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Are you planning a BBQ this Labor Day Weekend? That may be bad for your health. Here is what you can do reduce your risk: The bad news is that charred meat or fish causes increased cancer compounds. The compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) have been linked to tumors in animals and are shown to cause breast, colon, stomach, and prostate cancer. To make matters worse, when fat drips into the fire and the fire flares up touching the meat, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PHAs are deposited onto the food. These are also cancer-causing compounds. 1) In order to reduce your risk you can trim excess fat off the meat to avoid fat drippings/flare-ups. And the low fat meats have added benefits to your waistline. 2) To reduce your risk you can marinade the meat, this has been shown to reduce carcinogens up to 90%. It is not clear why this works, but scientists have some evidence that the acidic nature of marinades may form a barrier to the carcinogens. 3) If you do manage to char some of the meat, it can be removed before eating and this will reduce your exposure. You also want to remove the old charring from the grill by burning if off in high heat before reducing the heat for cooking. 4) Cooking meat at lower temperatures for a longer period of time or cooking thinner cuts seems to reduce the production of HCAs and PHAs. Use a meat thermometer and follow these guidelines: beef should be cooked to 145F for medium rare and 160F for medium, while poultry should reach 180F and hamburgers should be 160F. |
Positively Green - Tea that is!
We have heard about the benefits of Green Tea, but now there is evidence that it may protect against Alzheimer's as well. Alzheimer's is a disease that affects 13 million people throughout the world. It is characterized by plaques forming in the brain that disrupt the signal between nerve cells so they can no longer function together or communicate well. These plaques are made up of amyloid fibrils, a toxic protein found in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. “Now, a German team says the tea antioxidant, called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has potent anti-plaque ability.”
EGCG seems to attack misfolded proteins and convert them into a molecule that is less toxic, then the immune system can destroy these proteins and reduce the plaque. It is not known if there are any side effects to the EGCG and one challenge encountered by the research was poor absorption of the EGCG. Another challenge is that EGCG is not available for patenting so the pharmaceutical companies may not want to spend the money necessary to begin clinical trials.
The benefits of Green Tea do seem to be the antioxidants (polyphenols) and these compounds are also found in red wine and yellow curry. Research isn’t far enough along to determine a recommended amount and doctors believe it may be between 2 and 10 cups daily. Unfortunately, at the higher end, the quantity of other flavinoids present in Green Tea would counteract the effects of the EGCG. Researchers suggest that purifying the EGCG and providing it in supplement form should be tested clinically.
Until the research is completed, it is unknown what doseage is needed daily, but there is enough evidence that Green Tea is good for many ailments, and it makes a great addition to curry chicken.
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050928234820.htm)
For more information on the research about Alzheimer’s and Green Tea check out these websites:
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Green-tea-s-Alzheimer-protection-gets-more-support
http://www.truehealth.org/ahealt15.html
http://www.cupofgreentea.com/green-tea-alzheimers.htm
10 Superfoods: Beans; they are high in protein, supply nutrients such as magnesium and potassium and are low in fat. Dark
Green Leafy Vegetables such as kale, spinach and collard; they are high
in Vitamins A and C and so low in carbohydrates and fat that you can
eat as much as you want. Citrus; Oranges, Grapefruit and Lemons are high in fiber and Vitamin C, they are great for your health. Sweet Potatoes; they are high in fiber, Vitamins A and C and a great substitute for white potatoes Berries; Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are great sources of antioxidants and vitamins, and loaded with fiber Tomatoes;
they are linked with anti-cancer properties, packed with Vitamins C and
E and the mineral Iron. Eat them raw or cooked into sauce. Fish; particularly the species high in Omega-3 such as Halibut, Salmon, Herring, Mackerel and Tuna Whole
grains; especially oatmeal and barley; they are full of folate,
magnesium and potassium and chromium; plus abundant in fiber Nuts; they are high in fiber and magnesium and can supply Omega-3 if you eat walnuts, macademias and flax seeds. Fat
free milk and yogurt; high in calcium, these also provide Vitamin D
which is being researched currently for its anti-cancer properties. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/ten-diabetes-superfoods.html For
those of you with more interest in alternative wellness, check out this
blog for even more diabetic superfoods and raw food recipes: http://rawvolutionaryhealing.blogspot.com/In
April, the American Diabetes Association released it's lists of
superfoods for patients with Diabetes. These suggestions will also
help pateints with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other
chronic conditions. The following list of foods is nutrient rich,
especially vitamins, minerals and protein; low glycemic index, and low
fat.
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