Category: phytochemical

Phytochemical of the month, Lycopene

You say Tomayto I say Tomhato

By Gina Rollins DP

 

Lycopene from the neo-Latin lycopersicum has been studied for more than 75 years and has had thousands of articles published about it.

Lycopene is a carotenoid compound found in fruits, vegetables, and green plants. It significantly helps the body’s ability to protect against free radicals.

 

Lycopene is great at mopping up free radicals like those produced by sun damage on the skin and eyes as well as inflammatory damage in the heart and prostate cancer.

 

FOOD SOURCES

Raw tomatoes are the best-known source for Lycopene (cooking them makes the nutrient more bioavailable).

For those with sensitivity to tomatoes, apricots, asparagus, sweet peppers, cranberries, pink grapefruit, guava, papaya, peaches and watermelon are all excellent alternatives and should be included as part of a healthy diet.

FYI: Even though strawberries and cherries are red, they do not contain lycopene.

EAT, DRINK AND G-WELL

Phytochemical of the Month, Indole-3-Carbinol

 

INDOLE-3-CARBINOL

By Gina Rollin DP, HHC

Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and brussel sprouts are unique because they are rich in sulfur containing compounds called glucosinolates which support detoxification and indole-3-carbinol which has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of breast, colon and lung cancer.

  • They block the conversion of sex hormones into a cancer-causing form.
  • They help protect cells from DNA damage.
  • They help inactivate carcinogens.
  • They have antiviral and antibacterial effects.
  • They have anti-inflammatory effects.
  • They induce cell death (apoptosis).
  • They inhibit tumor blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and tumor cell migration (needed for metastasis).

This enzyme is only activated after maceration of the vegetable. They can also be used in soups since cooking does not damage indoles.

Chemoprevention: (The use of chemical agents, drugs, or food supplements to prevent the development of cancer.)

Indole-3-carbinol has chemopreventive activity and stimulates the production of detoxifying enzymes. The phytochemical protects against carcinogenic effect of pesticides and other toxins.

Cruciferous Vegetables Thyroid Side Effects

According to the research, it would take a large amount of cruciferous vegetables to cause hypothyroidism and it appears that there is only a risk if someone also has an iodine deficiency.

One study in humans found that the consumption of 5oz a day of cooked brussels sprouts for four weeks had no adverse effects on thyroid function.

 

Always check with your doctor before changing your diet!

In Summary:

Ample proof is available showing cruciferous vegetables (especially cabbage) to have more medicinal value than any other natural food. It helps heal stomach ulcers and may help prevent cancer. Colon, prostate, and breast cancer risk are minimized with good amounts of them in the diet. In fact, some studies indicate that cruciferous ingestion may be more effective than any other treatment.

Chopped in cold salads for a delicious crunch, added to vegetable soups for a satisfying flavor or even juiced, cruciferous veggies are truly super foods.

Eat, Drink and Gwell,

Gina

 

What are Phytochemicals?

By Gina Rollins DP, HHC

Phytochemicals

are non-nutritive chemical compounds that naturally occur in plants (phyto means plant in Greek). They provide plants with their color, odor and flavor. They have protective or disease preventive properties and are non-essential nutrients, meaning that they are not required by the human body for sustaining life. It is well known that plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves but recent research demonstrate that they can also protect humans against diseases. There may be as many as 4,000 different phytochemicals.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, once we eat them, research shows they can influence the chemical process inside our bodies in helpful ways.

Findings from laboratory studies have shown that phytochemical’s have the potential to:

  • Stimulate the immune system
  • Block substances we eat, drink ad breathe from becoming carcinogens
  • Reduce the kind of inflammation that makes cancer growth more likely
  • Prevent DNA damage and help with DNA repair
  • Reduce the kind of oxidative damage to cells that can spark cancer
  • Slow the growth rate of cancer cells
  • Trigger damaged cells to commit suicide before they can reproduce
  • Help to regulate hormones.To date Thousands of phytochemical’s have been identified and scientists have only begun to investigate their promise.  The future looks bright.

Eat, Drink and Gwell