Fight cancer with these 10 foods

More than a third of all cancers could be prevented by changes in diet and exercise. One of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk is lose excess weight - and one of the best ways to lose weight is through a filling, fiber-rich diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.

But that's not the reason why the National Cancer Institute recently approved the dietary guidance: "Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases." These foods are packed with antioxidants and other compounds that protect your DNA and fight free radical damage.

Since these substances work synergistically, it's best to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables rather than relying on one particular produce item to serve as a magic bullet against disease. That said, recent studies have uncovered specific benefits in the following foods that would recommend making them a part of any healthy diet.

1. Tomatoes: Lycopene, also found in watermelon and pink grapefruit, has been linked to lower risk of prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer. It also targets the free radical that is implicated in lung and digestive cancers.

2. Broccoli sprouts: One forkful triggers a cascade of antioxidant activity that lasts for days.

3. Berries: Blueberries, cranberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes - all rich in anthocyanins that repair and protect DNA.

4. Soybeans: Isoflavones such as genistein may help prevent and treat prostate cancer and may reduce breast cancer risk

5. Tea: Both black and green contain powerful compounds shown in countless studies to lower the risk of several types of cancer.

6. Pumpkin: This unsung super-food is a super-rich source of both beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, two hard-working carotenoids that combat lung and ovarian cancer.

7. Spinach: Popeye's favorite may help ward off cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate. The active antioxidant lutein is also found in kale and other leafy greens.

8. Garlic: Allium veggies (which also include onions and scallions) work to get your body's own antioxidant defense systems in gear. This process provides protective benefits against stomach, esophageal and breast cancers.

9. Pineapple: The enzyme bromelain may inhibit the growth of malignant cells in both lung and breast cancer, while the phenolic compounds also provide a protective benefit.

10. Apples: Can one a day help keep cancer at bay? Studies show quercetin may reduce the risk of lung cancer and impede growth of prostate cancer cells. Other antioxidants together with pectin help halt colon and liver cancer cell replication.

Whats cool about coconuts

A switch to a raw, vegan, natural foods lifestyle requires a little creativity and a lot of getting used to. It may feel at first as if we are giving up more than we are gaining.

When I became a 'raw dude' I expanded my tastes by experimenting and trying different foods that I previously paid little or no attention to. One of these newfound treasures was coconut.

I am blessed to live in a tropical climate where coconuts grow in abundance so that also had an influence on my desire to include more coconut in my daily diet. I've heard amazing things about the healing properties of coconut oil - some of which I will share in this article in hopes that you'll be convinced to give coconut a try.

You can't keep a good oil down!

The false and misleading information that has been widely distributed marking coconut oil, or saturated fats, as bad was pushed by the corn oil industry. As we know, whenever huge profits are at stake, the truth is hidden and replaced with lies to support the profit agenda.

However, coconut oil which is far more nutritious and beneficial than corn oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, and even olive oil - contains no dangerous trans-fatty acids. Trans-fats can raise LDLs, commonly known as 'bad' cholesterol, and lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and more.

Coconut oil increases metabolism and supports healthy weight loss.

Coconut oil's saturated fat is a medium-chain fatty acid which means it is digested more easily than other fats. Whereas, other fats are stored in the body's cells, the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are rapidly broken down and converted into energy putting less strain on the liver, pancreas, and digestive system. By activating the metabolism, coconut oil is outstanding for those with thyroid issues.

Coconut oil is antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-cancerous. It enhances the immune system by destroying lipid-coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, influenza, and various pathogenic bacteria.

There are many uses for pure, virgin coconut oil. If you are interested in getting a more in-depth view of healthy saturated fats that should be included in your diet, Dr. Mary Enig's, Eat Fat, Lose Fat : The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats, is a clear, understandable read on 'good' fats. Dr. Enig provides a lot of information on coconut oil as well as other healthy, saturated fats.

Uses of Coconut Oil:

* As a stable cooking oil

* salad dressing

* shakes, smoothies, juices

* skin moisturizer

* massage oil

I feel the best and most complete benefits come from the whole, natural coconut eaten regularly as a part of a natural foods diet. But if you don't happen to have a coconut tree in your backyard then you must make sure you are getting the highest quality virgin coconut oil.

Some requirements to look for would be:

* certified organic, USDA standards

* low-level heating to preserve natural nutrients

* made from fresh coconuts, not dried

* no chemical additives

* no refinement

* non-GMO

* no hydrogenation

* no hybridized coconuts

Superior quality makes a big difference, not only in regards to health and safety, but also in regards to taste and cooking quality if you use it in sautees and stir-frys. However you use your coconut oil, you can be assured that you are fortifying yourself with healthy, natural foods that taste good and are good for you!

Understanding coral calcium

Calcium is an essential mineral and is required for human life. However talk about the benefits of coral calcium can be confusing and may make it difficult to put into context how we can benefit from appropriate levels of calcium in the diet, be it from food or from supplemental sources.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and has several important functions. More than 99% of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth providing the necessary support to their structure. As a normal function of biology, the living cells of the body absorb new calcium to replace lost calcium or to build upon existing structure as in the case of childhood growth or in healing.

Coral calcium is a salt derived from fossilized coral reefs. The living coral reefs are endangered and most major reefs are protected by law as they cannot be harvested without severe damage to the ecosystem. Coral calcium is harvested by grinding up above-ground limestone deposits that were once part of a coral reef.

Coral calcium itself is composed primarily of calcium carbonate with small amounts of magnesium and other trace minerals. Chemically, calcium carbonate from coral sources is no different than from other sources of calcium, despite the claims otherwise by some companies. However, the addition of trace minerals, which may be deficient ones diet, could explain why some claim benefits of coral calcium over more refined sources of calcium supplements.

While the calcium component of coral calcium is identical to any other limestone deposit, fossilized coral reefs may contain trace minerals helpful to the human body. Though it's unlikely that a well-fed individual would be deficient in any of these minerals, clear dietary data shows that while the average American diet may be providing abundant levels of calories, salt, fat and preservatives, it is otherwise low in nutrition. Therefore, many people may benefit from a basic level of supplementation of all essential and necessary nutrients, including calcium.

There have been many unsubstantiated claims made regarding coral calcium, perhaps the most controversial of which is the suggestion that coral calcium cures cancer by increasing pH of the body. Scientific studies have been performed indicating that cancer cells cannot survive at sufficiently high pH levels. However, while this may be true when tested in a Petri Dish, the pH required to kill cancer cells also kills healthy human cells.

Another problem with the "body alkalinization" concept is that the body pH doesn't change, regardless of how much calcium carbonate is ingested. The human body can only function properly within a narrow pH range. It has been shown that if alkalinizing agents are ingested, the body promptly excretes the alkaline components in urine. Attempting to increase the pH of bodies only appears to succeed in raising the pH of the urine. The same applies if acidic foods are ingested in that the urine becomes more acidic.

Calcium itself is an essential mineral for human life, and coral calcium is an effective source of it, though by no means the only one. When researching any supplement, keep in mind that supplements are intended to improve nutrition. They are not designed to treat, cure or mitigate any disease. However, high quality supplements are an excellent way to supplement, but not substitute, the benefits of a good diet.