Kiwi, To Reduce the Risk of Cancer

Just one kiwi will give you nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, and research shows that eating just two or three kiwis a day may help reduce your risk of cancer, thanks to their rich content of DNA-repairing antioxidants. Kiwi has also shown promise for improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and offers natural laxative properties to promote healthy bowel function.

Broccoli, A Weapon against Arthritis

Our parents are right- at least the ones who tried to get us to eat all our green vegetables, according to new research.

But ONE green vegetable may be more powerful than all others when it comes to arthritis.

According to the study out of the United Kingdom’s University of East Anglia, a compound in this one vegie may mean the end of arthritis for those who eat it.

Research from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom has shown that a little-known compound in broccoli has amazing healing powers for those who suffer from osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most commonly-diagnosed form of arthritis worldwide, with the most frequent places that it affects being the knees and lower back. For people who need their backs and their knees to work (which is almost everyone who wants to be able to pay bills), preventing and healing the condition is critical.

Unfortunately, the same compound that heals joint destruction is also partly responsible for the foul odor in flatulence that accompanies broccoli consumption- sulforaphane.

Sulphoraphane is released when eating cruciferous vegetables, and its cancer- and inflammation-fighting properties are already well-established. Broccoli is by far the greatest source of sulphoraphane, as opposed to cauliflower or Brussels sprouts.

The new study, though, is the first to establish evidence that sulphoraphane actively stops the destruction of cartilage in joints when it is consumed regularly.

Eating broccoli is, of course, just one piece of the puzzle to completely reverse arthritis. But the study proves that this can be done.

A Glass of Wine could lower the Risks of Developing Depression

While a mountain of research supports light drinking with protecting your heart, a new study finds that a glass of wine a day could lower your risks of developing depression.
 

Researchers from University of Navarra in Spain looked at data on 5,505 men and women ages 55 to 80 years old. Subjects had no history of depression or alcohol-related problems prior to the study, and over the course of seven years, researchers tracked their drinking habits, lifestyle, and mental health through repeated visits, medical exams, and interviews.

Findings showed that those who drank moderate amounts of alcohol, mostly wine, had similar protective effects on depression to those who have been observed for coronary heart disease. The lowest rates of depression were seen in subjects who drank two to seven small glasses of wine per week. These results remained significant even when the researchers adjusted for other lifestyle and social factors, such as smoking, diet, and marital status.

Findings were published online Friday, August 30, in the journal BMC Medicine.

"Lower amounts of alcohol intake might exert protection in a similar way to what has been observed for coronary heart disease," said senior author Miguel A. Martínez-González. "In fact, it is believed that depression and coronary heart disease share some common disease mechanisms."
 

Previous studies have indicated that non-alcoholic compounds in the wine, such as resveratrol and other phenolic compounds, may have protective effects on certain areas of the brain.

Curcumin, A Weapon Against Chronic Inflammation

Ways chronic inflammation can damage our body:

1.    Memory loss and cognitive decline

2.    Increased cardiovascular risk

3.    Joint pain and loss of mobility

4.    Abnormal growth of healthy cells

5.    Accelerated skin aging and wrinkles

6.    Compromised digestive function

7.    Weight gain and loss of muscle tone

Cutting-edge science is showing that curcumin is one of the most powerful, natural anti-inflammatories ever studied. Curcumin is so effective because it is a potent inhibitor of the body's most powerful inflammation-causing chemical, called Nf-kappa beta. Miraculously, curcumin has been shown in numerous studies to tame joint pain and muscle soreness, protect the brain, support cardiovascular health, bolster immunity and more. If you have a lingering health problem that no doctor can resolve, you may be suffering from chronic inflammation and curcumin may be just the natural solution you've been looking for.

Walnuts for Prostate Health

Eating walnuts daily appears to protect against prostate cancer, at least in mice. A new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio showed that after researchers injected the animals with human prostate cancer cells, tumors started to grow. But of the 19 mice that received a walnut-enriched diet, only three developed tumors compared to 14 of 32 mice whose diets did not include walnuts. What's more, the average size of the prostate tumors that grew in the walnut-fed mice was about one fourth the average size of the tumors that occurred in the mice on the "control" diet that contained no walnuts. The amount of walnuts (pulverized into a fine powder) the mice consumed was equivalent to a human serving of about two ounces or two handfuls a day, reported study senior author Russel Reiter, Ph.D., professor of cellular and structural biology. The study was published in the July 2013 issue of Cancer Investigation.