Posts Tagged ‘phytochemicals’

Why Apples Really Are Your Best Medicine

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

Nutrition and Health Thrive with An Apple a Day

Apples are beautiful, healthy, filling, and yummy. The US Apple Association proudly shows off its product.

So many nutrition myths are untrue, even downright harmful. Yet the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has important clues to staying healthy and thin. This popular fruit earns its place as a health symbol. When you understand why, you have the information to maximize the benefits to you.

All whole plant foods are rich in beneficial, nutritionally active substances called phytochemicals. Plants make up to 100,000 kinds of these substances to protect themselves from insects, infections, the strong energy in sunlight, and other threats.

Phytochemicals include the substances that determine the appealing colors, delightful aromas, and delicious flavors of whole plant foods. In apples, over 250 kinds of phytochemicals determine the fragrance alone. Vitamins are not the same thing as phytochemicals. While apples are a good source of vitamin C, in whole apples this vitamin accounts for only .4% of the fruit’s antioxidant activity. The vast majority of the health-promoting effects are from phytochemicals.

These protective substances are densest in the skin of the apple. This makes sense when you remember (more…)

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Whole Food Nutrients are a Superstar Team

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

Each Player on Its Own Can Do Little

No matter how well you eat, you may worry about your diet. You may doubt you are getting enough of certain nutrients. Iron, zinc,

With a superstar team, all players work together to win. Similarly, for whole foods, the benefit of all nutrients together is more than each taken on its own.

calcium, protein, omega-3 fatty acids…concern about these may hinder enjoyment of your food. Or maybe you are reluctant to begin a plant-based diet, because you are not sure if some critical nutrient is lacking.

We do not benefit from dissecting our foods into proteins, fats, carbs, calcium, iron, individual vitamins, and other components. The modern practice of taking food apart and worrying about each piece separately has led to bizarre eating patterns.

You may fret about lacking protein, or eating too many “carbs,” or not having enough “good fats.” So instead of eating whole foods, you then choose protein powder, neatly wrapped food bars, or bottles of oil. These foods narrowly focus on one or a few nutrients, leaving out most of the goodness of the entire plant.

Think of these manufactured foods as similar to a demolished building. You can live in an intact house, but won’t find shelter in a pile of bricks. Similarly, you won’t find the nutrients you need in (more…)

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Whole Foods Fuel Your Own Olympic Performance

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Why Athletics, Nutrition, and Health Hang Together with a Plant-Based Diet

The current parade of Olympic athletes can make those of us with ordinary abilities a bit ambivalent. On the one hand, we admire the limits to which people can push the human body. Finely honed and trained athletes set the standard for physical achievement.

However, you can also feel discouraged. After all, an Olympic gold medal can feel life a project for another lifetime.

Snowboarding Is physically demanding

Snowboarding Is physically demanding

Be encouraged instead. You can achieve your physical potential. Land in first place with vigorous longevity and superb health. Your key is a whole foods, plant-based diet and regular exercise. Don’t try too much at first in the way of training. Make sure your doctor agrees with the exercise plan you have in mind, especially if you are overweight, out of shape, or have a chronic disease. If you persist, you will be amazed at your achievements.

Here’s a small sample of inspiring, 100% plant-based champs.

  • Carl Lewis won 10 Olympic medals in track and field – nine of them gold! His best year as an athlete was the year he stopped eating animal foods.
  • Edwin Moses, another Olympic gold medal champ, won the 400-meter hurdle competition for eight years in a row.
  • Brendan Brazier is an ultra marathon and triathlon winner.
  • Dr. Ruth Heidrich won more than 900 first place running and triathlon ribbons after she gained the (more…)

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