A Repost From NaturalNews

Strawberries Stimulate Metabolism and Suppress Appetite

Friday, June 25, 2010 by: Wendy Rae, citizen journalist
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(NaturalNews) June is the month for road-side stands, farmer's market deliciousness, and red berry gathering in gardens across the world. Strawberries have been labeled by The Fat Resistance Diet (FRD) as the fruit that can increase a hormone that stimulates metabolism, suppresses appetite, and controls blood sugar after starchy meals while inhibiting inflammation. This craved hormone that strawberries trigger, adiponectin, is the fat burning hormone that works with the hormone leptin, the hormone responsible for weight loss and gain. Having high levels of adiponectin in the blood stream has been shown to lower the risk of heart attack while lower levels of adiponectin are indicative of obesity.

According to FRD, "Strawberries are also a good source of Vitamin C and fiber. One cup of strawberries has only 49 calories, and contains the minerals magnesium, potassium and calcium. Eating high nutrient density foods such as strawberries, with lots of nutrition for the calories consumed, is a key to weight loss and healthy eating."

With June being the strongest month for strawberry production and sales, the ability to obtain and use strawberries is convenient. Slicing fresh strawberries into yogurt, granola, or organic cereals is a great way to add strawberry power to your daily nutritional routine.

Choosing the Best Strawberries

Choosing the best available strawberries is easy and can be affordable when knowing what to look for and what to avoid. Strawberries should be fully ripened, bright in color with stems still attached, and medium in size. Large strawberries are often filled with water, allowing the commercial grower a higher sales margin with no added nutritional benefit to the consumer. Avoid over packed containers that have bruised fruits as this can cause mildew that is easily spread from a damaged strawberry to an otherwise healthy strawberry in the same packaging. To avoid mildew of strawberries after purchase, it is best to remove them from the original packaging, placing them in an airtight container. Washing strawberries should only be done just before consumption or long term storage such as dehydration or freezing.

Methods of Long Term Storage

When freezing strawberries, gently wash the fruit, removing pesticides and dirt and leaving the stems attached. Remove all fruits that have been bruised and use for smoothies. Spraying the strawberries with antioxidant abundant lemon juice will keep the color bright in the freezer. Freezing will preserve the vitamin and mineral content of the fruit.

Dehydrating strawberries is another great way to preserve them for long term use. There are several methods used to dehydrate strawberries which include: oven drying, sun drying, and dehydrator drying. Dehydrated strawberries are a great addition to homemade granola, yogurt, cookies, granola bars, and trail mixes.

Pesticide Alert

The Environmental Working Group has placed strawberries in the number three position as one of the most pesticide laden foods. Pesticides are easily absorbed through the skin of strawberries. Organic strawberries are always the best choice for pesticide free consumption and living.

Resources:
http://www.fatresistancediet.com/he...
http://www.cbn.com/health/weightlos...
http://www.medterms.com/script/main...
http://strawberriesweb.com/strawber...
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?...
http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8256.pdf
http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

Two Fruits may Change the Face of Breast Cancer

Thursday, June 24, 2010 by: Wendy Rae, citizen journalist
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(NaturalNews) Two common fruits, found in almost every grocery store across the country, have been tested against the most furious of breast cancer cells in a recent study. According to an AgriLife Research study published on the Science Daily website June 2, 2010, extracts of two fruits successfully eradicated breast cancer cells while leaving all other beneficial, natural cells intact. AgriLife Research is a part of the Texas A&M University System.

Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos of AgriLife Research explained they used two common methods that scientists often use to indicate the levels of antioxidants present. This method of testing helped guide them to the the two selected fruit varieties: "Rich Lady" peaches and "Black Splendor" plums. Cisneros-Zevallos further stated, "We can say that these were among a group of peach and plum varieties with high antioxidant content. However they were not necessarily the highest ones."

Another study done by European Food Research and Technology in 2007 tested 3 different peach varieties, testing the antioxidant levels, Vitamin C levels, and how the body trapped free radicals after ingestion. All three varieties tested ended up with similar profiles except for one variety of peach called "Luisa Berselli," which indicated a higher level of ability to trap free radicals. It seems not every peach is equal in its nutrient value.

The scientific name of peaches, Prunus persica, originated from an old European belief that peaches were indigenous to Persia. It is now believed that peaches originated from China. Plums carry the scientific name of Prunus; they were believed to have originated from Mesopotamia.

Historically throughout natural therapies, peaches have been used to treat bronchitis, coughing, dandruff, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, and renal stones while plums were used to treat acne, bowel obstruction, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, inflammation of the tonsils, liver enlargement and mouth ulcers to name a few.

Peaches with the skin are a good source of Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and Calcium while providing essential Vitamins A, C, Niacin, and Folate. Plums have a similar nutritional profile as peaches except they contain higher levels of Calcium, Vitamin A, and Folate.

Buying organic peaches and plums is an important factor in choosing wisely. The Environmental Working Group did a study of pesticide residues left on produce after washing. Peaches were the second most contaminated fruit with plums showing down the line at number eighteen. "We've found that washing doesn't do much," says Amy Rosenthal of The Environmental Working Group in a recent CNN report, "Peeling can help, although you have to take into account that the pesticides are in the water, so they can be inside the fruit because of the soil."

SOURCES:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021...
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021...
http://www.healthalternatives2000.c...
http://www.mamaherb.com/plum
http://www.mamaherb.com/peach
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/0...
http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php


Repost From NaturalNews