Five Natural Ingredients for Preventing Lung Disease

Healthwise

April 11, 2014 

Whether you’re talking about asthma, cancer, COPD, or even rare conditions, lung disease is on the rise.

The experts are calling lung disease a “time bomb waiting to explode.”1

But whether you already have trouble with your lungs, or just want to avoid it, here are five natural ingredients to keep them young and healthy.

1. Milk Thistle: You might already know that it has the power to help your liver regenerate its cells. But milk thistle contains silymarin. It’s a compound that flushes toxins out of your liver. It also helps prevent lung cancer from forming and spreading.

Milk thistle also contains silibinin. Like silymarin, it protects you from lung cancer. But even better. These cancer cells spread quickly to other organs in your body. And they can become drug resistant. Silibinin doesn’t only reverse drug resistance in these cells… It causes natural cell death in cancerous lung tumors.2 You can find milk thistle extract pills in health stores and online. Organic milk thistle tea is another option.

2. Fiber: Oddly enough, fiber is critical to your lung health. It may help relieve symptoms of–and even prevent—asthma.

A high-fiber diet changes the makeup of your gut bacteria. The good bacteria feed on fiber. When you keep these bacteria well-fed, they produce short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids reduce inflammation and irritation in the lungs. But don’t add grains to your diet for more fiber. They actually increase the amount of inflammation in your body—including your lungs. Instead, eat more organic artichokes, peas, raspberries, and blackberries.

3. Ginger: It’s full of antioxidant power. But two of these antioxidants in particular protect your lungs against inflammation and damage. Gingerols help clear your lungs by reducing the amount of mucous they produce.3 And 6-shagaol, the compound that gives ginger its flavor, stops bronchial tubes from tightening.4This keeps airflow open and easy.

Ginger can be pretty intense if you aren’t used to it. Add it to your diet slowly if you don’t eat it on a regular basis. When it comes to ginger, fresh is always better. Cutting up some fresh ginger and adding it to a meal gives you antioxidant power and extra flavor. You can also juice with it or use it to brew your own tea to help soothe your lungs when you have a cough.

4. Broccoli Sprouts: Broccoli sprouts are rich in vitamins A, K, and C. But they also contain sulforaphane. It’s a compound that helps you fight the inflammation that causes asthma. One study found that it helped restore defective white blood cells in the lungs. More white blood cells mean less bacteria and inflammation.5

Broccoli sprouts have about 50 times more sulforaphane than regular broccoli. But you may not be able to find them at your grocery store. If that’s the case, look at your local farmer’s market. Or you could grow them yourself. Try them steamed or throw them raw into a salad. For convenience, you can also find broccoli sprout extract as a supplement online.

5. Bromelain: It’s an enzyme used to reduce inflammation of the sinuses after surgery. But it’s also a natural way to treat pulmonary edema.6 This condition prevents the fluid from draining out of your lungs. The result? Shortness of breath. If left untreated, it can cause deadly infections. One study found that bromelain reduces the amount of inflammatory neutrophils in the lung by up to 85 percent.7

The best way to start getting more bromelain in your diet is by eating fresh pineapple.8 And lots of it. Most of the bromelain in a pineapple is in the stem. Or you can supplement.

Pollution and secondhand smoke aren’t the only things that can irritate your lungs. Inflammation is a major factor in the development of most lung disease. Lowering it will help ensure that your lungs are working at their best. Using these five natural solutions will help keep you free of disease—and breathing a little easier.

References:
1http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274704.php
2http://breakthroughs.cityofhope.org/small-cell-lung-cancer-milk-thistle
3http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
4http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23065130
5http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20378-broccoli-helps-clear-damaged-lungs.html#.U0Q16fldXzh
6http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/895.html
7http://www.inflammation-systemicenzymes.com/pulmonary-fibrosis.html?start=1
8Idem

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2014/04/five-natural-ingredients-for-preventing-lung-disease/

Healthwise

Cancer, Enzymes & the Power of Papaya

By Mauris L. Emeka 

It has been said that cancer is the final stage in years of acting against the laws of nature, and that anyone with an unhealthy lifestyle and who eats improperly spends his whole life preparing for this dreaded disease.


What is the nature of cancer as seen from the cellular level? Dr. John Beard, a leading professor of embryology in Scotland, posed that question sometime in the 1880s. He spent the rest of his life exploring the process of cancer and discovering just what activity within the body produces malignant tumors. Dr. Beard documented his work in a publication called “The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer And Its Scientific Basis”, copyright 1911..


We have in our bodies what scientists call primitive germ cells. In laymen’s terms, these are undeveloped cells that remain after new life is first formed in a mother’s womb. They are called “primitive” because these cells never did develop into mature cells to form various parts of the body. Think of primitive germ cells as extra cells that were not needed in the formation of the fetus. These cells are therefore in each of us, and they seemingly have no function until and unless the body experiences stress or injury of any kind. 

At that point, the primitive cells become activated in order to help heal whatever stress or injury the body may be experiencing. And once they are activated, these primitive cells start maturing and behaving like trophoblasts cells, which are the cells that house the fetus in an expectant mother. Dr. Beard found that these activated cells continue their growth and development until enough protein digesting enzymes are brought to bear. When there is a sufficient amount of protein digesting enzymes in the body the growth of activated cells ceases. The organ known as the pancreas produces these enzymes, but if it fails to produce enough of them then the activated primitive cells will continue their trophoblasts-like growth eventually producing a cancerous tumor. 

So whenever healing is initiated by primitive germ cells it is vital that the body have enough protein digesting enzymes to halt the healing process once it has reached a certain point. Dr. Beard’s most important discovery was that if there are not enough of certain enzymes in the body then the growth of activated primitive germ cells will proceed unchecked and lead to the formation of a cancerous tumor. Indeed, the present day enzyme treatment of cancer is based largely on this important discovery

In a real sense, protein digesting enzymes are our first line of defence against cancer. That is why it is so important that we nourish the body in a way that introduces protein digesting enzymes into it everyday. Otherwise, we must depend on the limited capability of our pancreas to produce such enzymes. All too often our pancreas is not capable of supplying enough digestive enzymes to digest the preponderance of cooked food that we consume daily. [Note: when food is cooked it kills the enzymes and when we eat those foods it becomes the job of our pancreas to supply enzymes to digest them; but the pancreas is limited in this regard].

When someone has cancer, no matter where the malignant tumor shows up, it is vital that they consume foods whose enzymes have not been killed. That means eating an abundance of raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. Dr. Beard and other researchers have discovered that enzymes that digest protein play a key role in halting the growth of cancer cells. It’s no wonder that virtually every alternative cancer treatment program encourages patients to stop eating animal products and to eat more raw enzyme-rich fruits and vegetables. 

When someone has cancer, if they continue eating a daily diet of animal products (meat, chicken, fish, dairy, etc.), these hard to digest foods greatly challenge an already overworked pancreas. Cancer, no matter where it shows up, is a sure sign that the pancreas is not producing adequate enzymes. In addition, eating animal products makes the body chemistry considerably more acidic, and cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment. And, as mentioned earlier, a lack of protein digesting enzymes allows out of control primitive germ cells to become cancerous. In that sense, we can think of cancer, any cancer, as an enzyme deficiency disease.


The good news is that we can each do something about this situation. We can change what we eat and eat more foods that introduce enzymes into the body, as opposed to mainly cooked foods that require the body to manufacture critically needed enzymes. One such food that is especially helpful in this regard is the papaya and papaya seeds; another is pineapple. 

Both fruits contain enzymes (papain and bromelain, respectively) that are similar to the protein digesting enzymes made by the pancreas. Another extremely beneficial food is sprouts (bean sprouts, broccoli sprouts). They are a rich source of beneficial enzymes and other nutrients that are known to suppress cancerous activity. 

Protein digesting enzymes are particularly important in that they can dissolve the protein coating that forms around all cancer cells, and this enables the immune system to finally ‘see’ the cancer cells and target them for destruction. These foods also make the body chemistry less acidic and thus a lot less conducive for cancerous activity. (See Barbara Simonsohn’s book, “Healing Power of Papaya”, copyright 2000). 

Grant it, protein digesting enzymes may not be the only answer to cancer, but truly they are the body’s first defense against this most dreaded disease.. If I ever though I had cancer, aside from abstaining from animal protein, sugar, refined grains, and processed foods, I would be sure to eat at least a half of a papaya and a generous portions of its seeds daily in order to strengthen my body’s first line of defence.

Mr. Emeka lives in Port Orchard, Washington. He authored two self-help books about cancer: “Fear Cancer No More” copyright 2002 & “Cancer’s Best Medicine”, copyright 2004. www.cancernomore.com

Also read in  Healthwise:

• Papaya - the next miracle food?

These 5 Nutrients are Must-Haves After Surgery

October 11, 2013
 
Let’s face it. No one wants surgery. Going under the knife can be scary, not to mention risky.

But sometimes you can’t avoid it. And thankfully, you can reduce discomfort and healing time. The best place to start? Including these five nutrients in your diet to shorten your recovery time and feel better faster…

1. Vitamin C: You probably already know vitamin C is a necessary antioxidant. It’s important in healing because it helps you make connective tissue, or collagen.1 Vitamin C is also a good immune booster and helps fight infections and bacteria.2 It even wards off staph infections—a common and serious complication of hospital stays. Citrus fruits, sweet peppers, and Brussels sprouts are good sources of vitamin C.


2. Vitamin A: Not only is vitamin A good for eyesight, it also fixes wounds. And although you don’t want chronic inflammation, you need a temporary inflammation response to heal tissues. It’s how your body brings blood and nutrients to the damaged area that needs patching up. Vitamin A encourages inflammation.3 To get your vitamin A, eat sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, and carrots.


3. Zinc: Zinc reduces healing time. It also makes some of the enzymes your body needs to repair injuries.4 Zinc helps decrease wound size, makes protein, and boosts your immune system to fight off infections. Deficiencies are pretty common so make sure you’re taking it before and after your surgery. You’ll find the highest doses of zinc in seafood, beef, spinach, and pumpkin.


4. Bromelain: This plant enzyme in pineapple helps with swelling and repairs tissue damage.5 Bromelain is like NSAIDs without the liver damage and other scary side effects. It reduces bruising and tenderness. Surgery patients who take bromelain need less pain medication than those not taking the enzyme.


5. Honey: We don’t usually recommend sugars. Honey is unique though. It can remove damaged tissues, speed up the healing process, and reduce scarring. It even prevents infections.6 It’s important that you get the right kind. Leave the “Grade A” stuff on the grocery store shelf. It’s practically high fructose corn syrup. The most powerful honey you can buy is manuka honey from New Zealand. Manuka honey is so effective at killing bacteria it’s medicinal grade. We recommend eating it over a topical application.

Honey should be used sparingly. But the first four nutrients should be a regular part of your diet anyway. If you’re already including them, you’ll have an advantage if an emergency surgery situation occurs.

But before you do anything, consult with your doctor. You may need to stop taking certain supplements as much as 1-2 weeks before surgery. And some may interact with medications.

If you’re planning a surgery for the near future, make sure you start fortifying yourself with these healing solutions now.

References:

1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20163451
2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16373990
3 http://www.laurengreenbergmd.com/uncategorized/vitamins-and-healing-vitamin-a-e-c/
4 http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2934002#hn-2934002-uses
5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23771413
6 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23723644

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2013/10/these-5-nutrients-are-must-haves-after-surgery/

The Health Benefits of Pineapple

Thursday, August 9th, 2012               
Functional Foods, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT by for Bel Marra Health                

Pineapple is a favorite fruit of many people because it’s tangy, sweet and oh so delicious. But did you know that pineapple is an exceptional healthy food with a number of good health benefits? Many healthy food options, including fruits and vegetables, are functional foods and pineapple is not an exception.

Functional foods are consumed as part of a normal diet and are known to have physiological benefits and/or they reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Functional foods contain bioactive compounds which make them healthy food options. Eating a variety of healthy food, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables will provide many health benefits when eaten as part of a regular diet.

Let’s take a closer look at pineapple to see what makes it such a healthy food choice…

Bromelain

Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme provides the digestive benefits of pineapple by helping with protein breakdown. In addition, bromelain is considered to have anti-inflammatory properties and is believed to help relieve pain that is often associated with osteoarthritis. Bromelain is found in the stem of the pineapple, not the fruit part of this healthy food.

It is therefore possible that taking a bromelain supplement in addition to eating pineapple with provide you with enhanced health benefits.

Vitamin C

In addition to bromelain, pineapples contain vitamin C. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that helps to prevent free radical damage. Additionally, Vitamin C helps to ensure that the immune system is functioning optimally.

Vitamin A and B Complex Vitamins

Pineapples are a good source of Vitamin A and beta-carotene which are both known to have anti-oxidant properties. Vitamin A is essential for healthy mucous membranes, skin, and vision.

Pineapples contain manganese which is essential for the maintenance of healthy bones. Additionally, manganese helps with energy production and anti-oxidant defenses. In addition to manganese, pineapples contain thiamin (Vitamin B1) which also helps with energy production.

Eating functional foods including a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is not only delicious; it will help you support your overall health.

http://www.belmarrahealth.com/weight-management/the-health-benefits-of-pineapple/

Pineapple - The Sweet Treat that Relieves Arthritis Pain

The Effective Sweet Treat that Relieves Arthritis Pain

by Jim Healthy on October 19th, 2012


Did you know that there are certain kinds of foods that actually help reduce or even stop arthritis pain?

These “superfoods” are usually easy to find and inexpensive.

Of all the foods that help fight against arthritis — delicious, sweet pineapple comes up close to the top of the list.

The Sweet Pain Reliever 

For generations, people around the world have used fresh pineapple to ease their arthritis inflammation.

Loaded with joint-protecting vitamin C, pineapple is undoubtedly a superior arthritis-healing food.
Its anti-inflammatory ingredient — bromelain — is so potent that many boxers drink the juice after fights to heal their bruises.

A 1960 study compared boxers who took bromelain with those receiving a placebo.

In just four days, an amazing 78% of those taking bromelain were inflammation-free, while only 14% of the control group had recovered.

Other than bromelain, pineapple also contains manganese, which strengthens bones and protects joints.

Here are 5 reasons you should be indulging in this delicious fruit if you struggle with joint pain and arthritis:

Reason #1: Joint Protection

Higher intake levels of the antioxidant vitamin C is essential for people with arthritis…

And just one cup of pineapple has a whopping 94% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA)!

Research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that vitamin C-rich foods protect against inflammatory polyarthritis, a type of rheumatoid arthritis in which two or more joints are affected.

If you have osteoarthritis, you may be concerned by warnings that you should not increase your vitamin C intake. But know that those warnings are based on a 2004 study on guinea pigs!

Studies on humans show vitamin C actually reduces pain, cartilage loss and disease progression.

Reason #2: Healthier Joint Tissue

Pineapple is a great source of the trace mineral manganese.

Manganese is absolutely essential for building healthy joint tissue and dense bones. One cup of pineapple provides 128% of the RDA for manganese.

Research shows that manganese tackles free radicals that can damage joint cartilage.

Tip: It’s best to eat your pineapple raw. Fruit skewers alternating fresh pineapple chunks with strawberries is a great way to do that. Grilled and cooked pineapple is extraordinarily tasty too.

Reason #3: Smoother Joint Movement

Pineapple’s enzymes literally clean up “rusty” joints. When you eat pineapple on an empty stomach, the enzymes go right to work on your joints.

Tip: If you eat pineapple with other foods, the enzymes divert their activity to digesting the rest of your meal instead of the gunk in your joints.

So keep pineapple around for between-meal snacks. Juice the hard inner core as well to take advantage of the concentrated bromelain located there.

Reason #4: Pain Relief

For optimal arthritis pain-relief, eat fresh pineapple.

The bromelain in pineapple is destroyed by heat, so fresh pineapple will give you the most benefit.

Frozen pineapple retains active enzymes, but canned fruit and commercially processed juice don’t provide the anti-inflammatory benefit of fresh fruit.

It’s important to note bromelain causes anti-clotting activity…

So you should consult with your physician before combining pineapple with blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, or aspirin.

Tip: If the fruit needs to ripen, keep it on your kitchen counter for a couple days. You’ll know it’s sweet and ready to eat when the bottom softens a bit.

Reason #5: Protection from Inflammation

Pineapple’s bromelain halts inflammation.

The sulfur-based enzyme bromelain in fresh pineapple is one of the best-researched natural anti-inflammatory agents around.

Bromelain clobbers inflammatory agents that trigger joint pain and cartilage degeneration.

A 2006 study cited in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology found that supplemental bromelain is effective in easing discomfort from hip arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation stated that pineapple’s bromelain produces effects comparable to NSAIDs for relieving pain and inflammation.

UK researchers reviewed ten studies on osteoarthritis and bromelain. They found that every single one confirmed bromelain’s benefits.

Tip: Most of the bromelain in pineapples is found in the core and the stem. So don’t throw away that tough, fibrous core!

Just chop it up, throw it in a blender with some water and pulse to convert it to juice.

If you’d like to discover more “superfoods” that can halt your arthritis…

And also drastically reduce your chances of being afflicted by cancer, heart disease, diabetes…

Check out my Arthritis Interrupted e-book. It provides you with real and immediate ways to start improving your health and healing your arthritis…

For a pain-free life!

http://itsallaboutwomen.com/health/the-effective-sweet-treat-that-relieves-arthritis-pain/

Chew on these facts

Steve Yap

Posted on 7 June 2010 - 06:33pm

A SIGNIFICANT number of adults suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort or disorders arising from poor digestion, mal-absorption or unhealthy bowel flora (bad bacteria) in their digestive tract (Drossman et al, 1993).

Eli Metchnikoff, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1908, made the now famous statement that “death begins in the colon”. He discovered that friendly bacteria could normalise bowel habit and fight disease-causing bacteria and parasites. He also discovered that the good bacteria, B. acidophilus, could prolong one’s life.

Managing our bowel flora is critical to our medium- and long-term health. The main digestive enzyme in our saliva is amylase, which can break down complex starch (polysaccharides) into maltose (diasaccharides) and glucose (monosaccharides).

Swallowing solid food before it is thoroughly chewed puts a strain on our digestive system. This is the principal cause of poor digestion and mal-absorption of nutrients. It can also cause uncomfortable bloating and excessive gas production.

It pays rich dividends to ensure that your teeth are strong enough to chew high fibre foods, nuts, seeds, complex starches and meat. Filling them with ‘silver’ is ill-advised as its large mercury content can bring grave health consequences later on.

Protein is broken down by the enzyme pepsin in the stomach into polypeptides, which are later broken down into amino acids by pancreatic juices when the ball of food (chyme) has ‘travelled’ down to the duodenum and small intestines. Hormones are believed to play the role in releasing the chyme.

Low digestive acid level (hypochlorhydria) can be improved by taking minerals like magnesium and zinc. Digestive juices in the stomach break down approximately 40% of starch, 12% of proteins, but none of the dietary fats consumed.

Other than alcohol, some excess water and glucose, very little gets absorbed in the stomach. This explains why drinking alcohol on an empty stomach creates such a rapid response from its toxicity.

The 20-foot-long small intestine (gut) represents our principal digestive order. Its segment-to-segment contraction (motor activity) moves the chyme, while complex enzymes and hormones aid digestion and proper absorption.

Our diet decides the type of bacteria that lives in our colon. Low fibre and high meat diets create toxicity and can lead to colon cancer (Bingham et al 2003). Most adults do well on a high-vegetable diet rather than a diet rich in sweet fruits. Only probiotics from human origin are recommended for therapy to improve intestinal flora.

> H.PYLORI

This bacterium is commonly found in uncooked fish or meat. It is the main cause of gastric ulcers, gastric inflammation, and stomach cancer (Dowsett and Kowolik 2003). It can be destroyed by either special antibiotics or nutraceuticals or both. The Japanese are known to have the highest stomach cancer rates in the world.

> FOOD ALLERGIES

This can be tested by the serum IgG and IgE antibodies score. Elevated score for the former suggests the presence of allergies with delayed reactions whereas elevated score for the latter could mean acute allergic attack from problematic foods consumed.

In addition to foods that trigger the allergies, delayed allergic reactions can come from candidiasis (yeast infection) promoted by refined starch, sugar and sweet fruits. Tropical fruits are unlikely to rot quickly unless loaded with fungi attracted by their high fructose content.

Nutritional therapists use vitamin C to reduce IgE production of histamine, which manifests the allergy, and quercetin to reduce the unpleasant effects of allergies.

Foods rich in this flavonoid include onion, guava fruit and leaves, and green apple skin (but beware of its several layers of preservatives/wax).

> LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

This is believed to be caused by chronic inflammation of the gut resulting in tiny intestinal ‘gaps’ which allow toxins and semi-digestive foods to leak into the bloodstream causing allergies and possibly autoimmune disorders in the long term.

Many individuals are allergic to gluten found in products made from wheat (bread, noodles, biscuits, and buns), oat (instant oat, oatmeal), rye, and barley. Rice and millet are free from gluten.

Regular consumption of foods which cause allergies can trigger strong immune response resulting in chronic inflammation. The same may be said about ‘safe’ foods containing preservatives, colours, pesticides and high refined starch or sugar.

Avoidance of the offending foods is essential for recovery. In addition, the free-form nutrient L-glutamine is widely used by nutritional therapists to repair the lining of the gut.

> IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

The symptoms include bloating, diarrhoea/constipation, abdominal cramps, excessive gas, and heartburn. IBS is believed to be caused by improper diets consisting of excess refined starches, sugars, omega-6 fats, and pro-inflammatory foods over prolonged period, other than the possible presence of GI diseases and colon tumour/cancer.

Pineapple enzyme bromelain, and nutraceuticals such as gingerol, curcumin, and EPA/DHA are often used to control or reverse IBS.

http://www.thesundaily.my/node/142147

Pineapple - the joint pain reliever

The Effective Sweet Treat that Relieves Arthritis Pain

 

by Jim Healthy on October 19th, 20121 Comment

 

Did you know that there are certain kinds of foods that actually help reduce or even stop arthritis pain?

These “superfoods” are usually easy to find and inexpensive.

Of all the foods that help fight against arthritis — delicious, sweet pineapple comes up close to the top of the list.

The Sweet Pain Reliever

For generations, people around the world have used fresh pineapple to ease their arthritis inflammation.

Loaded with joint-protecting vitamin C, pineapple is undoubtedly a superior arthritis-healing food.
Its anti-inflammatory ingredient — bromelain — is so potent that many boxers drink the juice after fights to heal their bruises.

A 1960 study compared boxers who took bromelain with those receiving a placebo.

In just four days, an amazing 78% of those taking bromelain were inflammation-free, while only 14% of the control group had recovered.

Other than bromelain, pineapple also contains manganese, which strengthens bones and protects joints.

Here are 5 reasons you should be indulging in this delicious fruit if you struggle with joint pain and arthritis:

Reason #1: Joint Protection

Higher intake levels of the antioxidant vitamin C is essential for people with arthritis…

And just one cup of pineapple has a whopping 94% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA)!
Research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that vitamin C-rich foods protect against inflammatory polyarthritis, a type of rheumatoid arthritis in which two or more joints are affected.

If you have osteoarthritis, you may be concerned by warnings that you should not increase your vitamin C intake. But know that those warnings are based on a 2004 study on guinea pigs!

Studies on humans show vitamin C actually reduces pain, cartilage loss and disease progression.

Reason #2: Healthier Joint Tissue

Pineapple is a great source of the trace mineral manganese.

Manganese is absolutely essential for building healthy joint tissue and dense bones. One cup of pineapple provides 128% of the RDA for manganese.

Research shows that manganese tackles free radicals that can damage joint cartilage.

Tip: It’s best to eat your pineapple raw. Fruit skewers alternating fresh pineapple chunks with strawberries is a great way to do that. Grilled and cooked pineapple is extraordinarily tasty too.

Reason #3: Smoother Joint Movement

Pineapple’s enzymes literally clean up “rusty” joints. When you eat pineapple on an empty stomach, the enzymes go right to work on your joints.

Tip: If you eat pineapple with other foods, the enzymes divert their activity to digesting the rest of your meal instead of the gunk in your joints.

So keep pineapple around for between-meal snacks. Juice the hard inner core as well to take advantage of the concentrated bromelain located there.

Reason #4: Pain Relief

For optimal arthritis pain-relief, eat fresh pineapple.

The bromelain in pineapple is destroyed by heat, so fresh pineapple will give you the most benefit.

Frozen pineapple retains active enzymes, but canned fruit and commercially processed juice don’t provide the anti-inflammatory benefit of fresh fruit.

It’s important to note bromelain causes anti-clotting activity…

So you should consult with your physician before combining pineapple with blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, or aspirin.

Tip: If the fruit needs to ripen, keep it on your kitchen counter for a couple days. You’ll know it’s sweet and ready to eat when the bottom softens a bit.

Reason #5: Protection from Inflammation

Pineapple’s bromelain halts inflammation.

The sulfur-based enzyme bromelain in fresh pineapple is one of the best-researched natural anti-inflammatory agents around.

Bromelain clobbers inflammatory agents that trigger joint pain and cartilage degeneration.

A 2006 study cited in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology found that supplemental bromelain is effective in easing discomfort from hip arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation stated that pineapple’s bromelain produces effects comparable to NSAIDs for relieving pain and inflammation.

UK researchers reviewed ten studies on osteoarthritis and bromelain. They found that every single one confirmed bromelain’s benefits.

Tip: Most of the bromelain in pineapples is found in the core and the stem. So don’t throw away that tough, fibrous core!

Just chop it up, throw it in a blender with some water and pulse to convert it to juice.
If you’d like to discover more “superfoods” that can halt your arthritis…

And also drastically reduce your chances of being afflicted by cancer, heart disease, diabetes…
Check out my Arthritis Interrupted e-book. It provides you with real and immediate ways to start improving your health and healing your arthritis…

For a pain-free life!

About the Author:
Jim Healthy is a noted health reporter, author and the co-author of The Healthy Body Book and Arthritis Interrupted, with Stephen Sinatra, MD.
During his 35-year writing career, Jim has helped break the news about the biggest healing discoveries of the past 30 years, including glucosamine-chondroitin, fish oil, omega-3 foods, and olive oil, as well as the inflammatory effects of eating refined carbs and processed food products

 

Source: The Effective Sweet Treat that Relieves Arthritis Pain

Pineapple Enzyme Bromelain Destroys Cancer

Danica Collins

The enzyme bromelain, found in pineapple, is one of several natural foods you can use to prevent cancer, fight cancer if you have it, and minimize the effects of radiation therapy that often cause as much damage to healthy cells as they do to cancerous cells.
  
Chemotherapy is the most common form of treatment for cancer in the United States. It has been used for the past four decades despite the fact that it ravages the body, weakening the immune system until it can no longer function properly.

The cure is often worse than the disease, pushing scientists to search for natural cancer-fighting solutions.

Bromelain Destroys the Cancer – Not Your Body

One such solution is compounds that act with “selective cytotoxicity” – shrinking or killing cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. This ability is only found in nature and, so far, science has been unable to duplicate it.

Bromelain is the pineapple enzyme that digests proteins and it exhibits this ability. It is found in the stem and the fruit of the pineapple. You can also get small quantities in juice, but for true cancer-fighting power, you need to consider a pineapple enzyme extract.

Until recently, getting enzymes into your bloodstream (where they can do the most good) has been almost impossible. Enzymes are broken down in the stomach before ever reaching the rest of your body.

Now scientists are using enteric coatings that resist stomach acid and break down only in specific locations of your intestines so the full benefit is achieved.

Getting enough natural enzymes into your system is crucial to total body health. Raw, organic fruits and vegetables take some of the enzyme production stress off your body – and aid in better digestion – so the unused enzymes can find and kill cancerous cells.

A fruit and vegetable smoothie, abundant in natural enzymes, should be consumed early in the day on an empty stomach. This way, resources that would normally go into breaking down your food are instead able to bolster your immune system, strengthen your cells, and fight illness.

Beyond cancer, bromelain’s extremely high anti-inflammatory properties make it a natural treatment for arthritis and bowel disorders.

Inflammation is believed to be a root cause of hundreds of diseases.

Diet is Key to Fighting Cancer

Preventing disease is always preferable to fighting it. National Cancer Institute’s Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon, PhD, MPH, RD, puts it this way, “The easiest, least-expensive way to reduce your risk for cancer is just by eating a healthy diet.”

A variety of fruits and vegetables should make up the largest portions on your plate. It leaves less room for foods that may be high in saturated fats or preservatives. Karen Collins, RD, nutritional advisor for the American Institute for Cancer Research explains, “You’re looking at creating something for a lifetime. If each month or so you enjoy [one more vegetable], then that’s great.”

6 Natural Cancer- Fighters You Need in Your Diet

• Folate – foods rich in this B-complex vitamin protect against cell mutations and can be found in orange juice, leafy greens, beans, asparagus, sunflower seeds and Marmite™ – a yeast extract spread.
• Vitamin D – several studies are ongoing due to initial evidence that this vitamin inhibits cancer cell growth by as much as a 50% reduction in breast cancer risk. You can find it in milk as well as other sources such as cod, shrimp, salmon and eggs.
• Kaempferol– a flavonoid found in teas, this compound has shown remarkable effects against ovarian and breast cancer. Four cups each day is suggested. Drink it year-round, iced or hot, for added benefit.
• Cruciferous Vegetables – members of the cabbage family such as kale, broccoli, spinach and greens have been shown to protect against prostate and colon cancers. More incredibly, mice with cancerous tumors showed a reduction in tumor size just one month after being treated with a substance derived from cruciferous veggies. Raw is best, but if you must cook them, a light steam will ensure you trap the powerful antioxidants inside. Chew well and never microwave!
• Curcumin – this is the primary compound in curry powder. Loaded with extreme anti-inflammatory properties, this spice fights cancer while adding delicious flavor to your favorite meals. University of Texas biochemist, Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD, had this to say: “Among all the cancers we and others have examined, no cancer yet has been found which is not affected by curcumin. This is expected, as inflammation is the mediator for most cancer.”
• Ginger – scientists have discovered that ginger works in two ways against cancer. It kills cells while leaving healthy cells undamaged (apoptosis) and tricks cancer cells into digesting themselves (autophagy). Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how it works but advise adding non-toxic ginger to your diet.

Inflammation and cell mutation is believed to be the core cause of cancer. Adding bromelain pineapple enzyme and these natural cancer-fighters to your diet will work to prevent cancer from forming in the first place.

If you have cancer, these foods will help control inflammation caused by chemotherapy, help you recover more quickly from surgical procedures, and protect the healthy cells in your body from further damage.

Further Related Reading:

• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Purple Potatoes Offer Powerful Cancer Prevention
• How to Heal Dangerous Chronic Diseases in Your Kitchen

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/pineapple-enzyme-fights-cancer

Nature's Alternative to Chemotherapy?

The Latest Weapon in the War on Cancer: Honey Bees

Nature's Alternative to Chemotherapy? (Slows Cancer Growth by 50%)

November 24, 2012 | 8,611 views

 

Story at-a-glance

• Propolis, the “caulk” honeybees use to patch holes in their hives, may slow the growth of prostate cancer
• When low oral doses of a propolis extract were given to mice with prostate tumors, tumor growth slowed by 50 percent, and feeding the substance to mice daily caused the tumors to stop growing
• Propolis has powerful immune-modulating effects, along with potent antioxidant and anti-microbial action, and healing, analgesic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties
• Like propolis, a handful of additional natural compounds have been discovered that show promise for treating cancer without the toxic effects caused by chemotherapy; bromelain, vitamin C, turmeric (curcumin) and eggplant extract are among them

By Dr. Mercola

Propolis, the "caulk" honeybees use to patch holes in their hives, has been used as a natural remedy since ancient times, treating ills ranging from sore throats and burns to allergies.

New research has revealed another exciting use for this seemingly miraculous substance, this time in the fight against cancer.

Propolis Slows Tumor Growth

Propolis has a number of well-known therapeutic properties, including potent antioxidant and anti-microbial action, and healing, analgesic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the hive, bees use it as a disinfectant against bacteria and viruses, helping to seal cracks and "embalm" invaders that are too large to carry out.

It's been used for thousands of years in folk medicine, but despite its plethora of active components, research on this compound, and therefore its modern medical uses, is limited.

Researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center, intrigued by propolis' anti-cancer potential, decided to look at one of its bioactive components, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), and its impact on human prostate cancer cells.

In cells grown in a lab, even small doses of CAPE slowed the growth of tumor cells. And when low oral doses were given to mice with prostate tumors, tumor growth slowed by 50 percent! What's more, feeding CAPE to mice daily caused the tumors to stop growing, although they returned when the CAPE was removed from their diets.

This suggests the propolis compound works by impacting signaling networks that control cancerous cell growth, rather than by killing the cells directly. However, there are at least four studies on propolis' apoptotic properties, indicating that technically it is capable of directly killing cancer cells, including prostate cancer, melanoma and more, as well.¹

This is not the first time propolis has shown promise in treating cancer. In 2009, propolis was found to suppress the growth of neurofibromatosis-associated tumors (tumors on nerve tissue) by blocking PAK1 signaling. Researchers noted:²

"Since more than 70% of human cancers such as breast and prostate cancers require the kinase PAK1 for their growth, it is quite possible that GPE [green propolis extract] could be potentially useful for the treatment of these cancers, as is Bio 30 [a CAPE-based propolis extract]."

Propolis Has Powerful Immune-Modulating, Anti-Inflammatory Properties

What makes natural compounds so exciting, and often so powerful, is that they don't simply exhibit one therapeutic action the way, say, most drugs work. Instead, they contain numerous bioactive components that may exert dozens of beneficial actions within your body. This appears to be the case with propolis, which has been found to play a role in over 80 conditions, including:³

Inflammation	Ulcers	Radiation damage
Herpes	Warts	Periodontitis
Ear infections	Respiratory tract infections	Flu
Cataracts	Oxidative stress	Staph infection

Writing in Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology, researchers expanded on some of propolis' potential effects:⁴

"Propolis, a waxy substance produced by the honeybee, has been adopted as a form of folk medicine since ancient times. It has a wide spectrum of alleged applications including potential anti-infection and anticancer effects. Many of the therapeutic effects can be attributed to its immunomodulatory functions. The composition of propolis can vary according to the geographic locations from where the bees obtained the ingredients.

Two main immunopotent chemicals have been identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C. Propolis, CAPE, and artepillin C have been shown to exert summative immunosuppressive function on T lymphocyte subsets but paradoxically activate macrophage function.

On the other hand, they also have potential antitumor properties by different postulated mechanisms such as suppressing cancer cells proliferation via its anti-inflammatory effects; decreasing the cancer stem cell populations; blocking specific oncogene signaling pathways; exerting antiangiogenic effects; and modulating the tumor microenvironment.

The good bioavailability by the oral route and good historical safety profile makes propolis an ideal adjuvant agent for future immunomodulatory or anticancer regimens."

Other Natural Remedies Also Show Cancer Promise

One of the reasons why conventional cancer treatment is such a dismal failure in the United States is because it relies on chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are, by their very nature, extremely toxic and typically work against your body's natural ability to fight cancer, e.g. destroying host immunity instead of supporting it.
One of the biggest drawbacks to chemotherapy is the fact that it destroys healthy cells throughout your body right along with cancer cells, a "side effect" that often leads to accelerated death, not healing.

Another devastating side effect of chemotherapy is the way it actually supports the more chemo-resistant and malignant cell subpopulations within tumors (e.g. cancer stem cells), both killing the more benign cells and/or quiescent cells within the tumor that keep it slow-growing, or even harmless.

As a result, this unleashes a more aggressive, treatment-resistant type of cancer to wreak havoc on your body.

Like propolis, a handful of natural compounds have been discovered that show promise for treating cancer without such toxic effects. Some of these even exhibit an effect called "selective cytotoxicity," which means they are able to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells and tissue unharmed, and even benefited one such compound is bromelain, an enzyme that can be extracted from pineapple stems. Research published in the journal Planta Medica found that bromelain was superior to the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorauracil in treating cancer in an animal study.⁵
Researchers stated:

"This antitumoral effect [of bromelain] was superior to that of 5-FU [5-fluorouracil], whose survival index was approximately 263 %, relative to the untreated control."

What makes this impact particularly impressive is that the bromelain worked without causing additional harm to the animals. The chemo drug 5-fluorauracil, on the other hand, has a relatively unsuccessful and dangerous track record despite being used for nearly 40 years. Selective cytotoxicity is indeed a property that is only found among natural compounds; no chemotherapy drug yet developed is capable of this effect. Aside from bromelain, other examples of natural compounds that have been found to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells include:

• Vitamin C: Dr. Ronald Hunninghake carried out a 15-year research project called RECNAC (cancer spelled backwards). His groundbreaking research in cell cultures showed that vitamin C was selectively cytotoxic against cancer cells.
• Eggplant extract: Solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides (BEC), which are a class of compounds extracted from plants of the Solanaceae family, such as eggplant, tomato, potato, Bell peppers, and tobacco, also impact only cancerous cells leaving normal cells alone. Eggplant extract cream appears to be particularly useful in treating skin cancer. Dr. Bill E. Cham, a leading researcher in this area, explains:

  "The mode of action of SRGs [glycoalkaloids solasodine rhamnosy glycosides (BEC)] is unlike any current antineoplastic [anti-tumor] agent. Specific receptors for the SRGs present only on cancer cells but not normal cells are the first step of events that lead to apoptosis in cancer cells only, and this may explain why during treatment the cancer cells were being eliminated and normal cells were replacing the killed cancer cells with no scar tissue being formed."

• Turmeric (Curcumin Extract): Of all the natural cancer fighters out there, this spice has been the most intensely researched for exhibiting selective cytotoxicity.⁶ Remarkably, in a 2011 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, rats administered curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric, saw a decrease in experimentally-induced brain tumors in 9 out of 11 treated, while noting that the curcumin did not affect the viability of brain cells "suggesting that curcumin selectively targets the transformed [cancerous] cells."⁷

Natural Strategies for Cancer Prevention

When it comes to cancer and other chronic diseases, effective prevention trumps progressive treatments in my eyes. I believe you can virtually eliminate your risk of ever developing cancer (and radically improve your chances of recovering from cancer if you currently have it) by following some relatively simple risk reduction strategies—all of which help promote a healthful biological environment in which your cells can thrive and combat disease naturally.

• Optimize your vitamin D levels.
• Reduce or eliminate your processed food, fructose and grain carbohydrate intake.
• Control your fasting insulin and leptin levels. Normalizing your insulin levels is one of the most powerful physical actions you can take to lower your risk of cancer, and improved insulin and leptin control is the natural outcome of reducing or eliminating fructose, grains, and processed foods from your diet.
• Normalize your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats by taking a high-quality krill oil and reducing your intake of most processed vegetable oils.
• Get regular exercise. One of the primary ways exercise lowers your risk for cancer is by reducing elevated insulin levels, which creates a low sugar environment that discourages the growth and spread of cancer cells, which thrive on sugar-based metabolism (anaerobic glycolysis). Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks. Additionally, exercise improves the circulation of immune cells in your blood. Your immune system is your first line of defense against everything from minor illnesses like a cold right up to devastating, life-threatening diseases like cancer. The trick about exercise, though, is understanding how to use it as a precise tool. This ensures you are getting enough to achieve the benefit, not too much to cause injury, and the right variety to balance your entire physical structure and maintain strength and flexibility, and aerobic and anaerobic fitness levels. If you have limited time, high-intensity Peak Fitness exercises are your best bet but ideally you should have a good strength-training program as well.
  
• Get regular, good-quality sleep.
• Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution.
• Limit your exposure and provide protection for yourself from EMF produced by cell phone towers, base stations, cell phones and WiFi stations. On May 31, 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared that cell phones are "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
• Avoid frying or charbroiling your food. Boil, poach or steam your foods instead.
• Have a tool to permanently reprogram the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is addressed. Energy psychology seems to be one of the best approaches and my particular favorite tool, as you may know, is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
• Eat at least one-third of your diet in the form of raw food.

[-] Sources and References

• ¹ GreenMedInfo Bee Propolis
• ² Phytother Res. 2009 Mar;23(3):423-7.
• ³ GreenMedInfo Bee Propolis
• ⁴ Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012 Jun 17.
• ⁵ Planta Med. 2007 Oct;73(13):1377-83.
• ⁶ GreenMedInfo Selective Cytotoxicity
• ⁷ J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Jul 18.

+] Comments (2)

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