Fight Cancer with Fruits and Vegetables

One of the best-kept secrets in the field of health is that the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute have been conducting studies with vegetable and fruit extracts for years, discovering their remarkable cancer-inhibiting effects. Even so, most oncologists know very little about this and many have, in fact, told their patients not to eat vegetables, thinking it might interfere with their treatments.

Their advice is based on the erroneous belief that chemotherapy and radiation treatments depend on free radical destruction of cancer cells. In fact, this is only partially true. Most treatments inhibit cancer through many different mechanisms.

Nutrients from fruits and vegetables — especially the flavonoids — have remarkable powers that have been confirmed by a number of researchers and documented in most major oncology journals. The nutrients enhance the ability of most chemotherapy agents and radiation to kill cancer cells, while at the same time, they protect normal cells from the treatments’ harmful effects. Unfortunately, most oncologists ignore these studies. Instead, they concentrate on new chemotherapy protocols and radiation methods.

Antioxidants, which are found in fruits and vegetables, are powerful cancer fighters. One of the most important antioxidants is a substance called glutathione. It is present in every cell in the body, and low levels are associated with higher rates of several types of cancer. Conversely, when glutathione levels are high, cancer rates are low. Nutritionally, there are several ways to increase glutathione levels, including flavonoids.

The following are powerful natural cancer-fighters:

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C in the form of buffered ascorbate should be taken twice a day. Take it on an empty stomach because vitamin C greatly enhances iron absorption from all foods — and iron is a cancer-growth stimulant. I discuss vitamins and their benefits in detail in my special report “Key Vitamins that Save Your Heart, Prevent Cancer, and Keep You Living Long. Go here for more information.

N-acetyl-L cysteine (NAC):

This chemical supplies one of the chief building blocks of glutathione-cysteine. A number of studies have shown that it is a safe and efficient way to bolster glutathione levels in cells.

Flavonoids:

Research indicates that eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables can raise levels of glutathione in cells. Such foods include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, parsley, celery, kale, greens (turnip, collard, and mustard), spinach, tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and carrots. Reduced glutathione is also available as a supplement, but generally it’s poorly absorbed.

(Note by SambalTumis : a good supplement for flavanoids is Green Propolis )

Melatonin — which most people think of as a sleep supplement — is also a powerful antioxidant. A growing number of studies are providing evidence that this substance fights cancer, as it has been proven to increase levels of several antioxidant enzymes in the brain and possibly other parts of the body.

...courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts..

Kids Need to Eat Smart to Be Smart

Food does more than satisfy hunger; it provides fuel for the body and mind, too. So as you make a list of school supplies to buy for the upcoming school year, don’t forget to consider the items at your local supermarket that can also help prepare your child for the classroom.
Catherine Kraus, RD, M.Ed, CHES, a dietitian at the University of Michigan Health System, says that a balanced, healthy diet enables chemical messengers in the brain — known as neurotransmitters — to function more efficiently. This produces better concentration and memory.

Parents can take several steps to create well-balanced meals and snacks that provide children the energy and nutrition they need to perform well at school, notes Kraus, a member of the Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center at U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Breakfast.

Research has demonstrated that students who skip breakfast in the morning don’t perform as well as students who do eat breakfast. Kraus recommends serving a healthy breakfast that consists of a whole grain cereal, oatmeal or bread with a form of protein, such as peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg.

Pairing the meal with whole fruit instead of a fruit juice offers a way to add more vitamins, minerals and fiber into a diet. Kraus adds that dairy products are an acceptable addition to your child’s breakfast, as long as they are in the form of fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese.

Lunch.

While many schools are making efforts to include healthier items on lunch menus, high-calorie items still exist — including pizza, nachos and sweetened drinks. If you are concerned about your child’s cafeteria choices, Kraus recommends packing a lunch.
“When children consume a high-fat, high-sugar meal, their bodies will crash, and they will be come very tired and lethargic — which is not going to help them perform at their best level in school,” explains Kraus.

When packing a lunch, variety is best; choose an assortment of fruits and vegetables in various colors and sizes. This ensures that kids receive a mix of vitamins and minerals, and it will prevent them from becoming bored with the same packed lunch routine every day. Kraus recommends including a type of whole grain product in the meal, such as tortillas or bread, with a lean protein, such as tuna, turkey or chicken.

She also notes that sweetened beverages are full of empty calories and don’t provide any nutritional value. Opt for a beverage that does not contain added sugars — such as water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or 100 percent fruit juice.

Snacks.

When it comes to snack foods, Kraus says that the proper adage to follow is, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
“When you are grocery shopping, keep in mind that if a snack is in the home, your children will likely eat it. So keep healthy food in the house at all times to ensure that they will always have healthy snack options. If you keep candy bars and fruit in the home, most children would pick the candy bar. So just keep it out of the house,” she says.

Focus on finding snack foods that will keep your kids satisfied until dinner and energized for homework and studying. For optimal energy and hunger satisfaction, Kraus recommends pairing protein with a high fiber carbohydrate; serve up string cheese or peanut butter with whole grain crackers or prepare a half-sandwich made with whole grain bread or pita. Another tasty treat option is creating a homemade smoothie by blending yogurt and fruit together.

Dinner.

“A smart dinner will help your child’s brain function. If they are satisfied after dinnertime then they will sleep through the night, and a child needs at least eight to nine hours of sleep a night in order to function while in school the next day,” explains Kraus.
She says that half of a “smart” dinner plate should be made up of fruits and vegetables, and a quarter of the plate should consist of a lean protein. Fill the remaining quarter with whole grains, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

Overall Kraus says that encouraging your children to eat smart during the school day can help them develop healthy habits for life.

“Childhood is a crucial time when bodies are growing and brains are developing,” she says. “It’s so important to fuel the body with good nutrition, and teaching children smart eating habits at a young age is a great idea. It starts with the parents serving as the role model.”

...courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts...

One Can of Red Bull Increases Stroke Risk

Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday.
The caffeine-loaded beverage, popular with university students and adrenaline sport fans to give them "wings," caused the blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.
"One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease," Scott Willoughby, lead researcher from the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, told the Australian newspaper.
Willoughby and his team tested the cardiovascular systems of 30 young adults one hour before and one hour after consuming one 250ml can of sugar-free Red Bull.
The results showed "normal people develop symptoms normally associated with cardiovascular disease" after consuming the drink, created in the 1980s by Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz based on a similar Thai energy drink.
The Austria-based company, whose marketing says "Red Bull gives you wings," sponsors Formula 1 race cars and extreme sport events around the world, but warns consumers not to drink more than two cans a day.
Willoughby said Red Bull could be deadly when combined with stress or high blood pressure, impairing proper blood vessel function and possibly lifting the risk of blood clotting.
"If you have any predisposition to cardiovascular disease, I'd think twice about drinking it," he said.

Copyright Reuters

...courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts..

THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE
I found this in a forwarded email and so I think it could give some lessons to us all....

Lesson 1
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbour.Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.'After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?''It was Bob the next door neighbour,' she replies.'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'Moral of the storyIf you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.
Lesson 2
A priest offered a Nun a lift.She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.The priest nearly had an accident.After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.'Moral of the storyIf you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.
Lesson 3
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.They rub it and a Genie comes out.The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.''Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.'Puff! She's gone.'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.'Puff! He's gone.'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'Moral of the storyAlways let your boss have the first say.
Lesson 4
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?'The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.'So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.Moral of the storyTo be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
Lesson 5
A turkey was chatting with a bull.'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.''Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients.'The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch..Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.Moral of the storyBull Shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.
Lesson 6
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.The dung was actually thawing him out!He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.
Morals of the story
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

THUS ENDS THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

Fourth Floor Boys

A little boy wanted RM100 badly and prayed for two weeks but nothing happened.

Then he decided to write GOD a letter requesting the RM100.

When the Pos Malaysia received the letter addressed to GOD, they decided to send it to the Prime Minister - Pak Lah.

The PM was so impressed, touched, and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a RM5.00 bill.

Pak Lah thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy.

The little boy was delighted with the RM5.00 and sat down to write a thank you note to GOD, which read:

'Dear GOD,Thank you very much for sending the money, however, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through PutraJaya and, as usual, those bastards on the fourth floor deducted RM95.00.'

Note: I got this joke from forwarded email.. like it so published it here for my visitors to enjoy!

Broccoli May Reverse Diabetes Damage

President George H. W. Bush famously said that he didn’t like broccoli, and since he was president, he didn’t have to eat it. But if the former president is ever diagnosed with diabetes, he may allow broccoli on his plate after all. New research from the University of Warwick in England found that eating broccoli could reverse the vascular damage to blood vessels caused by diabetes.
The scientists believe the chemical in broccoli responsible for the heart-healthy effect is sulforaphane, which promotes the creating of enzymes that protect blood vessels, and reduces the amounts of molecules called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that cause cell damage.
Crucifer vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage, have been tied to a lower risk of strokes and heart attacks. People with diabetes face up to a 500 percent increase in risk of developing cardiovascular diseases that are linked to damaged blood vessels. They also risk other health problems such as kidney disease.
High blood sugar levels can cause levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) to increase three-fold. But sulforaphane activates a protein called nrf2 which protects the vessels and lowers the increase of ROS by 73 percent.
“Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes,” said Warwick Professor Paul Thornalley. He added that in the future it will be important to see if eating a diet rich in broccoli and other crucifer vegetables will benefit diabetics. “We believe it will,” he said.

Fish May Prevent Mental Decline

Eating tuna and other types of fish may help lower the risk of cognitive decline and stroke in healthy older adults, according to a study published in the August 5, 2008, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
For the study, 3,660 people age 65 and older underwent brain scans to detect silent brain infarcts, or small lesions in the brain that can cause loss of thinking skills, stroke or dementia. Scans were performed again five years later on 2,313 of the participants. The people involved in the study were also given questionnaires about fish in their diets.
The study found that people who ate broiled or baked tuna and other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (called DHA and EPA) three times or more per week had a nearly 26 percent lower risk of having the silent brain lesions that can cause dementia and stroke compared to people who did not eat fish regularly. Eating just one serving of this type of fish per week led to a 13 percent lower risk. The study also found people who regularly ate these types of fish had fewer changes in the white matter in their brains.
“While eating tuna and other types of fish seems to help protect against memory loss and stroke, these results were not found in people who regularly ate fried fish,” said Jyrki Virtanen, PhD, RD, with the University of Kuopio in Finland. “More research is needed as to why these types of fish may have protective effects, but the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA would seem to have a major role.”
Types of fish that contain high levels of DHA and EPA nutrients include salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and anchovies.
“Previous findings have shown that fish and fish oil can help prevent stroke, but this is one of the only studies that looks at fish’s effect on silent brain infarcts in healthy, older people,” said Virtanen. Research shows that silent brain infarcts, which are only detected by brain scans, are found in about 20 percent of otherwise healthy elderly people.

..courtesy from Newsmax.com Health Alerts..