Numerous
studies have shown that people
who regularly eat fruits and vegetables have much lower chances of
getting heart disease, cancer and many other chronic conditions.
Unfortunately, less than 5% of us eat the recommended 5-6 servings
of fruits and vegetables daily. 
As a result, we are not only missing
important vitamins and minerals, but also phytochemicals, which
scientists believe may be even more important than vitamins in
preventing health problems. Phytochemicals are substances in plants
that protect them from disease, injury and pollutants.
They
form the plants' immune systems. The key to staying healthy,
especially as you get older, is keeping your immune system strong.
That's exactly what phytochemicals do best. Everyone,
regardless of age, should supplement with phytochemicals to maintain
a powerful immune system.
Government
Studies
The
National Cancer Institute directors are so
excited about the success and potential of phytochemicals that
they’ve committed a substantial portion of their
multimillion-dollar budget towards more extensive research.
According
to Dr. D. L. Davis, Senior Science
Advisor at the U.S. Public Health Service, "Phytochemicals can
take growths and defuse them. They can turn off the proliferative
process of damaged cell growth" which can result in cancer.
Dr.
Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins Medical
Institute says that a phytochemical found in broccoli (sulforaphane)
kept cancer-prone animals from getting tumors even when exposed to
cancer-causing chemicals.
Several
other studies have found that sulforaphane-type phytochemicals
actually block the development of cancer cells BEFORE they are
formed.
The
seventh most common form of cancer occurs in the esophagus. Smokers
and drinkers often have this problem. Dr. Gary Stoner and other
scientists at Ohio State University's Cancer Prevention Laboratory
found that sulforaphane reduced its incidence by 40% and the
likelihood of spread by 90%.
The
University of Illinois created a new department
specifically for phytochemical research, with 63 professors and
scientists involved. It’s apparent that phytochemicals are
probably the promising illness deterrents to come along in many
decades - with no side effects!
Dr.
Gary Stoner of the University of Ohio, a specialist in breast and
lung cancers, reported that isothiocyanates, found in cabbage,
inhibit lung growths caused by chemicals (such as smoke). Cigarette
smoke contains a tremendous number of free radicals, which
are strongly implicated in causing cancer and other ailments.
One
phytochemical found in garlic specifically attacks cigarette smoke
free radicals, according to Dr. B. Torok's clinical tests at the
University of Tubingen in Germany.
Reduced
Cancer Growths From 50% to 75%!
A
study conducted at Johns Hopkins Medical School of 41,837 women for
five years showed that those who consumed garlic regularly had 50%
lower risk of colon cancer. Scientists at Roswell Park Cancer
Institute were able to reduce the number of tumors in cancer-prone
rats by up to 75% with a phytochemical from garlic.
Phytochemicals
Deter the Growth of Damaged Cells
Dr.
H. Fujiki proved in tests at the National Cancer Research Institute
that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea leaves seals
damaged cells, thereby preventing their growth and spreading. The
doctor was able to reduce the number of
cancers in animals by 47% and concluded that EGCG is one of the best
growth deterrents available.
Researchers
at University Hospital of Cleveland said that EGCG is an
exceptionally powerful antioxidant. Their clinical tests showed that
it deters skin, colon and stomach cancer.
In addition, it also
lowers blood cholesterol levels. Prostate and Lung Researchers
reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that
lycopenes, which are found in tomatoes, provide
effective protection against lung and prostate cancer. In one
large study involving almost 50,000 men, those whose consumption of
lycopene was the highest had a 47% reduction in prostate cancer.
Scientists suggest that the reason men in Italy and Greece have
considerably fewer prostate problems is that they eat more tomatoes
than men do elsewhere.
You can have
a Healthier Heart
Phytochemicals,
common in most vegetables, may help deter
heart disease because they destroy free radicals in the arteries.
Spirulina and chlorophyll remove environmental poisons from the
blood. Also, spirulina contains
superoxide dismutase (SOD), a very effective antioxidant.
A
phytochemical found in garlic is a strong antioxidant.
Many studies have shown that it breaks down blood clots and reduces
high blood pressure.
In one study of 432 heart attack patients,
cardiologist Dr. Arun Bordia at Tagore Medical College in India
showed that those who ate garlic suffered 66% fewer fatalities after
three years.
Dr. Neil Martin reported in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology
that garlic also helps reduce irregular heartbeats by almost 35%.
Faster
Healing and Better Skin Texture
The
best known phytochemical is chlorophyll; the green coloring in most
plants that is commonly used as a breath freshener.
But it has some
other amazing attributes. Scientists at the University of New York Medical
School found that it quickly heals bedsores, improves skin texture
and detoxifies dietary poisons that can cause health problems.
Cooking may
Destroy Phytochemicals!
Phytochemicals,
as well as most vitamins, are very sensitive to heat. According to
the National Food Review Board, cooking destroys up to 93% of the
nutrients. That's why it is better to eat your fruits and vegetables
in their natural form.
