10 Foods that Fight Disease
Cranberries: Drinking cranberry juice has been a popular treatment for bladder infections. In a study in 1989, two unique compounds were discovered in cranberries that block the ability of bacteria to attach to the surface cells of the bladder. Studies have shown that if the elderly drink one to two glasses of cranberry juice a day, this could prevent urinary tract infections by two thirds to one-half.
Tomatoes: Sliced, pureed, in salads or sauces, tomatoes are one of the healthiest vegetables available. They are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which is thought to protect against cancers of the colon and bladder. Tomatoes are also good sources of vitamin C, beta-carotene and potassium, which can help protect against heart disease.
Soybeans: Come in many forms…ground into flour, shaped into tofu, or fresh in a green pea-like pod. Soybeans are becoming more prevalent in the American diet, but they have been a staple in the Asian diet for sometime. Researchers have discovered that soy contains a substance called genistein, which protects against certain cancers. Along with tofu, soy flour, soy milk and miso, genistein is found in peanuts and alfalfa sprouts.
Grapes: Scientists have discovered that grapes are loaded with a substance called ellagic acid, which blocks the body's production of enzymes that cancer cells need to grow. They also contain phenols, which are antioxidants that may prevent blood clots. Also good: apples, strawberries and raspberries.
Artichokes: Artichokes are full of fiber and are one of the best sources of folic acid. According to one study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, low levels of folic acid have been associated with higher risk of dysplasia, a condition of abnormal cells in the cervix, which could be a precursor to cervical cancer. Folic acid is also very important for pregnant women to help prevent neural tube defects. Folate can also be found in strawberries, asparagus, beets and liver.
Green Tea: Tea leaves are laced with substances called polyphenols-antioxidants that can prevent the kind of damage to DNA that leads to cancer. Green and black, but not herbal, teas are good.
Fish: Research reports that eating fish is very good for your heart. Just two servings of fish a week can reduce the risk of a heart attack significantly by lowering both blood pressure and harmful substances found in the blood that may cause clots. A regular serving of fish may help prevent colon and breast cancer. What else is good: tuna is a great source of Omega-3s, but so are sardines, mackerel, herring and salmon.
Orange Juice: Orange juice is one of the leading sources of vitamin C, and research suggests that this vitamin may help ward off bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. In a recent study of 9,000 adults, people who consumed 300 milligrams of vitamin C a day were less likely to develop chronic bronchitis or asthma than people who consumed 100 milligrams. Vitamin C may be especially important for smokers, who typically have low levels. Vitamin C is antioxidant that may lower risk of developing cancer. Other great sources of this vitamin include: Grapefruit juice, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, strawberries and tomatoes.
Prunes: Prunes remain one of the best natural laxatives available. For starters, they are high in fiber! One single prune contains more than one gram of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that the body cannot easily digest, thus speeding up intestinal transit or excretion.
Ginger: Whether you are suffering from morning sickness or motion sickness, crystallized ginger or ginger tea may be just what the doctor ordered! Studies report that symptoms of nausea are fewer in those who ingest ginger. What else is good: Ginger ale, ginger snaps to relieve mild nausea.
Rice: There is evidence that that rice and other starchy foods-including wheat, corn or potatoes-can be a potent antidote to diarrhea. Several studies have shown that that children given porridge that includes rice, wheat, flour, corn or potatoes recover quickly from episodes of diarrhea than children given a lactose-free formula. Researches suspect that the fiber or indigestible starch in rice may help. What else is good: Tapioca pudding.