While the bell pepper takes a back seat to chili peppers in the research spotlight due to its limited amount of the compound capsaicin, this versatile vegetable shouldn’t be overlooked as it possesses an overwhelming abundance of powerful nutrients. With over 30 carotenoids, including lycopene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin and rich in flavonoids like luteolin, hesperidin, and quercetin, bell peppers are antioxidant powerhouses. The combination of their antioxidant potency, along with their high levels of folate, vitamin A, dietary fiber, vitamin E, and vitamin B6 make bell peppers one of the most effective weapons against cancer, cardiovascular disease, eye disorders, and diabetes. Bell Peppers Tale Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) are part of the Solanaceae family and have been […]
Even though I grew up in Southeast Asia, which is blessed with a wide variety of tropical produce available year-round, I associate guava with being on vacation in Hawaii,
Fall’s here and so is the colder, damper weather. For my patients and readers with arthritis that means increased joint aches and pains. It also often means the inability to stay as active as you’d like too. That’s why I want to tell you about a tiny seafood that’s research proven to knock out arthritis pain. It even helps rebuild joints. The Tiny Seafood Supplement with Huge Arthritis Benefits The native Maori Indian peoples have lived in coastline communities in New Zealand for centuries. Not long ago medical researchers started to study them because of their almost non-existent levels of […]
Powerful Pain Relief, Cancer Defense, and Neuroprotection Growing concerns about the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks of common pain-relieving drugs are leading many health-conscious adults to avidly seek safe, effective ways of beating inflammation and pain. Exciting evidence suggests that delicious tart cherries offer powerful pain relief and may also safeguard against cancer and neurodegenerative conditions. Whether consumed fresh, frozen, or in canned or juiced forms, tart cherries are rich in nutritive compounds and powerful flavonoids. Flavonoids—colorful compounds found in many fruits and vegetables—are attracting growing attention for their antioxidative activity, free-radical scavenging capacity, and anticancer effects. A special class of […]
Cabbage, which is often lumped into the same category as lettuce because of their similar appearance, is actually a part of the cruciferous vegetable family. Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kale and broccoli are notorious for being chock-full of beneficial nutrients. If you are trying to improve your diet, cruciferous vegetables should be at the very top of your grocery list. Cabbage can vary in color from green to red and purple, and the leaves can be smooth or crinkled. With less than 20 calories per half cup cooked, it is a vegetable worth making room on your plate for. This MNT Knowledge […]
We all dream of our babies inheriting what we consider our best qualities: patience, spontaneity, cleverness, or ocean blue eyes. What we don’t want is to pass celiac on to our little ones. Many parents have this concern, and there is a lot of new research and information available that better clarifies what we need to know about babies and celiac. What are the symptoms? When should my baby be tested? Should I give my baby gluten, or avoid it entirely? Is there anything I can do to help prevent celiac from developing? There may just be. Celiac, which […]
Having trouble reading a menu or need more light reading a magazine or newspaper? If you answered yes and are over 40, join the club! Millions of people in your age group find their vision is not as sharp as it used to be, have trouble reading labels on food packages in the grocery store, and find they are squinting more and more trying to read traffic signs! It’s a fact of life. More and more middle aged Americans experience vision impairment of some form or another from simple inability to read fine print to cataracts, which affects more than […]
Although celery is often a complimentary addition to soups and dishes, its substantial health protection makes it a star player in any meal. Each stalk of celery, along with its seeds and leaves, contains vitamin K, folate, vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, and molybdenum.
A new study suggests that women who ate a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables as young adults were much less likely to have plaque buildup in their arteries 20 years later, compared with those who consumed lower amounts of these foods. This new finding reinforces the importance of developing healthy eating habits early in life. Previous studies have found that middleaged adults whose diet consists of a high proportion of fruits and vegetables are less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, but the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption during young adulthood and heart disease later […]
I often see patients who assume that forgetfulness, dry skin, impaired memory and other symptoms are just part of getting older. They’re surprised when I suggest that the lack of essential fatty acids may be at the root of their problems. Most of my patients have heard of essential fatty acids, but many of them don’t know what they are or why they are important. Fatty acids make up the food group we normally call fats. Essential fatty acids are those you must get from your diet. They are necessary for life but cannot be made by your body. EFA’s […]