HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK RASPBERRIES

If black raspberries aren't currently part of your diet, consider adding them. Black raspberries contain a great amount of anthocyanins which are immunity-boosting antioxidants. They also contain ellagic acid which is both antiviral and antibacterial. Ellagic acid also works to detoxify the body. These berries are thought to be cancer fighters. Eat these tasty berries several times a week to reap the benefits.

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ALCOHOL AND ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

Note: This information is from 2015. However, I checked this week, and the information is still valid. Also, alcohol may play a role in other cancers.

The International Journal of Cancer has reported that having two or more alcoholic drinks a day raises estrogen levels and doubles endometrial cancer risk.

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MELONS AND OTHER FRUITS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or want to protect your bones from it, consider adding more fruit to your diet.  Fruits contain potassium which is important in protecting bones.  To keep your bones healthy be sure your diet includes honeydew and cantaloupe melons, bananas, plums, prunes, raisins, and other fruits.  What a tasty healthy tip!

PARSLEY IS FOR MORE THAN DECORATION

Yes, parsley sprinkled on foods make them look pretty but according to researchers at the University of Missouri it does a lot more than that. Parsley is a very good source of apigenin, an antioxidant the researchers suggest can stop breast cancer cells from growing. Eating a few ounces of parsley daily is a good way to keep the apigenin in your blood stream. Other apigenin-rich foods include mint and celery. Another benefit of eating parsley is that it helps to control bad breath.

BOOST YOUR RESISTANCE TO STOMACH FLU (NOROVIRUSES)

Do you ever wonder why some people are always getting a "stomach bug" while others never seem to? There is a simple explanation why many people who are exposed to a norovirus never get sick. Ready? Here it is...they have an abundance of "good" bacteria in their digestive tract. The "good" bacteria crowds out the "bad" bacteria before it has a chance to make them sick. To up your norovirus resistance do something as simple as eating a cup a day of yogurt that contains live bacteria, according to Jeanne Drisko, M.D., integrative medicine researcher at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Protect your little ones, especially now that they are in school, by giving them a "child-size" yogurt daily. Be sure the yogurt you choose says, "live cultures" or "live bacteria".

Note: This is not an endorsement of the brand. This is only to show the Live Cultures on the carton.

 

WHAT TO EAT WHILE RECOVERING FROM STOMACH FLU

Continuing with yesterday's post regarding stomach flu - should you be unlucky enough to get stomach flu (norovirus) you will no doubt try to avoid food at first. Here are some tips on what to eat to settle a queasy stomach:

• Take small but frequent sips of water. No gulping, just sips.
• Start back on food with easy-to-digest foods such as saltines or other bland crackers, rice, chicken (not greasy fried!), and bananas, cinnamon and/or Jello.
• Avoid the following for a day or so until your stomach feels settled: caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, and dairy.
• Pain or fever? Take Tylenol (acetaminophen) as it is easier on the stomach than similar meds.

 

GREENS HELP PROTECT FROM STOMACH FLU

The stomach flu or what doctors sometimes call acute gastroenteritis is a nasty thing dreaded by one and all. With school starting and our kids exposed to this dreaded vomiting and diahhrea malady here is some info on helping to prevent an outbreak at your house. The 'stomach flu' is easy to catch because it is caused by a highly contagious group of 'bugs' called noroviruses. One of the best preventatives is frequent hand washing. But how about some green veggies to also help?

The digestive tract produces its own immune cells that are highly capable of quashing noroviruses if you have enough of them. According to British researchers you can triple your body's ability to produce these infection fighters in your digestive tract by eating cruciferous vegetables daily.  Cruciferous veggies include kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc. The researchers suggested 1 cup a day (for adults) for optimum results.

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RED PEPPERS VS GREEN PEPPERS

Did you know that red peppers have 9 times more vitamin A and 2 times more vitamin C than green peppers?

FOODS TO HELP PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS

Disclaimer: I have osteoporosis and over the last few years, I decided to take my rheumatologists advice and take an oral medicine one day a week. This was after a broken hip that I realized it was time to try medications. The trauma surgeon did say my bones actually looked pretty good for my age (late 70s) so I will continue this treatment. At my last test a couple of months ago, my numbers were slightly better so I will continue this regimen. This post is about eating to prevent or slow down osteoporosis. Knowing what to eat (or not eat) is important in fighting any health problem. Here are some tips for eating to prevent or slow down osteoporosis:

• You need calcium. That is probably the number one thing everyone knows about osteoporosis. It is best to get said calcium from the foods you eat and here are some good examples - fat-free plain Greek yogurt, fat-free milk and cheese, white beans, kale, collard greens, broccoli, almonds, and soybeans. Include some of these in your diet every day.
• Get plenty of lean protein. Examples are lean meats such as turkey, chicken, pork tenderloin, lean beef, legumes, peanut butter, beans, low-fat milk and cheeses. Avoid too many protein bars and shakes. That is not the best way to get healthy protein.
• Vitamin D is important, too. Actually, calcium needs vitamin D to help it travel to the bones and where it is needed. Sunshine helps the body to produce vitamin D but that requires too much time in the sun so supplement with the following foods: Fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, sardines and herring. Soy milk, yogurt, and egg yolks also contain vitamin D. Since the list of foods rich in vitamin D is slim you may need to discuss a vitamin D supplement with your doctor (I do take a daily vitamin D supplement as recommended by both my primary care doctor and my rheumatologist).
• Magnesium is also beneficial in preventing and fighting osteoporosis. Magnesium helps the body absorb calcium to help maintain a strong bone structure. Magnesium is found in seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, and flax, brown rice, Swiss chard, spinach, sweet potatoes, beans, wheat germ, etc.

This is a short list of foods that will help you prevent or slow down osteoporosis. There are more but if you make a point of including several of the above foods in your daily diet you will be well on your way to preventing this bone disease.

SUGAR IN FRUIT VS TABLE SUGAR

People often ask what the difference is in eating the sugar in fruit vs 'regular' sugar. Yes, sugar is sugar no matter the source but the body does process it differently. The following remarks from nutritionist Joy Dubost, R.D. explains it better than I can:

Whether it's in a piece of fruit, your soda or a pastry, sugar is made up of the same two components: fructose and glucose. The molecular structure and composition of sugar molecules is the same no matter where they come from.

The ratios of fructose and glucose are pretty much the same in both fruit and table sugar. Most fruits are 40 to 55 percent fructose (there's some variation: 65 percent in apples and pears; 20 percent in cranberries), and table sugar (aka sucrose) is 50/50. Neither type of sugar is better or worse for you, but your body processes them differently. Fructose breaks down in your liver and doesn’t provoke an insulin response. Glucose starts to break down in the stomach and requires the release of insulin into the bloodstream to be metabolized completely.

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