HEALTH + WELLNESS
eats only three to four fruits and vegetables daily. Most of these are in the
form of juice or potatoes. In fact, the
most commonly consumed vegetable
in this country is the French fry. The
recommendations are for Americans to
eat at least five vegetables a day. Most
researchers expand this to 10 servings
a day of fresh fruits and vegetables
rich in colors and phyto-nutrients.
Individuals who consume a plant-rich
or plant-based diet may be reducing
their risk for some cancers, heart disease and stroke. The National Cancer
Institute and more than 200 studies
have shown that consuming at least
five fruits and vegetables per day may
reduce the risk of most major cancers
by 35% to 50%. Fruits and vegetables
contain hundreds of different compounds such as indoles, thiocyanates,
and carotenoids which work together
in the body to improve a number of
processes. Many of these plant derived
chemicals have been shown to have
anti-cancer properties and have even
reduce the incidence of some cancers.
Diets rich in plants also significantly
reduce the incidence of heart disease
and stroke. There are no available pills
that come close to the benefits found
in fruits and vegetables.
“Declare the past, diagnose
the present, foretell the future.”
“A wise man should consider that
health is the greatest of human blessings,
and learn how by his own thought
to derive benefit from his illness.”
JUNE JULY 2014
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