Amazing Blueberries

No doubt you have heard this cliché many times in your life, and chances are, you have probably associated it with a child, a good deed, or a gift, but have you ever considered the “good things” that come in the “small” indigo packages that are blueberries? The size of a cultured pearl, this delicious fruit is packed with antioxidants so powerful that they are able to prevent a myriad of sicknesses and diseases, which will be explored in this article.


Purple Power


While the word antioxidant is often tossed around when speaking about blueberries, few people actually know what an antioxidant is, and how it can prevent multiple diseases, as well as protect the body’s immune system.
 Proanthocyanidan is a bioflavonoid that is present in a number of fruits and vegetables. It has been reported that proanthocyanidan contains both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, and has even shown promising results as a potential inhibitor of hepatitis C. 


People have used blueberries for hundreds of years in an effort to improve a number of health-related conditions. Blueberries are an effective natural alternative to often expensive medications that often have a number of side effects and in some cases can even worsen the condition.

Epicatechin

Epicatechin is another powerful antioxidant that can also help to improve liver function. Also found in food and drink such as grapes and green tea, blueberries contain other components that work synergistically to improve various other bodily systems and functions. 

Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene is another major component found in blueberries that can actually protect the body against colorectal cancer, a disease that takes the lives of approximately 50,000 people each year. More than one million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and at least half of that number will die. Blueberry extract has been proven to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, and was also found to decrease particular enzymes associated with the spread of cancer. With all the evidence available to us today, there is no doubt that blueberries are one of the most effective tools we can use to protect our bodies from developing various types of cancer. Who knew that good things could be found in such small packages?

 Are All Blueberries Created Equal? 

Unfortunately, all blueberries have not been created equal. Blueberries grown in organic conditions will contain higher antioxidant levels than those blueberries that have been sprayed repeatedly with harmful pesticides. In fact, blueberries sprayed with these chemicals actually cancel out the benefits of the blueberry.

Furthermore, recent studies have linked such conditions as ADHD with the ingestion of insecticides. The best way to avoid pesticides is to purchase locally-grown organic products. You may even opt to grow certain fruits and vegetables yourself. If so, be sure that the seeds you use have not been genetically altered, and the soil has been treated properly.
Blueberry supplementation

Blueberry supplementation is another good way to make sure you receive the benefits of the antioxidants. When choosing a supplement, however, be sure that it contains standardized pterostilbene, as not all blueberry supplements have been created equal, and it defeats the purpose of taking the supplement if it does not contain the right ingredients. Keep in mind that you will not receive the same antioxidant benefits from supplements as you will from the actual berry.

Juice

Juicing is another good way to get all the health benefits you can from this fruit. In fact, this is true for whatever fruits and vegetables you may be juicing. Important to remember when juicing; however, is to be sure to drink the juice once you have made it because leaving it to sit will reduce the power of the nutrients.

Improve Your Health

Eating raw fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to improve your health. As mentioned, blueberries are one of the best raw fruits you can eat to protect yourself from various sicknesses and diseases, while simultaneously strengthening the body’s immune system.

The cancer protection alone is reason enough to take advantage of the many health benefits that can be obtained by eating this fruit on a regular basis. For this reason, it is true, good things do come in small packages, and in this case, these small packages can protect the body from illness, and even prevent more serious diseases.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Healthy-Living/Amazing-Blueberries.aspx?p=9#ixzz1sqgJbCne

A Facelift in the Fridge

By Cynthia Ross Cravit

Health experts say certain foods can slow down the aging process. Food rich in antioxidants not only help to combat chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, but they are also good for your skin.

The Right Diet

In fact, dermatologist and best selling author Dr. Nicholas Perricone says you can actually find a facelift “in the fridge.” “The right diet certainly decreases your risk of all age-related disease such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, but it can also make a great difference in the skin very rapidly,” he told CNN.
Foods that contain a high amount of antioxidants ease an ongoing bodily process called intracellular inflammation. “Because of the inflammation, the cell doesn’t function correctly. It doesn’t produce enough energy, you can’t expel waste, and you can’t get in nutrients properly,” said Perricone.

The long-term effects of cellular inflammation can be seen in the brain with premature senility and in the arteries with arteriosclerosis. And in the skin, it’s sagging and wrinkling, according to Perricone.

Skin-Friendly Foods

Skin-friendly foods include all types of berries, brightly coloured fruits and vegetables and cold-water fish such as wild salmon. Good fats such as olive oil and avocado should also be included in your diet.

Offenders

The offenders?
“Stay away from starches and sugars, because they are pro-inflammatory,” said Perricone. “And substitute green tea for coffee.” While good nutrition can help to slow down the biological clock, reducing stress is also important. “We recommend moderate exercise, meditation, tai chi, qigong, prayer, anything you can do decrease that type of daily anxiety we face,” said Perricone. For more skin benefits, quit smoking, drink lots of water, and don’t forget the sunscreen, he added.


Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/A-Facelift-in-the-Fridge.aspx?p=4#ixzz1hERqIusU