it is promoted as a natural laxative. Soluble fiber will dissolve in liquid. It is often found in fruits. Soluble fiber absorbs readily into the body and helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Foods … [Read more...]

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