INTERESTING FACTS ON CITRUS JUICE

Here are a couple of facts I have discovered in my research that I found interesting.  I imagine this is news to you, too.  Most of us who want orange juice, etc, go to the store and buy a bottle, carton, or even a can.  That is very convenient but not the best way to get the benefits of drinking citrus juice.  To get the full health benefits of citrus juices it is best to buy the fruits and squeeze them yourself.  Studies have shown that due to light and oxygen during processing and storage, citrus juices may lose up to 50% of their important flavonoids!

Another tidbit is that typically there is about 17% more vitamin C in organic citrus than in conventional.  I don't often recommend buying organic, but this might be a good place to do so.

APPLE SKINS

 

Research posted a few years ago in the journal PLoS ONE found that the skins of apples contain ursolic acid.  Ursolic acid is believed to boost metabolism by increasing muscle mass and a type of body fat that helps to burn calories.  So when eating an apple, you might want to consider not peeling it.  This is a case where you might want to go organic so you can be sure your apples haven't been chemically sprayed.

ORGANIC LABELING CAN MISLEAD YOU INTO THINKING HEALTHY

Just because something is labeled 'organic' does not necessarily mean it is healthy.  Don't confuse the two!  Marketing is at the heart of all packaging.  Organic is popular right now, so food manufacturer's/producers are taking advantage of the word.  You will find organic cookies, candy bars, etc. All that means is that the ingredients were grown without pesticides.  Sugar is still sugar, trans fat is still trans-fat, etc.  Remember the old saying, "Buyer beware." Read the nutritional label.

ORGANIC OR CONVENTIONAL FOODS

If you are torn between buying conventional fruit and vegetables or organic, you need to know that organic and conventional have almost the exact calories, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.  Often there is a little more vitamin C and flavonoids (those powerful antioxidants) in organic.  There are other factors to consider such as pesticide use, etc. but for the basic values of the foods, they are almost identical.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

We all know antibiotics very often save our lives. Antibiotics destroy nasty bacteria that causes serious infections, including strep, pneumonia, etc. Antibiotics, however, are not effective on viruses.

Some may ask "What is antibiotic resistance?" This occurs when infection-causing bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics. A few diseases we know are already becoming antibiotic resistant. MRSA and tuberculosis are some examples. More than 35,000 persons in the United States die annually due to this. Robin Patel, MD, director of the Infectious Diseases Research Lab at the Mayo Clinic put it this way, "We are facing a crisis."

There are ways to protect yourself and your family from antibiotic resistance as shown below:

• Only take antibiotics when necessary (and do take them when they are necessary!). Don't insist on asking your doctor to prescribe antibiotics when they aren't necessary. As stated above, they are not effective on viruses, as an example.
• Skip the overuse of antibacterial soaps, body washes, cleaners. Regular soap and water along with alcohol hand gels are just as effective. Add a little bleach to cleaners if you need to kill germs. This is effective in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Buy meats and poultry which are labeled "organic" or "raised without antibiotics". Much of the feed our poultry and animals are fed contains antibiotics which can be transferred to humans.

Most of us will probably never face an antibiotic resistant disease. But they are out there, and it may become a serious problem for some of us.

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DR. OZ COMMENTS ON MEAT

In an interview a few years ago, Dr. Oz was asked if he thinks meat is demonized in this country.  His answer:  "I do.  I don't think how we grow meat is ideal.  But grass-fed, organic beef has a fair amount of omega-3 fats.  It has iron.  It has lots of B vitamins.  It has nutrients that our bodies need desperately."    He also said that when he eats meat, probably around once a week, he eats a high-quality steak.

 

Note: File Photo