Tomato Phytonutrients Lower Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer

Tomatoes are one of the most popular food items in the typical American diet, yet few realize the powerful health-promoting benefits of this bright red fruit. Tomatoes yield a high concentration of the antioxidant lycopene, known to dramatically lower the risk from certain forms of cancer and heart disease as well. Researchers reporting in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine demonstrate the antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties of a diet including plenty of tomatoes to lower the risk of chronic disease.Antioxidant Capacity of Tomatoes Reduces Cancer IncidenceAs scientific researchers continue to uncover the healthy benefits of polyphenolic compounds provided by functional foods to prevent and treat a wide variety of common...

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Posted in: Cancer,Diet and Nutrition,Heart Disease,Tomatoes

Aronia Berries (Chokeberries) Prove Key to Anti-Aging Regimen

Many health-minded individuals understand the importance of functional foods and especially members of the berry family in chronic disease risk reduction and free radical scavenging antioxidant ability. Aronia berries, more commonly known as chokeberries are not well known in North America.Falling from favor due to their highly astringent taste, chokeberries are slowly gaining popularity due to their powerful capacity to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions. The result of research presented in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry demonstrates that chokeberry extract leads all other natural foods on the ORAC antioxidant rating scale and can significantly lower chronic disease risk.Chokeberry has...

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Posted in: Cancer,Chokeberry,Diet and Nutrition

Pecans Lower Oxidized LDL Cholesterol Levels and Prevent Heart Disease

The result of a study published in The Journal of Nutrition provides important evidence that the noble pecan is a powerful functional food providing essential antioxidant nutrients to support cardiovascular health. Pecans contain bioactive compounds including the tocopherol fraction of vitamin E that lowers levels of damaging inflammation known to provoke arterial plaque and lead to sudden death from a heart attack. A handful of pecans each day are shown to be helpful in lowering the risks associated with heart disease and cancer.Researchers now understand that heart disease risk is much more a factor determined by LDL particle size and oxidative status rather than the total serum LDL level. Pecans contain one of the critical vitamin E fractions...

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Posted in: Diet and Nutrition,Pecans

Targeting Higher Vitamin D Levels to Prevent Cancer and Chronic Disease

The correlation between serum blood levels of circulating vitamin D and lower risk from many cancer lines has been well documented over the past two decades. Scientists have revealed the mechanism used by this powerful pro-hormone to guide healthy DNA replication and cellular division to dramatically reduce the incidence of potentially deadly mutations.Publishing in the journal Anticancer Research, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine have found that much higher levels of the sunshine vitamin are necessary to prevent or markedly reduce the incidence of breast cancer and other chronic conditions.Most Adults Do Not Take Enough Vitamin D to Lower Disease RiskThe study...

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Posted in: Breast Cancer,Cancer,Vitamin D

B Vitamin Folate Lowers Stroke Risk by One-Quarter

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in America each year with 700,000 people suffering needlessly from this debilitating illness. Stroke attacks with virtually no warning and can leave its victims unable to walk or perform the simplest task. Stroke risk increases with age, number of years consuming a nutrient-deficient diet and inactive lifestyle in a similar manner to heart disease.Research published in the Lancet shows that members of the B-vitamin family, specifically folate (vitamin B9) from leafy green vegetables provide essential support to protect the vascular system by lowering platelet aggregation and levels of atherogenic homocysteine.High Folate from Raw Vegetables Lower Stroke Risk by 25%Researchers from the Northwestern...

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Posted in: B Vitamins,Folate,Heart Disease,Stroke

Dietary Fiber Shown to Lower All-Cause Risk of Death

We’ve been told that a diet high in fiber is good for our health as it improves digestion and lowers biomarkers associated with chronic disease. Researchers publishing in the Archives of Internal Medicine provide important evidence to show that a high daily intake of fiber can lower the incidence of cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases as well as reduce the risk of death from all-causes.Fiber is the inedible part of plants and whole grains that has been shown to lower the risk from certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes and assist with weight management. Fiber helps to control blood glucose as it is slowly broken down through digestion and also improves healthy cholesterol metabolism. Prior research indicates that it can also...

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Posted in: Diet and Nutrition,fiber,Heart Disease

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Promotes Obesity and Poor Health

Fructose has been implicated as a driving force behind a number of chronic illnesses including metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Scientists have theorized that the fruit-based sweetener derived most commonly from corn is a primary mechanism that has fueled the obesity epidemic.Fructose and its evil twin high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are used as inexpensive sweeteners in many processed foods, condiments, baked goods and snacks. Researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University publishing in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism demonstrate that fructose reacts differently than glucose in the brain causing chemical alterations that lead to increased body weight and obesity.Brain Response to Fructose is...

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Posted in: Diet and Nutrition,High Fructose Corn Syrup,Obesity

Junk Food Diet Lowers Intelligence in Later Life

Most people understand the importance of a well balanced diet including the minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals to prevent chronic disease. These critical cofactors of life are repeatedly shown to promote health and prevent a myriad of chronic diseases from diabetes and dementia to heart disease and cancer.The impact of proper nutrition on a child`s developing brain is brought to light in a study published in the British Medical Journal. A processed food diet packed with sugar, fat and excess salt can lower IQ in early childhood, while eating a diet filled with healthy natural foods providing a full compliment of vitamins and nutrients is shown to benefit cognitive development.Junk Foods Directly Lower Child IQThe study results...

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Posted in: Diet and Nutrition,Junk Food