Healing Foods

Until recently, modern medicine wrote off the use of healing foods as a treatment to combat illness or prevent it as "old wives' tales." Today, however, there is scientific evidence verifying the foods we eat have a definite affect on our health more than just to provide nutritional balance. Labs all over the world now study the effects of specific phytonutrients and compounds in fresh fruits and vegetables as cures for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. However, even though these studies often show the whole foods provide protection and cure, many times it's when the ingredients are separated from the whole to isolate the beneficial substance, the effect is either less powerful or non-existent.

Unfortunately, you'll seldom read all the information found in these studies, which drug companies often fully fund. The reason is obvious. You simply can't put a patent on fresh fruits and vegetables. It costs pharmaceutical companies a great deal of money to research health benefits or introduce a new medication so the cures must have a potential to show a profit. Broccoli spears or grapes are available at your local grocer where everyone can purchase produce at reasonable prices. Even weekend gardeners can plant a tomato plant or two for their supper table. Healing foods show no potential for profit. 

In an era where a quick burger made of unknown meat sources is the staple of the diet of many Americans, it's no wonder that diseases such as cancer and heart disease seem to increase every year. Statistics show that there is a race and ethnic difference in the rate of cancer. African Americans have a substantially higher death rate from cancer than white men and women according to a study to the data shown in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Statistics also show that Asians and Pacific Islanders have lower rates of other cancers but higher rates of stomach, liver and cervical cancer than other groups. Are the statistics pointing to bad genes or does the food we consume cause the problem? Diet varies dramatically among these groups and only further study will show the true cause. Until there is a definitive answer, eating healthy is one way to insure proper nutrition and potentially stave off devastating disease.

In basic family living classes across America, teachers instruct students in simple meal preparation and menu planning. While it's not scientific, one rule of thumb was always to include fruits and vegetables and make the meal a rainbow of colors. It seems this planning technique not only makes an attractive meal, it also provides valuable nutrients in balanced amounts. Many of the healthy foods derive their nutritional benefits not just from the vitamins and mineral they contain, but also from phytonutrients, sometimes referred to as phytochemicals. Many of these disease- fighting phytochemicals also give color to the plants. By varying the food color at meals, the potential for including more of the "hidden" nutrients increases.

While the news may have us believe there is a new super food every week, it just isn't so. While these foods may contain high amounts of antioxidants, a disease fighting substance, there is no one magic food that will make all your ailments disappear. Fresh fruits and vegetables tend to lead the pack on nutrition but there are also benefits from whole grain foods, nuts, some oils and fish.

Those that have a particular family history or suffer from a disease should focus on increasing their intake of foods that attack a particular problem.

Heart healthy foods are those that either increase the flow of blood in the system, reduce inflammation that causes plaque build up or lower cholesterol levels. Some of these foods include fish, nuts and oatmeal. They work in a variety of ways to do each task.

Cancer fighting foods are those that either cause cancer cell death or stop cancer cells from dividing and creating more cells. Broccoli and cauliflower contain indole-3-carbinol that combats breast cancer. They also contain sulforaphane a phytochemical that inhibits the growth of cancer cells and lutein and zeaxanthin two other cancer fighters.

Carrots and other vegetables that contain beta-carotene, helps to reduce the incidence of certain cancers according to some studies. When you eat raw carrots, you're also ingesting falcarinol, a phytonutrient shown to slow the growth of cancer cells.

Grapes and deep purple fruits and vegetables have the substance resveratrol, which gives the fruit the deep purple color. Resveratrol is highly praised as a heart healthy phytonutrient and cancer fighter. Even spices add to the body's protection against cancer. Turmeric, chili peppers, garlic and other spices contain valuable disease fighting and cancer fighting agents.

Whether the problem is Alzheimer's disease, cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease or any other, there's a food that contains nutrients that could help you live longer or even overcome the disease. By simply eliminating some foods from your diet and replacing them with others, you may find that you'll live healthier and prevent many of the diseases that plague our nation. The best part of healing foods, unlike many prescription drugs, is that there are no side effects.