Tag Archive for "cancer prevention"

Green Tea for Maximizing Health and Beauty

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Thursday, February 7, 2013 Diet and Foods, Healthy Beauty, Healthy Eating, Holistic Health, Nutrition, Organic Beauty, Wellness antioxidants, beauty foods, cancer prevention, Holistic Health, holistic skincare Permalink 0

By: Stephanie Heino

Tea (Camellia Sinensis) refers to Black, Green, White and Oolong teas. The teas differ by the fermentation process where the black tea is fully fermented (oxidized), oolong is partially fermented, white is minimally processed and green is unfermented, which makes green tea the healthiest. This article will focus on the health benefits of green tea, but in general all teas are similar due to similar bioactive health substances, like bioflavonoids (super-antioxidants found in many natural foods), for example.

Green tea, made from a bioflavonoid-containing plant – has been enjoyed as a hot (and cold!) beverage and an herbal remedy in China and Japan for thousands of years. Recently, researchers have investigated green tea’s healing properties and have discovered some interesting health benefits which include protection against certain infections; improved cardiovascular health; better dental hygiene; clearer, healthier skin; and protection from developing some types of cancer.

There are many different types of teas available these days. Some are sold as herbal teas to distinguish them from black tea. Green tea and regular tea come from the same plant – the Camellia sinensis shrub, which is native to Asia. The leaves of Camellia sinensis are dried and cured in different ways to yield different types of tea. Instead of fermenting the green tea, the leaves are steamed, dried, and ready for use. The steaming deactivates enzymes present in the tea leaves that can slowly break down the bioflavonoids. Therefore, the green tea process preserves much of the beneficial nutrient content found in the fresh tea leaves. Many people are confused about green tea containing caffeine –it does, but only half as much as a cup of coffee (6-ounce cup of green tea can contain 15 to 60 mg of caffeine). There are also decaffeinated green tea beverages and supplements available for people who want to avoid caffeine intake while experiencing the health benefits.

Some of the major beneficial effects of green tea include a reduced risk of many diseases such as heart disease; a reduction of dental problems; a reduced cancer risk, especially gastrointestinal cancer; the maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels; and anti-hypertensive effects. According to Japanese researchers there is a reduced risk of gastric cancers in populations drinking several cups of green tea per day. According to vital health statistics, the death rate from cancer in both men and women in the Shizuoka region of Japan was found to be much lower than the national average. After conducting animal experiments to see if feeding green tea leaves to mice would suppress cancer cell growth they found that tumor growth in experimental mice fed green tea was indeed suppressed. There is also some evidence that consumption of green tea can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. This can be accomplished by keeping the levels of cholesterol in the blood within a normal range and promoting good blood flow.

There is a great amount of other health benefits of green tea. Due to the naturally occurring amount of fluoride in green tea, as well as the anti-bacterial property, studies have confirmed the positive effect green tea has on teeth. Therefore green tea may be used to prevent dental cavities. Other benefits of drinking green tea before, during, and after meals includes antibacterial action, antioxidant effects, reduction of blood-glucose levels, as well as increased longevity.

The best way to get the benefits from the green tea, take green tea supplements before or with your meals and enjoy a cup of green tea often, in particular with meals. When selecting dietary supplements, look for brands with green-tea extracts standardized to 25-percent or more polyphenols. As part of a total dietary supplement plan, green-tea extract intake of 50 mg or higher will be beneficial.

As for the beauty aspect of drinking green tea, specialists found out that green tea has a special effect on our skin especially for eczema and acne sufferers. If you suffer from eczema, drinking green tea regularly can be a remedy for reducing the symptoms since green tea plays the role of a moisturizer with its powerful antioxidant properties that are 20 times stronger the vitamin E. Some say that 3 cups a day is enough for a guaranteed result!

Green tea is also good for preventing and fighting existing acne and a much better method that is far less harmful than the chemicals in all products you usually are recommended. You can find several cosmetic products containing green tea extracts, but consuming it is the simplest and best method to receive all possible benefits. It is said that this miracle beverage contains more antioxidants than any of the beauty products rich in chemical antioxidants and vitamins like E, C, and A. Green tea is an amazing antioxidant beauty food for skin and glow, as well as your general health!

Drink it up!

10 Foods That Prevent Breast Cancer (And 5 That Cause It)

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC Monday, October 15, 2012 Diet and Foods, Healthy Eating, Nutrition, Organic Beauty, Wellness breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, breast cancer awareness month, breast cancer risk, cancer Permalink 0

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it would be awesome to feature some amazingly healthy foods that have been shown to reduce risk of breast cancer. Effectively minimizing your risk of all types of cancer is a holistic undertaking, involving healthy lifestyle changes, stress management, and avoiding toxic chemicals and carcinogens, but starting with what you put in your body is always best! Load up on these potent foods, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and all other veggies in this powerhouse family contain glucosinolates and indole-3-carbinole, which lower levels of the types of estrogen that can cause breast cancer. In general, cruciferous veggies have remarkable hormone balancing effects, which are wonderful for women’s health!
Yellow-Orange vegetables: Carrots, orange bell peppers, sweet potatoes and other orange veggies are super high in beta-carotene, which lowers breast cancer risk.
Tomatoes: These red beauties are high in lycopene, especially when cooked. Lycopene lowers risk of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men! So load up on organic ketchup, organic tomato sauces, fresh and sun-dried tomatoes.
Red Grapes: Red grapes have been shown to significantly reduce breast cancer risk, so eat up and have an occasional glass of red wine as well. Never exceed more than one glass of red wine (or any other alcoholic beverage) a day, however, because crossing that threshold has actually been shown to increase breast cancer risk by 20-25%.
Dark Leafy Greens: These cancer-fighting all-stars should be a HUGE part of everyone’s diet. Research has shows that breast cancer risk was cut in half in women who ate a full serving of spinach at least twice a week. Make sure to vary your greens to get the full benefit… kale, swiss chard, and collards are other great options!
Cold-Water Fish: Salmon, anchovies and sardines are loaded with omega-3’s and are low on mercury. Research shows that women with higher tissue levels of omega-3’s have much lower incidence of breast cancer. An added bonus is lower risk of heart disease, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s!
Flaxseeds and Flaxseed Oil: Aside from high levels of omega-3’s, flaxseeds also contain high levels of lignans, which lower risk of estrogen-dependent cancers.
Green Tea: This potent drink is high in the compound, EGCG, which significantly lowers risk of developing breast cancer, and inhibits the growth of the cancer in women who already have it. Opt for a cup a day of pure green tea (not decaf, not bottled) each day, sweetened with raw honey, stevia, or agave.
Whole Grains: Studies have shown that women who eat a lot of refined grains had a higher occurrence of breast cancer, due to the hormone altering effects of these foods. On the flipside, women who consumed plenty of whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, rye, and bran, had much lower risk and incidence of breast cancer.
Whole Soy: Organic, non-GMO, whole soy foods like tempeh and edamame have been shown to reduce cancer risk due to their isoflavinoids, which act as weak estrogens that inhibit the effects of more powerful, cancer-causing estrogens. BUT, beware of processed soy, which is found in packaged foods and junk foods, and can flood your system with too much of these estrogens over time. Opt for whole soy foods a few times a week, and avoid all foods containing processed soy.

There are also several foods that have been shown to increase risk of breast cancer. Avoiding these foods is a crucial part of eating to lower your risk!

High-Fat Meat & Dairy: The saturated fats in meat and dairy not only raise risk of breast cancer (and all other forms of cancer), but also cause obesity and high BMI. Maintaining a BMI of over 25 raises breast cancer risk significantly. If you eat dairy, keep it to low-fat varieties, and treat cheese as a treat (like ice cream!), not a dietary staple! If you eat meat, keep it to chicken, fish, and eggs, and cut out the red meat, processed meat (like hot dogs and lunch meats), and bacon.
Alcohol: As I wrote above, drinking more than 1 alcoholic beverage per day raises risk of breast cancer by 20-25%, making it one of the most substantial dietary cancer risk factors. Keep it under 1 drink a day, and stick to red wine when you do drink.
Doughnuts: Not only are these diet busters terrible for your waistline and general health, they also increase cancer risk! Loaded with refined flour, refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, and acrylamides (created when starchy foods are fried), these bad guys pack a 1-2 cancer-causing punch.
French Fries: Like doughnuts, these are loaded with fatty hydrogenated oils and acrylamides, which raise cancer risk significantly. Opt for oven-baked or roasted potatoes instead!
Sugar: Refined white sugar, and all the foods that contain it, raise blood glucose levels, which in turn raises insulin. High levels of insulin in the blood causes an increase free-circulating estrogens, which, you guessed it, cause breast cancer. Avoid all sugary baked goods, candies, cereals, and processed foods, and forgo that scoop of sugar in your coffee or tea. Opt instead for stevia, agave, or raw honey, which can all be used in baking as well! And definitely avoid artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Nutrisweet, Equal, and Sweet & Low, all of which may increase the risk of cancer and other diseases.