|
Benefits of a High Fiber Diet
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber are associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers, diabetes, digestive disorders, and heart disease. Diets low in fat and rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and...
Cancer And Weight Gain
We hear it all the time...lose weight for your health. Few
people however, realize the extent to which this is critical to
their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.
In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical...
Colorectal Cancer - Preventable, Curable And Beatable
(NC)-March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and to ensure Canadians have the necessary information to make informed decisions and choices about their colon health, frequently asked questions are answered below.
Colorectal ...
Prempro Class Action Lawsuits
What is being done about Prempro? Because of the life threatening Prempro side effects, Prempro class actions suits have been filed and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Wyeth have revised the prescribing information to include a boxed...
WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS
WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones, the disease affects mostly older women but older men can get also. People with osteoporosis have bones that become weak and can break easily - it causes about 1.5 million fractures...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is an Apple a Day Really OK?
Copyright 2005 Michael Brooks
Young or old, there is probably a good chance that at some time in your life you have heard the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Is there any substance to this claim? Or, is it just a cute little saying that has managed to linger in our modern vocabulary?
What are Flavonoids?
In fact, Apples and other fruits have been shown to have health benefits primarily attributed to the antioxidant flavonoids they contain. Flavonoids are compounds that help protect various plants from pathogens, ultraviolet light, and other stress factors. Flavonoids are also responsible for the deep rich colors of many fruits.
What are Antioxidants?
A particular flavonoid that is found in apples is polyphenols. Polyphenols are phytochemicals that act like astringents and are the major source of antioxidants in apples. Antioxidants are a group of chemicals that help to neutralize a group of molecules called free radicals. Free radicals, nasty little varmints that can damage cells and tissues, appear to play a part in the onset of heart disease and prostate, colon and other cancers.
So, what does all this science talk actually mean? Well, a recent Canadian study has confirmed that apples just might help keep the doctor away. But some apples may do a better job than others.
According to the Canadian researchers some apples did pack more of a disease fighting punch than other apples in the study. Red Delicious came out on top with the most antioxidant activity of any variety. From highest to lowest the order of antioxidant activity in apples was as follows:
Red Delicious
McIntosh
Cortland
Northern Spy
Ida Red
Golden Delicious
Mutsu
Empire
As this was a Canadian study, some of the apples that are more popular in the United States were not included. Popular
varieties that were not in the test group included Gala apples, Granny Smith, Jonathan, York, Stayman and Rome. However, I believe it would be safe to assume that these varieties also carry levels of antioxidants. The Canadian researchers also found that antioxidants were five times more prevalent in the apple skin than the actual flesh. So, wash but don’t peel before you eat.
In addition to the Canadian study, three recent studies by research teams at Cornell University in New York offer a few other great reasons to make apples part of your regular diet:
Alzheimer’s disease - In a study done on rats, antioxidants found to be abundant in apples seemed to protect brain cells against oxidative stress. This is a tissue damaging process that has been linked with Alzheimer’s and other brain degenerative disorders.
Heart Disease - Some antioxidants found in apples could possibly lower the “bad” form of cholesterol. The process of lowering this cholesterol is similar to the mechanism that statin drugs use to help lower your LDL (low density lipoprotein).
Breast Cancer – Rats exposed to cancer causing agents and then given the human equivalent of one, three and six apples a day respectively over six months were up to 44 percent less likely to develop breast tumors.
What’s the moral to this story? Fruits and vegetables CAN help keep the doctor away. There may be fruits with higher levels of antioxidants but in terms of fruit popularity, apples are second only to bananas. Don’t wait any longer, go grab your favorite apple and start getting healthy!
Mike Brooks is a life long follower and proponent of the fitness lifestyle. Mr. Brooks believes that being healthy is a choice and includes not only a proper diet but total fitness of the mind, body and soul. His column appears weekly at http://www.ultimatehealthreport.com.
|
|
|
|
|
| BreastCancer.org - Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures |
| Breast Cancer Information from a Nonprofit Organization. |
| www.breastcancer.org |
|
| The Breast Cancer Site |
| Founded to help offer free mammograms to underprivileged women nationwide. With a simple, daily "click" visitors help provide mammograms to those in need. |
| www.thebreastcancersite.com |
|
| Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation |
| The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to education and research on breast cancer causes, treatment and the search for a cure. |
| www.komen.org |
|
| Breast Cancer Information from National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc |
| Breast cancer information including early signs and symptoms of breast cancer, myths, early detection, breast cancer research and more from National Breast ... |
| www.nationalbreastcancer.org |
|
| BreastCancer.Net: http://www.breastcancer.net |
| A clearinghouse for the latest news and information on the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. |
| www.breastcancer.net |
|
| Breast Cancer Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| Educational resources on using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat and prevent breast cancer. |
| www.breastcancer.com |
|
| Breast Cancer Care - Homepage |
| Breast Cancer Care is the UK's leading provider of information, practical assistance and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer or breast ... |
| www.breastcancercare.org.uk |
|
| Breakthrough Breast Cancer |
| Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the UKs leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research and education. |
| www.breakthrough.org.uk |
|
| MedlinePlus: Breast Cancer |
| Search MEDLINE/PubMed for recent research articles on Breast Cancer: • Breast Cancer ... Select services and providers for Breast Cancer in your area. ... |
| www.nlm.nih.gov |
|
| Breast Cancer Research | |
| Online and print journal covering topics of basic and clinical research relevant to breast cancer. Research articles are free to all users. |
| breast-cancer-research.com |
|
| National Breast Cancer Centre - Evidence based information for ... |
| The National Breast Cancer Centre of Australia providing information about breast cancer for consumers and health professionals. |
| www.nbcc.org.au |
|
| Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: Run for the Cure: Select Language |
| Charitable organization which raises money to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment. |
| www.cbcf.org |
|
| Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| That is why you will see breast cancer patients wearing braces, ... [5] Men can also develop breast cancer, but their risk is less than one in 1000 (see sex ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
|
| End Breast Cancer from Care2.com and TBCF! |
| Help stop Breast Cancer by clicking daily - free! Supports efforts by The Breast Cancer Fund. |
| breastcancer.care2.com |
|
| National Breast Cancer Foundation |
| The ultimate goal of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is to raise enough money to fund a cure for breast cancer. As Australia’s leading national ... |
| www.nbcf.org.au |
|
| Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization |
| Support and information about the condition from this non-profit entity. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. |
| www.y-me.org |
|
| Breast Cancer Home Page - National Cancer Institute |
| Information about breast cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research and statistics from the National Cancer ... |
| www.cancer.gov |
|
| What You Need To Know About™ Breast Cancer - National Cancer Institute |
| Information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. NIH Publication No. 05-1556. |
| www.cancer.gov |
|
| Breast Cancer Campaign - Researching the cure |
| Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent breast cancer research throughout the UK. |
| www.breastcancercampaign.org |
|
| NBCC - NBCC - National Breast Cancer Coalition |
| The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending breast cancer through the power of action and advocacy. |
| www.natlbcc.org |
|