Friday, March 4, 2011

Antioxidants, the AntiCancer

The benefits of eating healthy are numerous and too often ignored. Fortunately, organic fruits and veggies may hold one of the secrets to living a healthy, cancer free life. Recent studies on the benefits of antioxidants are showing that these power-molecules should be a nutritious part of your everyday diet.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants
are phytochemicals, molecules that work to fight against a chemical reaction called oxidation. Oxidation is necessary for some healthy bodily functions, but too much oxidation results in an overabundance of free radicals, or oxidants. Free radicals are responsible for starting chemical chain reactions in the body that damage cells. Antioxidants neutralize harmful reactions and eliminate free radicals.

Where can they be found?

The highest concentration of antioxidants can be found in small red beans, wild blueberries, and cranberries. Other fruits and vegetables, like strawberries, prunes, artichoke, apples, and potatoes contain good levels of antioxidants as well. Purchasing produce from local organic farmers ensures the freshest, tastiest, healthiest food. Also, growing your own fruits and veggies is a great way to stay active, get some sunlight, and eat healthy, all of which play their parts in reducing cancer and other chronic illness risks.

Do they prevent cancer?

Eating organic fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants reduces the risk of heart disease, neurological disease, visible signs of aging, and cancer. Studies have shown that those who eat healthier and organically may be at reduced risk for cancer and are certainly at reduced risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Do they heal cancer?

Eating well, and especially eating foods high in antioxidants, is a great way to help your body to heal if you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer. Those with cancers caused by toxins, like mesothelioma, may not be able to avoid cancer simply by eating better. Mesothelioma symptoms are subtle, but treatment is aggressive and often ineffective. Antioxidants can be used to minimize treatment side effects and to prolong mesothelioma life expectancy.


So whether you’re trying to prevent colon cancer, conquer the symptoms of mesothelioma, or just trying to live a healthier life, try eating organic fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants. You’d be surprised what fitting healthier food options into your lifestyle can do for you in the long run.

Special thanks to the writer of this post and a Cooking Allergy Free follower!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Omega-3 Search Completed

It's been a long grueling search for a high quality omega-3 supplement that does not contain soy, but I think the search is over. I have come across a company by the name of Renewed Health Supply who carries a product called Blue Ice- Fermented Cod Liver Oil.

Now I know it doesn't sound very appealing, and I admit the taste does take some getting used to, but the truth is this may be the best source of omega-3 on the market. As you probably know by now processing is one of the biggest killers when it comes to the nutritional value of the food we eat, and the same goes for supplements. The more processes a food source undergoes and the more intense these processes are to the original integrity of the food source itself, the less nutritional value the end product has. And that's where fermented cod liver oil rises above the rest! The only process this oil undergoes aside from the initial extraction of course, is a natural process that can actually increase the nutritional value of food... fermentation.

Fermentation is a natural process that actually precedes humans, but since ancient times humans have been controlling this process for their own benefit. Its benefits include the enrichment of food (both in flavor and nutritionally), preservation of food, and the elimination of anti-nutrients making the fermented food healthier and easier to digest. (Wikipedia)

Blue Ice fermented cod liver oil uses this very process to deliver a nutrient rich product not only high in omega-3, but vitamins A and D as well. As listed on their website the benefits include:

1. Unique nutrient profile
2. Serving size is small
3. Cost per dose is excellent
4. Possess variety of enzymes/nutrients absent in industrialized products
5. Does not contain any added vitamin E.

For those of you who are curious about Vitamin D and A levels, for a 2 ml (less than 1/2 tsp) serving size (118 per bottle) the levels equate to:
- Vitamin D 190% of Daily recommended value which equals 760 IU
- Vitamin A 75% of Daily recommended value which equals 3750 IU

(Renewed Health Supply)



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