10 Foods to Help Prevent Cancer

Add some of these healthy foods to your diet to help prevent cancer and keep other diseases at bay.

                                                                 © Stockbyte/Thinkstock

1. Add garlic to everything you eat.

Garlic contains sulfur compounds that may stimulate the immune system’s natural defenses against cancer, and may have the potential to reduce tumor growth. Studies suggest that garlic can reduce the incidence of stomach cancer by as much as a factor of 12!

                                                               © iStockphoto/Thinkstock

2. Eat your fill of broccoli, but steam it rather than microwaving it.

Broccoli is a cancer-preventing superfood, one you should eat frequently. But take note: A Spanish study found that microwaving broccoli destroys 97 percent of the vegetable’s cancer-protective flavonoids. So steam it, eat it raw as a snack, or add it to soups and salads.

                                                           © iStockphoto/Thinkstock

3. Toast some Brazil nuts and sprinkle over your salad.

They’re a rich form of selenium, a trace mineral that convinces cancer cells to commit suicide and helps cells repair their DNA. A Harvard study of more than 1,000 men with prostate cancer found those with the highest blood levels of selenium were 48 percent less likely to develop advanced disease over 13 years than men with the lowest levels. And a dramatic five-year study conducted at Cornell University and the University of Arizona showed that 200 micrograms of selenium daily — the amount in two unshelled Brazil nuts — resulted in 63 percent fewer prostate tumors, 58 percent fewer colorectal cancers, 46 percent fewer lung malignancies, and a 39 percent overall decrease in cancer deaths.

                                                    © Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Thinkstock

4. Make a batch of fresh lemonade or limeade.

A daily dose of citrus fruits may cut the risk of mouth, throat, and stomach cancers by half, Australian researchers found.

                                                                © Zoonar/Thinkstock

5. Mix half a cup of blueberries into your morning cereal.

Blueberries rank number one in terms of their antioxidant power. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are unstable compounds that can damage cells and lead to diseases including cancer.

                                                                © iStockphoto/Thinkstock

6. Learn to eat artichokes tonight.

Artichokes are a great source of silymarin, an antioxidant that may help prevent skin cancer. To eat these delicious veggies, peel off the tough outer leaves on the bottom, slice the bottom, and cut off the spiky top. Then boil or steam until tender, about 30-45 minutes. Drain. Dip each leaf in a vinaigrette or garlic mayonnaise, then gently tear the fibrous covering off with your front teeth, working your way inward to the tender heart. Once there, gently scoop the bristles from the middle of the heart, dip in a little butter or lemon juice, and enjoy!

                                                                © Hemera/Thinkstock

7. Throw some salmon on the grill tonight.

Australian researchers studying Canadians (go figure) found those who ate four or more servings of fish per week were nearly one-third less likely to develop the blood cancers leukemia, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Other studies show a link between eating fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, and tuna, as well as shrimp and scallops) with a reduced risk of endometrial cancer in women. Ah, those amazing omega-3s at it again!

                                                                © Stockbyte/Thinkstock

8. Cut a kiwifruit in half, then scoop out the flesh with a spoon.

Now eat! Kiwi is a little hand grenade of cancer-fighting antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and copper. You can also rub a couple of cut kiwifruit on a low-fat cut of meat as a tenderizer.

                                                               © iStockphoto/Thinkstock

9. Sprinkle scallions over your salad.

A diet high in onions may reduce the risk of prostate cancer 50 percent. But the effects are strongest when they’re eaten raw or lightly cooked. So try scallions, Vidalia onions, shallots, or chives for a milder taste.

                                                                 © Hemera/Thinkstock

10. Serve sauerkraut.

A Finnish study found that the fermentation process involved in making sauerkraut produces several other cancer-fighting compounds, including ITCs, indoles, and sulforaphane. To reduce the sodium content, rinse canned or jarred sauerkraut before eating.


 Source: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/10-foods-to-help-prevent-cancer/?v=print

How To IMprove Eyesight Naturally......

...Restore Vision Naturally With Eye Exercises and Diet

In what way eye exercises help:

Eye exercises play a major role in managing sight problems such as eye irritation,eye pain, eye blurriness, how long to take effect itchy eyes, eye infection, eye dryness,eye sight defect, and so on.

* Eye exercise instructions-

o Include eye exercise in your regular exercise schedule.
o Don’t be too fast to perform the exercise. Sit down calm, relax and do the eye exercises.
o Gradually increase your exercise duration, but only about 25 minutes is necessary.
o Don’t strain your eyes though. Take it slowly, but be consistent.

* Eye concentration: Mark a small black spot on the wall of your home with a black pen. Sit down comfortably on a blanket or a chair. Start focusing at the black spot for as long as you can .This will help make your eyes strong.

* Eye open and close: Open your eyes widely and close it tight (Be gentle in doing this exercise to avoid eye pain) Repeat this exercise for ten times with a 1 second pause on each set.

* Eye rolling- Roll your eyes clockwise for 5 counts, followed by anti-clockwise movement for 5 counts this strengthens your eye muscles.

* Eye movement- Move your eyes up and down slowly. Then from left to right for 5 counts each. To enhance flexibility of eye movement.

* Eye Twitching : blink your eyes frequently to improve nourishment to the eye muscles to avoid dryness.

* Blood circulation to eyes: Yoga too has a great impact on eye health.

Food that is good for Eyes

1.Carrot
2. Eggs
3. Milk
4. Apricots
5.Berries
6.Black Currants 7_ Cold-water Fish
8.Collard Greens
9.Grapefruits
10.Grapes
11.Lemons
12.Spinach
13.Fish Oils

Harmful for your eyes

1.  Foods and additives containing Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
2.  Looking directly into the sun for some time.
3.  Drugs which are harmful to the eyes 4_Cell phone, games may also be harmful.!

Health benefits of Sweet Potato [Camote]

Today, camote (SWEET POTATO) should be part of your diet even if you have more money to buy or prepare expensive dishes. Camote is the world’s healthiest food, this is according to statement of North Atlantic Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. The (SWEET POTATO) is indeed healthy due to following reasons.

1) Superior fiber content
Sweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes. Contributing close to 7 grams of fiber per serving, they make an excellent starchy addition to any meal. The high fiber content gives them a "slow burning" quality. This basically means their caloric energy is used more slowly and efficiently than a low-fiber carbohydrate.

2) Good for diabetics. It helps stabilize blood sugar levels by increasing adiponectin, an important factor of insulin metabolism. It has moderate glycemic index of 50.

3) High in dietary fiber and low fat content. Good for the heart and tummy. Fibers help reduce bad cholesterol and ease bowel movement.

4) Deep colored yellow camote contains lutein and beta carotene... antioxidants to prevent rapid aging and maintain good eyesight. Eat yellow camote instead of taking eye supplement.

5) Have lots of essential minerals and vitamins. Manganese, copper, potassium, iron, Vitamin – E, C, B6, B2, and A. It's like a combination of rice and vegetables in a single package. But eating camote repeatedly is boring, have an alternate or try to mix it with other healthy foods.

6) An effective detoxifying agent. It adsorbs heavy metals and take it out of the system. Metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury accumulate in our body due to consumption of commercially processed foods. They should be taken out before harming any tissues.

Coconut Water: Far More Than Just A Refreshing Beverage....

Few beverages on this planet are as biocompatible to the human body and its hydration needs as coconut water.  Indeed, coconut water has been reported to have been used for intravenous hydration and resuscitation of critically ill patients in remote regions of the world for over half a century.  It is also an excellent preserving medium for avulsed teeth (and semen!), besting even Hank's balanced salt solution, a commonly used medical solution.

While some are concerned about the sugar content of this slightly sweet beverage,  recent research shows it actually exhibits blood sugar lowering properties in an experimental model of diabetes.  Additional animal research shows coconut water prevents and reverses high blood pressure associated with fructose feeding-induced hypertension, as well being able to reduce oxidative stress and insulin resistance.
 
Perhaps one of the most amazing properties of coconut water is its superior lipid modulating activity in the animal model vis-à-vis the cholesterol-lowering statin drug known as lovastatin.  Which means we can, in clear conscience, modify Hippocrates’ famous saying to: "Let What You Drink Be Your Medicine."

Other medicinal properties of coconut water include:

• Anti-Ulcer Properties:  Both coconut milk and coconut water exhibit potent anti-ulcer activity against chemicals such as indomethacin, a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID).
• Blood-Pressuring Lowering Properties:  When human subjects consumed coconut water for two weeks, it was found to lower blood pressure in 74% of the experimental group, reducing it by up to 24 points (mmHg) systolic and 15 points (mmHq) diastolic.
• Anti-Alzheimer’s Properties: in an animal model of ovariectomy-induced menopausal changes, coconut water appeared to prevent the decline of brain estrogen (estradiol) levels, as well as the associated accumulation of Alzheimer’s disease associated β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque in their brains.
• Anti-Bacterial Properties: Three novel antimicrobial peptides have been identified in coconut water which exhibited inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Anti-Gastroenteritis Agent:  When sodium is added (ideally sea salt) coconut water has been determined to be an ideal rehydrating agent in countries where medical supplies are not freely available, and where, say, cholera and other severe forms of gastroenteritis persist.

Ultimately, coconut makes for an excellent alternative to sports drinks, which are increasingly comprised of synthetic ingredients. Also, coconut water is filtered by Nature through an intensive purification process -- far safer than municipal systems which leave up to 600 toxic disinfectant byproducts behind.

Source: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/coconut-water-far-more-just-refreshing-beverage

Why Ginger Is a Diabetic's Best Friend

With the prevalence of type 2 diabetes expanding rapidly on a global scale, and an estimated 366 million expected to be diagnosed with the condition by 2030, ginger's potential to alleviate suffering is truly amazing. It is safe, affordable, accessible and, according to a growing body of clinical research, a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes associated health problems.

A new study on ginger's health benefits to type 2 diabetics published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine suggests that this household spice may provide millions suffering with the condition a natural alternative to diabetes medications – many of which have serious, even life threatening, side effects.
This study follows closely on the heels of another, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, which showed that 1600 mg of ginger administered for 12 weeks improved 8 distinct markers of type 2 diabetes.

In the new study titled, "The effect of ginger powder supplementation on insulin resistance and glycemic indices in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial," Iranian researchers sought out to identify herbal products effective in addressing insulin resistance, a condition where the body is incapable of properly utilizing or responding to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar, among many other deleterious effects.  They chose ginger, owing to the robust body of research already extant indicating its value in diabetes, and looked specifically at its effects in regulating blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 81 type 2 diabetics, with a mean age of about 50, who were randomly assigned into ginger (GG) and placebo (PG) groups. The GG received 3 one-gram capsules containing ginger powder whereas the PG received 3 one-gram microcrystalline-containing capsules daily for 8 weeks. The following parameters were evaluated:

• HbA1c – an indication of damage to the red blood cells caused by the oxidation of sugars (glycation)
• Fructosamine – a harmful compound produced as a byproduct of result of sugar reacting with an amine
• Fasting blood sugar (FBS)
• Fasting insulin
• Homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)
• β-cell function – a cell type within the pancreas responsible for producing insulin
• Insulin sensitivity
• Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI)  

The results of the intervention were significant and positive:

• The mean fasting blood sugar decreased 10.5% in the ginger group, from 171.3 ml/dl to 153.12 mg/dl, whereas the mean increased 21% in the placebo group, from 136.17 mg/dl to 153.73 mg/dl.  
• The HbA1c decreased from 8.2 to 7.7 in the ginger group, and increased from 6.9 to 8.2 in the placebo group. 
• Insulin resistance was lowered, as determined by increases in the QIUCKI index in the ginger treated group.

The researchers concluded:

"This study demonstrated that daily consumption of 3 g of ginger in capsules for 8 weeks by patients with type 2 diabetes leads to lowering FBS [fasting blood sugar] and HbA1c means as well as variation in fasting insulin, insulin resistance, increase of sensitivity to insulin and QUICKI index. Therefore, consumption of this supplement is appropriate for patients; for identifying its other effects, however, some further studies are needed."

Source: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/why-ginger-diabetics-best-friend