Drinking Green Tea Prevents Liver Toxicity

Did You Know…that drinking green tea before you supplement with green tea extract may help protect against liver toxicity?

Danica Collins

Nearly 69% of American adults are considered overweight or obese.  And as evidenced by the nearly $1 billion spent on weight loss aids every year, many are turning to supplements for help—such as green tea extract.

Green tea is highly concentrated in catechin polyphenols, natural antioxidants that offer a high level of protection against aging and disease.  Packaging those substances in a pill may seem convenient, but in the last decade a great number of individuals taking high dose green tea supplements have been diagnosed with liver toxicity.

Now, however, researchers at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences have found a possible safeguard for those wishing to supplement with green tea extract: drinking green tea for a few weeks before supplementation may greatly reduce the risk of liver toxicity.

Possible Protection from Green Tea 

Green tea extracts are highly concentrated in the polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).  EGCG is a demonstrated culprit in liver toxicity when consumed in high doses.  For the Penn State study, researchers separated mice into 2 groups.  Both groups were fed high doses of EGCG for 3 days, equivalent to the dose found in human green tea extract supplements.  However, one group of mice was fed a diet containing low-level ECGC for 2 weeks prior to treatment. After 3 days exposure to high doses of EGCG, researchers checked the mice’s blood levels in order to determine the degree of liver toxicity.

  Mice pretreated with low-level EGCG showed a 75% reduction in liver toxicity compared to the mice that were not pretreated

  This suggests that consuming low-level EGCG a few weeks prior to taking green tea supplements may help protect your liver

Josh Lambert, associate professor of food science, explains: “If you are going to take green tea supplements, drinking green tea for several weeks or months ahead of time may reduce your potential side effects.”

Green Tea for Weight Loss 

Lambert points out that people can drink 10 to 20 cups of green tea a day with no reported liver toxicity. Perhaps that’s because you can’t drink 20 cups of green tea all at once, whereas you can take a green tea supplement with that high of a dose all at once, which could be what’s spurring on liver damage.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, drinking 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day delivers 240-320 milligrams of health-promoting polyphenols for both disease protection and weight loss.

Green Tea Research Numerous studies have shown that green tea helps reduce appetite and boost metabolism.   A recent analysis of 11 human trials showed a 3-pound average body weight loss in those who drank green tea.   Even greater benefits were realized when subjects exercised.   A meta-analysis published in Nutricion Hospitalaria in 2014 suggests that drinking green tea can lead to a slight reduction in the percentage of fat mass.   Sharpen mental acuity and focus   All without the side effect of liver toxicity!

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/drinking-green-tea-prevents-liver-toxicity

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Fact or Myth: Is Mouthwash Bad for You?

This is FACT.

Conventional mouthwash is designed to kill off the bad bacteria in your mouth that gives rise to tooth decay, cavities, and bad breath. But in doing so, it also destroys the healthful bacteria that comprise your oral microbiome and protect you from periodontitis and associated health complications.

Danica Collins 

Not only do conventional mouthwashes destabilize the flora in your mouth, but they also contain chemicals that have been linked to high blood pressure and oral cancers.

Does Your Mouthwash Contain Chlorhexidine? 

A 2013 study published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine showed that using mouthwash containing chlorhexidine twice daily was associated with an increase in blood pressure. Chlorhexidine kills oral nitrate-reducing microbiota that helps your blood vessels relax, and in doing so raises blood pressure levels.

In an interview with The Daily Mail, lead study author Amrita Ahluwalia explains that even small elevations in blood pressure, such as those stimulated by the loss of beneficial oral microbiota, have a dramatic influence on morbidity and mortality risk from heart disease and stroke. She also recommends not using conventional mouthwash if you are not suffering from a gum or tooth infection.

Does Your Mouthwash Contain Alcohol?

Alcohol is another health-compromising ingredient in many mouthwashes. Alcohol in mouthwash has been linked to an increased risk for oral cancer. According to a review published in the Australian Dental Journal, “there is now sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer and further feel that it is inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes.”

What About Parabens?

Parabens may be sneaking into your mouthwash in the form of methylparaben. Parabens are commonly found in antiperspirants and other cosmetics and have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. They mimic the action of estrogen, a hormone that can contribute to the growth of breast cancer tumors. Findings from a 2012 study published in the Journal of Toxicology appeared to confirm the link between parabens in toiletries and an increased risk for breast cancer.

A Homemade Mouthwash

If you’re concerned about bad breath and an overgrowth of bad oral bacteria, then ditch the conventional mouthwash for a homemade mouthwash. Mix the following ingredients together in a glass jar:

• ½ cup filtered water
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops tea tree oil

Shake before use (the baking soda will settle to the bottom) and gargle with your homemade mouthwash for 1-2 minutes.

Read more: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/fact-or-myth-is-mouthwash-bad-for-you/#

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Losing Fat from the Pancreas Reverses Type 2 Diabetes

 Nearly 30 million American adults and children have type 2 diabetes, and 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year.  

15 December 2015

Underground Health Reporter

Did You Know... 

... that you can reverse type 2 diabetes by losing fat from the pancreas?

     Nearly 30 million American adults and children have type 2 diabetes, and 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year.  This preventable disease afflicts 9% of the entire global population.  It's an epidemic, and one that researchers have been diligently trying reverse.

Newcastle University scientists might just have stumbled on a key factor in the diabetes equation.

Type 2 Diabetes: The Basics 

When your body senses the presence of sugar in your bloodstream, let's say after a meal, it releases the hormone insulin from your pancreas.  Insulin goes to work lowering the amount of sugar in your bloodstream, ushering glucose into your liver, fat, and muscle cells. As your blood sugar levels start to drop, your pancreas adjusts its release of insulin accordingly.

     When this refined system breaks down, type 2 diabetes sets in.  Glucose accumulates in your bloodstream instead of being absorbed by your cells.  Your pancreas reacts by producing more insulin to control the glucose, but eventually the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas become worn out and can't produce enough insulin to meet your body's needs.  That's where a type 2 diabetes diagnoses comes in.  Excess weight, lack of activity, and environmental factors are all thought to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

The Pancreas Fat Connection 

Professor Ray Taylor and his team at Newcastle University have discovered a link between fat in the pancreas and diabetes.  Their team showed that by reducing fat levels in the pancreas by just 1 gram, you can reverse type 2 diabetes. 

     The study was made up of 27 obese people electing to have gastric bypass surgery to induce weight loss.  Eighteen participants with type 2 diabetes and 9 without were measured for weight, fat levels in the pancreas, and insulin response before the surgery and 8 weeks after.

     Those with diabetes were found to have excess fat in the pancreas, whereas those without diabetes did not.  Eight weeks post surgery, however, the diabetic patients' pancreatic fat levels had reduced by 1.2%!  Those without diabetes still had normal fat levels in the pancreas.

     Professor Taylor explains: "For people with Type 2 diabetes, losing weight allows them to drain excess fat out of the pancreas and allows function to return to normal.  So if you ask how much weight you need to lose to make your diabetes go away, the answer is one gram!  But that gram needs to be fat from the pancreas.  At present the only way we have to achieve this is by calorie restriction by any means—whether by diet or an operation."

     Taylor's previous research in 2011 showed that what you eat can help zap the fat that clogs up your pancreas, thereby enabling insulin secretion to return to normal levels. Of course, everyone's body is unique, and the amount of fat a person's pancreas can tolerate before diabetes sets in varies.  However, without a doubt, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight are the first steps to reversing a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

     Taylor and team are presenting their findings at the World Diabetes Conference in Vancouver and publishing their research online in Diabetes Care. 

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Strong Legs Equal a Sharp Brain

Did You Know…that a new study shows that sturdy legs support brain health?

Danica Collins

It has long been known that strong muscles—especially legs muscles, the largest in the body—serve as indicators of health.  As people grow older, those whose legs are more powerful are more mobile than those with weaker legs.  More intriguing, however, is the fact that those with stronger legs also tend to have more mental acuity.

Studies clearly demonstrate the connections between leg strength and overall health, including brain health.  What is less clear, however, is the role luck plays.  Some people may start out with a genetic advantage.  Others may get an edge from their early home environments.  These factors and more combine to confound experimental results.  That’s where twins come in.

Why Twins Make the Best Research Subjects 

Because twins typically start in the same home environment, and share many (or all, if they’re identical) of their genes, they are incredibly valuable to researchers.  Twins essentially begin life on an even playing field, which means that if one twin’s body… brain… and cognitive abilities diverges dramatically from the other’s, the cause is more likely to come from that twin’s lifestyle.

With that in mind, Claire Steves, a senior lecturer in twin research at King’s College in London, turned her attention to twins and their thighs.  Steves and her colleagues pulled the records for 162 healthy, middle-aged female twin pairs from the TwinUK registry.  The registry includes health and fitness data from thousands of British twins, both identical and not.

Steves and her cohorts looked from twins who had completed memory and cognitive ability tests, as well as assessments of metabolic health and leg strength, ten years prior.  Then they brought the twins into a laboratory to repeat the cognitive tests.  Finally, they compared measures of leg power from a decade ago with shifts in brain function over the intervening years.

Sturdier Legs, Stronger Thinking 

The researchers found that the twins who had the sturdiest legs in the initial tests had the slightest declines in thinking skills.  When they controlled for potential influencing factors such as fatty diets, high blood pressure, and unbalanced blood sugar levels, the correlation held up.  The contrast in thinking skills was most distinct within twin pairs.

If one twin had sturdier legs ten years before, she tended to be a significantly stronger thinker.  On average, the more muscularly powerful twin performed about 18 percent better on the mental exercises than her sister.  Brain imaging scans of the identical twins showed a similar trend.  If one twin began with stronger legs, she showed greater brain volume and fewer “empty spaces in the brain,” than the weaker twin.  In both identical and non-identical twins, studier legs were linked to fitter brains ten years later.

Next Steps  

In order to keep their findings as objective as possible, Dr. Steves and her colleagues focused on muscles, rather than exercise habits.  People’s recollections of how frequently they work out are notoriously undependable.  That said, there was a correlation between self-reported exercise and greater leg strength.

Hopefully future studies can continue to explore this connection.  In the meantime, Dr. Steves says the results of her study suggest that anyone can support and strengthen their brain by building their leg muscles.  “I was quite surprised by the strength of the findings,” Steves said, “because to be quite honest, I am someone who has always in the past prioritized the work of the mind over the work of the body.  This study brings home to me that the brain needs exercise to keep fit.”

There’s no need for you to run out and buy a gym membership, Steves recommends simple ways to strengthen your legs that require no equipment and can be done almost anywhere, such as…

 Walking
 Running
 Dancing

There are many more ways to build leg strength, including simply standing more frequently.

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/strong-legs-equal-a-sharp-brain

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Green Tea and Prostate Cancer - MUST READ

Did You Know... 

... that green tea may help slow the progression of prostate cancer in men? 

Danica Collins

Did You Know... 

... that green tea may help slow the progression of prostate cancer in men?

     In 2015, approximately 220,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, which ranks as the second most common cancer in men.  To test the effect of botanicals on prostate cancer, researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center conducted a randomized study to see whether green tea catechins might prevent the progression of prostate cancer in men with premalignant lesions.

The Greatness of Green Tea 

Asian countries have a high population of tea drinkers, and consequently, low death rates from prostate cancer.  Research has shown that when Asian men immigrate to the United States and stop consuming green tea regularly, their risk of prostate cancer shoots up dramatically.

     Lab studies suggests it's the active compounds in green tea—called catechins—that slow cancer cell growth, motility, and invasion, while triggering cancer cell death.  Animal models have also attested to the cancer-protective benefits of green tea catechins, which help to prevent the formation of tumors and stall tumor growth.  Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main catechin in green tea, and is credited with the tea's cancer-fighting potential.

Green Tea and Prostate Cancer 

Researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center studied men with premalignant prostate cancer lesions: specifically, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP).

Men with HGPIN have prostate gland cells that exhibit abnormal patterns in the same manner that cancer cells do.

Men with ASAP have a collection of lesions on the prostate that cannot be definitively diagnosed as malignant or benign.

     The men were randomized into 2 groups.  For 1 year, 48 men took a placebo pill twice a day, and 49 men took a 200 mg green tea capsule called Polyphenon E twice a day.  At the end of the year there was no statistical difference in prostate cancer cases diagnosed between the groups, however, prostate cancer development seemed to be significantly suppressed in the group supplementing with Polyphenon E. 

     Men diagnosed with only HPIN at the start of the study had a lower combined rate of ASAP and prostate cancer development when taking green tea capsules.  The catechins in green tea, primarily EGCG, also lowered prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, an indicator of prostate cancer.  There were no reported side effects in men taking the 200 mgs capsules. 

     Another reason to make green tea your beverage of choice! 

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/green-tea-catechins-may-slow-the-progression-of-prostate-cancer

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To Wash or Not to Wash Chicken?

You know her voice when you hear it and her impressive cooking chops revolutionized the American kitchen. Did you also know that Julia Child is the reason we wash our chicken today? And did so confidently…until now.

Joe Barton 

In the mid 1900s, Child, James Beard, Bettie Crocker and other well-known cooking names, started to include poultry cleaning suggestions in their cookbooks, according to Eatocracy.CNN.com.

In 1929, Fannie Merritt Farmer told readers to wash the bird by allowing water to run through the insides, specifically suggesting to avoid soaking it in water. And she wasn’t the only cooking professional to share such advice. In 1953, readers were told the same thing by Irma Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becks.

However, in 2013 Drexel University’s “Don’t Wash Your Chicken” campaign and a timely post on NPR’s The Salt, began a nationwide debate on whether raw chicken should be washed before cooking. Do we wash it, or don’t we?

The USDA has had a firm stance on not washing raw chicken for years. “Washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces,” according to Washing Food: Does it Promote Food Safety? Not to mention “… Bacteria already present on chicken can travel up to 3-feet from where the meat is washed.”

But that’s not all. The USDA goes on to say, “Some consumers think they’re removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe. However, some of the bacteria are so tightly attached that you could not remove them no matter how many times you washed.” In fact, 80-90% of consumers wash their chicken despite recommendations to do otherwise, according to Jennifer Quinlan, PhD, the creator of the Drexel campaign.

So, despite what the infinitely wise Child and fellow professional chefs recommended, it’s clear that washing your chicken, and any other raw meat including pork and fish, is not the way to protect yourself from potential bacteria and contamination.

With proper cooking, at 165 degrees, you’ll be safe from anything harmful sans cleaning. Here’s how to “clean” your chicken:

1. Double wrap the chicken in a plastic bag and keep it in the fridge

The key here is to always keep your chicken out of the danger zone, which is between 40 and 140 degrees—if your fridge is below 40 degrees, your chicken will be safe from extra bacteria growth.

2. Don’t rinse, wipe with a dry paper towel

If you absolutely cannot cook your chicken without washing it, wipe it down with a dry paper towel. This piece of advice was also shared by Julia Child and stops you from agitating the bacteria and spreading it to other parts of your kitchen.

3. Use one cutting board

While a thorough cleaning of your cutting board should be enough to remove any bacteria, Quinlan recommends using one just for meat. Regardless, it should still be washed, or put in a dishwasher for cleaning, right away. Always use hot water and soap.

Ultimately, it’s best to be picky. If you want to wash your meat because it’s slimy or smells of chlorine, buy your chicken elsewhere. If you purchase good chicken, cook it at the right temperature and wash your hands and cooking utensils after handling, you can be sure you’re following the proper procedure. And don’t worry; your cooking idol Julia Child will forgive you for not taking her advice on this one.

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/15391/

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Wash Your Pre-Washed Greens!

Did You Know…your “Pre-Washed” Greens Often Carry Dangerous Bacteria—but the Solution is Easy, Low- or No-Cost, and Chemical-Free?

Danica Collins

Although the bag says “pre-washed,” or even “triple-washed,” the greens inside may be teeming with bacteria.  According to food safety researchers at the University of California, Riverside, the typical commercial spinach washing process fails to remove up to 90% of bacteria.

The Origins of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks 

The UC Riverside researchers found that the small peaks and valleys on baby spinach leaves prevent commercial disinfectants from completely covering the surface of the leaves.  “In a sense, the leaf is protecting the bacteria and allowing it to spread,” said Nichola Kinsinger, a post-doctoral researcher.

Bacteria find a safe haven within the leaves’ grooves, and linger there even after washing.  It can continue to survive…thrive…and even spread to other leaves in a produce facility.  Kinsinger and her fellow researchers believe the grooves in spinach leaves contributed to numerous bacterial outbreaks involving leafy green vegetables.

Earlier research, conducted in the mid-to-late 2000s, linked leafy greens to approximately 20% of all single-commodity foodborne outbreaks.  Produce contamination poses an especially concerning problem for food safety professionals, since produce is so often consumed raw.

Safeguarding Against Foodborne Sickness 

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in six Americans becomes sick as the result of foodborne contaminants.  Sadly, 3,000 of those individuals die from those diseases.  A single E. coli outbreak that began in California in 2006 ultimately spread to 26 states where it infected 199 people and killed 3.

Don’t let labeling mislead you.  In order to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from foodborne illness, experts recommend thoroughly washing all leafy greens before consuming them.  The UC Riverside study looked at spinach specifically, but they say their findings apply to a broader range of foods.  Considering the potential consequences, the old maxim “Better safe than sorry” certainly applies! 

How to Properly Clean Your Greens Celebrity chef and author Alton Brown offered an excellent tip for quickly washing greens on an episode of his television show Good Eats.  Brown suggested filling your sink with water, adding in the greens, and giving them a few good swishes.  Depending on the quantity of greens you’re cleaning, you can perform the same procedure in a large bowl or a salad spinner (which makes drying them quite convenient!). Water alone will remove the majority of bacteria from fresh produce.  If you have the time and inclination, the editors of Cook’s Illustrated carried out a series of tests that showed a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water removed 98 percent of all bacteria.  After coating the produce with the solution, rinse it off with tap water.  “The cold water will wash the residual flavor from the vinegar, and finishes the cleaning process,” said Jack Bishop, editor at Cook’s Illustrated.

If You Need Another Reason… 

In addition to taking steps to ensure the food you eat is actually clean, you can protect yourself from foodborne illness by keeping your immune system and specifically, the microflora in your gut strong.  When your gut is populated with healthy microflora, these “good” bacteria and yeast fight off the viruses and pathogenic bacteria that could otherwise make you sick.

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/wash-your-pre-washed-greens

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Beets as A Leukemia Natural Treatment

Did You Know… that beet juice is an astonishingly effective treatment for leukemia and other cancers?

Danica Collins

The beautiful crimson color of the beet comes from betacyanins, natural compounds that also happen to be extremely powerful cancer-fighting agents. Beets also contain an amino acid called betaine, packed with anti-cancer properties and unique phytochemicals called betalains.

All of these nutrients are key to the incredible health properties of the beet. Betanin, one of the most researched betalains found in beets, has significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying effects.

According to The World’s Healthiest Foods (a website run by the not-for-profit George Mateljan Foundation, devoted to fostering a healthier world), recent lab studies found that betanin pigments can impede tumor cell growth in tissues throughout the body, including the . . .

• Stomach
• Nerves
• Lungs
• Breasts
• Prostate
• Testicles

These findings provide a compelling case for further research into the value of betanins and other betalains in preventing and curing cancer.

Because beets contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules, it is statistically likely that they can reduce the risk of many kinds of cancers. With the high antioxidant content, beets are a great leukemia natural treatment. The World’s Healthiest Foods says, “Eventually, we expect to see large-scale human studies that show the [cancer] risk-reducing effect of dietary beet intake.”

So Powerful That 100% of Cancer Patients in one Study Responded Positively!

A solid scientific basis for that work already exists. In the 1950s, a Hungarian cancer therapist named Alexander Ferenczi began putting his patients on a regime of raw or juiced beetroots in addition to their normal diet. He worked exclusively with patients who had already undergone chemotherapy and radiation, and who were primarily in the final (cachexic) stage of cancer. 



All of Ferenczi’s patients responded positively to the addition of beets to their diets. There was a clear, clinical improvement in each and every one of their cancers. The beet treatment proved to be so powerful, in fact, that in some cases patients actually overdosed on beets!

In some cases, the mass injection of nutrients — especially vitamin C — contained in the beets overloaded the patients’ livers.



So, the takeaway lessons from Ferenczi’s work are that:

Beets are a more effective cancer treatment when begun early. In fact, the regular consumption of beets might be most effective as a preventative treatment.

To avoid overwhelming your body’s waste disposal system, start with small quantities of beetroot and gradually increase. If you start to feel unwell, reduce your consumption.

Beets Fight Leukemia, Tumors, and Advanced Inoperable Cancers

The results of a later study of “red beet therapy” — the consumption of approximately 2 lbs of raw, mashed beets daily — corroborate Ferenczi’s findings and suggest that beets can help your body fight against leukemia and tumors.

While eating mass quantities of mashed beets may not be the most appealing option, it may be possible to get similar results in a more digestible format. In one clinical trial, 22 patients with advanced inoperable cancers were given 10 oz. of beet juice daily for 3 to 4 months.

All but one of those patients showed marked improvements in health. Surely that’s enough to make anyone regard beets in a whole new light.

It seems clear that beets are indeed a mighty health resource. They are high in folate — a compound necessary for bone health — and not only have they been shown to be a potent anti-cancer treatment, but they also detoxify the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, blood and lymph. Beets are also helpful for relieving constipation.

How to Get the Best Benefit from Beets

Beet juice is such a strong substance that it should not be consumed on its own. Rather, mix it into another milder juice such as carrot, cucumber or apple. Dana Herbert, a natural health blogger, offers this advice to those interested in making beet juice from scratch:

“When juicing beets, alternate between pieces of beets and pieces of carrots, otherwise the beet pulp tends to build up on the sides of the spinning extraction basket and causes the juicer to vibrate.”

Dana also recommends chilling the juice for 2-3 hours prior to consumption.

The health-promoting pigments in beets can stain your skin, so it might be best to wear gloves while preparing them. If your hands do get stained, try lemon juice as a quick and nicely scented way to clean them!

Heat diminishes the concentration of phytochemicals in beets, so if you choose to cook them, World’s Healthiest Foods recommends steaming them lightly for 15 minutes, which will maximize their nutrition and flavor.

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/beets-as-a-leukemia-natural-treatment

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Using Vegetables for Cancer Therapy – Beetroot Fights Disease and Even Cures Cancer

According to Jonathan Hartwell, author of Plants Used Against Cancer, the beautiful red beet (Beta vulgaris) has been used historically to treat a number of illnesses and cancerous conditions.
Danica Collins

The disease-fighting and detoxifying benefits of the beet have been widely documented for health problems such as…

• Tumors of the intestines, head, leg, genitals, and rectum
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Breast cancer
• Leukemia

The Raw Beetroot Revolution

Medicinal use of beetroot goes back at least as far as ancient Rome. However, it was in the 1950s that Hungarian physician Alexander Ferenczi shone a bright spotlight on the power of beetroot against cancer. Using a revolutionary new treatment consisting of nothing but raw beetroot juice, Dr. Ferenczi achieved remarkable results.

He worked exclusively with patients who had already undergone chemotherapy and radiation and who were primarily in the final (cachexic) stage of cancer. All of Dr. Ferenczi’s patients responded positively to beetroot treatment. He observed a clear, clinical improvement in each and every case. The beet treatment was so powerful, in fact, that in some instances the mass intake of nutrients from the beets overloaded patients’ livers.

The results of a later study of “red beet therapy”—the consumption of approximately 2 pounds of raw, mashed beets daily—echoed Ferenczi’s findings that beets can help your body fight against leukemia and tumors.

In yet another clinical trial, 22 patients with advanced inoperable cancers were given 10 ozs. of beet juice daily for 3 to 4 months. All but one of those patients showed dramatic improvements.

The Science Behind Vegetables for Cancer-Fighting Power of Beets

Science has proven beyond all doubt that a high intake of vegetables for cancer and fruits can reduce the risk of developing cancer and other disease. Beetroot in particular is extraordinarily rich in unique disease-fighting and anti-cancer chemicals.

The beautiful, rich crimson color of the beet comes from betacyanins, natural compounds that are powerful cancer-fighting agents. Beets also contain powerful health-promoting phytochemicals called betalains.

One of the most researched betalains in beets is called betanin. Betanin has outstanding anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying effects. According to The World’s Healthiest Foods (a website run by the not-for-profit George Mateljan Foundation, devoted to fostering a healthier world), lab studies show that betanin pigments can impede tumor cell growth in tissues from the:

• Colon
• Stomach
• Nerves
• Lungs
• Breasts
• Prostate
• Testicles

The Word’s Healthiest Foods website predicts that, “Eventually, we expect to see large-scale human studies that show the [cancer] risk-reducing effect of dietary beet intake.”

Scientists speculate that the powerful chemicals in beets work synergistically to prevent and fight cancer and other diseases. In addition to betalains, vegetables for cancer, especially beets contain high levels of other important micronutrients such as:

• Vitamin C
• Farnesol
• Rutin
• Folate
• Allantoin, a powerful alkaloid

Romanian researchers proved in the 1960s that the alkaloid allantoin has anti-tumor effects. Other lab studies around the same time showed that beetroot extracts normalized the respiration of isolated cancer cells.

Additional cell culture and animal studies in the 1990s confirmed that beetroot juice had significant tumor-inhibiting effects.

Beets Don’t Just Fight Disease…They Promote Health

Beets are considered one of the most rejuvenating of all vegetables, with numerous proven benefits for virtually every system of the body- far too many to list! Just a few of the many known capacities of beets include:

• Boosting strength and stamina
• Stimulating the immune system
• Accelerating bile secretion
• Preventing cold and flu
• Reconstructing blood (and thus obstructing cancer cell development)
• Accelerating cell growth and restoring cell nucleus
• Regulating blood pressure
• Lowering body temperature
• Strengthening skin and vein walls
• Removing heavy metals and toxins from the brain
• Speeding the formation of red corpuscles (and thus improving cellular oxygenation)
• Boosting mood
• Promoting healthy nails, shiny hair and smoother skin
• Purifying and detoxifying the liver, kidneys, and bladder
• Relieving constipation
• Treating leukemia and other cancers

Tips for Administering Vegetables for Cancer Therapy

Ultimately, the effectiveness of beets is highest when early in a disease’s progression- and may be best used as a preventative treatment.

If you’re ready to try beetroot therapy for better overall health or to treat a specific health problem, you’re in good and long-standing company. The ancient Romans enjoyed a daily glass of beetroot juice to maximize health in a multitude of ways. And today’s natural health experts, including the renowned Dr. Mehmet Oz, also herald the health-giving virtues of the beet, especially as an integral part of anti-cancer diets.

Because beetroot juice is so powerful, practitioners advise that its use be gradual, with very small quantities to start, and incremental increases made over time. Experts say that feeling unwell from beet juice may be a sign of “too much of a good thing,” as your body tries to flush out more toxins than your system can efficiently eliminate.

Some experts recommend mixing beetroot juice into another milder juice such as carrot, cucumber, or apple. When juicing beets, it is advisable to alternate between pieces of beets and pieces of carrots — otherwise, excessive beet pulp could accumulate on the sides of the spinning extraction basket and cause the juicer to vibrate.

People with chronic liver or kidney problems must be especially careful about drinking raw beet juice. Over consumption could overload the liver and kidney, and therefore, should be taken only in very small doses.

While some experts recommend approximately 1/8 to 1/4 cup per day as a reasonable starting dose for beetroot juice, you should conduct your own research based on your health condition and goals, and discuss raw beetroot juice therapy with your healthcare provider.

Heat diminishes the concentration of phytochemicals in beets, so if you choose to cook them, experts recommend steaming them lightly for 15 minutes, which will maximize their nutrition and flavor.

If time is short, one quick and easy option is to try freeze-dried beetroot, available in powdered or cubed form at some health food and specialty stores. Beets used for these preparations are not subjected to the high temperatures that degrade the minerals and vitamins.

Beetroot therapy is just one of the many alternative remedies for cancer. For additional vegetables for cancer cures, particularly those considered by health practitioners as the “best of the best”, go to www.Top10NaturalCancerCures.com.

Further Related Reading:

• The Forgotten Beet
• Prevent Wrinkles and Repair Your Skin with Beet Juice
• Beet Juice Boosts Heart Health

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The Link Between Coffee and Colon Cancer

We’ve got another reason not to feel guilty for loading up on caffeinated coffee. Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston found that “Higher coffee intake may be associated with significantly reduced cancer recurrence and death in patients with stage III colon cancer.”

Danica Collins 

Recent research has shown that drinking coffee daily may help protect against type 2 diabetes, dementia, and certain cancers. This latest study throws colon cancer protection into the growing pile of coffee drinking perks. Published August 2015 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, this study is the first to cite a link between coffee and colon cancer, and hopefully not the last.

4 Cups of Coffee Is the Magic Dose

Researchers analyzed detailed dietary pattern questionnaires filled out by 952 patients with stage III colon cancer during and 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy. These questionnaires accounted for daily consumption of caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, nonherbal tea, and 128 other items, including caffeinated soft drinks and chocolate.

In analyzing the effect of coffee, nonherbal tea, and caffeine on colon cancer recurrence and death, researchers adjusted for controls such as gender, age, smoking, diet, caloric intake, consumption of sugary drinks and alcohol, weight, and physical activity. However, researchers did not adjust for use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which have exhibited an anti-cancer benefit in past studies. 

Researchers note that because this is the first study to examine the impact of coffee on colon cancer, no definitive cause-and-effect link could be established and corroborating studies need to be conducted. Dr. Charles S. Fuchs, the director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and lead researcher, explains:

“No one has ever done this before in colon cancer patients. It does require confirmation,” he said. Patients should not start drinking coffee based on this study, but, “If you’re a coffee drinker and enjoy your coffee, stick with it,” he said. “If a patient says, ‘Well I hate coffee,’ I’d say there are other things you can do, like avoid obesity, exercise regularly and follow a balanced diet.”

Results showed that colon cancer patients who drank 2-3 cups of coffee a day had a 31% lower risk of death or cancer recurrence than did patients who did not drink coffee. Patients who drank 4 or more cups of coffee each day had a 52% less risk of death or cancer recurrence than abstainers did! Nonherbal tea and decaf coffee showed no such association on patient outcome.

The protective benefits of coffee, especially on diabetes, is normally attributed to its antioxidant properties; however, results from this most recent study suggest it’s the caffeine factor that offers the potential benefit. Increasing caffeine intake also conferred a significant reduction in death risk and cancer recurrence. Scientists hypothesize that caffeine increases insulin sensitivity, which means your body becomes more responsive to insulin and your pancreas doesn’t need to produce as much of the hormone. This helps lower inflammation in your body and protect against type 2 diabetes and cancer.

The moral of the research? If you’ve been struggling to give up your coffee addiction, then maybe relax, unless, of course, you’re following doctor’s orders. And if you’re not a coffee drinker, no reason to start. Enjoy the antioxidant power and smaller dose of caffeine in heart healthy black tea!

Further Related Reading:

• Coffee vs Tea
• One More Cup of Coffee a Day May Help Prevent Diabetes
• Take Another Sip of Coffee and Green Tea Reduce Stroke Risks

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Fact or Myth: Does Yoga Protect Against Heart Disease?

Yoga is an ancient Indian mind-body practice that combines the physical with the mental and spiritual to strengthen the body and the mind and reduce stress.
Danica Collins

This is a FACT…

Yoga is an ancient Indian mind-body practice that combines the physical with the mental and spiritual to strengthen the body and the mind and reduce stress. Over the last few decades it has spread globally and taken the Western world by storm. Yoga definitely has something for everyone, as there are countless styles to choose from—from vigorous Ashtanga flows to more meditative Integral yoga practices. But how does yoga compare to more traditional workouts, like bicycling or brisk walking? And does yoga protect against heart disease?

According to a 2014 meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled studies made up of 2,768 people and published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, yoga offers the same protective benefits against heart disease as more traditional forms of exercise do.

Yoga Improves Heart Disease Risk Factors

Researchers from the United States and the Netherlands measured yoga’s effect on heart disease against the effect of traditional exercise and the effect of no exercise on heart disease. Their systematic review turned up some interesting findings.

While no exercise had zero consequence on lowering heart disease risk, yoga improved the following markers:

• A reduction in body mass index (BMI) of 0.77 kg/m²
• A reduction in systolic blood pressure of 5.21 mm Hg
• A reduction in diastolic blood pressure of 4.9 mm Hg
• A reduction in LDL cholesterol of 12.14 mg/dl
• An increase in HDL cholesterol of 3.20 mg/dl
• A reduction in total cholesterol of 18.48 mg/dl
• A reduction in body weight of just over 5 pounds
• A reduction in heart rates of 5.27 beats per minute

Patients already diagnosed with coronary artery disease showed dramatic improvement in cholesterol levels when a yoga practice was implemented alongside a regimen of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

How Does Yoga Protect Against Heart Disease Compared to Traditional Forms of Exercise?

Very well! Researchers noted that yoga offers a cardioprotective benefit on par with brisk walking and bicycling, and is an excellent alternative for those who can’t engage in traditional forms of exercise.

Researchers also noted that the mechanism behind this effect is still unclear, but could be linked to yoga’s ability to lower stress levels, “leading to positive impacts on neuroendocrine status, metabolic and cardio-vagal function.”

All you need is a mat and your own body weight to start practicing yoga today, and to begin enjoying its heart-healthy benefits.

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Further Related Reading:

• Yoga Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk
• Ward off Illness with Yoga Nidra
• The Health Benefits of Yoga More Powerful than Anti-Anxiety…

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Coffee May Help Reduce Your Risk for Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, and one of the trickiest to diagnose.  Symptoms often remain hidden until it is too late.
Danica Collins

Did You Know…that coffee may help reduce your risk for liver cancer?

Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, and one of the trickiest to diagnose.  Symptoms often remain hidden until it is too late.  In 2012, 745,000 people worldwide died from liver cancer, and many of these deaths could have been avoided.

Obesity and high alcohol consumption greatly increase one’s likelihood of developing liver cancer, but it appears that an everyday habit already enjoyed by many people around the world may help slash your liver cancer risk by as much as 14%.

How Coffee Can Help 

According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), just 1 cup of coffee each day can cut your risk for liver cancer by 14%.  This update is part of an ongoing WCRF initiative called the Continuous Update Project, which analyzes global research on the effects diet, nutrition, physical activity, and weight have on cancer risk and survival.

This latest update was based on 34 scientific studies made up of approximately 8 million men and women, 24,500 of which had liver cancer.  Analysts discovered that coffee seems to exhibit a protective influence on some of the damage caused by high alcohol intake.  The authors of the study explain:

“Both coffee and coffee extracts have also been shown to reduce the expression of genes involved in inflammation, and the effects appear to be most pronounced in the liver.”

Coffee was also shown to neutralize aflatoxins, which are toxins that arise from molds in certain foods that are not properly stored.  These aflatoxins aren’t just found in alcohol, but also in cereal, spices, peanuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, chilies, black pepper, and dried fruit and figs.  Coffee demonstrated a protective effect against all!

The WCRF also noted that drinking 3 or more glasses of alcohol a day greatly increases your risk of developing liver cancer.  They recommend that men drink no more than 2 alcoholic beverages a day, and women drink no more than 1.

How Much Is Too Much?

While this update is good news for coffee drinkers, those who drink 4 or more cups of coffee per day still need to beware.  The Mayo Clinic sets safe coffee consumption at no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day.  Four or more cups of coffee ushers in a host of health problems, including…

• Insomnia
• Elevated heart rate
• Raised blood pressure
• Stomach upset and disturbed digestion
• Muscle tremors
• Nervousness and restlessness

These caffeine reactions can then cause a domino effect of health conditions throughout the body.  One way to resist going overboard on the coffee is to switch it up with some tea before you reach for your third cup.  That way you also get the antioxidant-rich benefits of tea in addition to the liver-protective properties in your cup of Joe!

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