Fruit and veggies to keep you young and help protect you against cancer.
October 5th 2007 21:41
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Yellow-orange veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes contain carotenoids.
These fight the DNA damage that can make your body old (or sick) before its time.
Over the course of your lifetime, your DNA accumulates damage every time it gets copied to create a new cell. It's like making a copy of a copy of a copy on the Xerox machine. Little flaws and imperfections start to show up. Because this happens cell-replication errors may occur which can lead to that ultimate cell-replication error: cancer and to death.
Plant pigments that give carrots and pumpkins their rich orange hues -- may help protect against the kind of DNA damage that happens with age by allowing you to copy your cells for a longer period of time.
The causes of many cancers are not known but about 1 in 3 cancers might be related to what you eat and drink. A diet that is high in fat may increase your risk for getting cancers of the breast, uterus , prostate, colon, and rectum. Being overweight increases your risk of cancers of the uterus, gallbladder, kidney, stomach, colon, and breast. Cancers of the stomach and esophagus have been linked to smoked and cured meats. Heavy use of alcohol may be related to cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx and liver.
Which foods help prevent cancer?
Fruits and vegetables contain fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that have a role in preventing cancer.
Fiber is the plant material in our diet that is not digested. It keeps food moving through our intestines. Fiber comes from whole-grain breads and cereals, as well as fruit and vegetables.
Vitamins C and E act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent or repair damage to cells caused by pollution, sunlight, and normal body processes. Excellent sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, peppers, and tomatoes. Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, seeds and nuts, leafy green vegetables, and tomatoes.
Vitamin A and folate help cells develop normally. Vitamin A is present in liver, fortified dairy products, eggs, and butter. Asparagus, leafy green vegetables, and fortified cereals are good sources of folate.
Phytochemicals are natural chemicals that give plants their color, flavor, smell, and texture. Phytochemicals are found only in plants, so it is important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and beans.
For a diet that helps protect you against cancer:
* Eat a variety of foods.
* Eat at least 4 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables every day.
* Eat more whole-grain breads, pastas, and cereals.
* Eat less fat. When you eat meat, trim off the fat and skin. Use nonfat or low-fat dairy products. Remember that many desserts are usually high in both fats and calories.
* Eat more fish and white meat from chicken, and turkey and less red meat (beef, lamb, pork). Also eat less smoked and processed foods
* Change how you cook. Grilling, broiling, and frying meat at a high temperature creates chemicals that may increase your cancer risk. The same meat cooked in a stew or steamed, poached or microwaved is safer.
* Drink alcohol moderately if at all. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, and liver are increased if you have more than 1 drink a day if you are a woman or 2 drinks a day if you are a man.
* Ask your health care provider about vitamin and mineral supplements.
* If you are overweight, talk to your provider about losing weight.
Diet and lifestyle changes can help you take control of your health. Make healthy choices about regular physical activity, weight, alcohol, smoking, and the foods you eat. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or special concerns about your risk of cancer.
And for a sweet treat try a piece of carrot cake to increase your carotenoids.
Extracted from Real Age: electronic circulation available for free.
Stay young and healthy
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Comment by JoH
I've heard that blueberries are the absolute wonderfruit! Packed full of vitamin c and antioxidents! I try to buy them as often as I can, but they can be quite pricey.
Comment by katyzzz
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As regards price I told a small story here on one of my recent blogs about buying a very small punnet for $5, the next time I shopped they had gone to $7 so I gave them a miss, then strolling into Woolworths during the week they had fallen to just $3, so I bought, all as the result of a little buyer resistance there, I think.
I'm really pleased you enjoyed my post.
katyzzz
Comment by Krystal
feelings
I think I really shall have to find a stategy to cope.
Crystal
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
hhhmmm I didn`t realise that grilling was not a good way to cook. I tend to grill most of my food... bit scary!
Excellent info and that pic makes my mouth water. I`d love to see fresh guava`s in stores here - they are delish!
Ash
Comment by katyzzz
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Come on, be brave, a girl, who can get up to all the tricks overseas that you did, can confront a fruiterer.
Let me know how you go.
katyzzz
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katyzzz
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Mis
Comment by Louie
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by katyzzz
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katyzzz..at least I'm not a walrus.....anything to get votes, eh?...must try it.