The ABCs of Healthy Fruits (Part Two)

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

Fruits are great cures for what ails you. There are many fruits that you can use; this article takes a look at only a few of them.

The fuzzy brown exterior of the kiwi fruit gives way to a bright green interior which is an excellent cancer fighter. Kiwis contain a lot of vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin C is believed to play an integral role in preventing cataracts.

Grapes are a tremendous source of boron, which is a type of mineral that may be connected to a lower risk of osteoporosis. Grapes when turned into red grape juice are full of not just boron but also something known as reservatrol. Reservatrol is a chemical that is believed to be able to ward off heart disease by inhibiting the clumping action of blood cells.

Mangoes are full of vitamin C and beta-carotene, both of which are considered to be anticancer antioxidants. This fruit is also full of copper and vitamin B6. The USDA research into the importance of vitamin C to the body has found that this essential vitamin is beneficial at lowering blood pressure.

Oranges and oranges made into orange juice are filled with vitamin C and folic acid. Folic acid is beneficial for preventing a number of birth defects such as spina bifida and encephalitis. Folic acid is believed to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

There are other types of citrus fruits besides orange juice that are full of limonoids which are substances that can help the body to detoxify itself and by so doing can decrease the risk of cancer. Be aware that smokers need twice the daily intake of vitamin C as non-smokers and should therefore drink double the quantity of orange juice.

Pears are not only delicious but they are also an excellent source of fiber. Fiber has a great deal of benefits but when combined with a diet low in fat it is able to decrease the chance that a person will develop polyps in the colon which can lead to the development of cancer. Pears are not just full of fiber but also they contain plenty of vitamin C, boron (which is also prevalent in grapes), and potassium (which is also prevalent in bananas).

Prunes are the recommended fruit for relief of constipation, however some people prefer to drink prune juice instead. Prunes are good for this purpose because they are full of fiber. Prunes they have a natural sugar called sorbitol. Prunes are excellent for the bones and like grapes contain boron as well as plenty of vitamins A and E.

Berries in general contain plenty of fiber and strawberries are a perfect example of this. Strawberries have more fiber as well as more vitamin C in them than the majority of other fruits. Strawberries contain a substance called ellagic acid, which is a natural chemical that is excellent at fighting cancer. Studies of ellagic acid have discovered that it very potent as an inhibitor of carcinogens that the body takes in, particularly for smokers, including nitrosamines and tobacco smoke.


Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The ABCs of Healthy Fruits (Part One)

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

All fruits are healthy to the human body in specific ways. A combination of fruits in your diet can help to keep you healthy, and cure certain diseases as well. There is a huge variety of fruits that can help you, including apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi fruit, lemon/limes and oranges. Other healing fruits include papaya, pears, pineapple, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries and watermelon. Here we take a look at a variety of the healing properties of a selection of fruits.

Amaranth is a food that not everyone is familiar with. While technically a fruit, amaranth is commonly used as a type of grain that is found in many different types of breads, muffins, pasta and other foods that are as an adjunct to flour. The seeds of amaranth are extremely high in protein that builds muscle. Amaranth is much richer in protein than most grains. Amaranth seeds are also excellent at building up the immune system because they are high in zinc, copper and magnesium.

Apricots are excellent antioxidants. They are chock-full of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Research studies have yielded the fact that beta carotene is beneficial at protecting the body against lung cancer. Apricots are great sources of fiber. Apricots are more nutritious if you buy them fresh as opposed to canned.

Bananas are full of potassium, and therefore great at reducing blood pressure. Bananas are full of vitamin B6, which is good for encouraging the strength of the immune system. Bananas are particularly good to start off the day. Eat a banana with a glass of low fat milk and a piece of whole wheat bread (or toast) with peanut butter for breakfast and it will give you plenty of energy. For a change of pace whip up a banana shake in the blender and drink your start to a good day!

Cantaloupe is full of plenty of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and fiber. Research studies have shown that beta-carotene is particularly helpful at fighting cancers that originate in the lungs but more recent studies have shown that it is also worthwhile for fighting other types of cancers such as cancer of the cervix, uterine cancer, stomach cancer and oral forms of cancers. Evidence also supports that vitamin C decreases the incidence of mouth cancers, throat cancers, pancreatic cancer and stomach cancer.

Figs are beneficial to health and that is the case regardless of whether you choose to eat figs fresh or in their dried form. Figs have plenty of vitamin C, fiber, magnesium and potassium in them. Figs contain a type of fruit fiber that is able to decrease blood pressure, and in particular, systolic blood pressure, which is the top number of the blood pressure reading which in turn, calculates the pressure of the contractions of the heart. Fiber in general is connected to decreasing the bottom number of the blood pressure equation, which is the diastolic blood pressure. The diastolic blood pressure stands for the pressure of the heart when it is resting between its contracting action.


Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Brief Overview of Foods that Heal

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

More and more research studies are showing that a variety of foods have the ability to heal the body thanks to the abundance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that many of them contain. This article will review several types of food that are good for our health.

Many foods are ancient folk cures for a multitude of ailments. For example, parsley is believed to be better than mouthwash as a breath freshener. Licorice is beneficial for people suffering from colds, coughs and the flu. Lemonade is said to get rid of hiccups. Cucumber can be cut into slices and placed on the eyes to reduce bags under the eyes after a late night. The interior peel of the cucumber can also be used to rub over the face in order to clean the face and make it feel toned and fresh.

Lemon can be mixed with olive oil and drank on a daily basis. All that is required is one organic or unwaxed lemon mixed with one tablespoon of olive oil (preferably extra virgin olive oil) and also a glass to a glass and a half of water (it can be spring water, filtered water or even regular tap water). This drink is an excellent detoxifier for the gallbladder and lemon and can be consumed one hour before eating, preferably first thing in the morning. This lemon/olive oil drink is particularly beneficial for individuals who suffer from gallstones or who are underweight.

Lemons are also excellent for combating cancer, projecting the circulatory system, controlling blood pressure, as well as smoothing and toning the skin. Back in history lemons help to prevent the disease of scurvy. Olive oil is helpful to health in its own right. Olive oil helps to protect the heart and it encourages weight loss and helps to combat cancer. Olive oil, like lemons is good for the skin and it is beneficial for those who suffer from diabetes.

Onions and garlic are the king and queen of the vegetable kingdom! It is no surprise that they are so respected for their health benefits, for they help the body in many ways.

Onions help to decrease the risk of a person suffering a heart attack and they lower cholesterol and help to combat cancer. Onions are an antifungal agent and are very beneficial at killing bacteria.

Garlic does many of the same things as onions do, as it is related to the same Lily family. Garlic lowers cholesterol levels and it controls blood pressure. Garlic is also an effective defense against cancer and it kills bacteria and fights the development of fungus in the body.

If you enjoy eating grapes, then you are in luck! Grapes are good for the eyes and help to get rid of kidney stones. Grapes are also cancer fighters and they protect the circulatory system and encourage the proper flow of body throughout the body.

Grapefruit at breakfast and is an excellent way to start the day. Grapefruit protects a person from suffering a heart attack and it reduces the threat of strokes. Grapefruit also lowers cholesterol, combats the development of prostrate cancer in men and is effective for those attempting to drop a few (or many) pounds.


Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Healing Fruits and Vegetables

Friday, December 21st, 2007

Plants are just as prone to viruses, bacteria and diseases as people are. We have an immune system to fight diseases while plants have developed their own form of immune system which consists of a protective substances called phytochemicals.

Studies are showing that the same phytochemicals that protect plants can also help to protect people from a variety of cancers as well as other diseases. Some of the foods containing this chemical include whole grains, dark and leafy green colored fruits and vegetables, legumes, orange, yellow, and red colored fruits and vegetables, cruciferous vegetables and anti-bacterial vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables that are dark in color something known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in a variety of different fruits and vegetables which include blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, bilberries, cranberries, red grapes, red grapes, apples, onions, broccoli, peppers and eggplant. There are estimated to be well over 4,000 flavonoids in existence and they are then broken down into a variety of subcategories which include anthocyanidins, polyphenolic acid, proanthocyanidins, ellagic acid, tannins and quercetic.

Research studies into dark colored fruits and vegetables have shown that they are all very powerful when it comes to anti-oxidant properties and some are believed to have 50 times the anti-oxidant capability of both vitamin E as well as vitamin C. Other studies have shown that flavonoids found in both fruits and vegetables are helpful in decreasing the risk of a variety of cancers as well as diabetes, arthritis and atherosclerosis. Flavonoids are beneficial when it comes to protecting the collagen protein found in blood vessels and joints from the damage that can be done by free radicals in the body. By protecting the collagen protein this is a way to reduce the incidence of hemorrhoids, edema and varicose veins.

A study done at Cornell University yielded the result that the flavonoids found in apples known as quercetin, was effective at protecting the brain against the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease which are both classified as being neuro-generative diseases. This study was a follow-up to another study that was conducted at the same university by Professor Lee. Professor Lee discovered that the phytochemical found in both a variety of berries as well as apples had a greater “antioxidant protective effect” than did vitamin C when it came to fighting liver cancer cells and colon cancer cells. While blueberries and strawberries both have excellent anti-oxidant properties, blueberries have an estimated 40 percent more power to fight off diseases and t o heal. In a study done by neuroscientist James Joseph from Tufts University it was found that blueberries are excellent when it comes to fighting cancer and a multitude of diseases but they are also helpful in preventing or slowing short-term memory loss which can affect individuals as they age.

So, the next time you make a trip to the grocery store, be sure to stock up on healing fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is the best to buy, with frozen being the second best. Canned fruits and vegetables tend to have a great deal of salt in them so opt for fresh if possible. For a change of pace whip up a salad with a variety of vegetables (and some fruits thrown in to add some tang) or whip up a delectable fruit salad for yourself and your family to enjoy.


Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Food Cures.


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,