Pomegranate Power

If these fruits are not on your shopping list, add them now if you want to treat chronic inflammation, and the diseases that go along with it.

Previous research has already suggested that pomegranates may help prevent or reduce the risk of a number of inflammation-linked diseases, including breast and prostate cancer. It also has a role in preventing heart disease by increasing the amount of oxygen it receives and the way it prevents LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from oxidizing. Some evidence is also linking it improvements in the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, if the juice is taken over a long period of time.

Short-term inflammation is a normal immune response, but chronic inflammation has been linked to a number of diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, dementia and autoimmune disorders. Scientists are increasingly coming to believe that pomegranate helps combat inflammation, in part due to its exceptionally high content of antioxidants.

Pomegranate extract was first shown to combat inflammation as long ago as a 2005 study which showed that when injected into human cells, pomegranate extract lowered inflammation and levels of enzymes that can cause cartilage to break down, as in arthritis.

More research followed which confirmed this and the latest is from the University of South Carolina and is the first to study its effects in human cells. Pomegranates are something I always associate with winter, and that cheery red and yellow skin is hiding a powerhouse of benefits so make sure you eat the fruit – one by one with a hatpin as was traditional in my house – or save yourself time and effort and buy the juice!

Relaxation in a bar

No, not AT the bar – that was just your wishful thinking.  We are well used to the idea of meal replacement bars, healthy and unhealthy alike, but there is now a new take on the idea.

WILDBAR, apart from its odd name for something meant to relax you, has a unique ingredient in the blue-green algae called Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) which is phenylethylamine.  Rather than scraping down the side of the fish tank, this is in a palatable form combined with raw cacao, also high in phenylethylamine.

The benefit of this is that it is a neuro-amine we produce naturally in the nervous system when we are calm, happy and focused. It has been proven to dramatically improve mood, concentration, mental energy and libido and all without leaving the comfort of your kitchen cupboard!

WILDBAR combines Cacao and AFA with Macadamia Nuts, Agave Nectar, Hemp and Poppy Seeds, Mesquite (a sweet nutty tasting flour) and Himalayan Crystal Salt.  Exotic enough for to relax you just reading the ingredients ,and if you can’t find them in your local health store then go to http://www.simplyvital.com/

Take supplements? Then take action

I have mentioned before the potential disaster that could affect your ability to buy the vitamin and mineral supplements that you want for your health. There is great pressure from France and Germany to set very low levels on supplements and the UK will be forced into line if this goes through.

If you value your health, then first sign the petition at www.consumersforhealthchoice.com and then write a personal letter today to Jos Barroso, the president of the European Commission. Patrick Holford, Founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, has drafted an outline letter you can use, and feel free to adapt it to suit yourself. If you don’t register your dissatisfaction then no excuses when you have to buy vitamin C in 25mg doses – it’s the same restriction put on aspirin that you have to look forward to.

Draft letter
——————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jos Barroso
President of the European Commission
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM

[date]

Dear President Barroso

THE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE

Setting Maximum Levels for Vitamins & Minerals

I am most concerned about the EU proposals for dietary supplements, particularly vitamins and minerals that will be covered by the Foods Supplements Directive. My family and I are all users of dietary supplements to keep ourselves well and maintain good health; we have been watching the progress of the Food Supplements Directive with interest.

Currently we take [explain what supplements you take and why you do so - keep this list short and give examples of vitamins & minerals only]

I understand that key officials at the Health and Consumer Protection division have reached the final stages of the regulations – and that we can expect to be informed of their proposals for the setting of dose levels in a matter of weeks. We have heard conflicting stories about this – not least that the officials are under pressure from some Member State Governments, France and Germany have been mentioned, plus a number of lobbying organisations from mainland Europe to set very low, restrictive maximum dose levels.

I firmly believe that the only way forward is for decisions to be made on the basis of sound science only. It would be unthinkable to have low levels imposed – when millions of consumers like me and my family have been using the specialist higher safe doses for many years. There really is a wealth of scientific information available supporting the products as both safe and beneficial.

Like all sensible consumers, we want quality products, accurately labelled and properly certified as safe. But please don’t allow the levels to be set artificially low; please provide clear and accurate information and allow us to make own informed choices.

I appeal to you for help and a commonsense approach to this matter. Thank you.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

[insert your name and address]

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At current postage rates it will cost you between 1.52 for 100g letter by airmail. That small investment in maintaining personal choice doesn’t seem too much to me.

Beneficial Foods for Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. This type of cancer develops in the mesothelial cells that make up the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen. Mesothelioma symptoms can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to become noticeable and by that time, the cancer is typically in advanced stages and is much more difficult to treat effectively.

Good nutrition is essential in preventing and fighting cancer and there are a number of foods that can be very helpful for mesothelioma patients to enable their bodies to better fight the disease, as well as alleviate symptoms of the disease and side effects of treatment.

Dark green leafy vegetables are full of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that provide important cancer-fighting benefits. Beta-carotene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants that help protect the body against all forms of cancer by destroying free radicals. Dark leafy green vegetables also contain folate which is essential for the proper repair and replication of DNA. Without folate, damaged cells would be unable to repair their own DNA. Cells with damaged DNA are more likely to become malignant. Powerful anti-cancer enzymes called phytochemicals are also present in dark green cruciferous vegetables such as bok choy and kale. Some phytochemicals boost levels of enzymes that help cleanse the body of carcinogens and block the activity of enzymes that are known to activate carcinogens.

Berries contain a whole host of important nutrients, including plenty of fiber and vitamin C. In fact, just one cup of strawberries has the same amount of vitamin C as one cup of orange juice, and all berries are great sources of this anti-oxidant and immune-strengthening vitamin. In addition to essential vitamins, berries are packed with several different types of cancer-fighting nutrients. They also contain anthocyanins which are phytonutrients that give red berries their luscious color. Laboratory studies have shown that anthocyanins can prevent the growth of lung cancer cell. Berries also contain other cancer fighting phytonutrients like ellagic acid, pterostilbene and resveratrol.

One of the most common side effects of cancer and cancer treatment is nausea. There are a number of dietary changes you can make to help this problem. Dry grain products like crackers and toast can help calm an upset stomach. Bland foods will also help with nausea, as well as acid reflux problems.

Another common characteristic found in cancer patients is low white blood cell count, which increases the chance of contracting an infection. To avoid this side effect, a number of changes can be made in the foods you ingest. It is most important to avoid bacteria, which is common in foods that are damaged or not prepared well. Avoid buffets when eating out, wash your hands before preparing meals, avoid raw meats and fish (like sushi), and throw away any foods that are bruised or damaged.

Be sure to talk to your doctor to learn about more ways to decrease the risk of developing cancer. Positive changes in your diet and other areas of your life (such as your physical activity) will help prevent cancer. If you do develop this medical condition, at the very least, these changes will allow you to fight the cancer more readily.

Don’t put your potatoes in the fridge

Few people now have larders so most perishables end up in the fridge. And now we are more conscious than ever of not wasting food, we are more likely to transfer vegetables to the fridge to keep them fresher.

BUT, storing potatoes in this way is not a good idea as the cold makes the starch they contain turn into sugar. This means your potatoes are sweeter than they should be, and diabetics in particular need to avoid this.

Try keeping them in a cool place, 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal, and avoid storing them with onions because, when close together, they produce gases that spoil both. Personally I swear by Lakeland’s cotton vegetable bags which have a dark liner and keep root veg fresh for longer.

Sweet tooth? Eat a pickle!

I know you are not going to give sugar up entirely, so here’s a tip. When you eat something sweet you get a rise in your blood sugar but if you eat something with vinegar like a pickle or a salad dressed with balsamic vinegar you can help balance that rise. If you are planning on having dessert,then that salad will help because although vinegar doesn’t block dietary sugars, it causes them to be absorbed more slowly.

Mary Poppins eat your heart out!

A spoonful of sugar might help the medicine go down, but it’s also more likely to mean you end up needing some medicine to cope with the effects of sugar on your body. We are now eating more sugar than ever before; a massive 22 teaspoons a day for adults, and children between 14 and 18 get through a massive 34 teaspoons every day.

The biggest culprit here is our increased intake of soft drinks, then sweets, biscuits and cake. Those are the sugars you know about, but there are all the hidden ones. For instance that ‘healthy’ fruit yoghurt can have up to 6 teaspoons of added sugar and if you love your breakfast cereals they too can give you around 3 teaspoons a serving before you have added your milk.

Sugar has been implicated in a number of diseases, and of course makes your dentist very happy as you will be in for repeat visits. Excess sugar intake can lead to diabetes, heart disease, nervous disorders, gallstones, hypertension, and arthritis. It can also increase adrenaline in children – as if they needed it – so check the ingredients on things you and your family eat. Oh, and don’t think honey is any less harmful because the honey decays teeth faster than table sugar and has the highest calorie content of all sugars at 65 calories/tablespoon, compared to the 48 calories/tablespoon found in table sugar.

Nice piece of organic fruit anyone?

Celery juice lowers blood pressure

As someone who much prefers juicing vegetables to actually eating them, I am always on the lookout for news of a new benefit, and here is one for you.

If you want to lower your blood pressure then get some organic celery and put the juicer on standby. Celery is very high in potassium and magnesium as well as containing 3-n-butyl-phthalide, a compound that relaxes the smooth muscle cells in the arterial walls. This allows the arteries to dilate and lowers blood pressure.

The recommended ‘dose’ is to juice one head of celery a day for about a month and test your blood pressure at the start and end. Oh, and as celery on its own can be bitter, I would split the head and juice each one for morning and evening drinking. I would also add an apple and carrot to the mix for some sweetness and flavour – and you get more vitamins as well!

If you don’t have a juicer, then look for cartons of Low-Sodium V8 Juice as it has a high dose of potassium to help keep blood pressure in check and it is an effective blood thinner, which further contributes to its antihypertensive effects. Must be the low-sodium version though, not the regular one, and you would drink about 12 ounces a day.

Late night eating piles on the pounds

Regular mealtimes are not just something your mother insisted on, they could also be a good way to help you lose weight, and with currently more than 300 million obese adults worldwide every little can help.

A Northwestern University study has found that eating at irregular times, especially late at night, does affect weight gain. Night time is when your body uses sleep to regulate many of your bodily functions and eating before bedtime puts an extra strain on that system. That means that digestion of your food gets put on hold, as it is not so important to the body as the maintenance and repair of more essential functions.

Our circadian clock, or biological timing system, governs our daily cycles of feeding, activity and sleep, with respect to external dark and light cycles. Recent studies have found the body’s internal clock also regulates energy use, suggesting the timing of meals may matter in the balance between caloric intake and expenditure.

Your body’s own circadian rhythm dictates those bodily functions so losing weight may not just be as simple as calories in and calories out. It could also be as simple as changing the time of your main meal.

Shift workers are particularly vulnerable to weight gain because their schedules force them to eat at times that conflict with their natural body rhythms, but all of us could benefit from moving that evening meal to no later than 8pm, and no late night snacks.

Ayurvedic health tips for autumn

Our ancestors knew that autumn and winter were the seasons of hibernation and restoration, something that many animals do instinctively, and yet we keep up the same pace year round. This does not allow us time to slow down and recharge. In the Ayurvedic system from India, autumn is the time to deal with ‘Kapha’ accumulation, which is all the negative influences on our vitality, by supporting our immune system through this transition.

Recommendations
During the autumn and winter months it is best to avoid eating late, as the body will naturally slow down its digestion – something that is ‘scientifically’ proved in my next item. It is also advisable to stay clear of deep fried foods and cold food and drinks and if you want to aid your digestion and feel less lethargic then you also need to eat less dairy, cheese, red meat, shell fish and mushrooms.

So what should you be eating? Your body will benefit from eating warm cooked food during the cold winter months, and it is more important than ever not to skip meals and stay away from canned or processed foods that contain additives and chemical preservatives. Eat pure, fresh foods and cook with spices, so go for soups made with mung bean, adzuki beans, pumpkin, carrot, ginger and chicken. To keep your skin lovely and untouched by those sharp winds, add soaked and blanched almonds and walnuts to your morning muesli or porridge.

Good energising and digestive herbs and spices to use in autumn are ginger, mustard, cumin seeds, cardamom, black pepper, basil, turmeric and sesame seeds. Sweeten your tea (herbal for preference) with honey and make sure you are getting enough Vitamin C, and a good source of antioxidants as they all boost your immune system.

Autumn treats
Your body will thank you if you put it in the hands of a good massage therapist to help relieve your muscles and joints from tension caused by colder weather. If you are feeling really indulgent then go for a hot stone massage which brings heat in to the muscle tissue and so improves your circulation. In the interests of economy – your own and the global pinch – you can also massage your body with sesame or almond oil before taking a bath and that will keep your body warm and energised.

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