Have
you ever noticed that while there are a plethora of varieties of nearly all
common fruits such as apples, oranges and peaches, each banana seems identical
to every other? When someone says "banana," you probably think of a large fruit
with yellow skin and a soft, pale middle.
That's because only bananas of
the "Cavendish" variety are sold in stores. And while there are indeed many
species in the banana genus "Musa," those species are drastically different from
the "banana" in taste and texture. Fruit corporations long ago decided that it
would best serve their profits to train consumers to expect all bananas to be
identical.
In order to preserve their distinctive properties, Cavendish
bananas are never allowed to reproduce sexually. That means they all have the
exact same genetic code as the first Cavendish tree selected by United Fruit
Corporation in the 1950s to replace the Gros Michael banana.
The
Gros Michael banana -- another genetically identical cultivar -- was so
devastated by disease that it could no longer be supplied to the global market
in any quantity. Now the same disease is targeting the Cavendish variety,
exposing yet again the folly and non-sustainability of
monoculture.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032610_bananas_clones.html#ixzz1OVbRt6oa
Prostate
cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer for men in the the
United States. Other than being male, there are other factors such as age, race,
and family history that may contribute to the risk. However, the screening tests
for prostate cancer including digital examination and the PSA blood tests have
been shown to be unreliable. This is all the more reason that we need to prevent
it.
A new study from Harvard University shows that consuming coffee,
whether it be regular or decaffeinated, leads to a dramatic reduction in prostate cancer - and
the degree of reduction is related to the amount of coffee consumed. Men who
consumed six or more cups per day had a 60 percent lower risk of developing lethal
prostate cancer. Those who
drank 3 cups a day had a 30 percent lower risk.
So what is it about the
coffee? Surprisingly, it's not the caffeine. Coffee contains
hundreds of biologically active compounds, including potent antioxidant activity, the
most unique antioxidant being methylpridinium. Methylpridinium is found almost
exclusively in coffee. It's anticancer properties have been previously noted in
colon cancer studies.
Also recently published is a Swedish study which
showed women who drank 5 or more cups of coffee a day had a much lower risk of
developing a certain aggressive form of breast cancer.
Previous research
has shown coffee to be helpful in diabetes, parkinsons disease, heart disease,
gallstone disease, liver cancer and cirrhosis.
"We're not yet telling men
to drink more coffee," said the Harvard study's lead author, Kathryn M. Wilson,
"but there's mounting evidence that if they do, they don't have to worry about
it."
Interesting caffeine comparison: One Starbucks grande coffee = 3
cups of generic coffee = 5 can of Red Bull = 7 cans on Diet Coke = 7 cups of
tea.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032615_coffee_prostate_cancer.html#ixzz1OVZw9845
Ive been loving beets for jucing and cooking. Will you give them a try.
Beetroot
is an ideal vegetable for both sweet and savory dishes. Packed with health
benefits, beetroot has an earthy bitter/sweet taste that makes it ideal to eat
either raw in salads or cooked in soups and stews. Read on for some great recipe
ideas.
Baby beetroot is around the size of a golf-ball and is slightly
sweeter than mature specimens. Beetroot leaves look a lot like baby spinach,
with red stems and veins showing through the dark leaves. Often used in mixed
salads, they have a peppery taste and a crunchy texture.
Use as you would baby spinach leaves.
Choose
beetroot that is firm to the touch and look carefully to make sure it is free of
mold. Buy beetroot that has the stem and leaves remaining, preferably from an
organic market.
Beetroot Health Benefits
Studies undertaken
by the Queen Mary University, UK and published in the Journal of the American
Heart Association have shown that beetroot juice can lower blood pressure
and reduce the risk of heart
attacks and strokes. According to the research, naturally occurring nitrates in
the beetroot produce a gas called nitric oxide in the blood which widens vessels and
arteries.
In addition, beetroot helps liver, kidney and bladder function and
helps to improve circulation.
Beet greens are a good source of calcium, iron
and Vitamins A and C. Beetroot is an excellent source of folic acid, fiber,
manganese and potassium.
Sweet and Sour Beetroot Soup (serves
6)
A variation on traditional Russian beetroot
soup.
Ingredients:
1 small red cabbage, finely grated
1
large raw beetroot, finely grated
1 liter water
Himalayan salt to
taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
120g raisins
1 heaped tablespoon
wholewheat flour
1 tablespoon butter
Method:
Boil the cabbage,
beetroot and lemon
juice, add the raisins and simmer until the ingredients are soft.
Thicken by adding a little cold water to the flour and stirring
into the soup. Stir until soup thickens; add salt to taste.
Spicy
Turkish beetroot dip
Ingredients:
3 medium beetroot,
trimmed
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/4 teaspoon hot paprika
1/2 cup
loosely packed fresh mint leaves
2 gloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon
lemon juice
3/4 cup natural yogurt
(optional)
Method:
Boil beetroot until tender, then drain. When
cool, peel the beetroot and chop into pieces. Blend the spices and remaining
ingredients until smooth.
Beetroot is also delicious roasted. Try
chopping beetroot into large pieces, toss in olive oil and fresh thyme leaves and
roast in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes or until
tender.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032602_beetroot_recipes.html#ixzz1OVSGDUqb
