Eat Tomatoes to Protect Against Heart Attack and Stroke

According to Dr. Fuhrman, carotenoids are a family of over six hundred phytochemicals, including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids are abundant in green and yellow-orange vegetables and fruits and help to defend the body’s tissues against oxidative damage, oxidative damage from free radicals contributes to chronic diseases and aging.¹

The levels of carotenoids in your skin and in your blood are a good indicator of your overall health because the levels parallel the levels of plant-derived phytochemicals in general. In fact, Dr. Fuhrman uses a carotenoid skin testing method to non-invasively track his patients’ progress as they adopt a nutritarian diet. Low blood levels of total carotenoids, alpha-carotene, and lycopene have been linked to premature death; of all the carotenoids, very low blood lycopene was the strongest predictor of mortality.²

Lycopene is the signature carotenoid of the tomato. The lycopene in the American diet is 85 percent derived from tomatoes.³ Lycopene is found circulating in the blood and also concentrates in the male reproductive system, hence its protective effects against prostate cancer. ⁴ In the skin, lycopene helps to prevent UV damage from the sun, protecting against skin cancer. ⁵ Lycopene is known for its anti-cancer properties, but did you know that lycopene has also been intensively studied for its beneficial cardiovascular effects?

Read more at DiseaseProof.com

 
References

1. Krinsky NI, Johnson EJ. Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Mol Aspects Med 2005;26:459-516.
2. Shardell MD, Alley DE, Hicks GE, et al. Low-serum carotenoid concentrations and carotenoid interactions predict mortality in US adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutr Res 2011;31:178-189.
3. Canene-Adams K, Campbell JK, Zaripheh S, et al. The tomato as a functional food. J Nutr 2005;135:1226-1230.
4. van Breemen RB, Pajkovic N. Multitargeted therapy of cancer by lycopene. Cancer Lett 2008;269:339-351.
5. Rizwan M, Rodriguez-Blanco I, Harbottle A, et al. Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo. Br J Dermatol 2010.

The Incredible Blueberry

Blueberries are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and are a very good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese.

According to the ND Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Blueberries, 1 Cup of raw Blueberries contains:

• 84 calories
• 4 grams of fiber or 14 %DV
• 24%DV of Vitamin C
• 36%DV of Vitamin K
• 25%DV of Manganese

Percent Daily Values (%DV) are for adults or children aged 4 or older, and are based on a 2,000 calorie reference diet.  Your daily values my be higher or lower based on your individual needs.

Did you know that:

• Blueberries are loaded with carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, and flavonoids like rutin, resveratrol and quercitin (all excellent for the eyes and eye health).
• The pigments that give blueberries their color improve the structure of veins and the vascular system.
• Blueberries are high in the soluble fiber pectin, which has been shown to lower cholesterol.
• A study reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that blueberries inhibit colon cancer proliferation and induce programmed cell death.
• Just recently, Beckman Research Institute at the City of Hope, Duarte, CA researchers found that feeding blueberry powder to mice significantly reduced the growth and spread of triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBC), a very aggressive form of cancer - PubMed
• Blueberries are excellent for the relief of diarrhea and constipation.
• Blueberries also help reduce inflammation in the digestive and urinary tracts.
• A study in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine suggests that the best way to gain maximum benefits from blueberries and other fruits is to consume them either one hour before protein (milk, etc.) is consumed, or two hours after. - Milk destroys antioxidant benefits in blueberries

More Incredible Info on Blueberries:

• Polyphenols in blueberries inhibit the formation of fat cells - NaturalNews
• Study: Prevent high blood pressure by eating blueberries - NaturalNews
• Blueberries halt hardening of the arteries - NaturalNews
• Find Cancer Prevention with the Power of Blueberries - NaturalNews

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