| Folk wisdom has always singled out fruits and | | | | from developing tumors. |
| vegetables as being indispensable for health, but it | | | | Sulforaphane, another phytochemical in cruciferous |
| has only been within the last thirty years that we | | | | vegetables, triggers a self-defense system in the |
| know why. Science and technology have isolated | | | | body that acts to detoxify carcinogens. Spinach |
| compounds in plants and vegetables that have | | | | contains four times more beta carotene than |
| literally been our life-savers. These are | | | | broccoli and is a good source of vitamins C and E. |
| phytonutrients which all fruits and vegetables | | | | It also has high levels of photosynthetic proteins |
| produce because their means of survival in the | | | | which convert sunlight into energy. Researchers at |
| environment is through the release of | | | | the Massachussetts Institute of Technology are |
| disease-fighting phytochemicals. | | | | harnessing the power of spinach in a new |
| Phytochemicals stimulate the production of | | | | direction--creating highly cost-effective solar |
| protective self-repairing cells in plants. They also | | | | panels. |
| produce the same kinds of responses in humans. | | | | Soy is another phytonutrient rich food. Soy |
| For example, they release protective enzymes | | | | products contain genestein, which has been shown |
| that inhibit cancer-producing substances, thus | | | | to have strong anti-cancer properties. It contains |
| reducing our susceptibility to disease. It makes | | | | as well phytoestrogen, which has been shown to |
| sense for us to harness the powers of plants in | | | | reduce the risk and spread of prostate cancer. |
| our diets. Four sources of phytonutrients that | | | | Researchers suggest that the phytonutrient |
| cannot be ignored if we want to remain healthy | | | | isoflavones, like phytoestrogen, may reduce the |
| and cancer free are berries, cruciferous and dark, | | | | risk of breast cancer. |
| leafy vegetables, soy and red wine. | | | | Another isoflavone compound in soy called |
| Berries, such as blueberries, cranberries, | | | | daidzein has also been found to improve |
| strawberries, blackberries, raspberries offer the | | | | cholesterol and triglyceride levels in women. A |
| highest sources of phytonutrients. They all | | | | study conducted at the Cedars-Sinai Medical |
| produce a natural substance called ellagic acid | | | | Center in Los Angeles has uncovered evidence |
| which has been shown to be a good defense | | | | that this estrogen-like compound is the main |
| against carcinogens because they suppress tumor | | | | reason for soy's healthy effects. Women with low |
| development. Blueberries have the highest | | | | estrogen levels seemed to have benefited most |
| antioxidant content. High in flavonoids, they also | | | | from daidzein, which reduced LDL cholesterol and |
| provide powerful protection against prostate | | | | total cholesterol levels, leading researchers to |
| cancer. | | | | recommend that women include soy food |
| Two and a half cups of fresh strawberries a day | | | | products as part of their cardiovascular risk |
| can supply enough vitamin C to help restore | | | | reduction strategies. |
| sperm production in men. Cranberries have been | | | | And last but not least is the phytonutrient, |
| known to prevent cystisis, a painful and often | | | | resveratrol, found in red wine, that literally makes |
| recurring urinary tract infection in women. A study | | | | wine drinking a cancer-fighting measure. |
| involving 72 postmenopausal women found that | | | | Resveratrol is present in the leaves, twigs and |
| 10 ounces of cranberry juice every day reduced | | | | bark of the grape vines. And red wine, which is |
| the likelihood of bladder infection by 58%. | | | | fermented from grape skins, seeds and twigs |
| Cranberries have also been shown to reduce | | | | tends to have large quantities of these |
| stomach ulcers and lower LDL cholesterol levels. | | | | cancer-fighting substances. |
| Cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, Brussels | | | | Resveratrol has also been demonstrated to be a |
| sprouts, cauliflower) and dark leafy vegetables | | | | potent antioxidant (more potent than vitamin C |
| (like swiss chard, spinach) also have high levels of | | | | alone) which can act synergistically with vitamin C, |
| antioxidant phytonutrients. In a study conducted | | | | thus enhancing the effects of each. It also |
| by New York's Strang-Cornell Cancer Research | | | | prevents the formation of blood clots and |
| Laboratory, women who consumed a diet high in | | | | promotes the formation of new dendrites in the |
| cruciferous vegetables experienced a dramatic | | | | brain. |
| drop in estrogen levels, which means that these | | | | Let us put all these phytonutrients to good use. |
| vegetable are definitely powerful tools for fighting | | | | Why not sit down to a hearty soy burger, |
| against breast cancer. The assumption is that the | | | | broccoli spears and cauliflower salad, warm berry |
| phytochemicals in these vegetables deactivate | | | | compote and a glass of red wine? Yummy! Life |
| potent estrogens, thus preventing | | | | cannot be better! |
| estrogen-sensitive cells, particularly in the breast , | | | | |