Garlic & Your Heart
 

A new study just released in the Oct. 16th , 2007 issue of the prestigious medical journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that garlic causes red blood cells to release hydrogen sulfide in the body thereby causing blood vessels to relax.

When blood vessels relax, they become larger and are able to carry more blood and more oxygen to the brain and other important parts of the body.  Blood pressure also comes down when blood vessels relax. It is well known that high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, so this newly discovered health benefit of garlic, once again, is an example of modern day researchers confirming the wisdom of the ancients.  Garlic has been used for medicinal purposes throughout all of recorded history.

The lead researcher is Biology professor David Kraus from the University of Alabama. He said that there is also another study in progress that shows "sulfide can protect from cardiovascular damage during a heart attack, it can alleviate various sorts of inflammation, and it can reduce platelet aggregation that would cause a blood clot to form".

When you eat garlic, your body metabolizes garlic's active ingredient, allicin, and produces hydrogen sulphide. The hydrogen sulphide then signals your blood vessels to relax, increasing blood flow, reducing blood pressure and supporting heart health.

You can find garlic in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Corn of Plenty, Veggielicious Spice, V-8 Creamy Bean Soup, V-10 Creamy Yam Soup and V-12 Creamy Vegetable Soup.

Have you had a serving of garlic today?

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Blueberries
 

Recent USDA studies show that Blueberries are a tasty way to eat right and stay healthy. Scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University ranked blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables.

Dr. James Joseph, PhD, Chief of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University is working with blueberries to examine their potential to help improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging.

"The blueberry has emerged as a very powerful food in the aging battle," said Dr. Joseph. "Given the possibility that blueberries may reverse short-term memory loss and forestall other effects of aging, their potential may be very great."

A University of Illinois study by Mary Ann Lila Smith, PhD, looked at a particular flavonoid that inhibits an enzyme involved in promoting cancer. Of the fruits tested, blueberries showed the greatest anti-cancer activity of all.

According to research findings at the Rutgers Blueberry Cranberry Research Center in Chatsworth , N.J. , blueberries help promote urinary tract health. According to Rutgers scientist Amy Howell, PhD, blueberries, like cranberries, contain compounds that prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections from attaching to the bladder wall.

You can find blueberries in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Coco Cherry Phi, Cranberry Phi, and ElectriPhi.

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Kids and adults alike will appreciate this skewered snack.

Servings: 1 serving
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Health: Low Calorie, High Fiber, Low Cholesterol, Low Sodium, High Potassium


Ingredients:

Quick Kebabs
1/2 ounce cubed roasted deli turkey
1/2 ounce cubed Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grapes
6 dried apricots


Steps:

1: Thread turkey, cheese, grapes and apricots onto a wooden skewer.

Experiment with tomatoes, onions, strawberry, pineapple ... any favorites of fruits and veggies you like  (use cooked onions, carrots, celery..)

Nutrition: (Per serving)

Calories - 218
Carbohydrates - 37
Fat - 5
Saturated Fat - 3
Monounsaturated Fat - 1
Protein - 7
Cholesterol - 20
Dietary Fiber - 5
Potassium - 714
Sodium - 247
Nutrition Bonus - What you get: Protein, fiber, calcium, potassium.

Grapefruit
 

When it comes to a triple serving of health benefits, grapefruit packs a tri-power punch that's hard to beat. Researchers in Israel recently found that red and white grapefruit contain powerful antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found that serving heart by-pass patients the equivalent of one grapefruit a day significantly reduced cholesterol levels.

The study included 57 patients, both men and women, who recently had coronary bypass surgery and failed to respond to cholesterol-lowering medication. Red grapefruit was especially effective, reducing cholesterol by 15 per cent and triglycerides (a type of fat that increases the risk of heart disease) by 17 per cent.

Another recent study conducted by researchers at UCLA and Zhongshan University in China discovered that Naringenin, a beneficial plant compound in grapefruit, helped repair damaged genetic material (DNA) in human prostate cancer cells. DNA repair is an important factor in cancer prevention since it stops cancer cells from multiplying. The research was published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Scientists noted that DNA repair by Naringenin might contribute to the cancer-fighting effects associated with a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

An even more recent study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food supports the long-held belief that grapefruit is useful in the battle of the bulge. Dr. Ken Fujioka from Scripps Clinic in San Diego conducted a 12-week study of 100 obese men and women and found that consuming one-half grapefruit before meals resulted in an average weight loss of 3.6 pounds with some participants losing up to 10 pounds.

Individuals who ate the grapefruit had significantly lower levels of insulin in their blood, which the researchers speculate resulted in the weight loss. The smaller the amount of insulin in the blood after a meal, the more efficiently the body uses food for energy rather than storing it as fat. The researchers further speculated that a natural plant compound in grapefruit, not the fiber content, was responsible for the weight loss since those who consumed grapefruit juice also lost weight despite the lack of fiber.

If you'd like to add a new tasty twist to your morning, try sprinkling some BeautiPhi, ClariPhi, ElectriPhi, or FructiPhi over your freshly halved grapefruit and enjoy!  

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Fill your Christmas Stockings and 2008 with healthy whole foods !