Breast Cancer

‘Healthy Foods and Breast Cancer Awareness’-http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com, 02/10/08

Apparently October is National Breast Cancer Month.

Concord Grape Juice- the Journal of Medicinal Foods published a study that found that the Concord grape extract in purple Welch’s 100% Grape Juice has “breast cancer chemopreventive potential” because it protects healthy breast cells fron DNA damage.

Apple- according to research from Cornell University, natural chemicals in apple peels can inhibit breast, liver, and colon cancer cell growth

Milk- a study from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that pre-menopausal women who consume high amounts of vitamin D and calcium may reduce their risk of breast cancer by 40%.

Brussel Sprouts- a recent study has found Brussels sprouts to be powerful cancer fighters. Less than one cup of Brussels sprouts a day may reduce the risk of breast, liver,  colon, and bladder cancer and heart disease by up to 59% in women and 71% in men.

Broccoli Sprouts-the American Cancer Society says that a compound in broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane, may prevent and treat breast cancer, by causing the body to make more of the enzymes that fight-off cancer-causing chemicals

Olive Oil- Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz say that a healthy fat in olive oil, oleic acid, “may help disarm a gene that prompts breast cancer cells to grow and divide.”

Fibre-Rich Foods- University of Leeds researchers have found that pre-menopausal women who eat 25-30g of fibre a day are 50% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who eat less fibre. Their findings showed that a high fibre diet helps to regulate estrogen levels which are associated with breast cancer.

 

This post would have interested worried about breast cancer, but for the majority of those who think ‘they’re ok’ the article may have seemed as if it didn’t concern them.

Each of the foods found to have a defending effect against breast cancer were separated into different paragraphs and highlighted in bold, so readers could easily just read the headings and know what food was good for defending breast cancer. Although the article included a picture at the end, it was quite long and would not have attracted many to read the post.

Dress your salads

‘Make the Most of your Salads’- http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com 22/07/2008

Olive oil is the increases the antioxidant power of other vegetables according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.  Antioxidants are substances or nutrients found in food, which can prevent or slow down the oxidative damage to our body (when cells in our body use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals, which can cause damage).

The RealAge® docs, Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz, say olive oil is the best way to increase the antioxidant quotient of your salad.’ For healthy and low fat alternatives to pre-bottled dressings, they recommend include apple or wine vinegar.

The doctors also stress that ‘fresh herbs add extra cell-protecting phenols to salads’.

Herbs high in antioxidants- sage, rosemary, marjoram, thyme

Spices high in antioxidants- cumin and ginger

Vegetables high in antioxidants- artichokes, beetroot, garlic, broccoli, radishes, leeks, spinach, onions.

Personally, in our home, my mother’s recent favourite salad dressing is balsamic vinegar (yes she still makes most of my meals), after being recommended it by a friend saying that it was ‘healthy’.

After a quick search in Google, the benefits of balsamic vinegar are that

- it acts as a natural suppressant of appetite


- it assists in producing greater disease fighting oxidants

- the amino acids may work to slow the ageing process

- aids production of digestion enzymes thus improving metabolism

- it may act as a natural pain reliever that can assuage headaches

- the added minerals help in strengthening of bones and fight anaemia as well as fatigue.

Speaking of balsamic vinegar, a few weeks ago I was shocked to see tiny bottles of balsamic vinegar being sold in a prestigious department store for a huge price…ranging from £20- £200 if I remember correctly. I guess it’s like pricing wine according to it’s age/ quality. I wonder what the £200 balsamic vinegar tastes like?