Healthy Foods

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Pineapple

04 1st, 2008

PineappleScientific Name: Ananas cosmosus

Biological Background: A tropical plant with stiff, spiny leaves that yields a single large fruit. Pineapple originated in Brazil.

Nutritional Information: One cup (155 g) of raw pineapple contains 76 calories, 0.6 g protein, 19.2 g carbohydrates, 2.95 g fiber, 175 g potassium, 124 mg vitamin C, 0.14 mg thiamin, 0.06 mg riboflavin, 0.65 mg niacin.

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Heart Diseases and Foods

02 21st, 2008

Coronary heart disease is the most common of all heart diseases. It is characterized by blockage in the coronary arteries that result in reduction of blood flows to the heart muscle, depriving it of vital oxygen. The clogging of coronary artery, known as arteriosclerosis, begins with fatty streaks in and under the layer of cells, that line artery walls. Gradually, the streaks are transformed into plaques-fatty scar tissue that bulges into the artery opening, partly choking off blood flow.
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Terrific Tomatoes

01 15th, 2008

4 Servings

  • 4 tomatoes, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped
  • 2 Tbs chopped parsley
  • 1/2 tsp each salt and black pepper

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Free Radicals

12 13th, 2007

Free radicals are oxygen-containing chemicals that have an impaired electron. The impaired electron makes free radicals highly reactive to DNA, proteins, membranes, and other cell machineries, resulting in oxidative damages including DNA mutations, protein dysfunction, and destruction of membrane and other cell structures. These oxidative damages promote aging and increase the risk of age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, immune system declines, brain dysfunction, and cataracts. Known free radicals that are involved in the aging process are superoxide, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (OH), singlet oxygen, lipid epoxides, lipid hydroperoxides, lipid alkoyl, peroxyl radicals, and oxides. They are either produced during our normal metabolisms or introduced into our bodies from outside sources.

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Benefits of Garlic

11 10th, 2007

GarlicScientific Name: Allium sativum

Biological Background: This bulbous plant is closely related to onions, leeks, chives and is a member of Allium vegetables. Garlic is native to Central Asia, and has been cultivated for at least 5,000 years.

Nutritional Information: Due to its use as a spice, garlic provides insignificant amount of nutrients.

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Preventing Kidney Stones

10 21st, 2007

Kidney stones are rock-hard accumulation of crystal deposits, usually composed of calcium and oxalates that can grow and obstruct the flow of urine through the kidneys. About a million Americans are hospitalized every year for treatment of kidney stones. Men are three times as susceptible to kidney stones as women. Once you have kidney stones, the chances of a reoccurring stone are about forty percent in the next five years, and eighty percent in the next twenty-five years. Whether you develop stones depends on many factors, including heredity, metabolic abnormalities, infections, medications, and diet.

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Eggplant Recipes

10 8th, 2007

Baked Eggplant
4 Servings
Preheat oven to 350o

  • 1 eggplant, sliced into -inch slices
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thinly
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Black Grapes

Grapes

Scientific Name: Vitus spp.

Biological Background: Grape is a pulpy, smooth-skinned berry, growing in clusters on vines. Grape was domesticated before 5,000 B.C. and is one of the oldest cultivated fruits.

Nutritional Information: Ten seedless grapes (50 g) provide 35 calories, 0.3 g protein, 8.9 g carbohydrate, 1.0 g fiber, 105 mg potassium, 5.4 mg vitamin C, 0.05 mg thiamin, 0.03 mg riboflavin, and 0.15 mg niacin.

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Compulsive overeating or binge eating is a common eating disorder in which people eat and eat, even after they are completely full. Compulsive overeaters often feel “out of control” with food, so much that they literally cannot stop eating. This problem is different from bulimia nervosa (where people binge, but then try “purge” food out of their bodies by vomiting or some other means). Compulsive overeaters don’t “purge”.

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Isoflavones

08 31st, 2007

Isoflavone is a class of non-nutrient plant substances with potential anticancer effects. Isoflavones occur in relatively high concentrations in soy products. The content varies with the variety, time of harvest, and geographic location. Isoflavones belong to the general class of flavonoids; they possess complex ring structures with oxygen atoms attached. Genistein and daizein are two examples of isoflavones. Their general shape resembles the steroid hormone estrogen, a major female hormone. It is possible that isoflavones block estrogen from binding to targets, a needed step in hormone-dependent cancers like cancers of the breast, ovary, and endometrium. They could also stimulate the production of an estrogen-binding protein in the blood, or they could block liver enzymes that activate compounds to become cancer-causing agents. Vegetarians whose diets are enriched in soy products and tofu have a lower risk of cancer.

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