The Phytochemical Miracle Resource: Journal of Longevity Research 1996 Vol.2/No.5
Phytonutrient or "phytochemical" simply refers to natural, plant-derived chemicals such as flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables; gingerols found in ginger root; and chlorophyll found in chorella, alfalfa, and barley greens. Isothiocyanate sulforaphane found in leafy vegetable such as broccoli, kale, and cabbage; lycopene, a carotenoid, found in tomatoes; and curcumin found in tumeric.
Medical research into these powerful plant extracts is uncovering a wealth of health benefits, including the reduction of the risk of cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and other conditions that rob us of quality of life and lead to premature aging and death.
Phytochemicals demonstrate a wide range of important medicinal qualities, including antioxidant, anticarcinogen, and antitumer activity, as well as the ability to help lower cholesterol, maintain normal blood pressure, and lessen the risk of heart disease. Some help protect the live from toxins, aid in reversing memory and hearing loss, and are beneficial to those suffering from bronchial problems and allergies.
Gingerols (ginger root) are the biologically active chemicals found in ginger root and display a wide range of beneficial activities for human health. They possess strong antioxidant properties, naturally protects the stomach, ward off ulcers, an effective anti-microbial for sores and wounds, help with the pain of migraine headaches, elimination of cholesterol, and help with the pain and swelling of arthritis. Plus, they are most commonly known for their ability to significantly reduce the symptoms of motion sickness.
Isothiocyanate sulforaphane is reported to help protect the human body against cancer. Sulforaphanes help to detoxify carcinogens, flushing them out of the body, and isothiocyanates help to slow down the body's metabolism of compounds that trigger muations leading to cancer. According to a report in the Science Journal, people who plenty of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, radishes, and cabbage are must less likely to develop colon cancer.
Lycopene the tomato pigment, lycopene, a member of the carotenoid family, demonstrates similar properties to beta-carotene, including antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antitumor activity, as well as nutritional value. It is reportedly a more effective free radical scavenger than beta-carotene.
Curcumin tumeric has antioxidant, antimutagen, antitumor, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, and bacteriostatic effects. It is beneficial for sprains and swellings, diabetic wounds, arthritis, rheumatism, and sinusitis.
Chlorophyll is the green-colored material of plants and helps to tranform light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, which is the manufacture of carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide in the presence of light. Chlorophyll is used to improve wounds, skin ulcers, burns, anemia, and the elimination of odor from ulcerated areas.
Flavonoids (hespirin, eriocitrin, pectin, naringen, rutin, ginkgo, quercetin) found in fruits and vegetables and beverages like tea and wine are natural antioxidants that have a strong impact on human health. They are antiallergenic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and have been shown to help maintain normal blood pressure and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in elderly men.
Other Phytonutrient-rich foods are... garlic and onions (powerful antibiotics); Licorice (glycyrrhizins--helps protect the liver); ginkgo biloba (terpenes and flavonoids--help to improve circulation and short-term memory loss; grape seed and pine bark extracts (bioflavonoid proanthocyanidins--guard against cancer and inhibit tumors; hawthorn berry extract (lactones--helpful in the many aspects of heart diseases; rosemary extract (carnosic acid and carnosol--powerful antioxidants and anticarcinogens; and wheat sprouts & barley greens (SOD stimulators superoxide dismutase--antimutagenic and antioxidative activity.
Here's To Your Health--Live Long And Prosper! Embellir Corporation 2577 Broad Avenue (Historic Arts District) Memphis TN 38112-2615 901.452.1950
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