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

A Repost From NaturalNews

Vitamins Prevent Hair Loss: Vitamin A, B, C, D, and Vitamin E

Friday, June 18, 2010 by: Melanie Grimes, citizen journalist
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(NaturalNews) Many nutrients have been shown to prevent hair loss and grow hair. Hair loss can be caused by vitamin deficiency, or by other causes such as aging, drug use, or infections. Adding vitamins to the diet grows hair by improving circulation, reducing stress, and adjusting hormones, all of which are known causes of hair loss.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the growth and maintenance of hair, as well as the skin. Vitamin A regulates the synthesis of retinoic acid in the hair follicle. Vitamin A is added to skin care products and is beneficial for hair growth as well. It can be applied to the hair shaft and massaged in, as well as taken internally.

B Vitamins
B vitamins help grow hair by aiding the body to handle stress and stress can cause hair loss. Inositol, one of the B vitamins, has been shown to speed hair growth. B12 is another B vitamin that prevents hair loss because B12 is a component of the hair itself. Many people are deficient in this nutrient, especially vegetarians, because B12 is mainly found in meat and eggs. The B vitamins are best taken together and are frequently sold with the label B Complex.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron, which is needed to grow hair. The human body does not make its own vitamin C, so food or supplement sources are required, such as fruits and vegetables. The recommended daily dose of vitamin C is 1000 to 2000 mg a daily.

Vitamin D
Taking vitamin D stops hair loss. Research published in 2009 reports that vitamin D has been used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis for over 10 years. Vitamin D reduces hair loss by stimulating the hair follicle and the cells that form the hair shaft. Following research that shows a worldwide vitamin D deficiency epidemic, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D has been changed from 400 to at least 1000 IU per day.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E builds capillaries in the body and improved blood flow on the scalp encourages hair growth. Adding 400 IU a day of vitamin E to the diet stimulates the hair follicles that grow hair. Vitamin E can also be massaged into the scalp to encourage blood flow to the scalp.

Many whole foods contain bio-available vitamins, but adding supplements to the diet increases the nutrition available in the blood stream to stimulate hair growth.

http://www.naturalnews.com/028050_v...
http://www.naturalnews.com/028378_b...
http://www.naturalnews.com/028303_h...
http://www.NaturalNews.com/028726_h...


Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

New research: chocolate milk beats sports drinks for post-exercise muscle recovery Thursday, June 17, 2010 by: S. L. Baker, features writer

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(NaturalNews) After an intense workout, instead of downing a commercial sports drink loaded with artificial colors and sugar, you'd be better off just having a glass of chocolate milk. That's the conclusion of two studies presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine's 57th Annual Meeting held in Baltimore. It turns out that chocolate milk offers a distinct recovery advantage to help repair and rebuild muscles when compared to widely hyped commercial carbohydrate sports drinks.

William Lunn, Ph.D., worked on both research projects, which were conducted in the lab of University of Connecticut nutrition scientist Nancy Rodriguez, Ph.D. The first study involved eight male runners in relatively good training shape who completed two runs over the course of two week. Each run lasted 45 minutes and involved running at 65 percent of the men's maximum levels. During this research period, the runners ate a balanced diet that had been matched to their individual needs.

After each run, the research subjects drank either 16 ounces of fat-free chocolate milk or 16 ounces of a carbohydrate-only beverage (which had the same number of calories as the chocolate milk). Then, during a three-hour recovery period after each run, muscle biopsy samples were taken. The results showed the runners who drank the chocolate milk during their exercise recovery had increased markers of muscle protein repair when compared to the study participants who had been given the carbohydrate drink.

The second study involved the same eight male runners who were tested 30 minutes and 60 minutes after drinking either the fat-free chocolate milk or the sports drink-type beverage. Again, chocolate milk was found to be superior to the sports drink in helping to replenish glycogen stores in muscles -- and glycogen stores are a source of fuel during intense or prolonged exercise.

"It's always helpful for exercisers to learn of additional options for recovery drinks," Dr. Lunn said in a statement to the media. "Chocolate milk can be relatively inexpensive compared to commercially available recovery drinks and is easy to make at home, making it a viable and palatable option for many people."

As NaturalNews has previously reported, researchers are finding that chocolate has a host of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and slashing the risk for heart disease (http://www.naturalnews.com/028521_c...). So is it possible that chocolate could be the primary reason chocolate milk is beneficial to athletes? And, if so, could versions of vegan chocolate milk such as rice milk or almond milk also beat sports drinks in helping with post-exercise recovery?

That may be a possibility. However, Dr. Lunn's studies do not address these questions and, it is important to note, his research was funded by the National Dairy Council and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.

For more information:
http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm...
http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/p...

Reposted From NaturalNews

A Repost From NaturalNews

Few Women Truly Understand the Risks of Mammograms

Monday, June 14, 2010 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer

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(NaturalNews) One in three breast cancers detected by mammograms would never have posed a threat to the patient's life, making all the treatments that follow unnecessary, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Nordic Cochrane Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, and published in the British Medical Journal.

"The question is no longer whether overdiagnosis occurs, but how should we react to it," said H. Gilbert Welch of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, author of an accompanying editorial. "It's not an imperative to be screened; in fact, it's a close call."

Overdiagnosis refers to the detection of a non-life threatening cancer. In general, breast cancers come in three types: aggressive cancers that spread before they can be detected, cancers that spread slowly enough to be detected and treated early, and cancers that spread so slowly they pose no threat. Unfortunately, mammograms are best at detecting cancers in the latter category and not in the first two, and there is no way to distinguish the cancers from each other without watching them progress.

In the new study, researchers examined breast cancer rates in parts of Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom both before and after national screening programs begin. If mammograms are actually saving lives, then there should have been an increase in the number of aggressive breast cancer cases being diagnosed. Yet while the rate of cancer diagnosis did increase, there was no increase in diagnosis of the dangerous kind.

The researchers estimated that for 2,000 women who receive mammograms regularly over a 10-year period, one life will be saved and 10 women will be needlessly treated for cancer -- including chemotherapy, radiation and even breast removal.

"For too long, we've taken a brain-dead approach that says the best test is the one that finds the most cancers -- but that's wrong," Welch said. "The best test is the one that finds the right cancers and nothing else."

Sources for this story include: bulletin.aarp.org.

Reposted From NaturalNews