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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 23: Raw Power
Some vegetables contain chemicals that appear to enhance DNA repair in cells, which could lead to protection against cancer development, say Georgetown University Medical Center researchers. In a new study published in the "British Journal of Cancer" and by the journal "Nature" the researchers show that in laboratory tests, a compound called indole-3-carinol (I3C), found in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, and a chemical called genistein, found in soy beans, can increase the levels of two specific proteins that repair damaged DNA.
This study is one of the first to provide a molecular explanation as to how eating vegetables could cut the risk of developing cancer, an association that some population studies have found, says the study's senior author, Eliot M. Rosen, MD, PhD, professor of oncology, cell biology, and radiation medicine at Georgetown 's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center . "It is now clear that the function of crucial cancer genes can be influenced by compounds in the things we eat," Rosen says.
"Our findings suggest a clear molecular process that would explain the connection between diet and cancer prevention." In this study, Rosen exposed breast and prostate cancer cells to increasing doses of I3C and genistein, and found that these chemicals boosted production of the repair proteins BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Since decreased amounts of the BRCA proteins are seen in cancer cells, higher levels might prevent cancer from developing, Rosen speculates, adding that the ability of I3C and genistein to increase production of BRCA proteins could explain their protective effects.
The study was funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Cancer Institute and co-authors include Drs. Saijun Fan, MD, PhD, Qinghui Meng , MS , Karen Auborn, PhD, and Timothy Carter, PhD.
Wholefood Farmacy foods offer you, your family and your children an easy and convenient way to get 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies every day. Our dried whole foods, such as Veggielicious, Veggielicious Spice, Fruitalicious and Fruitalicious Plus are nutritionally dense foods. For example, 1 oz of Veggielicious or Fruitalicious is the equivalent of eating a half pound of fresh, raw veggies or fruit. One serving of our Farmacy Pro Power drink mix is the equivalent of eating 8 servings of veggies!
How many servings have you, your family and your children had today?
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 24: Ginger
Ginger can kill ovarian cancer cells while the compound that makes peppers hot can shrink pancreatic tumors, researchers told a conference. Their studies add to a growing body of evidence that at least some popular spices might slow or prevent the growth of cancer.
Dr. Rebecca Liu, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues tested ginger powder dissolved in solution by putting it on ovarian cancer cell cultures. It killed the ovarian cancer cells in two different ways. First, through a self-destruction process called apoptosis and second, through the process of autophagy in which cancer cells digest themselves, the researchers told a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Ovarian cancer kills 16,000 out of the 22,000 U.S. women who are diagnosed with it every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Ginger has been shown to help control inflammation, which can contribute to the development of ovarian cancer cells.
"In multiple ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that ginger-induced cell death at a similar or better rate than the platinum-based chemotherapy drugs typically used to treat ovarian cancer," said Dr. Jennifer Rhode, who helped work on the study.
You can find ginger in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods including Farmacy Gourmet V-10 Creamy Yam Soup, Phi Plus, Cranberry Phi and Coco Cherry Phi. You can also make your own Ginger Mint Dressing with our Heart of Gold - a combination of 5 plant based oils and medicinal gold. It's a great way to add ginger to your daily meal plan.
Heart of Gold Ginger Mint Dressing:
½ cup freshly grated ginger
1 ½ cups Heart of Gold
1 ½ cups fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 cup finely chopped fresh mint
Combine ingredients and blend for 30 seconds in a blender. Add more mint or your favorite spices to taste. Great on salads, great for tossing with steamed veggies or drizzling over fresh veggies!
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 25: Tomatoes
Scientists are suggesting that tomato lovers may be more likely to reduce the risk of serious disease. Lycopene, an anti oxidant which gives tomatoes their lovely rich red color, helps remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules and have been implicated in cancer and other serious diseases.
Professor Michael Avirim of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel who is testing lycopene in clinical trials says, ' In its natural form, lycopene is an excellent antioxidant that helps to prevent formation of oxidized LDL, the 'bad' cholesterol in blood, which contributes to the build up of plaque that narrows, stiffens and constricts arteries and can lead to heart attacks. When this natural extract was added to cancer cell cultures, the lycopene inhibited their growth. Lycopene is the most potent nutritional antioxidant found to date.
Another study compared men who had had a heart attack with the same number of healthy men and found that those with high levels of lycopene appeared to reduce their risk of heart diseases by 50%. The study's coordinator, Lenore Kohlmeier, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the university of North Carolina, said, "Based on our findings, and other research, lycopene can be an excellent antioxidant, we recommend that people eat tomato based cooked foods."
Several recent studies have shown that a diet rich in tomatoes and tomato products is strongly linked to a reduced risk of certain cancers. In a six year study of 48,000 male professionals, Dr Edward Giovannucci and colleagues at Harvard Medical School found that consuming tomatoes and tomato based products between five to seven serving a week was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer of 21% to 34%.
Another study published in the International Journal of Cancer said that lycopene appears to protect against cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. Researchers at the University of Illinois report that women with the highest lycopene levels had a 500% lower risk of developing precancerous signs of cervical cancer than women with lowest lycopene levels.
In one six-year study by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, the diets of more than 47,000 men were studied. Of 46 fruits and vegetables evaluated, only the tomato products (which contain large quantities of lycopene) showed a measurable relationship to reduce prostate cancer risk. As consumption of tomato products increased, levels of lycopene in the blood increased, and the risk for prostate cancer decreased. The study also showed that the heat processing of tomatoes and tomato products increases Lycopene bioavailability.
The human body does not produce lycopene alone and therefore relies on a consumption of tomatoes and tomato based products for this antioxidant. Nutritionists and other health professionals have long advocated the cancer preventative benefits of a diet high in fruits and vegetables. .
The Wholefood Farmacy's Vichyssoise V-6 Creamy Tomato Soup is quick and easy taking only a minute to prepare. Handcrafted using the finest whole food ingredients, our V-6 Tomato Soup is made from Tomatoes, Brown Rice, Soy Beans, Oats, Onions, Dill Weed & Pure Salt. If you haven't tasted it, you don't know what you're missing!
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 26: Spinach
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are antioxidants in the carotenoid family. They are found in high levels in spinach and other deep green leafy vegetables. These powerful antioxidants concentrate in the part of the retina where macular degeneration occurs. Once there, they protect the retina from damage caused by sunlight. Harvard researchers reported that people eating the most Lutein and Zeaxanthin had a 57 percent decreased risk of macular degeneration, compared with people eating the least.
At least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach have been identified by researchers. These compounds function as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents. The anti-cancer action of these nutrients has been sufficiently impressive to prompt researchers to create specialized spinach extracts that could be used in controlled studies. These spinach extracts have been shown to slow down cell division in stomach cancer cells, and in studies on mice, to reduce skin cancers. A study on adult women living in New England in the late 1980s also showed intake of spinach to be inversely related to incidence of breast cancer.
Another carotenoid found in spinach and other green leafy vegetables fights human prostate cancer two different ways, according to research published in the September 2004 issue of the Journal of Nutrition. The carotenoid, called neoxanthin, not only induces prostate cancer cells to self-destruct, but is converted in the intestines into additional compounds, called neochromes, which put prostate cancer cells into a state of stasis, thus preventing their replication.
Spinach can be consumed cooked or raw. Baby spinach leaves are especially good in salads with bleu cheese, walnuts, red onions, and a vinaigrette dressing made with Heart Of Gold. Spinach cooks very quickly, and doesn't need added water. Just place it in a pan, cover, and simmer for two to four minutes until it wilts; spinach is also excellent when steamed, or it can be sautéed in olive oil with garlic for three or four minutes. Spinach is a good addition to stews and to soups that contain beans, pasta, or potatoes, or to any kind of curry dish.
Don't have the time to go shopping or to do the cooking, but still =want to eat your greens? Farmacy Pro Power is a delicous Superfood Green Drink. It has a delicious mint flavor and one serving of Farmacy Pro Power is the equivalent of eating 8 servings of vegetables!!
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 27: Garlic & Onions
Garlic and onions could help protect against stomach cancer, says a massive European-based study. The new study, part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), followed 521,457 subjects in 10 European countries with an average age of 52. It is said to be the largest cohort study on fruit and vegetable intake and the incidence of stomach (gastric) cancer in Western countries and the first to look at adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.
After an average of 6.5 years of follow-up, 400 cases of gastric cancer and 188 cases of oesophagus cancer had been reported. While total vegetable intake was not associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, the researchers report that an increase in the intake of onions and garlic of 10 grams per day was associated with a 30 per cent reduction in the risk of intestinal gastric cancer.
This is not the first time that onions have been linked to reduction in the risk of certain cancers. US researchers recently reported that onion extracts could inhibit the growth of liver and colon cancers in vitro. A large-scale epidemiological Iowa Women's Health Study looked at the garlic consumption in 41,000 middle-aged women. Results showed that women who regularly consumed garlic had 35% lower risk of developing colon cancer.
Don't have time to slice and dice onions and garlic everyday? Enjoy a delicious cup of Wholefood Farmacy V-8 Creamy Bean Soup. This nutrient-dense soup is handcrafted from Kidney Beans, Tomatoes, Onions, Garlic, Chipotle Pepper, Pure Salt, & Brown Rice - all you do is add the water and enjoy!
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 28: Olive Oil
In ancient Greece , Hippocrates, the father of Medicine, called it "the great therapeutic". Homer called it "liquid gold" and ancient Greek athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies. The health benefits of Olive Oil that had been known and applied for centuries in ancient Greece are now being rediscovered by modern day researchers.
A study published in the March 2004 issue of Medical Science Monitor reported that 2 tablespoons a day of olive oil added to an otherwise unchanged diet in 28 outpatients, ranging in age from 64 to 71, resulted in significant drops in total and LDL cholesterol.
Published studies link the judicious use of olive oil to reducing the effect of a growing list of ailments. For example, Greek women have a 42% lower rate of breast cancer than women in the U.S.
Olive oil is recognized as important in maintaining metabolism and contributes to the development of the brain and bones in children. It is also recommended as a source of vitamin E for older people. A natural anti-oxidant, olive oil slows down the natural aging process. It also slows down acid overproduction in the digestive system thereby reducing the risk for ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
There is also a low incidence of skin cancer among Mediterranean populations, and olive oil onsumption could be a contributing factor to this low skin cancer rate. Olive oil contains significantly higher amounts of Squalene than other seed oils, and Squalene is to a large extent transferred to the skin. German researchers believe that this transfer mechanism is probably accomplished by scavenging singlet oxygen generated by ultraviolet light. Japanese scientists also claim that virgin olive oil applied to the skin after sunbathing could protect against skin cancer by slowing tumor growth.
The Wholefood Farmacy's Heart of Gold is made from Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, Avocado Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Orange Oil, & 24 Carat Medicinal Gold. Use it as a sop for whole grain breads, make your own salad dressings or pour it on raw or steamed veggies! Rejuvn8 is a refreshing whole food skin cleanser made from 100% cold pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Grape Seed oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Sea Salt, and Real Lime. It is excellent for deep cleansing and re-hydration of the face and body. Pamper yourself inside and out with nature's gifts from the olive trees.
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 29: Carrots
All our lives we've been told to eat our carrots, they help improve your eyesight. Maybe you've wondered - what exactly is it about the carrot that is good for my eyes? That would be the beta-carotene. In addition to giving the carrot its name and orange color, it also converts to vitamin A in the body which helps improve vision. The vitamin A forms a purple pigment called rhodopsin the eye needs to see in dim light. Rhodopsin production is spurred by vitamin A, raising the effectiveness of the light-sensitive area of the retina.
But that's not all that carrots can do for you. The beta-carotene in carrots is an antioxidant combating the free radicals that contribute to conditions like cancer, heart disease, and macular degeneration. Medical studies conducted in Texas and Chicago indicates that men with the high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin C had a 37% lower risk of cancer than the men with lower levels. Carrots also contain another antioxidant called alpha-carotene. A study conducted in Bethesda , MD concluded that men who consume high amounts of alpha carotene have a lower incidence of lung cancer.
Cooking carrots actually raises the nutritional benefits. The fiber in carrots can trap the beta carotene, making it difficult for your body to extract. By cooking them slightly, you free the beta-carotene, from the fiber, which allows your body to absorb it better. Eating only a half-cup serving per day will give you more than the recommended dosage of beta-carotene. Remember, when you buy carrots raw at the store, you should cut off the leafy tops before storing for maximum vitamin retention. Getting your carrot-a-day is easy, considering the vegetable's versatility and "blendability". Carrots can subtlety enhance but don't overwhelm. Here are a few ways to put more carrot power on your table.
Toss grated carrot with potatoes for hash browns.
Add grated carrots to sauces, white or red. Grated carrots give body and impart subtle flavor, and they fit any tomato or creamy soup, sauce, or casserole.
Mix finely-ground carrots into peanut butter for a new kind of healthy crunch.
Herb and Vegetable Bread or Biscuits: To your regular dough, add finely grated carrots; minced onion (dried flakes or fresh green); parsley; garlic powder; sprinkle of basil and pinch of oregano or sage. Top it all off with some dried or pesto tomatoes and a few hearty shakes of parmesan cheese.
You can also find carrots in some of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Veggielicious, Veggielicious Spice and Farmacy Gourmet V-12 Vegetable Soup.
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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90 Days To Wellness
A Public Service Campaign of
The Wholefoods Farmacy
Day 30: Hot Peppers
Capsaicin is the stuff that turns up the heat in jalapeños. Not only does it cause the tongue to burn, it also drives prostate cancer cells to self-destruct, according to studies published in the March 15, 2006, issue of Cancer Research.
According to a team of researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical and their colleagues from UCLA, the capsaicin in hot peppers caused human prostate cancer cells to undergo "programmed cell death", a process otherwise known as apoptosis.
Apoptosis is a natural process in many tissues that maintains a healthy balance between newer replacement cells and aged or worn out cells. In other words, the old worn out cells are naturally programmed to self-destruct. Cancer cells, on the other hand, often dodge this process by mutating the genes that participate in the process of apoptosis
This new research showed that capsaicin induced approximately 80 percent of prostate cancer cells growing in mice to follow the molecular pathways leading to apoptosis. Moreover, prostate cancer tumors treated with capsaicin were about one-fifth the size of tumors in non-treated mice.
"Capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture," said Sören Lehmann, M.D., Ph.D., visiting scientist at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the UCLA School of Medicine. "It also dramatically slowed the development of prostate tumors formed by those human cell lines grown in mouse models."
The pepper extract also curbed the growth of prostate cancer cells through regulation of androgen receptors, the steroid activated proteins that control expression of specific growth relating genes. On top of all that, the hot pepper component also reduced cancer cell production of PSA, a protein that often is produced in high quantities by prostate tumors and can signal the presence of prostate cancer in men. PSA is regulated by androgens, and capsaicin limited androgen-induced increases of PSA in the cancer cell lines.
Lehmann estimated that the dose of pepper extract fed orally to the mice was equivalent to giving 400 milligrams of capsaicin three times a week to a 200 pound man, roughly equivalent to between three and eight fresh habañera peppers per week - depending on the pepper's capsaicin content.
Habañeras are the highest rated pepper for capsaicin content according to the Scoville heat index. Habañera peppers, which are native to the Yucatan, typically contain up to 300,000 Scoville units. The more popular Jalapeño variety from Oaxaca, Mexico, and the southwest United States, contains 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units.
So try to spice it up a bit in the kitchen and enjoy the wonderful protective powers of hot peppers. If you're in the mood for a spicy and nutritious whole food beverage, try AmpliPhi from the Wholefood Farmacy!
Visit The WHOLE FOODS Farmacy.
Thank you,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
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* Employees of Healing Touch Therapies are NOT licensed physicians. The information provided by Healing Touch Therapies’ website or employees is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. Information provided is for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information or products contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information and statements regarding our complimentary and alternative health products and services have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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