Nutrition Wonderland » cancer

Understanding Our Bodies: The Role of Antioxidants

Christie Wilcox — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:10:13 +0000

Are antioxidants good for you? To answer that question, you have to understand reactive oxygen species, or ROS. And to do that, you have to understand how your cells produce energy. In this article, we uncover the processes of oxidation and explain it in the context of your health and well being.

Turmeric and Curcumin Show Major Health Benefits

John Serrao — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:57:46 +0000

July was a big month for the herb tumeric, as a host of different studies and articles were published linking the bright yellow flavonoid found in the herb called curcumin to pain relief, protection against Alzheimer's and lowered risk of breast cancer. This new information adds to mounting evidence of the powerful role this herb can play as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body. Image thanks to _william @ flickr.

Vitamin C the King of Antioxidants, 260 years later

John Serrao — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:08:13 +0000

From British Naval ships to 21st century micronutrient labs, the tale of Vitamin C is a long winding journey through scientific discovery and antioxidant sales pitches.

The Best Nutrition to Beautify Your Skin

Christie Wilcox — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:00:44 +0000

So you want to look good without dousing your skin in all kinds of chemicals you can't pronounce? Scientists have spent a lot of time looking at how different foods and their nutritional components affect our skin. It turns out there are some compounds which are really good for our skin that we can add to our diets - and they tend to have other benefits, too, like improving the immune system or fighting cancer. Here are the big ones you should make sure you aren't lacking in... (picture from Flickr User: FranUlloa)

Açai Berries: How healthy are they?

Christie Wilcox — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:00:47 +0000

Açai, as a wonder supplement, is claimed to improve weight loss, increase energy levels, improve digestion, aid sleep, detoxify, improve skin appearance, improve heart health, reverse diabetes and other chronic illnesses, reduce cholesterol levels, and increase sexual virility and performance. It's claimed to be high in fiber, healthy fatty acids, and antioxidants. But just how accurate are the claims about the trendy Brazilian berry? Are they truly the wonder they're advertised to be?

Finish Your Broccoli, Breathe A Little Easier

Christie Wilcox — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:48:57 +0000

Research is now showing that greens might be particularly good for those who suffer from inflammatory diseases like asthma and allergies because a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and horseradish can ramp up the body's natural way of suppressing those kinds of diseases when eaten.

Integrative Medicine on Capitol Hill

John Serrao — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:37:15 +0000

On Thursday, the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing called, Integrative Care: A Pathway to a Healthier Nation to assess how complementary medicine will be incorporated into President Obama's challenge for Congress to pass health care reform in 2009.

Breastfeeding Fends Off Breast Cancer

Christie Wilcox — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:16:19 +0000

Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your baby. Human milk is ideally formulated to be the perfect food for our infants. But did you know breastfeeding is just as healthy for Mom, too? Not only does it help you bond with your child, it may just prevent breast cancer later in life.

The Sialic Quirk of Humanity

John Serrao — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:04:35 +0000

Why are people susceptible to so much disease? How is it that the most sophisticated creatures on planet earth succumb, sometimes completely, to some of the most simplistic viruses, like the flu? We would expect that our bodies have seen every intruder possible in our evolutionary trek to becoming human - and should have developed a solution. But we haven't. So, what then is this evolutionary step that has made us so susceptible to microscopic pathogens? A fascinating physician-scientist may have uncovered the answer.

Beer and Barbecue Really Do Belong Together: A Lesson in Cancer Prevention

John Serrao — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:27:28 +0000

Whether it be the braai of our meat-loving South African friends, the asado of Argentina or the barbie of the Kiwis and Aussies, grilled meat is sacred to many cultures the world over. But cancer is never on the menu. At least explicitly. In fact, if you asked most people, barbecues are probably the last thing they would think of when they hear cancer. For our friends with a family history of cancer, however, it may be one of the first places to look.

Purple Tomatoes Go GMO to Cure Cancer

John Serrao — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:26:15 +0000

Researchers at John Innes Centre in the UK have used successfully created a purple tomato by using genes from the common snapdragon flowering plant. Tomatoes natively possess the genes required to make themselves purple but normally these genes lie dormant. By inserting borrowed genes from the snapdragon plant, the researchers engineered the tomato to activate the usually dormant genes. The tomato plant was designed intelligently with promoter sections of DNA inserted in front of the snapdragon genes, so that the tomato plant would only turn its ripening fruits purple and not its leaves.