“Jonny Bowden again shows why he is one of the best nutrition writers in the country. I strongly recommend this book for anyone looking to achieve optimal health.”

—Barry Sears, Ph.D.

New York Times Best-Selling Author of The Zone

“The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth is packed with sound, useful information that will help you make the right choices in eating for health and pleasure.”

—Leo Galland, M.D.

Author of The Fat Resistance Diet

and The Four Pillars of Healing

“Foods are drugs and Dr. Bowden provides a great tour through the best 150 choices.”

—Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

New York Times Best-Selling Author of YOU: The Owner’s Manual

and YOU: The Smart Patient

“Jonny Bowden has captured the essence of optimal nutrition in his marvelous book. The totality of knowledge, humor, clarity, and ease of reading could make this one of the best sources for a healthy food guide to come along in decades. It should be on everyone’s table so that we really know that ‘what we eat is what we become.’”

—Mark Houston, M.D., M.S., S.C.H., A.B.A.A.M., F.A.C.P., F.A.H.A.

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University

Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association

Author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension

The 150

Healthiest

Foods

on Earth

The Surprising, Unbiased Truth

About What You Should Eat and Why

Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.

DEDICATION

Seven Special Women

Nancy Fiedler: You fed and nurtured our family with both your delicious food and your balanced wisdom for two decades, and I am eternally grateful to you for it.

Vivienne Simon Bowden, my mother, who did not live to see this book published but would have loved reading about the foods and, even more, would have loved having Nancy cook them for her.

Coleen O’Shea: A great agent is more than a deal negotiator. A great agent nurtures. She inspires. She supports. She is a diplomat when telling you your ideas suck and a cheerleader when she tells you they’re great. And you always trust her. Coleen O’ Shea is a great agent.

Lora Ruffner, whose utterly inexhaustible supply of goodwill and expertise in design and marketing has been invaluable to my career. She has been my personal cheerleading section. Professionally, I owe her and her partner, Neil Beaty, my website and personally, I am eternally grateful for her belief in me, her friendship, and her undying support.

Regina Wilshire, who gave tirelessly and selflessly of her endless store of information on food and health and contributed many of the recipes that will be used in the follow-up cookbook. She was always there to answer any question, no matter how obscure, and to help me make some of the toughest decisions about what to include and what not to include.

Sue Copp, M.S.: The nutrition gods gave me the best assistant on the planet, without whom I would never have been able to finish this book on time (or if I had, it would not have been as good). How lucky I was to be able to score one of the smartest nutritionists I know as an assistant on this project.

And of course . . .

A very special dedication to Allegra Christy Bowden (1997–May 29, 2006), who lay at (and on) my feet for most of the time this book was being written and whose heart and soul filled our house with love.

Anja, with whom I share both wind and wings.

It’s all because of you.

“If you are what you eat

and you don’t know

what you’re eating,

do you know who you are?”

—Claude Fischler

CONTENTS

introduction

CHAPTER 1     Vegetables

CHAPTER 2     Grains

CHAPTER 3     Beans and Legumes

CHAPTER 4     Fruits

CHAPTER 5     Nuts, Seeds, and Nut Butters

CHAPTER 6     Soy Foods

CHAPTER 7     Dairy

CHAPTER 8     Meat, Poultry, and Eggs

CHAPTER 9     Fish and Seafood

CHAPTER 10     Specialty Foods

CHAPTER 11     Beverages

CHAPTER 12     Herbs, Spices, and Condiments

CHAPTER 13     Oils

CHAPTER 14     Sweeteners

glossary

acknowledgments

about the author

index

Introduction

“Let food be thy medicine,

and medicine be thy food.”

—Hippocrates

The other day, someone asked me if honey is a good sweetener.

My answer was, “It depends.”

If by “honey” you mean the stuff you buy in the supermarket that comes in the cute little bear, the answer is no. If by “honey” you mean raw, unfiltered, uncooked, unpasteurized organic honey, then the answer is an unqualified yes.

Which reminds me of a story.

I was coming out of the sixteen-cinema multiplex at the Lincoln Center Theatres in New York one evening, and just as I blended into the huge crowd exiting the theater on this Friday night, I ran into an old friend I hadn’t seen in ages. We bumped smack into each other on the escalator going down to the main floor and decided to go to the local Starbucks and catch up. As soon as we sat down, we started talking about the movie. “That was so moving,” I said. “Moving?” she said incredulously. “I thought it was completely maudlin and sophomoric.” “What are you talking about?” I asked. “The acting was incredible, the writing was sophisticated.” “Sophisticated?” she snorted. “Well, maybe if you consider Adam Sandler sophisticated!”

Silence.

We looked at each other . . .

. . . and suddenly realized . . .

. . . we saw different movies.

There’s a lesson in that, and it has to do with food. And language.

The person asking me about “honey” didn’t make a distinction between the bear kind and the raw unfiltered kind, yet they are two completely different foods. If I had answered the question without knowing which she was talking about, it would have been like having a discussion about “the movie” and not realizing that one person had seen a drama and one had seen a comedy. You and I could be having a discussion about what it’s like to have a pet, but if you’re thinking “cats” and I’m thinking “dogs” we’re not talking about the same thing, even if we think we are.

I was never more aware of this issue than when I was writing and researching this book. Take salmon. Great food, right? Every nutritionist recommends it. There’s only one problem: Farm-raised salmon is not the same food as wild salmon. As you’ll see, one of them (the wild kind) is loaded with omega-3 fats. Its striking color is the result of the fact that it normally dines on krill, which provides it with a highly beneficial compound called astaxanthin, a natural carotenoid that gives salmon its rich red color. Farm-raised salmon have never seen krill—they eat grain, which would be like raising lions on chocolate chip cookies. They have almost no omega-3 fat, and their color is the result of whatever selection of dye the factory farmers decide on that day. Wild salmon and farm-raised salmon are completely different foods. Yet we unknowingly use the same word for both.

Big problem.

Without going too far afield, let me point out that I believe this problem in languaging has a lot to do with the difficulty in drawing conclusions from studies of “meat eaters” or “vegetarians.” It’s possible to be a “vegetarian” just eating Twinkies and white rice, and it’s possible to be a vegetarian eating nothing but vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and eggs. Similarly, “meat eaters” can refer to people who dine exclusively on ballpark hot dogs and have never met a vegetable they didn’t hate, or it can refer to small tribes of hunter–gatherers who dine on pasture-fed wild game—when they can catch it—and tons of wild fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

See where I’m going with this?

I think, in America, we’ve made a huge mistake by trying to define the perfect diet in terms of protein, carbs, and fats. Endless diet and weight loss books are written trying to come up with the perfect formula—this many carbs, this much fat, this percentage of protein—when in fact the actual quality of the food we eat is probably way more important for our health than the proportions of fat, carbs, and protein.

Which brings us to this book.

Given the mandate to choose the 150 healthiest foods on the planet, I had to make a lot of decisions. Some were easy, slam-dunks, nobrainers. (Think vegetables. There are no bad ones. Unless you count “French fries.”) Some, because of the language issue discussed above, required very careful exposition. Milk, for example, is a great food in its raw, organic state; but in my opinion, in its typical homogenized, pasteurized form, it’s a nightmare.

So when you read the entries, I’d like you to pay particular attention to those qualifications. You’ll probably be very surprised at some of the foods that made the cut, and even more surprised at some of the ones that didn’t. (See, for example, the entry on soy foods. That is, if you can find it. It’s pretty short.)

At one point, it was suggested that I “rate” the foods in each category. I didn’t do it. Why? Because foods are like friends: They provide different things. You can have a friend who’s absolutely great for going to basketball games with but with whom you wouldn’t think of sharing your innermost feelings about your marriage. Some foods provide great fats like omega-3s, but no calcium. Others provide a cornucopia of vitamins and minerals, but no protein. No food provides everything. “Rating” them would involve making a decision about which essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients are more important, and that’s impossible. You need them all. However, I did put stars on the foods I thought were exceptional in terms of nutritional value.

That said, there are some key factors to be aware of when reading this book. Four, to be exact. Having a passing acquaintance with them will enrich your understanding of the things that make foods healthy. And I’d like to go over them here, so that when I reference them in the sections on food, you know what I’m talking about. The first is the omega-3 fats, the presence of which almost always guarantees a food makes the list. The second is fiber. The third is antioxidants. And the fourth is the glycemic index. Let’s go over them one by one.

A Short Primer on Fat: The Omega-3s

Fats come in many different forms, and the different forms have varying effects on your health. Most people are aware that there are saturated fats—which they’ve been told to avoid—and have heard vaguely of monounsaturated fats (like those in olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats (like those in vegetable oils, nuts, and fish). Much as I’d love to, I don’t have the space here to go into a primer on fats, but I’d like to give you a few bullet points before going into a little more detail about one specific class of polyunsaturated fats called the omega-3s. Here are the take-home points:

• Saturated fat is not always bad. Some forms of saturated fat—for example, the kind in coconut—are very healthy. While you don’t want to overdo it, you also don’t need to avoid saturated fat like it’s poison. It’s not.

• Trans fat, however, is. Metabolic poison, that is. It’s found in cookies, crackers, baked goods and snacks, doughnuts, French fries, and most margarines. Regardless of what the label says, if it says “partially hydrogenated oil” in the ingredients, it’s got trans fat. Don’t eat trans fats. Period. (The one single exception is the trans fat CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, which is found naturally in grass-fed dairy and meat and is not man-made.)

• Monounsaturated fat—found in nuts and olive oil—is good stuff and heart healthy.

• Polyunsaturated fats come in two “flavors”: omega-6s and omega-3s. While there are some health benefits to omega-6s, we get too many omega-6s and not enough omega-3s.

There are three different omega-3 fats: One of them is found in flaxseed and is called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). It’s considered an essential fatty acid because the body can’t make it, so it has to be obtained from the diet (more about this in the section on flaxseed and flaxseed oil; see page 304). But the other two omega-3s—DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)—are found in fish like salmon (the wild variety). And these two may be of even more importance to the body than the first one. Although technically the body can make these two omega-3s from ALA (the first, “essential,” one), it doesn’t do a real good job of it. That’s why it’s such a good idea to obtain these incredibly important fats “ready-made” from fish like salmon. They’re just so critically important to our health.

So what exactly do omega-3s do, and why do we need them in the first place? Let’s start with the cell membranes. Omega-3s are incorporated into cells, making their membranes more fluid so they can communicate with one another. This means, for example, that feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine can get in and out of the cell more easily, translating to better mood. In fact, omega-3s are currently being studied for their positive effect on depression.

They’re also being studied for their impact on behavior, feeling, and thinking. Nearly every study of behavior problems—from simple lack of concentration to actual aggressive behavior in prison inmates—has shown that people with these problems have low levels of omega-3 fats in their bloodstream. This doesn’t mean that omega-3s will fix every behavior problem, but it’s certainly of more than academic interest that this correlation shows up so frequently. On a side note, the omega-3s in fish have a significant effect on the developing brain of a human fetus. Since the baby’s brain is about 60 percent fat by weight, and since most of that fat is DHA (the very omega-3 found in fish), taking fish oil (or getting fat from healthy, wild fish) is one of the absolute best things a pregnant woman can do for her developing baby. Fish truly is brain food. The amount of omega-3 in a pregnant woman’s diet helps to determine her child’s intelligence, fine-motor skills (such as the ability to manipulate small objects and hand-eye coordination), and also propensity to antisocial behavior. Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory. Since inflammation is a critical component of virtually every degenerative disease from heart disease to diabetes to obesity to Alzheimer’s, and since inflammation itself has been dubbed “The Silent Killer,” anti-inflammatory foods and supplements are of critical importance to our health. Omega-3s also support circulation. They transport oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues. They prevent blood cells from clumping together (remember, blood clots can be a cause of heart attack and stroke). They act as a blood thinner, much like aspirin, only without the side effects. It’s been estimated by Andrew Stoll, M.D., of Harvard Medical School that proper omega-3 intake could save 70,000 lives a year in the United States alone and reduce the number of fatal arrhythmias by 30 percent. Omega-3s help lower blood pressure. And they’re also very effective for diabetics in improving insulin and glucose metabolism.

Fiber

Fiber—particularly soluble fiber—can also lower blood cholesterol levels and slow the absorption of sugar, which is hugely important both for people with diabetes and for people with any blood sugar challenges (metabolic syndrome). A high-fiber diet will probably reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Beans, raspberries, pure bran, oatmeal, prunes, avocado, raisins, and most green vegetables, for example, are high-fiber foods that cause less of a rise in blood sugar than foods like potatoes, or than almost any wheat-based food. And eating a high-fiber diet may also help with weight loss. High-fiber foods generally require more chewing time, giving your body extra time to register the fact that you’re no longer hungry, so you’re less likely to overeat. A high-fiber diet also tends to fill you up longer. And high-fiber diets tend to have more volume for fewer calories, which has been shown in research by Dr. Barbara Rolls at Pennsylvania State University to be a boon to weight management. In my last book I suggested that the number-one supplement for weight loss is fiber!

The Glycemic Index: Why Do We Care?

The glycemic index is a measure of how much a given food (like fruit) raises your blood sugar. High-sugar foods—or foods that convert quickly to sugar in the body—are considered “high glycemic.” Why do we care? Because raising blood sugar raises levels of a hormone called insulin, which, if raised high enough and long enough and frequently enough, contributes to diabetes, heart disease, and aging. Eating “low glycemically” is a strategy that is virtually guaranteed to contribute to health. When I wax eloquent about a food’s low glycemic impact, that’s why.

Unfortunately, the glycemic index is a very misleading measure because it doesn’t take into account portion size. The glycemic load is the number that’s more important. For now, the take-home point is this: Eat less sugar. And eat fewer foods that convert quickly to sugar in the body (read: almost all processed carbohydrates). If you’re interested in learning more about this—something I recommend highly that you do—there are many clear, well-written articles on the subject. An excellent article for beginners can be found at http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/glycemic-index.html. Hormel Foods also has a good introductory article at http://www.hormel.com/ templates/knowledge/knowledge.asp?catitemid=108&id=767.

If you’d like to dig into the science a little deeper, try the article posted on the Oregon State University Web site at http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/foods/grains/gigl.html.

Finally, the actual tables of the glycemic index and glycemic load for food can be found at http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm. Remember it’s the glycemic load you want to pay attention to.

Antioxidants: What Are They, Anyway?

Throughout the book, I talk about compounds found in foods called antioxidants. Antioxidants are so important that I’ve included a special section on them on the bonus CD included with this book. For now just let me say this: Oxidation is what happens when you leave a cut apple out in the air. When that happens in your body—as it does every day—it can cause significant damage to your cells and organs. Oxidation—or oxidative stress—is a factor in virtually every degenerative disease. Antioxidants help fight this process. Deficiencies of antioxidants are implicated in the early stages of heart disease, cancer, eye disease, and age-related declines in memory. When I tell you that a food is good because it’s loaded with antioxidants, now you know why.

Cholesterol: What’s the Story?

I make no secret of my love for eggs. They got a star in this book for all the reasons that you’ll read about. I eat them almost every day and think they are one of nature’s perfect foods. And the last time I threw away the yolk and ate an “egg white omelette” was in 1985.

You’ll probably soon notice that I’m very far from fanatic about recommending that you drain every last drop of saturated fat from your diet.

So inevitably, people ask me, “What about cholesterol?”

Cholesterol just might be the most misunderstood molecule in the whole world. Dr. John Abramson, professor of medicine at Harvard University, says this: “It is important to keep in mind that cholesterol is not a health risk in and of itself. In fact, cholesterol is vital to many of the body’s essential functions.” Cholesterol is the “parent” molecule of some of the body’s most important compounds, including the sex hormones and vitamin D. It’s also an integral part of the cell membrane.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that the vast majority of cholesterol is made in your body, by the liver. If you take in more from the diet, the liver makes less. If you take in less, the liver makes more. You need cholesterol. Without it, you’d die.

Doing justice to the whole cholesterol question in an introduction as short as this is a real challenge, but I’d like you to have a few basic take-home points. The first is that dietary cholesterol—like the kind you find in egg yolks—has minimal impact on serum cholesterol (the kind your doctor measures). Minimal. Not only that, but the effect of eggs on heart disease can’t be predicted by looking only at their cholesterol content. Eggs contain many other nutrients that are good for you—protein, some polyunsaturated fats, folic acid, and other B vitamins. As Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, has said, “No research has ever shown that people who eat more eggs have more heart attacks than people who eat few eggs.”

The second point has to do with the demonization of saturated fat in general. Yes, saturated fat raises cholesterol, but it raises both the good and the bad cholesterol. And though there may be a relationship between saturated fat and cholesterol, the relationship between saturated fat in the diet and heart disease or mortality is far less clear. In fact, an entire nexus of researchers, doctors, and statisticians led by the brilliant Swedish scientist Uffe Ravnskov, M.D., Ph.D., has been questioning some of the “conventional wisdom” on saturated fat and cholesterol for years. They have an organization called The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics (http://www.thincs.org/). If the science doesn’t scare you off, it’s worth a visit to get a “second opinion.” (Also worth checking out: Ravnskov’s “The Cholesterol Myths,” available both as a book and online at http://www.ravnskov.nu/myth1.htm).

Lowering cholesterol is big business. In 2005, the two top-selling drugs on Forbes magazine’s list of pharmaceutical juggernauts were Lipitor and Zocor, both cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Together, they did a combined business of more than $13 billion. It’s worth noting that many researchers believe that the good that statin drugs accomplish has much less to do with their ability to lower cholesterol than their ability to lower inflammation, which is indeed a definite risk for heart disease, as well as a component of Alzheimer’s, obesity, and diabetes. The foods in this book are filled with natural anti-inflammatories like the flavonoid quercetin, for example. Spices like turmeric are so incredibly healthy largely because they are anti-inflammatory. Maybe we wouldn’t need $13 billion a year’s worth of drugs if we were eating more of the foods that accomplish the same thing.

Finally, in my opinion, we’ve been way too focused on lowering cholesterol and not focused enough on lowering heart disease and mortality. They are not the same thing. In the Lyon Diet Heart Study, people who had had a heart attack were either counseled to eat a Mediterranean-type diet (fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts) or given routine post–heart attack advice (watch your cholesterol, eat less saturated fat). The people on the Mediterranean diet experienced 70 percent less heart disease than the group getting the “standard” advice, about three times the reduction in the risk of further heart disease achieved with statin drugs! Their overall risk of death was 45 percent lower than that of the group getting the conventional advice. And—get this—their cholesterol levels didn’t change much. Though they had significantly less heart disease and less risk of dying, their cholesterol levels pretty much didn’t budge.

Though some studies have shown a reduction in heart disease with cholesterol-lowering medications, the amount of reduction pales when compared to what’s achievable with lifestyle changes. High-risk men in the WOSCOP study (a statin drug study) achieved about a 30 percent reduction in heart disease by going on drugs, but the women in the Nurses’ Health Study showed 31 percent reduction in heart disease just by eating fish once a week. As Harvard’s Dr. Abramson puts it, “Most of our health is determined by how we live our lives.”

What about Organic?

One thing that became abundantly clear in researching this book was that it was really necessary to define terms like “grass fed,” “organic,” “cage free,” “free range,” and the like. (I’m purposely leaving out “natural,” as it is the most deceptive and dishonest term in food marketing and so overused as to become utterly meaningless. Remember, poison ivy and gasoline are both “natural,” which doesn’t mean I want to eat them.) In the section on meat and poultry, I address the whole issue of “grass fed” and “free range,” since this is the category in which these terms apply. But “organic” now is a label used on everything from fruits and vegetables to Captain Hickory’s Chocolate Crunchy Cereal. What does it mean, anyway? Should we pay attention? And if so, why?

Despite the best efforts of the food industry to make us think our food just magically somehow appears in the supermarket aisle, our food actually comes from somewhere. And where it comes from—where and how it grows in the case of plants, and what it eats and how it was raised in the case of animals—has a lot to do with its quality. So let’s start with a basic premise: The quality of the food we eat comes from the quality of the food our food eats.

This maxim even applies when we’re talking about fruits and vegetables. Early studies showed that carrots grown in one section of the country did not have the same nutrient composition as carrots grown in another part of the country. The practice of studying this sort of thing was abandoned because it outraged farmers. Grapefruit growers in one part of the country did not want data out there showing that grapefruits grown in another part of the country had more vitamin C. Agribusiness is dedicated to selling us the concept that “carrots are carrots, beef is beef.” (Of course, that’s demonstrably not true. Just for example: On a gram for gram basis, a California avocado has 77 percent more monounsaturated fat, 44 percent more potassium, and 21 percent more fiber than its Florida brethren.)

HOW SOIL QUALITY AFFECTS FOOD QUALITY

Agribusiness interests aside, where a food comes from can make a big difference in its nutritional composition, and how it was produced makes a big difference in its chemical composition. (It can even make a difference in its effect on blood sugar.) The glycemic index/glycemic load charts show significant differences between, say, the russet potatoes from Canada and those from the United States, or between corn from New Zealand and corn from the United States). If a fruit or vegetable is grown in soil depleted of minerals, that fruit or vegetable is going to be less nutritious than one that’s grown in soil that’s rich in nutrients. (In fact, recent studies of fruits, vegetables, and wheat have indeed revealed a 5 to 35 percent decline in some key vitamins, minerals, and protein over the last half-century.) If an apple is sprayed with a ton of chemicals or pesticides and then artificially treated to make it bigger, rounder, redder, more uniform, polished, and more appealing to the eye, it stands to reason that a chemical analysis of that apple is going to look a lot different than an analysis of an apple growing wild on a farm somewhere. Now whether or not those measurable differences have any real impact on our health is a matter of huge debate. Agribusiness would like you to think that they don’t. I suspect that they do.

THE ORGANIC MOVEMENT DEMANDS A RETURN TO “NATURAL” FARMING

This brings us to organic foods. The whole idea of the organic food movement—the “spirit” of the movement, if you will—was a desire to return to basics. It was fueled by a fervent wish to consume the healthy products of the small, sustainable farm where fruits and vegetables and cows and pigs and chickens and horses lived in an interdependent atmosphere of pastoral tranquility, where food—whether animal or vegetable—was grown (or raised) the “old-fashioned” way. The organic movement valued a time and place where animals were not fed growth hormones and steroids and antibiotics and where crops were left to fend off the elements with their own protective antioxidants and anthocyanins, rather than chemical pesticides and carcinogens, and where “Roundup Ready,” genetically modified plants (GMOs) were unknown. People who wanted organic food were voting both for their health and against a marketplace that was increasingly providing them with “food products” bearing less and less resemblance to anything that could once be considered real or whole food—stuff that grew out of the ground, fell from a tree, or was harvested from healthy animals grazing on pasture or wild fish from uncontaminated waters. Buying organic represented a return to natural—and presumably healthier—foods.

At least that was the hope.

So yes, I buy organic whenever possible. I just don’t kid myself anymore that the label refers to something that came from a farm like the ones on which I collected eggs from the barnyard as a kid.

THE INCONVENIENCE OF HEALTHY ORGANIC

If you want that kind of real food, it’s going to take more than just looking for the label “organic” on your supermarket food. You might need to join a food collective. Go to a farmer’s market. Or, if you can, go to a local farm and buy your food there. See where it comes from. Say hello to the people who grow and raise it.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to do that, you’d be giving yourself a real gift.

In Conclusion

So after writing this book, you’d think I’d have a very definite opinion on what the best diet for human beings looks like, wouldn’t you?

Truth is, there is no perfect diet for humans.

The only fact that could reasonably be called a universal truth when it comes to diet is this: The more plant foods, the better.

People have lived and thrived on high-protein high-fat diets, on low-protein high-carb diets, on diets high in raw milk and cream, and even on diets high in animal blood (the Masai). And they’ve done so without the ravages of degenerative diseases that are epidemic in modern life—heart disease, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoporosis, cancer.

Here’s what they haven’t done: thrived on food with bar codes. Nor, for that matter, have they thrived on food you could pick up in less than a minute at a drive-through.

More than anything else, the take-home message of this book is: Eat real food. Stuff your grandmother would have recognized as food. Stuff that usually doesn’t come in a package. What you eat probably doesn’t ultimately matter as much as how much processing it’s undergone. Real food—whole food with minimal processing—contains a virtual pharmacy of nutrients, phytochemicals, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and healthful fats, and can keep you alive and thriving into your tenth decade.

And remember, how you eat is as important as what you eat. Mindfulness and consciousness in eating—like in everything else in life—contribute to health and well-being.

Whether you’re driving a car, building a relationship of love and support, or eating a meal, paying attention actually makes a difference.

Do it. Savor each moment—and each morsel. And enjoy the journey.

—Jonny Bowden

Los Angeles, 2006

THE EXPERTS’ TOP TEN LISTS

The Experts Speak

Since so much of my work centers on nutrition and health, I’m frequently asked by friends—or even by strangers who just discovered I’m a nutritionist, probably because I was expounding too loudly on some health-related issue—the following question: “So what do you eat, anyway?”

Which got me thinking.

Not about what I eat—since I already know the answer to that—but about what other experts who are conversant with the concepts in this book eat on a daily basis. After all, all of them know what foods are good for you and why—but it might be interesting to see what they actually do. One time, when I was speaking at the world-renowned Boulderfest annual conference on nutritional medicine, Robert Crayhon—the brilliant founder and organizer of Boulderfest—asked each of the speakers to write down what we had for breakfast that morning, and also to list a typical day’s food. The seminar attendees found it really interesting to read what the “experts” actually ate on a daily basis.

Hence my “ask the experts” sections, peppered throughout the book.

Here’s what I did: I went to my phone directory and started calling up some of the best people in the field and asking them if they’d submit a list of their top ten favorite healthy foods. The ones they actually ate, not just the ones they thought were the healthiest. All were kind enough to say yes, and the results are sprinkled throughout this book. Many are authors of best-selling books on health, diet, and nutrition (Ann Louise Gittleman, Elson Haas, Steve Sinatra, Mike and Mary Dan Eades, Shari Lieberman, Fred Pescatore, Dharma Singh Khalsa, Barry Sears, Oz Garcia); some are well-known and highly respected docs with high-profile practices (Mark Stengler, Andy Rubman); one is practically a legend in the field of complementary medicine and a columnist for the Townsend Newsletter for Doctors and Patients (Alan Gaby); one is a nationally known expert on hypertension and metabolic syndrome and an acclaimed medical educator (Mark Houston); one is a well-known academic researcher in the field of diet as well as a columnist for Men’s Health (Jeff Volek); and one is an extraordinary nutritionist and media personality (J.J. Virgin). Many fit into several categories—writers as well as practitioners. All are, in my humble opinion, brilliant.

I gave them all one mandate: Tell me your top ten healthy foods. Then I allowed them to interpret that instruction in any way they chose (including extending the list to eleven or twelve). I think you’ll find the results amusing and instructive.

For those of you who are inclined toward statistics and graphs and like betting on the office pool for the Academy Awards, it’s amusing to notice which foods got the most votes and which were bypassed completely. The clear winners were blueberries (and other berries), spinach (and kale), nuts (especially almonds), broccoli, and wild salmon, with grass-fed beef a very close runner-up. There were some “surprises” (coffee got mentioned twice), some “new stars” (pomegranate and sea vegetables), and some notable absences (not one person mentioned soy—not as surprising as you might think—see my essay on soy, page 165). Anyway, I thought it was interesting, and I hope you do, too.

At first, I included my own list, but couldn’t whittle it down from nineteen—plus my editor figured that my opinions were all over the book anyway, so my personal list didn’t make the cut. However if you’re dying to know what I personally eat, I’ll tell you: oatmeal, guava, raw certified organic milk, eggs, blueberries, spinach, sardines, kale, whey protein powder, free-range beef, apples, wild salmon, turmeric, nuts, coconut oil, avocado, green tea, fresh vegetable juice, and green drinks. There, now you know.

Read the entries and you’ll know why I—and so many of the experts—love those foods. I hope you will, too.

CHAPTER 1

Vegetables

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: There are no bad vegetables.

Now, okay, maybe I need to clarify just a bit, since the most consumed “vegetables” in America include ketchup, iceberg lettuce, and French fries. I’m talking about anything that has a leaf. I’m talking about anything that makes a crunch when you bite it. I’m talking anything that’s green, red, orange, or in rare cases white (cauliflower and mushrooms). Get the point? I’m definitely not talking French fries.

So if the title of this book were “the 500 healthiest foods on the planet” instead of the 150 healthiest foods, probably every member of the vegetable family you can possibly think of would be listed (which is decidedly not so with dairy, grains, or some other categories in this book). Even corn and potatoes (which wound up on no one’s top ten list, I’m happy to say). The thirty-six vegetables that made the “A” list here are those that I felt represented the absolute best nutritional bang for the buck in a crowded field in which most entries are already winners.

Aren’t Some Vegetables Fattening?

Since we’re currently experiencing an obesity and diabetes epidemic in most of the Western world (and even in some parts of the non-Western world), a reasonable question to ask would be this: Are some vegetables more fattening than others, and should they be avoided? There’s a lot of confusion about certain starchy vegetables that have a “high glycemic index,” vegetables that people following lower-carb eating plans have been told to avoid. The short answer is this: If you’re a person for whom blood sugar management is a real issue, yes, some vegetables on this list—sweet potatoes, for example—might be worth limiting. But in my opinion, the argument about vegetables and sugar is a tempest in a teapot.

There are two real culprits in the obesity crisis: one, the fast-acting carbs and sugars in breads, cereals, pastas, desserts, cakes, rolls, crackers, and fast food; and two, the obscenely large portions of everything else. As my wisecracking pal, the brilliant nutritionist and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) researcher C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D., says, “No one ever got fat on peas and carrots.”

So of course, watch your sugar content. But most vegetables don’t have that much, particularly compared to the real culprits in the American diet. (Potatoes and corn are exceptions.) You can’t go wrong with a single vegetable on this list, and you would do well to consume a variety of all of them.

So here’s my list of top winners in the vegetable sweepstakes. Argue with them, if you like, add some favorites of your own, throw out a couple you really hate—just eat as many as you can.

You’ll be giving yourself a real gift of health.

The Stars

It was a bear deciding which foods to give a star to, and I’m sure you could argue that some really good foods didn’t get stars. You’d be right. But remember, everything on this list is already a star in its respective category. For example, in this chapter I gave “stars” to the superstars—the vegetables that are so uniquely loaded with nutrients, fiber, cancer-fighting phytochemicals, or some combination thereof, that they deserved some special mention, even among the company of great foods.

Artichokes

Artichokes are kind of like the lobster of the vegetable community—you have to really work to get at the good parts. The part that contains the meat is called the “heart,” even though it’s technically the bottom of the plant. And it takes some digging to get there. Is it worth it? Definitely.

Artichokes are a liver-cleansing food. If you’ve ever looked at the ingredients on a supplement specifically designed for liver health or for detoxification, you’re likely to have seen artichoke extract listed on the label. Why? Because this plant is a wonderful source of silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin has a long and distinguished pedigree as a plant compound that helps protect and nourish the liver. And artichokes have plenty of it.

Artichokes Bring Stomach Relief

That’s not all they have. The artichoke leaves contain a number of active chemical compounds that have been found to be beneficial across a range of health issues. For example, the bile-stimulating action of the plant has been well documented in at least one controlled trial in which, after administration of artichoke extract directly into the duodenum, liver bile increased significantly. This effect may be why artichokes are often used for indigestion. According to herbal experts Joe and Teresa Graydon, Ph.D. (authors of The People’s Pharmacy), patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) upset who were given artichoke extract showed amazing improvement. In one study, researchers reported that 85 percent of patients experienced substantial relief from stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

The standardized extract has also been used to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides, and in test tube studies, the flavonoids from the artichoke (especially luteolin) have prevented the oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, a definite risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

While artichoke extract has a distinguished history as an herbal supplement, the vegetable itself is a really healthy food. It contains 72 mg of magnesium, 425 mg of potassium, a little bit of folate, the eye-friendly carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, and best of all, a really substantial 6½ g of fiber per one medium artichoke (if you go for a large one, you get almost 9 g!). And that’s all for a miserly 60 calories (okay, 76 if you’re going for the big guy). A good nutritional deal no matter how you slice it. (Or, in the case of the artichoke, dig for it.)

Arugula

Arugula sure doesn’t look like an aphrodisiac, but that’s exactly what the ancient Egyptians and Romans considered it to be. I don’t know about that, but I do know that it’s the überfood of nutritional bargains: One cup contains . . . get ready . . . 5 calories. For that you get some folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and a surprisingly decent amount of the extremely eye-healthy carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.

There’s also about the same amount of calcium as there is in spinach, but arugula is actually lower in oxalates, a substance that inhibits calcium absorption.

Arugula has a nice amount of vitamin K: One cup contains almost half the recommended daily allowance (which in my opinion is too low). Vitamin K is essential for clotting and is a key player in developing strong bones. The Framingham Heart Study, for example, found that people who consumed approximately 250 mcg of vitamin K a day had a 35 percent lower risk of hip fractures compared to those who consumed just 50 mcg a day. True, you’d have to consume 10 cups of arugula to get that much, but still, a few cups in a salad is a good start (33 mg).

And besides, that’s hopefully not your only source of vitamin K.

The arugula plant, like many others in the cruciferous family, contains glucosinolates. When you chew the plant, the glucosinolates mix with an enzyme (myrosinase) that turns them into other compounds called isothiocyanates, which have documented anticancer properties. Isothiocyanates combat carcinogens by neutralizing them, reducing their poisonous effect, and stimulating the release of other substances that help combat them. Isothiocyanates also inhibit cell proliferation. Studies have shown that they help prevent lung and esophageal cancer and can lower the risk of other cancers, including gastrointestinal cancer.

That’s an awful lot of good stuff to pack into a cup of food that contains only 5 calories.

Asparagus

Here’s an interesting little trivia about asparagus: They’re one of the only plants that have distinct male and female versions. And if you’d like a dollop of irony with that factoid, the male plants are skinny and the females are . . . well, Rubenesque. To compound the political incorrectness, it’s the fresh young plants that are the most desirable—they taste the best. On the other hand, when allowed to mature, a gorgeous fern develops. You can’t eat it, but it makes one of the most beautiful hanging plants around.

The asparagus actually has two parts—a thick root and the tender stalks. The root is used in traditional Indian medicine as a diuretic and to strengthen the female reproductive system. The asparagus root is also believed to help develop peace of mind, a loving nature, a good memory, and a calm spirit. Chinese traditionalists save the best roots of the plant for their families and friends, believing that it will increase feelings of compassion and love. Meanwhile, in India, it’s used to promote fertility, reduce menstrual cramping, and increase milk production in nursing mothers. These customs have some basis in science—the root contains steroidal glycosides that actually affect hormone production and possibly influence emotions. In India, the racemosa species is used to increase sperm count and nourish the ovum.

In the Western world, asparagus has long been touted as an aphrodisiac. I was unable to find any scientific evidence for its ability to make people amorous, but the legend remains, probably due to the vegetable’s phallic shape. It’s worth noting that asparagus is also known in India by the name Shatavari, which means “she who possesses 100 husbands.” Draw your own conclusions.

Low in Calories, High in Nutrients

Asparagus, like most fruits and vegetables, has a very favorable ratio of potassium to sodium. A cup of cooked asparagus contains a whopping 404 mg of potassium, as well as 268 mcg of folate, a very important B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube defects and helps reduce a harmful blood chemical called homocysteine. It’s also high in vitamin K, essential for healthy clotting and for strong bones. There’s also rutin, which helps protect blood vessels, and the anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting flavonoid quercetin. And finally, a cup of cooked asparagus gives you a decent 3.6 g of fiber, all for a ridiculously low number of calories (40).

Best of all, there’s serious published research showing that compounds in asparagus have antitumor activity. A study from Rutgers University, published in Cancer Letters, showed that crude saponins from asparagus inhibited the growth of human leukemia cells. Asparagus is also high in glutathione, one of the body’s most important antioxidants. And asparagus contain inulin, a special kind of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut and helps support gastrointestinal health.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put asparagus on its 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

The only downside to asparagus is that it makes your pee smell funny. This is because it contains the amino acid asparagine. It’s potentially annoying, but completely harmless.

Beets

In many holistic, integrative, and Eastern traditions, beets are believed to be an excellent liver tonic and blood purifier. They’re a staple of the juicing crowd, for good reason (more in a moment). Beets get their red color from a compound in them called betacyanin, which is the messy stuff that stains your clothes and hands. According to Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., betacyanin is a potent cancer fighter.

I haven’t been able to confirm, though I did find a study that showed that it definitely did not promote cancer; for that reason alone, it would make an excellent alternative to red dye. (Betacyanin also turns your urine red, so if you juice with beets, don’t be alarmed—you’re not bleeding internally!)

Paul Pitchford, author of the classic Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition, states that beets “tonify the yin.” And according to yoga nutritional therapy, women can benefit from eating beets because they help replenish iron lost in the blood during the menstrual cycle.

The Heart-Healthy Benefits of Beets

Beets are an important dietary source of betaine and also a good source of folate. These two nutrients work synergistically to reduce potentially toxic levels of homocysteine, a naturally occurring amino acid that can be harmful to blood vessels, thereby contributing to the development of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease (reduced blood flow to the legs and feet).

Beets are also loaded with potassium, a vitally important mineral for heart health. In the “old days,” our caveman ancestors consumed a diet high in potassium and low in sodium. A high potassium-to-sodium ratio is ideal for human health, but these days the ratio is reversed. The potassium in beets can help correct this imbalance. Potassium is found in fruits (like bananas) and vegetables; beets, weighing in at a whopping 528 mg of potassium for two beets, are an excellent source. They’ve also got magnesium and a tiny bit of vitamin C.

Beets got a bad rap from the low-carb folks (with whom I’m sometimes allied) because they are high in sugar. That’s true, but not significant unless you’re really, really sugar sensitive. That said, they’re on the “no-no” list of a lot of docs who specialize in diabetes, such as Dr. Richard Bernstein (author of The Diabetes Diet). For the rest of us, they make a terrific addition to the menu. They can be baked, boiled, steamed, or shredded raw and added to salads and slaws. The leaves are even higher in nutritional value than the roots, especially in calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

Beets make a delicious juice, but have a strong flavor and are usually best mixed with some combination of carrots, apples, spinach, and ginger.

Bok Choy

(Chinese cabbage, pak-choi, Chinese chard)

Bok choy is an Asian member of the cabbage family that has long, thick stalks topped by blue-green leaves. You probably know it as an ingredient in wonton soup, but despite that decidedly mundane use, it’s actually a real health food.

Is It Really a Cabbage?

There’s some minor controversy about whether bok choy, also known as Chinese cabbage, should even be called a cabbage in the first place. Technically, it’s really not a cabbage, since it doesn’t form a head. In many circles, it’s more properly referred to as Chinese chard. But who cares? Whatever you choose to call it, this vegetable is a card-carrying member of the brassica family, which means it contains indoles, compounds that have been shown to significantly lower the risk of cancer. Not only that, it’s loaded with calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamin A. All for less than 20 calories a cup (even less if it’s raw).

Bok choy has a high water content, so it becomes very limp very quickly if you overcook it. What you really want to do is cook it quickly over a high temperature so that the leaves become tender and the stalks stay crisp. Stir-frying is ideal, but bok choy stalks are also terrific raw, used with a dip.

Raw bok choy might just be the lowest-calorie vegetable on the planet—one cup of the shredded vegetable has exactly 9 calories. Because a cooked cup of the stuff is more concentrated, it gives several times the potassium and twice the calcium, beta-carotene, and vitamin A, plus almost 2 g of fiber. Either way—cooked or raw—it’s a bargain.

Broccoli

Broccoli is vegetable royalty. When I sent out a request to the best nutritionists, medical doctors, naturopaths, and researchers asking for their personal list of “top ten” healthy foods, it was almost a given that broccoli would be among the most frequently mentioned (and it was). No wonder. This superstar vegetable has been lauded for its cancer-fighting power so many times that it’s a celebrity in the nutrition world.

Broccoli is a member of the brassica family of cruciferous vegetables—the same vegetable royalty that includes bok choy, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and Swiss chard. These vegetables are excellent sources of a family of anticancer phytochemicals called isothiocyanates. Isothiocyanates fight cancer by neutralizing carcinogens—the “bad guys” of the cancer battle. They do this by reducing their poisonous effects and stimulating the release of “carcinogen killers,” speeding up their removal from the body. Studies have shown that isothiocyanates help prevent lung and esophageal cancer and can lower the risk of other cancers, including gastrointestinal cancer. Several isothiocyanates have been shown to inhibit tumors induced by chemical carcinogens. Broccoli in particular contains a potent isothiocyanate that is an inhibitor of mammary tumors.

Why Women Should Eat More Broccoli

The anticancer properties of broccoli are well established. Even the American Cancer Society recommends eating it and other cruciferous vegetables. Though there are many compounds responsible for its impact on our health, one that deserves special mention is the indoles. Broccoli contains indole-3-carbinol, which, in addition to being a strong antioxidant and stimulator of detoxifying enzymes, seems to protect the structure of DNA. It also reduces the risk of breast and cervical cancer.

Indole-3-carbinol is of particular importance to women. Estrogen has three basic metabolites, and they behave somewhat differently in the body. Two of the metabolites—16-alpha-hydroxyestrone and 4-hydroxyestrone have carcinogenic action, but the third, 2-hydroxyestrone, is benign and has protective effects. Indole-3-carbinol increases the ratio of the “good” (benign) estrogen metabolite to the potentially harmful ones. Since men have estrogen also, it stands to reason that broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables containing indoles should be helpful and protective to them as well. In addition, indole-3-carbinol has been shown to protect against the carcinogenic effect of pesticides and other toxins.

(NOTE: Indole-3-carbinol is available as a supplement, but I don’t recommend it. Instead, I always recommend DIM, a metabolite of indole-3-carbinole that is safer and more reliable as a supplement and accomplishes the same thing.)

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli also contain high levels of a phytochemical called sulforaphane. Sulforaphane increases the activation of enzymes known as phase-2 enzymes, which help fight carcinogens. It’s believed that phase-2 enzymes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to research from the Department of Urology at Stanford University published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, sulforaphane is the most potent inducer of phase-2 enzymes of any phytochemical known to date.

A Nutritional Powerhouse

Even apart from its demonstrated cancer-fighting ability, broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse. One cup contains more than 2 g of protein, 2 g of fiber, 288 mg of potassium, 43 mg of calcium, 81 mg of vitamin C, plus folate, magnesium, phosphorus, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and 1,277 mcg of the superstars of eye nutrition, lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin, both members of the carotenoid family, are being extensively researched for their demonstrated ability to reduce or prevent macular degeneration, the number-one cause of blindness in older adults.

And by the way, the broccoli head is actually the flower of the plant. But according to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, cofounder of the East West Center in Boulder, Colorado, there are plenty of nutrients in the stalks as well. She suggests peeling the fibrous skin off the stalks and using them. She also suggests using the leafy greens, which offer tons of nutrients as well.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put broccoli on their 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

Broccoli Rabe

Broccoli rabe is really only a very, very distant relative of broccoli, and is in fact a lot more related to the turnip (it’s often called a “turnip green”). But from the point of view of taste, you might think of it as broccoli on steroids. To put it mildly—no pun intended—it’s “aggressive” and bitter (the Chinese variety, also known as flowering cabbage, is milder).

But make no mistake—this peppery little plant is a card-carrying member of one of the largest edible-plant families—the brassica family—which includes such nutritional and health heavyweights as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kohlrabi. And it shares many of their amazing health benefits. Like all cruciferous vegetables, broccoli rabe contains flavonoids, sulforaphane, and indoles, which help prevent cellular degeneration and may help protect against cancer. Sulforaphane, for example, has been shown to induce powerful enzymes that protect rodents from tumors. And flavonoids in general have extensive biological properties that promote human health and help reduce the risk of disease.

Great for Healthy Bones and Superb Vision

This immune-boosting vegetable packs an incredible nutritional wallop for a tiny number of calories. One serving, a mere 28 calories, contains 100 mg of calcium, 292 mg of potassium, 31 mg of vitamin C, 60 mcg of folate, 217 mg of bone-building vitamin K, and more than 3,800 IUs of vitamin A, including 2,300 mcg of beta-carotene. And that’s not all: There are 1,431 mcg of the superstars of eye nutrition, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are being investigated for their ability to fight macular degeneration, the number-one cause of blindness in elderly adults. For its paltry 28 calories, broccoli rabe also contains a healthy helping of fiber—2.4 mg per single serving. This is one great vegetable!

How to Prepare Broccoli Rabe

About the taste: Blanching the leaves and shoots before cooking will “tame” their flavor, though many people like it and use it to spice up dishes. Sophie Markoulakis of the San Francisco Chronicle recommends sautéing blanched broccoli rabe in olive oil and garlic for about 10 minutes and adding it to cooked pasta and a bit of cooking liquid, finely chopped dried figs, and toasted pine nuts. “Sprinkle with ricotta salata or other dried salted sheep’s milk cheese and pass the pepper grinder,” she says. Does that not sound amazing?

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are not really sprouts at all, but members of the cabbage family, which makes sense since that’s exactly what they look like: tiny little miniature cabbages, growing tightly packed together on a tall, thick stalk. They were first widely cultivated in sixteenth-century Belgium, which accounts for their name (Brussels is the capital of Belgium). Members of the cruciferous vegetable family, they have many of the same nutritional benefits of other cabbages. Cabbages in general probably contain more cancer-fighting nutrients than any other vegetable family. One of the key dietary recommendations of the American Cancer Society is to include these cruciferous vegetables in your diet on a regular basis.

Brussels Sprouts May Ward Off Colon Cancer

Brussels sprouts contain a chemical called sinigrin, which suppresses the development of precancerous cells. The breakdown product of sinigrin (allyl isothiocyanate) is the active ingredient in Brussels sprouts and is responsible for the characteristic smell of sprouts. It works by persuading the precancerous cells to commit suicide—a natural process called apoptosis—and so powerful is the effect that it’s entirely possible that the occasional meal of Brussels sprouts could help reduce the incidence of colon cancer.

Brussels sprouts are high in isothiocyanates and sulforaphane, which are compounds known to help fight cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation, neutralizing carcinogens, and helping to detoxify nasty environmental toxins. Sulforaphane, a particularly potent member of the isothiocyanate family, increases the production of certain enzymes known as “phase-2 enzymes,” which can “disarm” damaging free radicals and help fight carcinogens. It’s believed that phase-2 enzymes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to research from the Department of Urology at Stanford University published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, sulforaphane is the most potent inducer of phase-2 enzymes of any phytochemical known to date. And in a review article from the 11th Annual Research Conference on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer from the American Institute of Cancer Research, the authors stated that “isothiocyanates are well-known protectors against carcinogenesis.”

HARD ON THE NOSE, EASY ON THE BODY

Unfortunately, the sulfur content of one of those same healthy isothiocyanates mentioned above—allyl isothiocyanate—gives these veggies their less-than-pleasant odor, often known affectionately as “eau d’New Jersey.” (Luckily, the smell has nothing to do with their taste.)

Brussels sprouts also supply good amounts of folate (folic acid), potassium, and bone-building vitamin K, and a small amount of beta-carotene.

Cabbage

In the world of vegetables, the brassica family is true royalty. And the reigning king of the brood—which includes broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, and chard—is the cabbage. When we speak of cabbage, we’re really talking about the large, lettucelike head that has been a staple for at least two millennia. Eaten raw, it’s the stuff of slaws. Cooked, it is hard to ignore, as even slight overcooking produces the smell of rotten eggs. But cabbage can be a delicious vegetable. And even more to the point, the cabbage family is probably the most important vegetable in the world from the point of view of nutritional benefits and cancer-fighting ability.

Cabbage Keeps Breast Cancer at Bay

According to author and researcher Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D., cabbage first came to the attention of researchers after they observed that women living in Eastern European countries surrounding Poland and Russia were much less likely to develop breast cancer than American women. An analysis of their diet revealed a much higher intake of cabbage, and when the cabbage was analyzed, likely candidates for the effect were the phytochemicals called indoles. Years of research have now demonstrated that these indoles, in fact, alter estrogen metabolism in a favorable way, one that is likely to reduce the risk of cancer.

Here’s how it works. Estrogen has three basic metabolites, and they behave somewhat differently in the body. Two of the metabolites—16-alpha-hydroxyestrone and 4-hydroxyestrone—have carcinogenic action, but the third, 2-hydroxyestrone, is benign and has protective effects. Indole-3-carbinol, one of the main indoles in cabbage, increases the ratio of the “good” (benign) estrogen metabolite to the potentially harmful ones. Since men have estrogen also, it stands to reason that the indoles in cabbage should be helpful and protective to them as well. In addition, indole-3-carbinol has been shown to protect against the carcinogenic effect of pesticides and other toxins. (NOTE: Indole-3-carbinol is available as a supplement, but I don’t recommend it. Instead, I always recommend DIM, a metabolite of indole-3-carbinole that is safer and more reliable as a supplement and accomplishes the same thing).

The anticancer benefits of cabbage don’t stop with the indoles, though. Other phytochemicals that pack an anticancer wallop and are plentiful in cabbage include dithiolethiones, isothiocynates, and sulforaphane. Sulforaphane, a particularly potent member of the isothiocyanate family, increases the production of certain enzymes known as phase-2 enzymes, which can “disarm” damaging free radicals and help fight carcinogens. It’s believed that phase-2 enzymes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to research from the Department of Urology at Stanford University published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, sulforaphane is the most potent inducer of phase-2 enzymes of any phytochemical known to date. And in a review article from the 11th Annual Research Conference on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer from the American Institute for Cancer Research, the authors stated that “isothiocyanates are well-known protectors against carcinogenesis.”

More Than Just a Pretty Plant

Red or purple cabbage is also a source of anthocyanins, pigment molecules that make blueberries blue and red cabbage red. They’re found in many colorful fruits such as grapes and berries. Turns out they do a lot more than make our produce pretty. Anthocyanins belong to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids, and they have considerable bioactive properties, including acting as powerful antioxidants. In one study anthocyanins were found to have the strongest antioxidizing power of 150 flavonoids studied (more than 4,000 different flavonoids have been identified). And the anthocyanins in red cabbage were found in another study to protect animals against the damages produced by a known toxin. There’s every reason to think that they’re equally protective for us.

Anthocyanins’ ability to act as antioxidants and to fight free radicals make them powerful weapons against cardiovascular disease. And anthocyanins are also known for their anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammatory anthocyanins can help dampen allergic reactions as well as help protect against the damage to connective tissue and blood vessel walls that inflammation can cause.

On top of all its phytochemical power, cabbage is a darn good source of everyday vitamins and minerals. It contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene, and even a little of the eye-healthy carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. And let’s not forget the fiber. One cup of the cooked stuff gives you almost 4 g of fiber (one cup raw gives you 2 g). All this in one of the lowest-calorie foods on the planet.

WORTH KNOWING

Many members of the cabbage family contain goitrogens, naturally occurring substances that may interfere with the function of the thyroid gland. People with hypothyroidism would be wise to consume moderately. In the absence of thyroid problems, there is no research whatsoever to indicate that goitrogenic foods will have any negative impact on your health.

Carrots

What’s the very first thing you think of if someone uses the term “health food”? For many people, it’s carrots. Well-known naturopath Dr. Michael Murray calls carrots “the king of the vegetables,” and for good reason. Recent human studies have indicated that as little as one carrot a day could possibly cut the rate of lung cancer in half.

That’s not to say you should smoke and eat carrots. But it is to say that the cancer-fighting properties of this great vegetable should be taken seriously. Carrots are high in carotenoids, antioxidant compounds found in plants that are associated with a wide range of health benefits. You’ve probably heard good things about beta-carotene, but that’s only one of about 500 members of the carotenoid family. Some research suggests that other carotenoids may be even more important. High carotenoid intake has been associated with a decrease of up to 50 percent in bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophageal cancer, as well as up to a 20 percent decrease in post-menopausal breast cancer. Carrots are also high in alpha-carotene, another carotenoid that appears to have health benefits of its own. In fact, one report published in NCI Cancer Weekly by Michiaki Murakoshi, who led a team of biochemists at Japan’s Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, contends that alpha-carotene may be more powerful than beta-carotene in inhibiting processes that may lead to tumor growth.

Although one badly designed study a few years ago seemed to indicate that beta-carotene by itself had no value in preventing cancer, what wasn’t well publicized is that the study subjects were heavy smokers and that the beta-carotene given to them was a synthetic kind that behaves quite differently in the body than the real deal. The real lesson from that study is that the carotenoids perform best working as a unit, and should be obtained in their natural—not synthetic—form. According to Walt Willett, Ph.D., chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, dozens of studies show beneficial associations between eating fruits and vegetables high in carotenoids and less cardiovascular disease, not to mention less prostate, lung, stomach, colon, breast, cervix, and pancreatic cancer.

Why Your Mom Was Right about Carrots

Put carrots in the column labeled “things mother was right about after all.” Carrots really are good for your eyes. They’re a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two other carotenoids that, when working together, have shown enormous promise in protecting the eyes and helping to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. Both alpha-carotene and beta-carotene convert in the body to vitamin A, which, in addition to being a great antioxidant and immune system stimulator, turbocharges the formation of a purple pigment in the eye called rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is needed by the eye to see in dim light—it actually raises the effectiveness of the light-sensitive area of the retina—so not getting enough vitamin A can actually lead to night blindness.

Three medium carrots contain 60 mg of calcium, 586 mg of potassium, a little bit of magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin C, and of course, a whopping 30,000 IUs of vitamin A, including 15,000 units of beta-carotene and 6,000 of alpha-carotene. They also have 5 g of fiber.

Cooked Carrots Prevail

Cooking slightly changes the nutritional content and makes some of the nutrients more bioavailable. But both raw and cooked carrots are healthy.

To get the most out of the carotenoids found in carrots, eat them with a little fat. The carotenoids and vitamin A are fat-soluble nutrients and are better absorbed that way.

Finally, carrots are a favorite ingredient for juicing, and carrot juice is often used as part of a detoxification program. Just be aware that when you juice carrots you’re using a lot of them, plus you’re removing the fiber, both of which increase the concentration of sugar. That doesn’t mean it’s not a fantastically healthy juice ingredient, just something you should be aware of if you’re sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. (Juicing carrots with some really low-sugar vegetables like spinach and broccoli lessens the impact.)

WORTH KNOWING

Carrots got a really bad and totally undeserved rap by the low-carb folks because of their high glycemic index. Actually, the glycemic index isn’t very important—the glycemic load is. The glycemic index tests are done on a 50-g portion of carbohydrate, whereas the load tests are done on real-life portions. A carrot has only about 4 g of carbohydrate, so its glycemic load—the only number that matters—is ridiculously low (about 3 on a scale of 0–40+). You’d have to eat a ton of carrots to get a significant rise in blood sugar. Even so, some very careful diabetes doctors whose opinion I respect still tell patients to beware. For everyone else, I think carrots are absolutely fine.

Cauliflower

For a long time now, common nutritional wisdom has held that the best diets are rich in colors (green as in spinach, blue as in blueberries, red as in peppers) and low in “the white stuff” (sugar, potatoes, white bread, rice, Twinkies, spaghetti, and the like). I agree with that wholeheartedly. But there are three exceptions to “anti–white stuff” dictum: whitefish, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Cauliflower is a member of the brassica or cabbage family and, as such, contains many of the compounds like indoles that have given this vegetable family its rightly deserved reputation a potent cancer fighter.

In addition to indoles, cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a breakdown product of compounds in the cauliflower called glucosinolates. While glucosinolates themselves typically have low anticancer activity, sulforaphane has plenty! Sulforaphane was first identified in broccoli sprouts by scientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It’s one of a class of chemicals in plants called isothiocyanates and is a potent antioxidant and stimulator of natural detoxifying enzymes in the body.

How Does Cauliflower Fight Cancer?

Here’s how it works: Within minutes of being eaten, sulforaphane enters the bloodstream and turbocharges the body’s antioxidant defense systems. When it reaches the cells, it activates phase-2 detoxification enzymes in the liver, which then “disarm” carcinogenic molecules and help remove them from the cells. Sulforaphanes, along with other isothiocyanates and indoles is believed to be responsible for the lowered risk of cancer that’s associated with the consumption of cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and, of course, broccoli and broccoli sprouts.

How to Make Fake Mashed Potatoes

A cup of cauliflower is ridiculously low in calories, and contains 3 g of fiber as well as over 50 mg of vitamin C, 176 mg of potassium, and 55 mcg of folate.

The vegetable got a much-deserved boost in popularity when, thanks to Dr. Arthur Agatston, it became known that a fabulous “fake” mashed potatoes could be made using cauliflower in place of the potatoes. With a little butter, lemon, and sea salt, it is beyond delicious. (Of course, my friend and fellow author Dana Carpender was making “fauxtatoes” way before The South Beach Diet was ever published, but don’t get me started.)

WORTH KNOWING

Along with all the good stuff it contains, cauliflower also contains purines, a feature it shares with a number of very healthy foods including sardines and spinach. Usually that’s not a problem—we break down purines into uric acid and get rid of it. But in some people the mechanism doesn’t work exactly right; uric acid builds up and causes painful episodes of gout. Such patients are advised to limit foods with purines. Though cauliflower isn’t as superhigh in purines as some other foods, the amount is moderately high, and you should be aware of it. Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa has reported that one of his patients had a worsening of gout when he ate too much cauliflower.

Celery

This lowly little vegetable suffers from “Rodney Dangerfield syndrome”—it gets no respect. But not from me—I’m a big fan for a lot of reasons. It’s terrific for appetite control and can be used at the end of a meal (or any time, actually) to stem carb cravings. Smear a spoonful of almond butter or natural peanut butter on it and you have a perfect low-sugar snack that’s pretty filling. Celery—with or without the almond butter—travels well in Tupperware. Chewing it stimulates saliva and can aid in digestion. It’s a terrific addition to fresh juice (more about that in a moment). And that’s just for openers.

Celery Number One for Treating High Blood Pressure

Celery just might be the number-one medicinal food for blood pressure. It’s been recommended in traditional Chinese medicine for high blood pressure for centuries, and experimental evidence has confirmed its usefulness. In one study, injecting lab animals with celery lowered their blood pressure by 12 to 14 percent. If you’re a human, you’d get that effect with about four stalks. Dr. Mark Houston, head of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital and Medical Center in Nashville and my go-to guy for all things related to hypertension, has celery at the top of his list of foods for his patients with high blood pressure. The substances in celery that seem to produce the benefit are phytochemicals called phthalides. Clinical studies show that they work by relaxing the muscle tissue in artery walls and therefore increasing blood flow. Phthalide also lowers levels of stress hormones.

The Celery Hangover Cure

Here’s a little folk legend for you: In ancient Rome, they used to wear celery around the neck to ward off a hangover after a particularly demanding night of Roman-style partying. It might be that this is where the practice of putting a stick of celery in a Bloody Mary came from, but that could just be urban legend.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put celery on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. If you’re concerned about this, you might want to buy organic, or at least wash your celery well in a fruit-and-vegetable wash.

Celery is also a great source of silicon, which is getting a lot of attention recently as a very important nutrient for bone health. Because of its silicon content, celery can help renew joints, bones, arteries, and all connective tissue.

There’s also an ingredient found in celery called acetylenics, which has been shown to stop the growth of cancer cells. Celery also contains phenolic acids. These have been shown to block the actions of prostaglandins, which are known to encourage the growth of cancerous tumors.

Give Celery Juice a Try

In Asian traditions, celery is one of the few vegetables that combines well with fruit. Personally, I love it as a base for fresh juice. One of my absolute favorites: Combine a few stalks with one pear and a couple of inches of gingerroot.

Collard Greens

If you’ve ever wondered what people mean when they use the expression “soul food,” this is the food they’re talking about. This cabbage-family vegetable was brought to these shores by African slaves and is a staple of Southern cooking. Its flavor lies somewhere between cabbage and kale. It’s your quintessential “green leafy vegetable,” and in fact is usually sold as a loose bunch of leaves, though you can get it frozen as well. The fresh version needs to be cleaned thoroughly before cooking.

Typically, collards are simmered for several hours, which makes them really tender. But you can also boil them in water for 15 to 30 minutes if you don’t mind them being a bit firmer. In Southern cooking, they’re often cooked with bacon or salt pork, but they don’t have to be; they’re often served with beans, especially black-eyed peas (also optional). Personally, I think they’re outstanding with just some sweet butter and sea salt.

Collards are members of the family of cruciferous vegetables and provide valuable cancer-fighting phytochemicals. One cup of collards provides almost the same amount of calcium as 8 ounces of milk, and 5 whopping g of fiber in the bargain. In addition, they’ve got magnesium, phosphorus, more than 200 mg of heart-friendly potassium, vitamin C, and a ton of vitamins A and K. There’s also a meaningful amount of beta-carotene. And if all that weren’t enough, they are a significant source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that are fast becoming the “go-to” nutrients for eye health.

Dandelion

The Latin name for dandelion—Taraxacum officinale—is your first clue as to what this plant is about. Loosely translated, it means “official remedy for the disorders.” (In Greek, taraxons means “disorder,” and akos means “remedy.” The Arab physicians of the eleventh and twelfth centuries who were the first to write about this miracle plant called it taraxacon.) Dandelion is used in herbal traditions all over the world, including by American Indians, Arabs,

Chinese, and Europeans. Louis Vanrenen, in his excellent little book Power Herbs, lists it as one of the top fifty “power herbs.” Yup, we’re talking about the same dandelion that many people consider a weed. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, a weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. This particular weed has a distinguished history of medicinal use in China, Japan, Russia, and Europe and has been used for detoxification for more than a century.

Dandelion Improves Your Liver and Your Moods

Probably at the top of the list of dandelion’s health benefits is its profound effect on the liver. According to Dr. Mark Stengler, N.D., associate clinical professor at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, dandelion ranks right alongside milk thistle as the most frequently recommended herbs to help patients who need liver detoxification. Since the liver’s job is to detoxify every chemical, pollutant, and medicine that we’re exposed to—according to some experts it performs more than 5,000 enzymatic reactions—keeping it strong and functioning smoothly is of prime importance to our health. “Just by treating the liver we can sometimes resolve numerous conditions ranging from physical problems such as indigestion and hepatitis to the emotional imbalances that contribute to irritability and depression,” says Stengler. Dandelion root, in particular, figures prominently in many natural nutritional support programs for hepatitis C.

One of the chemical components of dandelion, taraxacin, is thought to stimulate the digestive organs and help prompt the liver and gallbladder to release bile. This can be useful in constipation and indigestion—bowels move more easily with increased bile flow, and unlike pharmaceutical laxatives, dandelion can be taken for a few months. Christopher Hobbs, a licensed acupuncturist and fourth-generation herbalist and botanist with more than 30 years of experience with herbs, writes that clinical and laboratory research on dandelion shows “a doubling of bile output with leaf extracts and a quadrupling of bile output with the root extract.” Since bile helps with the digestion and absorption of fats, this might explain how effective dandelion is in helping with heartburn and indigestion.

Dandelion Root for Diabetes

Dandelion root is also helpful in the treatment of diabetes. It contains inulin, which is a naturally occurring type of soluble fiber known to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Inulin also increases calcium absorption and possibly magnesium absorption while promoting probiotic bacteria. In addition, dandelion also contains some pectin, another type of fiber that helps relieve constipation and reduce cholesterol. (Pectin is also found in apples.)

Dandelion is a natural diuretic. Want something for bloat and water retention? This is your natural medicine. One of the nice benefits of using it as a diuretic is that it does not cause loss of potassium. Dandelion leaf extract works great for the water retention of PMS, and Stengler routinely uses it for edema of the lower legs and ankles that he sees in elderly patients (edema is swelling or bloating caused by fluids in the extremities). Dandelion also contains two hormone-balancing constituents, taraxerol and taraxasterol. “It’s one of the premier herbs recommended for hormone-related conditions like PMS,” says Stengler. Because it’s a natural diuretic, dandelion leaf is a wonderful aid in reducing high blood pressure. (NOTE: Never discontinue a blood pressure medication without the approval of your health professional.)

Why It Ranks in the Top Four of All Green Vegetables

If all this weren’t enough, dandelion is one of the most nutrient-rich vegetables on the planet. According to the USDA Bulletin #8, dandelions rank in the top four green vegetables in overall nutritional value. One cup of cooked dandelion greens contains 147 mg of calcium, 244 mg of potassium, 203 mg of bone-building vitamin K, and a very respectable 3 g of fiber. Dandelions are nature’s richest green-vegetable source of beta-carotene and the third richest source of vitamin A of all foods after cod liver oil and beef liver. One little cup of the stuff contains more than 10,000 IUs of vitamin A! And just for good measure, the same cup contains 4,944 mcg of the new superstars of eye nutrition, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are being investigated for their ability to protect against the number-one cause of adult blindness, macular degeneration.

Fresh dandelion greens make an excellent salad, alone or with other garden greens. According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, you can use the bittersweet root the same way you would a carrot—in stir-fries, in soups, or sautéed with onion and garlic. The root also makes a terrific, liver-friendly, detoxifying tea.

WORTH KNOWING

According to herbalist Louis Vanrenen, those with gallstones should consult an herbalist when using dandelion as an herb. There are no known contraindications for pregnant or nursing women.

Eggplant

Whenever you see a richly colored vegetable or fruit, you can be sure of one thing: Nature put those colors in there to protect against something in the environment, usually the intense rays of the sun, which can cause free-radical damage if unchecked. The blue pigment in blueberries, the red pigment in raspberries and watermelon, the yellow pigments in peppers . . . all contain a potent array of phytochemicals that not only protect the plant from damage in its environment but also do the exact same thing for the cells and DNA in your body. And, of course, the deep, rich purple pigment in eggplant skins is no exception.

The Nutritional Power of Purple

A substance called nasunin has been isolated from that deep purple pigment. Nasunin, a member of the anthocyanin category, is a powerful antioxidant. Studies show that it literally eats up free radicals, rogue molecules in your body that can cause serious damage to your cells and your DNA and are partly responsible for aging. In addition, nasunin protects against what’s called lipid peroxidation—that means it helps keep fats from turning rancid, including the fats in your body (like LDL cholesterol). The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage, and studies have shown that anthocyanins in general are highly protective of animal brain tissue. Other studies show that nasunin binds to iron, which is a very good thing, as too much iron in the system can cause all kinds of problems.

Eggplant isn’t a nutritional superstar, but it’s a really nice vegetable with 2.5 g of fiber in a cup that only costs you 35 calories. Plus it’s filling. I go to an amazing little Japanese restaurant in Studio City that looks exactly like the restaurants on the side streets of Tokyo, and they serve cooked eggplant in a miso-ginger sauce that will knock your socks off. You can easily make a meal out of an entire eggplant eaten that way, and since the eggplant itself is only 132 calories, all you have to do is use the sauce judiciously and you’ve got a great dish. Add a couple of eggs for protein—(I know it’s unconventional, but it’s great)—and you’ve got a terrific and complete meal with very moderate calories. Eggplant’s also great sprinkled with olive oil. And if you’re making a big salad for the family and you can manage to include one whole eggplant sliced up, you’ll be adding a whopping 18½ g of fiber and 1,260 mg of potassium to the mix, not to mention niacin, folate, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and phytosterols.

Here’s an interesting fact: Eggplant is considered a fruit, but botanically it’s actually a berry. Go figure. It’s related to the potato and tomato and is a member of the nightshade family.

WORTH KNOWING

Like all nightshades, eggplant contains a substance called solanine. In theory, if solanine is not destroyed in the intestine, it could be toxic. This is generally not an issue, but one horticulturalist, Dr. Norman Childers, has hypothesized that some people with osteoarthritis may not be able to destroy solanine in the gut, leading to solanine absorption and aggravating osteoarthritis. Though this has never been put to a strict clinical test, I am of the strong opinion that individual variations in metabolism and detoxification abilities account for a large number of problems with foods and chemicals—some people can get rid of the problem compound just fine, others simply can’t. (I personally think that mercury in vaccines is a prime example of this phenomenon, but that’s a whole other discussion.) Proponents of the “solanine aggravates arthritis” theory claim you need to eliminate it for six months before potential benefit can be seen. I think this information is only applicable to a tiny number of people, but it’s worth knowing.

Endive

(Belgian endive, escarole, French endive)

Endive is a member of the botanical family Chicorium and is a close relative of chicory, with the same characteristic fresh and yet slightly bitter flavor. Belgian endive—also called French endive or witloof—is a small, cylindrical head of pale, tightly packed leaves. Curly endive—sometimes wrongly called chicory—has lacy, green-rimmed, curly leaves with a prickly texture (and slightly bitter taste). Then, of course, there’s escarole, which has a milder flavor than either Belgian or curly endive.

Two cups of endive have an awful lot of nutrients for their paltry 8 calories. There’s 26 mg of calcium, about ½ mg of iron, 157 mg of potassium, 71 mcg of folate, more than 1,000 IUs of vitamin A (650 of beta-carotene), and 115 mg of bone-strengthening vitamin K. Now that’s a healthy salad green!

My favorite: Toss them with some walnuts and sliced pears and maybe a little blue cheese and olives. Olive oil is a nice addition to the mix.

Fennel

Fennel is a perfect example of how sometimes a plant will show its medicinal properties in the most unexpected conditions. Consider colic. Although common enough and thought to be pretty benign, it’s a significant problem in infants and imparts a psychological, emotional, and physical burden on parents. The only medicine that has been shown to be effective is dicyclomine hydrochloride. But there’s one little problem. Five percent of infants treated with it develop serious side effects, including death. So if there were a benign plant-based medicine that got the job done, that would be a pretty terrific thing.

Babies Benefit from Fennel

Recently, a study published in volume 9 of the 2003 journal Alternative Therapy Health and Medicine tested the effect of fennel seed oil on infantile colic (“The effect of fennel seed oil emulsion on infantile colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled study”). Fennel eliminated colic in 65 percent of the infants, produced a significant improvement in the treatment group, and lowered the NNT (number needed to treat), all without a single side effect reported. If it can do that for infant colic, one might be forgiven for thinking that it could have other benefits as well.

Well, if you thought that, you’d be right. Supplements containing different combinations of various natural herbs including fennel seed extract were tested in a recent study in Anticancer Research and found to suppress the growth of certain tumors. The dried fruit of the fennel contains an essential oil that has a rich mix of health-promoting compounds, including anethole (responsible for the licorice flavor), limonene, and quercetin (an anti-inflammatory flavonoid). In laboratory studies, fennel oil counteracts spasms of smooth muscle in the gut. It seems to relieve gas and help with cramps, and in Indian restaurants, it’s often offered on a plate after dinner for its soothing effect on the digestion and its sweetening effect on the breath. It also makes a nice tea—pour boiling water over a couple of spoonfuls of the dried fruit, crushing it immediately before using. Steep for 10 minutes and strain.

WORTH KNOWING

According to herbal experts Joe and Teresa Graydon, Ph.D., authors of The People’s Pharmacy, pregnant women should not use fennel oil or fennel extracts. Also, anyone allergic to celery, carrots, dill, or anise should avoid fennel as well.

FENNEL TRIVIA

Fennel is the Greek name for marathon. Seems that back around 490 B.C.E., the Greeks defeated the Persians in a fennel field exactly 26 miles and 385 yards from Athens. They sent a runner bearing the good news back home, and ever since then the length of a marathon race has remained the same as the distance from the fennel field into town: 26 miles, 385 yards.

Green Beans

(and their cousins: French beans, runner beans, Italian beans)

Let’s face it: Green beans are not a superstar of the vegetable community. Rather, they’re a good, solid utility player. If they were in an investment portfolio, they’d be Ginny Maes or savings bonds. You’re not likely to get rich on them, but they’re good, reliable performers, and they belong in your portfolio.

Yesterday’s String Beans Are Today’s Green Beans

For the purposes of this book I’m lumping all the beans in the Phaseolus vulgaris category together: that’s French beans, runner beans, snap beans, green beans, wax beans, Italian beans . . . you get the picture. When I was a kid we called them string beans, because in the “old days” (before I was born, of course) there used to be a fibrous string running the length of the pod seam, which you had to remove before cooking. Nowadays the folks who breed these things have genetically engineered them so the string is a thing of the past.

Green beans contain folate (about 10 percent of the RDI, which is too low anyway). An RDI, or Reference Daily Intake, is the replacement standard for the old RDA. But as my friend Regina Wilshire, N.D. and COO of the Carbohydrate Awareness Council, points out, the folate in green beans is bound in the proper ratio to two amino acids in the green beans, which makes it much more highly absorbed than the folate from enriched cereals. Folate is a critically important B vitamin that not only helps prevent neural tube defect, but also helps bring down homocysteine, a naturally occurring amino acid that can be harmful to blood vessels and contributes to the development of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease (reduced blood flow to the legs and feet).

Green (string) beans have a bunch of other vitamins and minerals—a little bit of calcium, a little bit of vitamin A, and a nice dose of potassium. They also contain about 20 percent of the Daily Value for manganese, an important trace mineral that’s essential for growth, reproduction, wound healing, peak brain function, and the proper metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol. Throw in some beta-carotene and the eye-friendly carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin for good measure, and about ½ of the daily requirement for bone-building vitamin K. And a cup of them will give you about 4 g of fiber (better than the average slice of bread and a whole lot better for you). You can eat them raw or cooked—the vitamin content changes marginally for the better when they’re cooked. They age fast once harvested, so use them quickly.

Horseradish

The first time I tasted horseradish was also the first time I attended a Passover seder, where it occupies a place of honor on the dinner plate as one of the five bitter herbs representing the bitterness of slavery. Little did I imagine that decades later I would be writing about its health benefits.

Horseradish is a relative of the mustard family that acts as a digestive stimulant. It’s also great for clearing up the sinuses! It inhibits bacterial infection and increases circulation (you might notice that you start sweating when you eat a lot of it!).

And for its tiny amount of calories (14 for 2 tablespoons) it contains a nice assortment of minerals, particularly potassium. But that’s really the least of the benefits this cabbage family member has to offer.

Why Horseradish Beats Broccoli

Horseradish is a member of the distinguished Cruciferae family, the Medici of vegetables, whose relatives include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, and turnip. If you’ve read about any of the above vegetables in this book, you know that a significant body of research exists showing the health benefits and cancer-fighting properties of many of the compounds that have been isolated from this food family. And horseradish, in particular is one of the richest sources of allyl isothiocyanate, which is believed to play a role in the prevention of tumors and in the suppression of tumor growth.

A study from the University of Illinois shows that horseradish has substantial quantities of glucosinolates, compounds that are the parent molecules of substances that increase human resistance to cancer. Glucosinolates in food increase the liver’s ability to detoxify carcinogens and, according to Dr. Mosbah Kushad, associate professor of food-crop systems at the University of Illinois, they may actually suppress the growth of existing cancerous tumors. Kushad, who has been involved in studies of many cruciferous vegetables, says that horseradish contains ten times more glucosinolates than broccoli, so you don’t need as much to benefit. “A little dab on your steak will go a long way to providing the same health benefits as broccoli,” he says.

Horseradish may be one of the few foods in this book that actually improves with processing. It contains an enzyme that breaks down these valuable glucosinolates into other compounds—isothiocyanates—that are actually responsible for the anticancer benefits: When you process the stuff, that enzyme is released. The enzyme, in turn, comes into contact with the glucosinolates, and presto, you’ve got the nutritionally beneficial isothiocyanates.

WORTH KNOWING

If you’ve ever eaten sushi or sashimi, you’ve encountered wasabi, also known as Japanese horseradish—it’s that very strong-tasting green stuff they put on the plate to mix with the soy sauce. Bioactive chemicals in wasabi are said to act as an antidote to food poisoning, one factor that might have led to the use of wasabi with raw fish dishes in Japan. Wasabi contains isothiocyanates, which, like the other compounds from the Cruciferae family, have significant health benefits. One research report specifically done on the isothiocyanates in wasabi found that they had a significant anti-inflammatory effect and also killed many human stomach cancer cells in a test tube.

Jerusalem Artichokes

Jerusalem artichokes aren’t really artichokes; plus, they’re not even from Jerusalem. They’re actually a member of the sunflower family and are also referred to as sunchokes, kind of a cross between artichoke and sunflower. They probably got the name Jerusalem because it sounded like girasol, which is the Italian name for sunflower. This large yellow flower—which is very pretty, by the way—was cultivated by the Native Americans, who prepared the tubers for Lewis and Clark in 1805 (in what is now North Dakota). The tuber—or underground stem—resembles a gnarly potato or a piece of ginger and has a really nice taste. The baked tubers are delicious.

Feeding the Good Bacteria for a Healthy Gut

Whatever the genesis of its odd name, this vegetable lands on the list because of its high content of fructooligosaccharides and inulin. What are those, you ask? They’re extremely healthy food for the “good” bacteria in your gut. You know how antibiotics wipe out all the bacteria in your gut garden, including the healthy kind like acidophilus? Well, the good bacteria in your gut love to dine on fructooligosaccharides—they’re actually health food for those good bacteria, and thereby help you to maintain a healthy gut ecology. That’s why they’re sometimes referred to as “prebiotics.” And inulin is a form of soluble fiber that, in one study published in the Journal of Nutrition, was found to lower blood glucose, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol as well as inhibit the growth of various kinds of cancer.

Be aware that inulin may cause flatulence in some people. If you’re sensitive to that, you might want to avoid eating Jerusalem artichokes raw.

Jicama

Okay, I admit it—I had never even heard of jicama until it showed up on my friend Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman’s top ten list (see page 72).

Coincidentally, the next day I was in Whole Foods, where they had sliced fresh jicama in a package in the produce center, ready to eat. Of course I had to buy it. And here’s my verdict: Jicama is so fresh, clean, refreshing, and crispy tasting that you actually feel healthier after eating it.

What on Earth Is Jicama?

Jicama is a root vegetable that is a staple in Mexican food. In its native habitat, it’s sold as a street food in South America, with a squeeze of lime and a bit of fiery chili powder. It’s a white-fleshed tuber that can weigh anywhere from half a pound to more than five pounds. Some people have characterized it as a cross between an apple and a potato. It looks like a turnip, has a thin brown skin that you can peel, and its taste is something like an apple but not quite. By itself, it’s actually a bit bland, but that allows it to be used in a zillion ways, since it takes on the flavor of whatever you dip it in or cook it with. And you’re still getting all the nutrition that jicama has to offer.

Jicama is a low-calorie, low-fat, high-fiber food. It’s mostly water (about 90 percent), yet a cup of it contains more than 6 g of fiber! That alone would probably garner it a place among the world’s healthiest foods, but jicama also has calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene. And all for its measly 49 calories per cup. (An entire medium-size jicama has only 250 calories and contains an astonishing 32 g of fiber, almost three times the amount most Americans get in a day.)

How Is Jicama Prepared?

You can bake or broil a jicama just like a potato, and it has a lot less starch. It fits nicely into stir-fries. It’s also fantastic raw, the way I discovered it. Ann Louise Gittleman recommends trying it with a dash of lime juice and cayenne pepper, Mexican style, for a snack that really satisfies.

Kale

Kale is definitely a superstar vegetable, even though most people don’t even know what it is. (It’s a green, weird-looking leafy vegetable that is actually a form of cabbage. Now you know.) But don’t let its strange looks put you off. This vegetable is a nutritional powerhouse.

Why Kale Is Number One

In fact, in the “rankings” it comes out on top. Currently, there is a testing procedure used by the USDA and others to determine the antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables. They look at all the different antioxidants and phytochemicals that are found in a plant food and determine how well everything works together as a team—how much actual ability the “team” has to fight cell-damaging free radicals. The foods are given what’s called an ORAC rating; ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Though there are different versions of the test, the best known has kale as number one among the vegetables, with an ORAC value of 1770 (the next best vegetable is spinach, with an ORAC value of 1260).

Prevent Cancer As You Chew

Because it’s a cabbage, kale actually has even more benefits than its antioxidant power alone would indicate. Like others in the brassica family, it contains powerful phytochemicals like cancer-fighting indoles, plant compounds that have been found to have a protective effect against breast, cervical, and colon cancer. In addition, kale is high in sulfur and contains something called sulforaphane, which helps give a boost to the body’s detoxification enzymes and may actually help fight cancer as well. Sulforaphane is formed when the vegetables containing it are chopped or chewed, and it triggers the liver to remove free radicals and other chemicals that may cause DNA damage. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrated that sulforaphane helps stop breast cancer proliferation.

Kale is also loaded with calcium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and bone-building vitamin K. It contains seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times as much lutein and zeaxanthin, eye-protecting carotenoids known to help protect against macular degeneration. And 2 cups of the stuff contain about 4 g of protein and 3 g of fiber.

Secrets to a Great Kale Salad

Tender kale greens can provide a terrific addition to salads, especially when mixed with strong-flavored ingredients like tamari-roasted almonds or red-pepper flakes.

Recently, kale has become one of my favorite foods. The Sherman Oaks Whole Foods deli manager mixes kale leaves with pine nuts and cranberries, then softens the whole mixture by tossing it well in olive oil. It’s become so popular the deli can’t keep it in stock, and because of that recipe, I actually eat kale about five times a week. It’s amazing.

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family and looks like a cross between an octopus and a space capsule. The name comes from the German kohl (cabbage) plus rabi (turnip) because of the resemblance of the cabbagelike stem to the turnip. The stem can be crisp and juicy, almost as sweet as an apple, and similar to a turnip in taste. You can eat it raw (it makes a great crudité) or cooked. It comes in two “flavors,” green and purple, with the purple kind tending to be somewhat spicier. Both the leaves and the stem are edible.

Kohlrabi’s membership in the cabbage family of cruciferous vegetables gains it an automatic place among the world’s healthiest foods. Like its relatives (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage), kohlrabi contains important phytochemicals such as cancer-fighting indoles, sulforaphane, and isothiocynates. It’s also a good source of vitamin C (83 mg per cup) and an excellent source of potassium (472 mg). And for a measly 36 calories per cup, you get a whopping 5 g of fiber.

In case someone ever asks you, Hamburg Township in Michigan has christened itself the “Kohlrabi Capital of the World.” No, I’m not making this up. At one time, back in the 1980s, they had a kohlrabi festival that actually drew 600 people.

Leeks

One way to think of a leek is as a sweeter version of an onion. They really are delicious, and most people add them to recipes like stir-fries for their marvelous flavor. But leeks have a serious side as well—they’re members of the allium family, which includes onions, garlic, and shallots. These vegetables contain a whole pharmacy of compounds with health benefits, including thiosulfinates, sulfides, sulfoxides, and other sulfur compounds.

The active substances in leeks, including allyl sulfides, help provide protection against cancers. Allyl sulfides block the action of hormones or chemical pathways within the body that promote cancer. Regular consumption of allium vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of both prostate and colon cancer. The sulfides of the allium family also decrease the tendency for blood clots to form—a significant risk for strokes and cardiovascular events. Plus they lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Allium vegetables have also been shown to lower high blood pressure.

Good Down to the Roots

According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, there is more to the leek than just the flavorful white bulb, which is the part most people use in cooking. Wood also uses the many tiny rootlets that hang from the base of the plant like little mop strings. She claims these mineral-dense filaments add valuable flavor and more nutrients and suggests cutting the cluster of stringy roots from the base, soaking them to loosen any embedded sand, rinsing, mincing, and sautéing in any vegetable dish or soup.

Leeks are also a good source of two of the most important carotenoids for eye health, lutein and zeaxanthin. One 54-calorie leek contains 1,691 mcg of these two superstar nutrients, which are currently the subject of extensive research for their ability to prevent macular degeneration, the number-one cause of blindness in adults. Leeks also have fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin K, and more than 1,400 IUs of vitamin A.

Mushrooms

While mushrooms have been used medicinally in Eastern medicine for eons, Western medicine is now beginning to catch up as the healing properties of mushrooms are beginning to be demonstrated scientifically. The three specific types with the greatest health benefits are Maitake, Shiitake, and Reishi. According to Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., all three have powerful effects on the immune system, and all three act as medicine.

When you think about it for a minute, it makes an awful lot of sense that mushrooms have medicinal properties. Mushrooms are fungus. They scavenge on organic matter. Where do you find them? Growing on decaying wood, or worse (cow patties, anyone?). That means they are able to absorb—and then safely eliminate—toxins. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to put them to work doing that in my own body, and eating them appears to be a great way to do it.

Maitake

Maitake comes from the Japanese word meaning “dancing mushrooms”; according to urban legend, foragers danced with joy when they found it. According to some legends, the little mushroom could be traded for its weight in precious metals.

In addition to being loaded with vitamins, maitake has a special polysaccharide component called beta-1,6 glucan, a very close relative of the beta-1,3 glucan in the shiitake (see below). Beta-glucans stimulate the immune system. Many of the compounds in the cell structures of mushrooms are actually classified as HDPs—host defenses potentiators. They’re used as adjunctive cancer treatments throughout Asia. In fact, Maitake is approved by the Japanese government for just this purpose. It’s especially good for counteracting the toxic effects of radiation and chemotherapy, such as extreme fatigue and nausea. According to my friend Robert Roundtree, M.D., author of Immunotics, maitake extract can shrink tumors in mice; Roundtree also points out that a number of studies in Japan showed that maitake and chemotherapy together can boost the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy for several types of cancer. He personally feels that maitake is the most potent of the three medicinal mushrooms discussed here, though he uses all of them for different things.

Shiitake

The shiitake mushroom is one of the most widely cultivated specialty species of mushroom in the world and is deeply valued for its medicinal effects as well as for the fact that it tastes delicious. It contains enzymes and vitamins that do not normally appear in plants, like all eight essential amino acids and one of the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid. The caps contain more nutrients than the stems.

This superstar mushroom contains a particular chemical component especially worth noting: lentinan, which is approved as an injectable drug in Japan and usually used to prolong survival of patients in cancer therapy. It doesn’t actually work directly against cancer, but it is believed to help prevent some of the damage that results from anticancer drugs. Lentinan is also referred to as beta-1,3 glucan, a polysaccharide that has potent immune-stimulating effects, and a close relative of the beta-1,6 glucan found in maitake (see above). When beta-glucans bind to immune system cells like natural killer (NK) cells, T-cells, and macrophages, the activity of these cells is increased. No one is quite sure why, but Roundtree speculates that the beta-glucans “trick” immune system cells into thinking they’re under attack (mushrooms are, after all, fungus, and maybe the cells think the harmless little critters are dangerous. Who knows? Point is, the immune system is stimulated by them). Many studies have confirmed beta-glucans’ wide range of protective effects, including improved resistance to infections, liver protection, and cardiovascular benefits. It also appears to help inhibit tumor growth in mice.

Japanese researchers have reported that consumption of shiitake mushrooms lowers blood cholesterol by as much as 45 percent, due to an active compound in them called eritadenine.

Reishi

Sometime in the third century B.C.E., the Chinese emperor Shih Huang was reputed to have sent a fleet of ships to search for a mushroom called the “Elixir of Immortality.” That mushroom? The reishi. Its special chemical makeup was thought to be a tonic for a long and healthy life. In traditional Chinese medicine, reishi is still considered to be among the highest class of tonics.

Now we’re finding out that they may have been on to something. One study at Cornell Medical College found that reishi reduced side effects during chemotherapy while improving the quality of life. Its beneficial components—specifically ganodermic acids classified as triterpenoids, plus a number of polysaccharides—seem to benefit everything from blood pressure to liver detoxification to adrenal function.

REISHI HAS EARNED ITS CANCER-FIGHTING REPUTATION

Even the conservative and highly regarded Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has reishi mushroom listed on the “about herbs” section of its Web site, where it states that reishi mushrooms stimulate the immune system through their positive effect on macrophages and other immune compounds. Sloan-Kettering also references clinical studies showing that reishi increases antioxidant capacity and enhances the immune responses in advanced-stage cancer patients.

And then there’s stress.

Reishi mushrooms appear to be a natural stress-buster. According to Roundtree, reishi is the mushroom of choice for people under extreme physical or emotional stress. He recommends it for endurance athletes as well. Reishi mushrooms also have a very high level of antioxidants, largely due to their ganodermic acid.

Cremini (white button mushrooms)

I almost omitted cremini mushrooms from the list completely—I mean, after all, how could these little prosaic mushrooms possibly hold a candle to the downright medicinal value of their famous siblings? But, my friend, traditional naturopath Regina Wilshire, N.D., sent me this missive, just in time for press. It’s so complete, I’m going to reprint it right here in its entirety: “Cremini mushrooms are superdense with nutrients. One 5-ounce serving (dry weight before cooking) gives you more than 50 percent of the Daily Value for the cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium, 40 percent of the Daily Value for riboflavin, 35 percent of copper, 30 percent of niacin, 20 to 25 percent of pantothenic acid, phosphorus, and zinc, plus 10 to 15 percent Daily Value of manganese and thiamin. They also have trace amounts of magnesium, calcium, folate, B_12, and iron.” Now I don’t feel so bad counting mushrooms as a vegetable!

The Mushroom Weight Loss Plan?

Mushrooms in general also contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. L-ergothioneine neutralizes dangerous free radicals called hydroxyl radicals and also increases enzymes with antioxidant activity. In at least two studies, it seems to act as a metabolic energy enhancer, stimulating the breakdown of sugar in red blood cells and mimicking carnitine in its ability to transport fat into the mitochondria of the cells where the fat can be burned for energy. That’s exactly what most over-the-counter weight loss supplements promise but rarely deliver. Three studies also showed L-ergothioneine to be a protector of environmental UV radiation damage. Though shiitake and maitake have much more of it, even our friend the lowly white button mushroom has many times more L-ergothioneine than wheat germ and chicken liver, the other two sources of this incredible antioxidant.

Okra

For generations, okra has been a staple of traditional Southern cooking. This nutritious green vegetable arrived in the United States in the mid-1600s and became an important part of the colonial diet. Its seeds were even used to brew a coffee substitute that was consumed by Southern Americans during the Civil War, when they couldn’t obtain coffee beans. Today it’s still very much a part of what is lovingly called “soul food.”

Okra contains a unique combination of valuable nutrients. It’s one of a select group of foods that include naturally occurring glutathione, arguably the most important antioxidant in the body. Optimal amounts of glutathione are necessary for supporting the immune system; in particular, glutathione is required for replication of the lymphocyte immune cells. It also helps the liver detoxify chemicals.

Okra Beats Cereal for Fiber Content

Okra’s also a high-fiber food. People often ask me where they should get their fiber from, since our diet is so deficient in this important compound. My standard answer is fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and okra is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. One cup of cooked okra—which is a tiny 35 calories’ worth—provides 4 g of fiber, way more than the average slice of bread or the average cup of commercial cold cereal. And for a vegetable, it’s also pretty high in protein. That same 35-calorie cup also provides almost 3 g of protein.

Calorie for calorie, okra is high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects in developing fetuses. In Ayurvedic medicine, okra is considered “tridoshic,” meaning it is good for balancing all metabolic types. It can be steamed, pickled, broiled, baked, or even fried and goes well with tomatoes and highly seasoned vegetable dishes. When you boil it, it gives off a kind of viscous substance that adds a lot of smooth thickness to soups and stews, making okra a favorite for gumbo.

NOTE: The larger pods are tough and fibrous. Look for smooth, firm, unblemished, brightly colored pods smaller than 3 inches long.

Onions

There are no two ways about it: Onions are a cancer-fighting food. In a number of impressive published studies, the consumption of onions (and other members of the allium vegetable family) demonstrated protective effects against stomach cancer. And in one study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, eating onions (as well as other members of its family like garlic, scallions, chives, and leeks) significantly lowered the risk for prostate cancer. Onions (and their close relatives) have also been shown to have the same effect against esophageal cancer.

In Vidalia, Georgia, where the Vidalia onion comes from and where onions are consumed in large quantities, the death rate from stomach cancer is 50 percent lower than the national mortality rate from stomach cancer. One theory is that onions contain diallyl sulfide, which increases the body’s production of an important cancer-fighting enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase.

Onions Help Build Strong Bones

At least two important studies show that onions help build strong bones. In one, published in the prestigious journal Nature, male rats fed a small amount of dried onion daily had a 17 percent increase in calcium; female rats that had had their ovaries removed (which would rapidly induce bone loss and osteoporosis) had stronger bones when fed onions. And in another study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, a compound in onions inhibited the activity of the cells (osteoclasts) that break down bones. The popular drug Fosamax works in a similar way, but onions have no side effects, unless you count the need to have a breath mint before kissing someone!

Onions belong to the allium family, which also includes leeks, garlic, and shallots. They contain a whole pharmacy of compounds with health benefits, including thiosulfinates, sulfides, sulfoxides, and other smelly sulfur compounds. But those same smelly compounds offer a lot of nutrition bang for the relatively small price of a little eye-watering. In a study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, onions are one of a very select group of foods that in combination was found to reduce mortality from coronary heart disease by an impressive 20 percent (the others included broccoli, tea, and apples).

Why Allergy and Asthma Sufferers Benefit from Onions

Onions contain powerful antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and antiviral. They are a great source of quercetin, one of my favorite anti-inflammatory compounds and one that is associated with beneficial effects on chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. The class of chemicals that quercetin belongs to—flavonoids—have antiallergic properties as well, and quercetin in particular is frequently used by nutritionists as part of their arsenal for treating allergies with natural substances. Quercetin can help relieve asthma and hay fever by blocking some of the inflammatory responses in the airways. Our bodies absorb quercetin from onions very easily, though you’ll probably need quercetin supplements if your main interest is using it therapeutically as an anti-inflammatory. Onions also contain a number of sulfides very similar to those in garlic, which may lower blood lipids and blood pressure.

The type of onion affects the content of the health-promoting chemicals, and the stronger-tasting ones have superior properties.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put onions on its 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

Peppers (hot):

cayenne, chile, jalapeño

You would think that hot peppers—like chile peppers or cayenne peppers—would be exactly what you’d want to avoid if you had heartburn. Maybe, maybe not. At least one study demonstrated that the active ingredient in hot peppers may actually protect the stomach lining from damage. Granted, that study was done in rats, but still. The active ingredient—capsaicin—has a host of benefits and uses.

Capsaicin peppers are rich in a host of nutrients, including beta-carotene, eye-friendly carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, and vitamin C. Their vitamin C content is probably the reason they have been used as a popular natural remedy for colds and coughs. And, according to Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., eating red hot chile peppers raises your levels of feel-good endorphins. Hot peppers will definitely wake you up! They may also help lower “bad” cholesterol, though more studies are needed to confirm this.

Peppers for Pain Relief?

The active ingredient, capsaicin, produces a feeling of warmth when applied to the skin. It depletes substance P, a chemical that transmits pain messages to the brain. Because of that, capsaicin is a frequent ingredient in pain-relieving creams. Capsaicin is a vasodilator, which enhances circulation and increases body temperature. Hot peppers (and their powders) may act as a metabolism booster—in one study (on mice), the active ingredient promoted energy metabolism and suppressed body fat accumulation. Makes sense when you think of how eating hot peppers makes you sweat.

Traditionally, some hot peppers like cayenne were used to aid digestion and stimulate the appetite. Counterintuitive though it seems, they probably do not irritate the stomach. In fact, they may help prevent ulcers by killing bacteria, and they also simulate the lining of the stomach to secrete powerful protective juices. In Ayurvedic medicine, they are used for healing, but with care. They’re definitely not recommended for anyone with an inflamed colon.

Red chiles have a nice amount of vitamin A, and both red and green chiles contain fiber, potassium, folic acid, and iron. Some people with sensitive skin are warned to wear rubber gloves when handling them. In general, the smaller and more pointed the pepper is, the hotter the taste.

WORTH KNOWING

Both animal and human studies have indicated that consumption of chile-containing meals increases both fat burning and calorie burning. And a recent study in the July 2006 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that chile pepper has a beneficial effect on insulin levels. Subjects fed a meal containing a cayenne chile blend had less insulin in their bloodstreams after eating, meaning something in the chile helped clear the insulin from their bloodstreams after it did its job. Since high insulin is a risk factor for a lot of things, that’s a good effect. The researchers think that the active ingredient responsible for the effect is capsaicin. And by the way, the results were even more dramatic in the subjects with the highest body weights.

Peppers (sweet)

On Saturdays in the summertime you can walk around the city—at least in Los Angeles and New York, which are the only two cities I’ve lived in—and see gorgeous mountainous displays of fresh vegetables at the local farmers’ market. If you look closer, you’ll usually find that the vibrant colors that catch your attention are brought to you courtesy of the peppers.

They come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, with yellow, red, orange, and green being the most common, though I’ve seen some really nice-looking purple ones around as well. If you look carefully, you may even be able to spot a rarer black variety.

The Sweet and Spicy Difference

Both chile peppers and sweet peppers belong to the capsicum family, which is Latin for “box.” The major difference between the two is that chiles contain fiery capsaicin and are used mainly as a spice. The sweet ones lack capsaicin and are mainly used as vegetables. The riper the pepper, the greater its nutrition and the better its flavor. In general, the thinner the skin the more “peppery” the taste; the thick-skinned ones are sweeter. Many peppers start life as a green vegetable and when they fully mature, change colors. Red is the sweetest of the bells and is actually a fully ripened green pepper with a milder flavor.

Peppers are low in calories and a well-kept secret as a snack food. They blend with everything. I’ve eaten them raw like an apple, or combined them with some string cheese. They’re also good sliced up with some buffalo mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil. They’re also great in salads and in stir-fries. Nutritionally they’re an excellent source of vitamins C and A (beta-carotene) and the mineral potassium. They also contain vitamin K, which is increasingly coming under scrutiny as a vitally important component of bone health. And they’re one of the few foods around that contain lycopene, a member of the carotenoid family that has been shown in quite a bit of research to be associated with lower risk of prostate cancer. The amount of lycopene in the average pepper isn’t substantial, but it’s more than in most foods, and every little bit helps.

Though early studies using supplemental beta-carotene with smokers did not turn out the way we had hoped, the natural vitamin A and other compounds in peppers may in fact turn out to be protective. Red peppers contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that may lower the risk of developing lung cancer. One study, in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, followed more than 63,000 people in China and found that those eating the most cryptoxanthin-rich foods had a 27 percent lower risk for lung cancer. And some research indicates that exposure to a carcinogen in cigarettes—either directly or secondhand—induces a vitamin A deficiency, so foods rich in vitamin A may help counter that and provide some level of protection. Vitamin A is also a great immune system stimulator.

The Dark Side of Peppers

Now here’s the dark side, which turns out to be not all that dark. Peppers are a member of the nightshade family (along with eggplants and tomatoes). Nightshades are high in alkaloids, chemical substances that can have a strong physiological effect. In fact, many (but not all) alkaloids are frequently found in drugs: coffee, opium, morphine, heroin, belladonna. That said, mature fruits such as eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers contain only faint traces: you won’t get stoned from eating peppers! And cooking lowers alkaloid content by almost half. Nonetheless, one substance in nightshades—solanine—may have an impact on those with arthritis, and many arthritics are told to follow a “no-nightshade” diet. There isn’t really any strong research evidence to back this up, but there are many folks walking around whose symptoms have improved when they eliminated nightshades. One writer, Dr. Norman Childers, has theorized that some people with osteoarthritis may not be able to destroy solanine in the gut.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put bell peppers on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. The organization recommends buying organic, which is probably a good idea. At the very least, wash them well in a fruit-and-vegetable wash. That said, they’re still a great food and a nutritional bargain.

Pumpkin

We tend to think of pumpkins only at Thanksgiving and Halloween, but this is a really great, overlooked vegetable that is ridiculously low in calories while very high in potassium and vitamin A, not to mention the beta-carotene that is typically found in all orange foods.

It’s actually a potassium heavyweight—for a measly 49 calories per cup of mashed pumpkin, it has a whopping 564 mg of potassium (about 33 percent more than a medium banana).

Why should you care? Because the balance between potassium and sodium is of critical importance to our health. Potassium works with sodium to maintain the body’s water balance. (One possible explanation for potassium’s protective effect against hypertension is that increased potassium may increase the amount of sodium excreted from the body.) A number of studies indicate that groups with relatively high dietary potassium intakes have lower blood pressures than comparable groups with relatively low potassium intakes. In primitive cultures, salt intake is about seven times lower than potassium intake, but in Western industrialized cultures, salt intake is about three times higher than potassium intake.

Can Pumpkins Decrease Your Risk of Stroke?

Consider this: Several large epidemiological studies have suggested that increased potassium intake is associated with decreased risk of stroke. A study of more than 43,000 men followed for 87 years found that men in the top 20 percent of potassium intake (averaging 4,300 mg per day) were only 62 percent as likely to have a stroke than those in the lowest 20 percent of potassium intake (averaging 2,400 mg per day). This inverse association was especially high in men with high blood pressure.

Four large studies have reported significant positive associations between dietary potassium intake and bone mineral density. This isn’t really surprising if you think about it. When we eat a highly acid diet, the body has to buffer that acid, and it does this by mobilizing alkaline calcium salts from the bones in order to neutralize the acids consumed in the diet. Increased consumption of high-potassium fruits and vegetables like pumpkin reduces the net acid content of the diet and may help preserve calcium in the bones, where it belongs.

The Choice of Champions

Finally, athletes may need more potassium to replace that which is lost from muscle during exercise and the smaller amount lost in sweat. Low potassium can cause muscle cramping (and cardiovascular irregularities). When clients tell me they have muscle cramps, the first thing I think of is that they’re low on minerals, especially potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Pumpkin would be a great food just on the basis of its high amount of potassium. But there’s much more. One cup of mashed pumpkin contains more than 5,000 mcg of beta-carotene, another 853 of alpha-carotene, and more than 3,500 mcg of beta-cryptoxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family that seems to reduce the risk of lung and colon cancer. Studies have shown that beta-cryptoxanthin can reduce the risk of lung cancer by more than 30 percent. Other studies have shown that it reduces the risk for rheumatoid arthritis as well (by 41 percent in one study). It appears to have strong antioxidant properties.

Your Eyes Will Thank You

Pumpkin has more than 2,400 mcg of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are fast becoming the star nutrients in eye health and vision protection programs. Pumpkin also has more than 12,000 IUs of vitamin A, plus a little bit of calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus just for good measure. And a cup of the stuff also provides more than 2½ g of fiber.

Remember that the carotenoids need fat for absorption, which makes it all the easier to consume some pumpkin on a regular basis. Just cook it with a dab of butter or olive oil. If you like it sweet, try adding some xylitol. It’s an extraordinary substitute for mashed white potatoes; way healthier, and in my opinion, way more delicious.

WORTH KNOWING

Pumpkin seeds have medicinal properties of their own—see page 157.

Purslane

If you Google purslane, you’ll find all kinds of agricultural sites that tell farmers how to get rid of it, since many people confuse it with a weed. But it’s not. It’s actually an incredibly nutritious vegetable that is valued in Asia and Europe both as a pot herb and as a medicinal one. Though it comes from India, where it was a food crop centuries ago, it now grows wild all across America. Henry Thoreau, in his book Walden; Or, Life in the Woods, mentions that he made “a satisfactory dinner of a dish of purslane” that he gathered and boiled.

Purslane Highest in Omega-3s

The real claim to fame of purslane as a health food is that its omega-3 concentration is the highest of any green leafy vegetable. One hundred grams of fresh purslane leaves (about 1 cup) can contain up to 300 to 400 mg of alpha-linolenic acid, the same omega-3 found in flaxseed. Purslane also contains small amounts of the longer-chain omega-3s (DHA and EPA), which are rarely found in anything but fish and fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory, heart-healthy fats that have been found beneficial in hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and depression. The more omega-3s we eat, the better! (NOTE: For more on the benefits of omega-3 fats, see page 10)

Purslane has plenty of other nutrients besides its omega-3 content. In fact, Dr. Artemis Simopoulos, author of The Omega Plan, devoted an entire article in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition just to the health benefits of this vegetable (“Common purslane: A source of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants”). One cup of the cooked leaves contains 90 mg of calcium, 561 mg of potassium, and more than 2,000 IUs of vitamin A.

Purslane leaves and stems are great raw in salads, but they can also be steamed or added to soups, stews, and vegetable dishes. You’ll frequently see it in health food stores as part of “mesclun salad.” It’s got a mild, sweet-and-sour flavor and a chewy texture.

Spinach

Calorie for calorie, green leafy vegetables like spinach provide more nutrients than almost any other food on the planet. Spinach is loaded with vitamins and is one of the best sources of vitamin K. Vitamin K is kind of the Rodney Dangerfield of bone health vitamins: “It don’t get no respect,” and no one talks about it. Instead, we talk about calcium and magnesium and vitamin D, which of course are all very important; but the less-known vitamin K is critically important for building strong bones as well.

Vitamin K actually activates a compound called osteocalcin that anchors calcium molecules inside the bone.

So you can take all the calcium you want, but if it’s not getting into the bones, it’s not going to do you very much good, and it actually can do you some harm by calcifying in other places in the body. Vitamin K makes sure that you get the minerals into the bone where they belong. And 1 cup of fresh spinach leaves provides 200 percent of the Daily Value of vitamin K.

Great Alternative to Milk for Vitamin C

Speaking of calcium, spinach is a fine source of calcium and a great alternative to dairy for people who don’t want to drink milk. It’s also got vitamin A, manganese, folic acid, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, and a powerful anti-inflammatory compound called quercetin.

Researchers have identified at least thirteen different compounds in spinach—they’re called flavonoids—that function both as antioxidants and as anticancer agents. The anticancer properties of these compounds in spinach have been so impressive that researchers have created specialized spinach extracts that could be used in controlled studies. These extracts have been shown to slow down cell division in stomach cancer cells and, in studies on mice, have been shown to reduce skin cancers. And one study on adult women living in New England in the late 1980s showed that the more spinach women ate, the less the incidence of breast cancer. Powerful stuff, right?

Popeye Had It Right

For men, a carotenoid in spinach fights prostate cancer in two different ways. Research published in the September 2004 issue of the prestigious Journal of Nutrition showed that this spinach compound—it’s actually called neoxanthin—causes prostate cancer cells to self-destruct. Not only that, but it also helps prevent their replication. That alone is a pretty good reason to make like Popeye.

Spinach is a great source of vitamin C and vitamin A, which are vitally important antioxidants that help prevent cholesterol from becoming oxidized. Oxidized cholesterol is the kind that can stick to and build up in blood vessels, ultimately contributing to blocked arteries, heart attack, or stroke. Getting plenty of vitamin C and beta-carotene can help prevent these complications—and 1 cup of boiled spinach gives you an awesome 294 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin A. It’s also a great source of folic acid, which helps bring down a dangerous chemical in the body called homocysteine, which is harmful to blood vessels and puts you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and dementia. And spinach is also loaded with magnesium, a mineral that helps lower high blood pressure and protect against heart disease at the same time. When given to rats, spinach produced a blood pressure–lowering effect within just two to four hours. And to get that effect, the rats only had to eat the human equivalent of one entrée-size spinach salad for lunch or one side serving of steamed spinach.

Sharp Minds for Spinach Eaters

Spinach can also help prevent colon cancer because its vitamin C and beta-carotene help protect the colon cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Those vitamins also help reduce inflammation, and may help protect the brain from the kinds of age-related declines we often see in brain function. In fact, one study in the May 2005 issue of the Journal of Experimental Neurology showed that rats fed diets enriched with spinach and blueberries lost a lot fewer brain cells after a stroke and recovered significantly more than rats that weren’t eating the spinach and blueberry-enriched diets. And best of all, to get these protective benefits, the rats in the experiment only had to eat a measly 2 percent of their diet as spinach and blueberries!

Spinach is a great source of iron. That’s especially important for menstruating women, who are a lot more at risk for iron deficiency.

Finally, spinach contains lutein, a carotenoid that protects against eye disease and vision loss, like the kind caused by cataracts and macular degeneration. Now here’s something really interesting: Lutein can’t be absorbed unless fat is also present. (That’s why the lutein in egg yolks is so powerful.) So to really get the vision protection that the lutein in spinach has to offer, I suggest enjoying your spinach steamed, sautéed, or fresh in spinach salad with a little olive oil and a topping of chopped hard-boiled eggs. One of my favorite ways to eat it is to stir-fry it in some coconut oil. Even if you think you hate spinach, you’ll find that way of preparing it to be absolutely delicious! And spinach is one of the lowest-calorie foods on the planet. You’d have to eat barrels of the stuff to equal the calories in even one small serving of French fries.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put spinach on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. The organization suggests you buy organic. I agree.

Squash (winter and summer)

Squash comes in two basic categories: winter and summer. While they share characteristics, there are significant differences.

Summer squash comes in several different varieties, including zucchini, crookneck, and pattypan. It was first cultivated for its seeds; the squash of 10,000 years ago didn’t have much flesh, was pretty bitter and inedible, and didn’t bear any resemblance to the squash we see in supermarkets today. The more modern version started as a wild squash in South America, spread throughout the Americas, and was brought back to Europe by old Christopher Columbus himself. Now it’s produced around the world.

Summer and Winter Squash Go Head to Head

Like most vegetables, summer squash is high in the heart-healthy mineral potassium. One cup of cooked summer squash gives you more than three times the amount of potassium in the typical potassium supplement. There’s also a decent amount of vitamin A, and beta-carotene, and best of all, more than 4,000 mcg of lutein and zeaxan-thin, two members of the carotenoid family that are getting serious research attention for their ability to protect the eyes against macular degeneration and other vision problems.

Winter squash comes in many varieties also, the most well known being acorn squash, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash. (Pumpkin is technically in this category also, but gets its own listing because of its many specific benefits.) Winter squash is higher in carbohydrate content than summer squash, and there are some specific differences among the winter varieties. Acorn squash is a fiber heavyweight—1 cup of cooked acorn squash gives you 9 g of fiber, which makes it one of the highest-fiber foods in this book, especially calorie for calorie (1 cup of acorn has 115 calories). It also has a whopping 896 mg of potassium and almost 2 mg of iron. Spaghetti squash, on the other hand, has almost no calories (42 calories per cup!) but also less fiber (2.2. mg) and a lot less potassium and vitamin A.

Butternut squash is an absolute vitamin A giant, weighing in at a whopping 22,868 IUs per cup. Butternut is also high in both beta-carotene and its less well-known brother, alpha-carotene, which has many health benefits of its own. And butternut is unique among the squashes in that it has a substantial amount of beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that may lower the risk of developing lung cancer. One study in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention followed more than 63,000 people in China and found that those eating the most cryptoxanthin-rich foods had a 27 percent lower risk for lung cancer. And some research indicates that exposure to a carcinogen in cigarettes—either directly or secondhand—induces a vitamin A deficiency, so foods like squash that are rich in vitamin A may help counter that and provide some level of protection. Vitamin A is also a great immune system stimulator.

Squash Can Help with Weight Loss

One of the good things about squash in general is that it has a high water content. According to a great deal of research by Dr. Barbara Rolls at Pennsylvania State University, foods with high water content are classified as “high-volume” foods; there’s a lot there for a very little bit of calories. Because they’re both filling and low calorie, high-volume foods are an integral part of successful weight loss programs. And though some varieties are higher in fiber than others, squash gives you a nice amount of fiber overall for a low number of calories. Higher-fiber diets are associated with a king’s ransom of benefits, including lower risk of heart disease and cancer. And higher-fiber foods, including squash, are frequently recommended for digestive disorders like diverticulosis.

Here’s something amazing you can try with squash, especially butternut. Peel it and seed it and then cut it into the shape of French fries. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray, or better yet, lightly coat the tray with olive oil or butter, then place the “fries” on the sheet and bake for about 40 minutes (turn them over halfway). You can season with sea salt or any spice you like (call me crazy, but I put turmeric, see page 292, on everything). Then feed them to your kids the next time they’re jonesing for fast food! They are way healthier, and they taste amazing.

WORTH KNOWING

For reasons that I can’t figure out, a lot of people think squash should be avoided if they’re trying to control their blood sugar, since they are sure the vegetable has a high glycemic index or glycemic load. But here’s the thing: No reputable source that has published glycemic ratings for squash—not the authoritative Mendosa listing, not the University of Sydney (where the glycemic research was first done), and not the famous 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition—has found squash to have a high glycemic rating. So everyone else is basically guessing. That said, it’s probably a good bet that winter squash has a higher glycemic load than most green vegetables (probably a “medium” ranking), and summer squash, which has about one-third the carb content, has a low rating. But remember: I’m guessing like everyone else.

In any case, I think that for all but the most severe cases of carb intolerance, the argument over squash is a tempest in a teapot. Squash is a good high-fiber, low-calorie, nutrient-rich vegetable that you can enjoy on a low-carb diet as well as any other kind of eating plan. As my pal the nutritionist and USDA researcher C. Leigh Broadhurst once said, “No one ever got fat on peas and carrots.” The same could be said of squash.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are not actually related to the potato—they’re a member of the morning glory family. They’re sweet, they’re dark, and they’re one of the oldest vegetables known to man, having been around since prehistoric times. And there are lots of reasons to eat them.

As starchy vegetables go, this is probably my absolute favorite. Back in the days when I spent more hours in the gym than I want to think about, I used to bake a week’s worth of them in advance, wrap them individually, put them in the fridge, and take them with me along with some grilled chicken for an after-workout snack. Something about letting them sit on ice like that for a day makes them sweeter, and they make just about the most delicious snack you can imagine. NOTE: This is not for people with blood sugar problems (more on that in a moment). For everyone else, it’s light years better than anything in the snack machine, and very portable in the bargain.

This starchy carbohydrate is high in fiber (half of which is soluble) and a rich source of powerful antioxidants in the carotenoid family, especially beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A and heart-healthy potassium, and they even have a dollop of calcium. A recent article in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that an extract from a baked sweet potato has chemopreventive (cancer-fighting) properties. Finally, sweet potatoes contain other phytochemicals like quercetin, a powerful anti-inflammatory, and chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant. And a mediumsize baked sweet potato has only 103 calories (the operative word there is “medium”!).

Potatoes Take a Hit in the Low-Carb Craze

Potatoes in general have suffered a reversal of fortunes recently. In the low-fat 1980s they were the darling of the fitness set because they are pretty much a fat-free item. Then, when low carb came into vogue and consumers began to be (rightly) concerned with controlling their blood sugar, potatoes became “vegetable non grata” at the dinner table, because they raise your blood sugar quickly, producing a lot of the fat-storing hormone insulin. That’s why regular old white potatoes didn’t make my list of the world’s healthiest foods. I just don’t think they have enough nutritional wallop to counterbalance their effect on blood sugar. By the time it gets to your stomach, the body sees white potatoes as just a big lump of sugar. While they may not be the worst food on the planet, they’re certainly not among the best. A short course in blood sugar management: The impact of food on blood sugar is of great concern to those trying to lose weight, and of even greater concern for those with either diabetes or something called metabolic syndrome. The impact of food on blood sugar is most accurately measured by its glycemic load. (The higher the glycemic load, the more it raises blood sugar and the fat-burning hormone, insulin.) While some people like to claim that sweet potatoes have a lower glycemic load than regular potatoes, the truth is that only a certain variety from Australia (ipomoea batatas) has anything like what could be called a “low” glycemic load (“low” glycemic load is technically 10 or under; the Australian variety has 11). All the rest run between 16 and 20. Now remember, that is not a bad thing if you aren’t diabetic or pre-diabetic. But if blood sugar control is an issue for you, either because of stubborn weight problems or because of medical ones like diabetes, the glycemic impact of this delicious potato needs to be taken into account.

So let me be really clear: If you don’t have blood sugar issues, sweet potatoes are a great food. And even if you do, eating them in reasonable amounts, as part of a mixed meal with some vegetables and some protein, is hardly the worst thing you could do. And if you’re a bodybuilder at the gym and you’re looking for a great after-workout meal, you can’t do much better than tuna, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. So whether it’s a great food for you or not depends on your situation.

What’s the Difference between Sweet Potatoes and Yams?

There are two basic types of sweet potato: moist (orange fleshed) and dry (yellow fleshed). Both are delicious. The sweeter orange-fleshed varieties dominate the U.S. market. The moist-fleshed potatoes are often called “yams,” but this is a misnomer. True yams (botanical family Dioscoreaceae) are very large root vegetables grown in Africa and Asia and are rarely seen in the Western world.

Whatever you do, don’t forget to eat the skin. It’s the best part and has the most fiber.

Swiss Chard

When I first looked up the lab analysis of the nutritional content of Swiss chard, I had to go back and check twice to be sure there wasn’t a mistake. The amount of nutrition in this baby is so spectacular I thought it was a misprint; but no, it’s absolutely true. Swiss chard is an excellent example of a nutritional powerhouse that delivers the goods for almost no calories.

Easy on the Eyes

A cup of cooked chard gives you almost 4 g of fiber, more than 100 mg of calcium, an incredible 961 mg of potassium, and more than 30 mg of vitamin C. And that’s just the beginning. You also get more than 10,000—that’s right, 10,000—IUs of vitamin A, more than 6,000 of beta-carotene (plus some alpha-carotene as well), and a staggering 19,000 mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin, two members of the carotenoid family that are getting significant research attention for their ability to protect the eyes and guard against vision problems like macular degeneration. And did I mention that 1 cup—the amount that provides all those nutrients—has 35 calories?

Chard is a member of the goosefoot family of plants, is a relative of beets, and comes in red and white. The red kind is a standout in supermarkets. It’s very quick cooking—like spinach, in fact—so don’t overcook it or you’ll compromise its nutritional value. In her excellent writing on whole foods, Rebecca Wood mentions that the leaf and stem can be prepared together or may be cooked and served separately as two different vegetables. It’s also perfectly fine raw.

WORTH KNOWING

Swiss chard—like spinach, beets, rhubarb, and some other foods—does contain oxalates, which are not a concern for most people, but may be for those who have one type of kidney stones. Calcium oxalate kidney stones can result from excessive oxalates being absorbed through the gut and then binding with calcium in the urine and precipitating out to form the stones. Unfortunately, cooking doesn’t do very much to reduce them. Oxalates should be watched by people with hyperoxaluria, a rare, inherited metabolic disorder that often causes the stones. Let me repeat that this is not a problem for 99 percent of people.

Tomatoes

Botanically speaking, tomatoes are a fruit; technically, they’re a berry, and legally, they’re a vegetable. No, I’m not making this up. In an 1893 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, the tomato became legally classified as a vegetable because it’s used as one.

Tomato-Eating Men Have Fewer Prostate Cancers

Cooked tomatoes, especially those cooked with oil, are a rich source of the carotenoid lycopene. There is promising research showing that lycopene is associated with significant reduction in prostate cancer. As far back as 1995, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of a study conducted by Harvard University researchers that looked at the eating habits of more than 47,000 men between the ages of forty and seventy-five. They found that the men eating ten servings or more a week of tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, and even pizza had 45 percent fewer prostate cancers than men who ate fewer than two servings a week. In another study done a few years later at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, researchers gave lycopene supplements to thirty men who already had prostate cancer. Those given the lycopene supplements had smaller tumors and less spreading of the cancer. Best of all, the tumors in the participants who consumed lycopene supplements showed signs of regression and decreased malignancy.

And it’s not just prostate cancer that the lycopene in tomatoes protects against. Strong evidence indicates that lycopene protects against lung and stomach cancers as well, and preliminary research shows protection against pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral, breast, and cervical cancers. Lycopene also protects the heart against oxidative damage, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks. And one study published in American Heart Journal showed that treatment with antioxidant-rich tomato extract can reduce blood pressure in patients with grade 1 hypertension.

Get the Most Out of Your Tomatoes

The anticancer properties of lycopene are especially beneficial when consumed with fat-rich foods, such as avocado, olive oil, or nuts. Why? Because carotenoids are fat-soluble nutrients. To get maximum absorption of them, you need to eat them with a little fat!

Besides lycopene, tomatoes contain a variety of other powerful phytochemicals that fight disease. A trio of antioxidants—zera-carotene, phytoene, and phytofluene (often called “the three amigos”)—are found together in many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, and scientists believe that this triple-threat antioxidant team has strong disease-fighting potential. And if that isn’t enough, phenolic acids found in tomatoes have the potential to fight lung cancer with their ability to inhibit the formation of nitrosamines in the body.

Tomatoes also have a compound in them called lutein, which is great for your eyes. Lutein is really important for eye health—we have lutein in the retina of our eyes and we need it for healthy vision. The lutein in tomatoes may help prevent macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older adults, and may help improve vision. Lutein may also help prevent or slow down the thickening of arteries that we know as atherosclerosis.

Not bad for a fruit—I mean a berry—I mean a vegetable—that up until about 100 years ago was thought to be poisonous!

The Benefits of Vine-Ripened Tomatoes

Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, though the vitamin C is most concentrated in the jellylike substance that surrounds the seeds. Tomatoes also contain vitamin A and B complex vitamins, potassium, and phosphorus. Note well: A tomato grown in a hothouse has half the vitamin C content as its vine-ripened cousin.

And speaking of vine-ripened: Tomatoes are one of those foods that people rarely appreciate because the commercial kind are picked when green and then artificially “ripened” with ethylene gas, leaving a food product that may look great, but has negligible taste. You’re really best off buying tomatoes from local farmers and getting vine ripened whenever possible. They taste a lot better.

WORTH KNOWING

Tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family. Green tomatoes contain a substance called solanine, which may be aggravating to those with arthritis. Many health professionals counsel people with arthritis to avoid nightshades altogether, though some say there is really no good research to support this. If you have pain from arthritis, cutting out nightshades is probably worth a try. Be aware, however, that some very respected health professionals believe that you need to do this for at least six weeks (maybe more) to really see results from the elimination of nightshades. Tomatoes are usually avoided by people with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) as well.

Turnips

Whenever I think of turnips, I can’t help recalling that line in Tennessee Williams’s famous play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, where Big Daddy calls the little kids “no-neck monsters”! Sure enough, turnips have no necks, and the fact that they grow just about anywhere, in the poorest soil, has made them kind of like the “catfish” of vegetables, endearing them to the poor and giving them pretty low status among snobbier folk who haven’t tasted them. But they’re anything but a poor country cousin when it comes to nutrition.

Turnips and rutabagas (see page 70) are among the most commonly grown and widely adapted root crops and are members of the Cruciferae family; they both belong to the genus Brassica (cabbage), members of which are so widely acclaimed for their cancer-fighting indoles and isothiocyanates and other health-giving phytochemicals. And, along with rutabagas, turnips are particularly high in anticarcinogenic glucosinolates.

Turnip Greens Promote Bone Health

Turnips are another of those “high-volume” foods that fill you up without costing you a lot of calories. A cup of cooked turnips (without the greens) has all of about 35 calories, with 3 g of fiber, more than 250 mg of potassium, 18 mg of vitamin C, and 51 mg of calcium. Add the nutritious bone-building greens to the mix and your calcium nearly triples to 148 mg, plus you get a whopping 14,000 IUs of vitamin A, more than 8,000 IUs of beta-carotene, and an incredible 676 mcg of bone-friendly vitamin K. In the bargain, you also get more than 15,000 mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin, two members of the carotenoid family that are receiving significant research attention for their demonstrated ability to protect the eyes from vision problems like macular degeneration. Turnip greens are sometimes available by themselves, usually next to other greens like kale and collards, but sometimes at a farmers’ market you’ll be able to find the turnips with the tops attached. Buy them!

According to whole-food expert Rebecca Wood, raw grated turnips serve as a digestive aid similar to radish and daikon, and are good for general detoxification.

Watercress

Irish monks used to refer to the watercress plant as “pure food for sages.” And with good reason. This pungent, stimulating herb, frequently found in salads that bear its name, truly deserves the name “superfood.”

Watercress Contains Four Times the Calcium of Milk

If you were to compare an equal number of calories of watercress with an equal number of calories of 2 percent milk, the watercress would give you four times the calcium and six times the magnesium. Gram for gram, this little plant contains as much vitamin C as oranges and more iron than spinach. It’s also as close to a calorie-free food as you’re likely to find. A full cup of the stuff contains only 4 calories, and for those 4 calories you get an amazing 1,500 IUs of immune system–building vitamin A (including 950 mcg as beta-carotene), 85 mcg of bone-building vitamin K, 14 mg of vitamin C, and, as a bonus, more than 1,900 mcg of the new superstars of eye nutrition, lutein and zeaxan-thin. Both lutein and zeaxanthin are members of the carotenoid family and are being extensively researched for their demonstrated ability to prevent or reduce macular degeneration, the number-one cause of adult blindness.

Watercress Neutralizes Carcinogens

The health benefits of watercress have been known since ancient times. Watercress is a member of the family of vegetable superstars, the brassica family of cruciferous vegetables, which counts among its members such vegetable royalty as broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and Swiss chard. These vegetables are now known to be excellent sources of a family of anticancer phytochemicals called isothiocyanates. Isothiocyanates literally fight cancer by neutralizing carcinogens—the “bad guys” of the cancer battle. They do this by reducing their poisonous effects and stimulating the release of “carcinogen killers,” speeding up their removal from the body. Studies have shown that isothiocyanates help prevent lung and esophageal cancer and can lower the risk of other cancers, including gastrointestinal cancer.

Watercress is unique among the cruciferous vegetables in that it contains high concentrations of one particularly potent isothiocyanate, PEITC (phenylethyl isothiocyanate). It also contains another group of compounds with anticancer potential belonging to the sulforaphane family (also found in broccoli). Research published in two separate cancer journals—Cancer Research and Carcinogenesis—concluded that the potent combination of PEITC and sulforaphanes had a “triple whammy” effect: zapping cancer cells by inducing their death (apoptosis), stopping potential carcinogens from becoming active, and stimulating cell defenses against assaults from carcinogens.

Watercress can be eaten raw and most frequently is, but it can also be cooked. According to Rebecca Wood, cooking eliminates its bite and leaves a vegetable that is pretty sweet. Remember that when you cook it, its volume is reduced by three-fourths. The raw version probably contains more enzymes and live energy.

Vegetable Runners-Up

Parsnips

The unassuming-looking but amazingly flavored parsnip has been revered since ancient times, when the first-century Roman emperor Tiberius had them specially imported and served them gently cooked in honeyed wine. A parsnip looks like a lot like a carrot that doesn’t get out much—pale and almost white. But there’s a world of difference in the taste.

USE PARSNIPS IN PLACE OF MASHED POTATOES

Parsnips are really sweet. Personally, I think they’re a great replacement for white potatoes—they’re nutty and flavorful, and unlike white potatoes, have a lot of nutrition. Plus they lend themselves to mashing really well, making them the ideal substitute for mashed potatoes. Put on a little organic creamy butter, some lemon pepper, and maybe some sea salt, and you’re good to go!

Parsnips are a member of the umbelliferous vegetable group, which the National Cancer Institute has identified as possessing cancer-protective properties. Parsnips contain phthalides, a group of phytochemicals that provide health benefits by stimulating beneficial enzymes and inhibiting inflammatory ones. Phthalides are most associated with celery, but parsnips have them too; in addition, parsnips have polyacetylenes, plant compounds that help protect against carcinogens.

Parsnips are high in folate, calcium, potassium, and especially fiber. One little cup of cooked parsnips has 5½ g of fiber, 58 mg of calcium, 45 mg of magnesium, 90 mcg of folate, and a whopping 573 mg of potassium. And it weighs in at just over 100 calories. Here’s a secret from my personal kitchen—I juice them. Their nutty flavor adds a lot of richness to a standard apple-carrot-spinach-ginger mix. And as most cooks know, parsnips are absolutely amazing in soups. They have a strong dominating flavor, though, so use with discretion.

Rutabagas

A rutabaga is a strange-looking root vegetable that looks like a cross between a turnip and a wild cabbage. They’re an important part of Scandinavian cuisine and are sometimes referred to as “Swedes.” They can be steamed, boiled, or mashed; baked, roasted, or sautéed; and they’re really good in soups. They also make a great puree.

Rutabagas are an amazing source of potassium: One cup of the cooked vegetable has 782 mg, along with 115 mg of calcium, 55 mg of magnesium, 45 mg of vitamin C, and a little more than 4 g of fiber. Not too shabby for a mere 94 calories a cup. In Asian medicine, root vegetables are considered “warming” foods that strengthen the digestion and help detoxify the liver.

Here’s a bachelor-friendly dish that’ll make you fall in love with them: Cut them into cubes, boil them till tender, and toss them with chopped walnuts, raisins, and a little cold-pressed organic honey. You’ll never miss chocolate cake again. Well, okay, I lied, but that dish will knock your socks off.

Snow Peas

The French name for this tender legume is mangetout, meaning “eat it all.” Unlike the pod in sugar snap peas, the pod in snow peas tastes as good as the seeds it contains. Almost anyone who has eaten Chinese food has eaten snow peas—they’re flat green pods containing five to seven seeds, and although most Americans know them from Chinese takeout, they’ve been around for centuries—the tender-crisp, jade snow pea was first mentioned in 1597, though pea seeds were found in archaeological digs in Turkey as far back as 5700 B.C.E.

One cup of cooked (frozen) snow peas has 5 g of fiber, almost half of the amount most Americans are getting on a daily basis (remember, that’s too little—I recommend 25 to 35 g a day!). They contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that have been shown to be extremely protective of the eyes. They also have 94 mg of calcium and 347 mg of heart-healthy potassium, plus a little vitamin C (35 mg), folate (56 mcg), and a very respectable 2,098 IUs of vitamin A, including 1,216 of beta-carotene. Snow peas are also a good source of bone-building vitamin K: One cup of the cooked peas contains 48 mg. All this for about 80 calories. That’s a nutritional bargain if I’ve ever seen one.

Snow peas can be found in the produce section of most health food stores and specialty markets. They’re even beginning to make their way into your general-purpose supermarket, especially in the frozen vegetable section. Look for brightly colored, crisp pods that have fresh-looking leaflets and small seeds. Use as soon as possible or store in the fridge for up to three days.

NOTE: When you stir-fry them, be sure not to overcook. They taste best—and are most nutritious—when they are bright green. And by the way, they’re very tasty raw, in salads.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S.

Ann Louise Gittleman is the New York Times award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, including The Fat Flush Plan and Before the Change. She was one of the first authors I read when I got interested in nutrition fifteen years ago, and she and I now have a mutual admiration society. She has a unique gift for clear explanation and for motivating people, and her fans are legion. She’s appeared on dozens of national television shows, including Dr. Phil and The View. Gittleman is also the developer of Ann Louise Signature Foods.

1. Ground flaxseed: Flaxseeds provide 800 times more cancer-fighting lignans than any other food, which protect against breast and prostate cancer. Delicious in salads, smoothies, and as a topping on veggies.

2. Unsweetened cranberry juice: Rich source of phytonutrients such as phenol-based antioxidants that are so helpful in supporting cardiovascular health and preventing urinary tract infections. Mix in a 1:2 ratio with water!

3. Lemons: High in limonene, they’re an old-time remedy for thinning the bile and enhancing digestion.

4. Whey: Undenatured, unheated whey protein provides the aminos from which the body makes glutathione, the body’s premier antioxidant.

5. Grass-fed beef: High in the healthy, fat-burning fat CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) plus omega-3s; grass-fed beef is also antibiotic and hormone free and a great source of zinc and vitamin B12.

6. Spaghetti squash: My personal favorite substitute for pasta, especially for the gluten or carb intolerant. Delicious as spaghetti squash and meatballs!

7. Jicama: Crunchy, juicy, and low calorie, jicama is delightful in salads and as a veggie for dips. Naturally sweet to satisfy the most sophisticated sweet tooth!

8. Peanut butter: Preferably organic, peanut butter is a quick snack that satiates the appetite. High in stress-busting pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).

9. Blueberries: One of the least pesticide-ridden fruits, blueberries are exceptionally high in proanthocyanidins, so helpful in preventing degenerative disease.

10. Organic cream: Organic cream from grass-fed cows is not only a treat but a terrific source of fat-burning CLA! It nourishes the nerves and is a wonderful accompaniment for all sorts of berries.

CHAPTER 2

Grains

You may be puzzled by the almost complete absence of grains on my list of 150 healthiest foods on the planet. In fact, it may seem like nutritional heresy. After all, aren’t whole grains supposed to be nutritious and healthy? We all know that refined grains aren’t any good for you, but aren’t whole grains among the world’s most perfect foods? Doesn’t research show that people eating them get tremendous health benefits?

Let’s see ...

Grains Allow Modern Civilization to Flourish

Loren Cordain, Ph.D., is one of the world’s most renowned scientists doing groundbreaking research into the original human diet. He’s a professor in the health and exercise science department at Colorado State University and a member of the American Society for Clinical Nutrition. In 1999, he wrote a groundbreaking 100-plus-page paper that was published in the World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics. It was called “Cereal Grains: Humanity’s Double Edged Sword.” In essence, here’s what he said: The human genetic constitution has not changed much in the past 40,000 years.

For the vast majority of mankind’s presence on the planet, he rarely if ever consumed cereal grains.

The natural diet of humans is food that could be hunted, fished for, gathered, or plucked.

The natural diet served us well as long as populations were limited and wildlife was plentiful.

As the population of the world increased and the supply of wild game became more limited, it became necessary to provide an alternative or supplementary means of nourishment—and about 10,000 years ago, agriculture was born.

Agriculture has made it possible for humans to live in cities, and literally, for civilization to flourish.

Eight cereal grains (wheat, corn, rice, barley, sorghum, oats, rye, and millet) now provide 56 percent of the calories and 50 percent of the protein consumed on earth. Without these crops, the planet could not support six billion people.

So here’s the double-edged sword: On the one hand, without cereal grains we would not have cities, civilization, industry, or the planet as we know it. Take away rice, wheat, and corn, and half the people on earth will not eat. (As one researcher pointed out, “Cereal grains literally stand between mankind and starvation.”) The dwindling supplies of our natural diet of wild animals and wild plants, together with the huge expansion of the planet’s population, made agriculture a necessity for survival.

Why Cereal Grains Are a Nutritional Compromise

But on the other hand, cereal grains are a nutritional compromise. They are not nearly as healthy, nor as nutritionally complete, nor as perfectly suited to our ancient digestive wiring, as the foods they have replaced. And the health implications of eating a diet so high in cereal grains—and so different from the diet we were designed to eat—are just now beginning to be fully understood.

So cereal grains are actually a recent addition to the diet of humanity. (Ten thousand years is less than a nanosecond in the twenty-four-hour time clock that represents the 2.4 million years the human genus has been on the planet.) As Cordain points out, we have actually had little time since the inception of the agricultural revolution 10,000 years ago to adapt to a food type that now represents humanity’s major source of calories and protein.

Are Whole Grains Any Better?

Truth be told, grains have a host of nutritional shortcomings. It’s finally becoming accepted wisdom that the refined grains—which constitute most of our cereals, pastas, and breads—are absolutely useless nutritionally, but I’m not 100 percent sure so-called “whole” grains are light years better. One reason is that no grain can be eaten in a completely unrefined state. No one plucks wheat from the ground and starts eating. All grains by definition have to be milled and ground to some degree, one reason being that in their natural state they contain many “antinutrients,” substances (like phytates) that interfere with the absorption and assimilation of nutrients in the grain, especially minerals. It’s not a matter of whether to refine them, it’s a matter of how much.

Ostensibly, “whole grains” have been less processed and less milled than the really refined junk and therefore contain more of the bran—the outer coating—of the grains, providing fiber for the diet. (Oats are different from barley, wheat, and other grains in that they retain the bran and germ layers where most of the nutrients are found.) But read the label of most “whole grain” cold cereals—they are fiber lightweights. It’s rare to find a cereal with 5 g of fiber per serving—most have 1 or 2, making it a pretty bad nutritional bargain. Compare that to an avocado (11 to 17 g) or a serving of beans (11 to 17 g) or a guava (8 g).

Then there’s the gluten issue. Gluten is a primary component of grains such as barley, rye, oats, and especially wheat. A full-blown allergy to gluten is called celiac disease, and at one time it was thought to affect 1 in 200 people. Now the figure is believed to be closer to 1 in 33, and some experts say it’s even more common than that. As James Braly, M.D., says in his book Dangerous Grains, celiac disease is just one subset of gluten sensitivity. Many, many more people than have celiac disease have undiagnosed or delayed food sensitivities, and wheat and gluten are prime triggers. (Wheat is one of the seven top allergens in the diet.) I can tell you that among nutritionists, naturopaths, and doctors practicing integrative and functional medicine, one of the first dietary orders of business with patients who have multiple complaints is to take them off wheat, dairy, and sugar. Although I can’t prove it scientifically beyond a shadow of a doubt, in the experience of thousands of people the removal of wheat (and dairy and sugar) produces remarkable relief from a very wide variety of symptoms, not the least of which is unwanted weight and bloat.

What’s Wrong with the Old Food Pyramid

This brings us to the whole connection to obesity, diabetes, and blood sugar. It’s worth noting that the old (thankfully discredited) food pyramid, which had six to eleven servings of grains at the bottom of the structure, was suspiciously similar to the pyramid used by farmers to fatten up cattle. If you want to fatten up farm animals, you feed them grain, not grass. Think it’s all that different with people? Think again. While the urban legend is that “whole grains” raise blood sugar much more slowly than their refined cousins, an examination of the glycemic index and glycemic load tables shows this is not always the case. Brown rice and white rice have virtually the same glycemic impact. So do “whole wheat” and white bread. Grains, by and large, are starch juggernauts and almost all of them raise blood sugar (and insulin) quickly.

My friend, the traditional naturopath Dr. Regina Wilshire, N.D., whose knowledge of food is encyclopedic and who contributed that knowledge generously to this book, puts it this way: “I’ve yet to see a grain food that compares with a nonstarchy vegetable for micronutrients, calories, or fiber content. While grains do add the perception of variety and bulk in the diet, they’re not a superior source for essential nutrients when compared with other options. And it’s difficult to eat grain foods on their own—they’re often the delivery vehicle for additional calories because on their own they’re bland, so many wind up eating more calories as they enhance the taste of bread, cereal, or pasta.” Amen.

Choose Your Grains Wisely

So do I want to wipe grains off the face of the earth? Of course not. Nor do I think we should never eat them. But between their very modest nutritional content, their propensity to trigger gluten and grain intolerances, their connection (for many) to carbohydrate addiction, and—despite good PR campaigns—their limited delivery of fiber, it’s hard to see how grains are among the best foods on the planet. Sure, there are plenty of studies of healthy diets that show that people eating “fruits, vegetables, fish, omega-3 fats, and whole grains” do way better healthwise than those eating the Standard American Diet. But it’s a real stretch to attribute those health benefits to the grains. In my opinion, if people were eating plenty of fish, vegetables, fruits, omega-3 fats, and M&Ms they’d still be much healthier than most of America.

Let’s put it this way: If you ate a great balance of foods from the 150 that make up the list of the healthiest foods on the planet, and you never touched a grain for the rest of your life, you wouldn’t be missing anything nutritionally. The same cannot be said of the fruits, vegetables, eggs, oils, spices, meat, fish, and poultry.

And in any case, there’s always oatmeal. That’s a minimally processed grain that’s truly worth eating.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal has a place on virtually everyone’s “best foods” list. It’s the Muhammad Ali of foods—everybody loves it, no matter where you stand in your dietary philosophy. Even those who are stringent about keeping carbs low soften a bit when it comes to oatmeal. The “guru” of diabetic diets, Dr. Richard Bernstein, who, one might say jokingly, “never met a carb he didn’t dislike,” allows oatmeal once a day for his diabetic patients. And of course, it’s been a staple of the high-carb folks for decades. I can still remember seeing the bodybuilders at Gold’s Gym with their Tupperwares full of the stuff, usually mixed with scrambled eggs.

So what is it about oatmeal that makes it go to the head of the list for everyone’s favorite health foods? Let’s start with fiber. Oats are simply a great source of fiber and contain a nice mix of both essential kinds (55 percent soluble and 45 percent insoluble). But the soluble fiber in oats, known as beta-glucan, is really responsible for giving oatmeal its high nutritional accolades.

Oatmeal Turbocharges Your Immune System

Beta-glucan is actually a type of polysaccharide (a long string of glucose molecules). Beta-glucan helps lower cholesterol levels and significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The USDA ruled that companies making oats for cereal can make the claim that their product helps reduce the risk of heart disease, though certain stipulations exist, one of which is that a serving must have at least a ½ gram of beta-glucan.

Beta-glucans enhance the body’s immune system by turbocharging its response to bacterial infection. They do this by activating certain white blood cells called macrophages, which act like hungry little “Pac-Men,” gobbling up foreign invaders like fungi and bacteria. Research is currently going on to determine whether beta-glucans might actually boost the ability of the body to kill cancer cells, in addition to their ability to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides, some of this research is quite promising.

Oatmeal also has a very low glycemic load, meaning it has a very, very modest effect on blood sugar. Type 2 diabetics also seem to benefit from the beta-glucan, as it appears to be helpful in stabilizing blood sugar, which is probably why Bernstein allows it.

Oats contain avenanthramide, a polyphenol antioxidant unique to oats and believed to have anti-inflammatory and heart-healthy properties. Many people believe that it’s the avenanthramides in oats that are responsible for the healing properties of a traditional oatmeal bath.

Oatmeal Has More Protein Than Any Popular Cereal

In addition to its 5 g of fiber content, oatmeal has the highest protein content of any popular cereal: 8½ g of protein in ⅔ a cup of oats. It also contains phosphorus, potassium, selenium, manganese, and a couple of milligrams of iron.

The downside of oats: There are two groups of people who should be very cautious in their consumption of oats. First, those who are gluten sensitive. Celiac disease is the most dramatic example of gluten intolerance, but many people are gluten sensitive without having full-blown celiac disease. Unfortunately, barley, oats, rye, and wheat are all gluten-containing grains (though wheat is by far the worst offender). The second group needing to be careful are those suffering from uric acid–related problems (i.e., gout and kidney stones); oats contain purines, which are substances that break down to uric acid in the body.

Choosing the Best Oats

Besides the packs and the instant oatmeal, both of which are, in my opinion, worthless, there are several great ways to get oatmeal. Groats are dehulled oats, probably the least processed, but you don’t see them around much. Steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oats, require less cooking time than the whole oats, but have all the great oatmeal health benefits. So do rolled oats, but make sure they’re old-fashioned and thick, which means they’re less processed.

One more thing: It seems to be a well-kept secret that oats do not need to be cooked. So let me let the cat out of the bag: Ever see the Swedish cereal muesli in the supermarkets? It’s raw oats! They’re amazing—I have them all the time, lightly moistened in either raw milk or juice, or even hot water. I let them sit a few minutes, then throw on the berries and nuts and go to town. And don’t let the package instructions put you off—while that 20 minute cooking time does give you a rich, hearty flavor, it’s completely unnecessary to get the health benefits or the rich taste. I make them on the stove in less than 5 minutes. They taste just fine.

WORTH KNOWING

The type of oatmeal you buy makes all the difference in the world. Forget about the instant packs; they are not even in the ball game. They’re usually sweetened, making their potential benefits for diabetics disappear. The less processing, the higher the fiber, the lower the glycemic load (sugar impact), and the better the oatmeal is for you.

Quinoa

Quinoa is another of those foods that keeps getting miscategorized—everyone thinks it’s a grain, everyone uses it like a grain, but it’s actually a seed. Anyway, who really cares? You know how the old saying goes . . . if it looks like a grain and it acts like a grain . . . Same principle.

The Stuff “War Balls” Are Made Of

Quinoa was known by the Incas as the “mother of grains.” They used the seeds of this plant as one of their chief sources of nutrition. In fact, legend has it that the Incan armies frequently marched for days at a time eating a mixture of quinoa and fat known as “war balls,” and at planting time tradition demanded that the Incan leader would plant the first quinoa seed using a gold shovel.

Quinoa is a highly nutritious food and is considered a high-protein “grain.” The protein quality and quantity in quinoa seed is often superior to those of more common cereal grains, and the nutritional quality of this crop has been compared to that of dried whole milk by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Quinoa is higher in lysine than wheat (lysine is an amino acid that’s scarce in the vegetable kingdom), and the amino acid content of quinoa seed in general is considered well balanced for human and animal nutrition, and similar to that of casein.

Preparing and Eating Quinoa

You can use quinoa to make flour, soup, or breakfast cereal. Most quinoa sold in the United States has been sold as whole grain that is cooked separately as rice or in combination dishes such as pilaf. Noted natural-foods expert and author Rebecca Wood suggests cooking about 2 cups of stock or water per cup of quinoa, which should yield about 3 cups of cooked grain and take only about 15 minutes to prepare. She reminds us that it is as versatile as rice (and, in my opinion, a good deal better for us) and can be substituted for rice in any recipe, or used as a side dish.

Quinoa has a lower sodium content and is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. It’s particularly high in iron—½ cup contains almost 8 mg, way more than any other cereal grain, a hefty 5 g of fiber.

Grain Runner-Up

Rice (brown)

Depending on which of the different varieties we’re talking about—and how it’s prepared—rice can be a great food or it can be a useless waste of time. There are thousands of strains of rice today, including those grown in the wild and those that are cultivated as a crop; more than 550 million tons of the stuff are produced annually around the world, 92 percent of it in Asia. So two folks may both be talking about “eating rice,” but, from a nutritional point of view, they may in fact be eating entirely different foods.

While white rice accounts for most of the rice eaten worldwide, brown rice is by far the more nutritious of the two, mainly because brown rice is the entire grain of rice, while white rice has had the bran layer removed. Stripping the grain of its bran layer strips it of a majority of its fiber content along with many of its vitamins and minerals. Since brown rice only has the outer hull removed, it retains such nutrients as niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, and even some vitamin E.

A cup of cooked brown rice contains about 4 g of fiber (four times the amount in white rice), most of it insoluble fiber that helps protect against various types of cancers, including colon, breast, and prostate. Due to brown rice’s fiber and phytonutrient content, this grain also helps in lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Another of brown rice’s components that aids in its cholesterol-lowering effect is called oryzanol and is found in its oil. For that reason, a lot of people are hyping rice bran oil as a health food. However, I absolutely do not recommend it. Rice bran oil is highly refined and has a terrible ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s (27:1). Get the oryzanol and the other healthy ingredients from the rice itself.

WORTH KNOWING

Rice is pretty much a no-no on low-carb diets because of its high glycemic impact—in general, rice raises blood sugar quickly, causing all sorts of problems for those concerned with diabetes and/or weight loss. The fiber in brown rice helps lower the glycemic index of some varieties, but still does not make it a low-glycemic food.

So what’s the best advice? If you eat rice, stick with whole grain. Forget about white, and definitely avoid “instant” rice. Consider using rice the way the Europeans and Asians do, as a small side dish, about the size of an ice cream scoop.

Rice can be a good food, but not if it’s been processed to death like most of the rice we see in industrial nations. In my opinion, the best use of conventional, processed, instant white rice is as a packing material.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Mark Houston, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.P.

Mark Houston is my go-to guy for anything at all to do with hypertension and/or metabolic syndrome. He’s a clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School and medical director at Hypertension and Vascular Biology Institute and the Life Extension Institute at Saint Thomas Hospital and Medical Center in Nashville. He’s also the editor in chief of JANA (Journal of the American Nutraceutical Society). His book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Hypertension: The Revolutionary Nutrition and Lifestyle Program to Help Fight High Blood Pressure should be required reading—I recommend it to everyone. I love his practice philosophy, “A wise healer uses that which works,” and I love him!

1. Spinach: Contains thirteen flavonoids with anticancer properties especially effective against prostate, skin, colon, and bone cancer. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, is good brain food, reduces neurological damage after strokes, improves vision, and is a good source of iron. Plus it contains four natural ACE inhibitors to reduce blood pressure, and vitamin K for osteoporosis prevention.

2. Kale: Contains organosulfur compounds for cancer prevention. Improves detoxification, reduces cataracts due to the lutein and zeaxanthin, plus it’s a great antioxidant with fiber, calcium, and cardiovascular protection.

3. Broccoli: Contains numerous agents such as sulforaphane and the indoles (indole-3-carbinole and DIM) that are protective against prostate, gastric, skin, and breast cancer. The flavonoids reduce cardiovascular disease and blood pressure. Broccoli contains compounds that are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and support the immune system and the eyes.

4, 5. Blueberries and blackberries: Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity, making them highly protective for the cardiovascular system. They contain pterostilbene, which lowers cholesterol, and anthocyanins, which improve vision and brain function and guard against macular degeneration. The ellagic acid in them has anticancer activity. Blackberries are similar.

6. Strawberries: Contains phenols such as anthocyanins and ellagitannins, which are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents; they’re natural COX-2 inhibitors. Strawberries help improve brain function, reduce macular degeneration, and improve rheumatoid arthritis. The ellagitannin helps prevent colon cancer.

7. Raspberries: Contain ellagic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, and other flavonoids that are great antioxidants with anticancer properties; plus, they support eye and cardiovascular health.

8. Cold-water fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel, cod, herring): Their omega-3 fats offer cardiovascular protection and reduce heart attacks, sudden death, and cardiac arrhythmias. The omega-3s are anti-inflammatory and improve brain function, memory, skin health, and kidney function. Plus they lower blood pressure and reduce triglycerides, cancer risk, and stroke risk.

9. Whey protein: Boosts the body’s stores of glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants. Whey protein contains natural ACE inhibitors, which lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. It also improves immune function.

10. Wild game (venison, caribou): Wild game is high-quality protein with a complete complement of amino acids, low saturated fat, no trans fat, and a higher content of polyunsaturated and especially omega-3 fats. Wild game also contains natural ACE inhibitors, which reduce blood pressure, and compounds that improve skin, bone, and vascular health.

CHAPTER 3

Beans and Legumes

A personal story: I gave a lot of thought to whether beans should be included in a book on the world’s healthiest foods. It was not a slam dunk. Why, you ask? Because there are pros and cons to beans (more on that in a moment). Ultimately, I felt the pros strongly outweighed the cons, but to be fair I want to tell you both sides of the story.

You can read the positives in the coming entries: Beans are loaded with fiber, a food component that has been associated with lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. They contain protein. They digest very slowly, providing sustained energy and making them an ideal food for those who need to avoid the “blood-sugar roller coaster.” They lower cholesterol. And they’re loaded with protective phytochemicals, antioxidants, and vitamins.

Lectins Spell Trouble for Some

So with all these benefits, why is there any question about including beans in a book on the world’s healthiest foods? Because of lectins. Lectins are substances contained in legumes and grains that originally evolved to fight off insect predators. But a portion of the lectin can actually bind with tissues in our body and create problems. A highly respected researcher at the University of Colorado, Loren Cordain, Ph.D., published a paper in the British Journal of Nutrition detailing a theory that dairy foods, legumes, grains, and yeast may be partly to blame for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible people, due in part to the lectin molecule. According to Cordain, the lectins in food are known to increase intestinal permeability—they allow partially digested food proteins and remnants of gut bacteria to spill into the bloodstream. Cordain calls lectins “cellular Trojan horses.” They make the intestines easier to penetrate, impairing the immune system’s ability to fight off food and bacterial fragments that leak into the bloodstream. In his highly regarded book, The Paleo Diet, which is based on a lifetime of highly respected nutritional research into hunter-gatherer diets, Cordain lists all beans in his “foods to avoid” list. Just thought you should know.

Is this something the average person should be concerned about? Maybe, maybe not. Obviously, beans have huge health benefits if you’re not one of the people who responds badly to them. If you’re one of the (admittedly small) group of people who has unexplained symptoms possibly related to food, it might be worthwhile to avoid beans till you figure out what’s going on.

Beans

Beans are one of the best sources of fiber on the planet. And most of us do not get nearly enough fiber. I’ve been singing the praises of fiber for as long as I’ve been writing and talking about nutrition. Fiber protects us in ways that probably haven’t been fully and completely understood, but we do know that higher-fiber diets are associated with lower risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Now consider this: Our Paleolithic ancestors got anywhere from 50 to 100 g of fiber a day in their diet. The National Cancer Institute—not exactly a hotbed of nutritional radicalism—recommends at least 25 g a day, as do the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The position paper on dietary fiber and colon cancer of the American Gastroenterological Association states that “reasonable recommendations based on currently available data” argue for a recommended daily fiber intake of at least 30 to 35 g a day. Want to know the average daily intake in America? Eleven grams.

Beans Provide the Fiber Missing from Our Diet

So premise number one is that fiber is good. Premise number two is that we don’t get nearly enough of it. And beans are loaded with it. If for no other reason than that, they deserve a place on your plate. Overall, a cup of generic cooked beans will give you anywhere from 11 g (kidney beans) to an amazing 17 g (adzuki) per serving. That’s phenomenal. There’s no other food I know of that is as good a source of this important food component.

There’s more good stuff, though most of it is related to the fiber content. Beans lower cholesterol. According to Patti Bazel Weil, R.D., nutrition educator at the University of Kentucky, a cup of cooked beans a day can lower your total cholesterol by up to 10 percent in a mere six weeks. In fact, a study conducted at that university showed that in only three weeks of eating ½ cup of navy and pinto beans per day, the cholesterol of the male subjects was lowered by a whopping 19 percent.

Beans Are the Ultimate Blood Sugar Regulator

Beans—or at least the fiber in them—have major consequences for those with diabetes and blood sugar challenges. The soluble fiber in beans influences the rate by which glucose is absorbed. And a very significant amount of research dating back to the 1970s has shown that large amounts of fiber in the diet improves hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Low-glycemic diets are on the cutting edge of nutrition and are recommended for diabetics, those with weight challenges, and those with metabolic syndrome; frankly, they should probably be recommended for everyone. Beans are the ultimate low-glycemic food. Their high fiber content means they raise blood sugar very, very slowly, and eating high-fiber foods like beans has been shown in a number of studies to improve what’s called “glycemic control”—the regulation of blood sugar and insulin.

Then there’s cancer. Based on analysis of food questionnaires in the Nurses’ Health Study II, researchers found a significant reduced frequency of breast cancer in those women who consumed a higher intake of common beans or lentils. What’s more, it didn’t take all that much to produce the result: Eating beans or lentils two (or more) times a week resulted in a 24 percent reduced risk! It’s reasonable to assume that some of the anticancer effect comes from other compounds in beans besides the fiber. One phytochemical that is found in beans—diosgenin—appears to inhibit cancer cells from multiplying. And phytochemicals in beans such as saponins, protease inhibitors, and phytic acid appear to protect cells from the type of genetic damage that can lead to cancer. In laboratory studies, saponins have shown the ability to inhibit the reproduction of cancer cells and slow the growth of tumors; protease inhibitors have shown the ability to slow the division of cancer cells; and phytic acid has shown the ability to significantly slow the progression of tumors. According to one study listed on the Web site of the American Institute for Cancer Research, men who consumed the most beans had a 38 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than men who consumed the least.

Why Red Beans Take the Cake

Finally, if that weren’t enough, there’s the vitamin content of beans. They’re loaded with antioxidants. The USDA’s ranking of foods by antioxidant capacity lists small dried red beans as having the highest antioxidant capacity per serving size of any food tested; in fact, of the four top-scoring foods, three were beans (red beans, red kidney beans, and pinto beans). Many bean varieties have a lot of folic acid (especially adzukis, black-eyed peas, lentils, and pinto beans), which have serious benefits for the heart; there’s also magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium and—especially in red kidney beans—an important enzyme-enhancing mineral called molybdenum.

Beans are also a good source of protein, typically containing 15 g per cup. And unlike most commercial animal protein sources, they don’t come with any steroids, hormones, or antibiotics.

Garbanzo Beans (chickpeas)

Chickpeas are beans with a complexion problem! While other lentils and beans have a smooth-looking “face,” chickpeas have bumps that, if you look really closely, resemble a chick’s beak (hence the name?). But looks aren’t everything. The chickpea was one of the first cultivated crops and is one of the most popular legumes in the world.

Chickpeas belong to the class of food called legumes or pulses, which also includes beans, lentils, and peas. Eating more legumes can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In a large study of almost 10,000 men and women in the United States, those who ate pulses four or more times a week had a 22 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease and an 11 percent lower risk of cardiovascular events than those who ate pulses less than once a week. This health benefit was independent of other health habits.

And speaking of fiber, garbanzo beans weigh in at a remarkable 12.5 g per cup. That makes it a fiber heavyweight in my book, right up there with lentils (16 g). Virtually every study that has looked at high-fiber diets has found some measure of health benefits, sometimes striking ones. The results of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study showed that Europeans who ate the most fiber had an almost 40 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who ate the least. While these results have not been consistently duplicated, most nutritionists and health professionals feel there is a significant benefit to be gotten from high-fiber foods. Garbanzo beans are a great way to add fiber to your diet.

Garbanzos Curb Overeating

Fiber—particularly soluble fiber—can also lower blood cholesterol levels and slow the absorption of sugar, which is hugely important both for people with diabetes and for people with any blood sugar challenges (metabolic syndrome). A high-fiber diet will probably reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Legumes in general cause less of a rise in blood glucose than foods like potatoes or almost any wheat-based food. And eating a high-fiber diet may also help with weight loss. High-fiber foods generally require more chewing time, giving your body extra time to register the fact that you’re no longer hungry, so you’re less likely to overeat. A high-fiber diet also tends to fill you up longer. And high-fiber diets tend to have more volume for fewer calories, which has been shown in research by Dr. Barbara Rolls at Pennsylvania State University to be a boon to weight management. In my last book I suggested that the number-one supplement for weight loss was fiber!

Chickpeas also have calcium and magnesium in a great 1:1 ratio, a decent amount of folate, and a ton of heart-healthy potassium (477 mg per cup!). They even contain the powerful antioxidant mineral selenium. All this, plus the vegetable equivalent of 2 ounces of protein!

Noted natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood warns that if your only contact with chickpeas has been at a salad bar, you’re missing out on some serious flavor. She suggests simmering them till tender with garlic and toasted cumin seeds and then getting ready to enjoy one of the creamiest, tastiest beans on the planet. You can also cook, season, and roast them for a snack that replaces nuts and chips.

Green Peas

When I was a kid, these were my favorite vegetable. I used to melt butter over them, then salt them, and mix them with my mashed potatoes. I loved it. Go figure.

Peas are actually legumes that originated in western Asia. In Switzerland, traces of peas have been found near homesites, where they were probably being eaten during the Bronze Age, more than 5,000 years ago. Traveling from Greece to India, the pea arrived in China during the seventh century, where it was named ho tou, or “foreign legume.” Peas were popular during the Middle Ages in Europe, being easy to grow, inexpensive, hearty, and a source of protein.

There are probably more than 1,000 varieties of garden peas, the most common of which are the smooth peas you usually find frozen in the supermarket. Some varieties, like the snow pea (see page 71) have edible pods. Peas are available fresh in the pod, dried (either whole or split), and frozen. (They’re also available canned, but never in a million years would I recommend that you eat them. One reason they’re such a dull green is that the health-promoting chlorophyll is destroyed by the heat of the canning process, along with most of the other nutrients.)

Peas Are Packed with Vitamins A and K

Peas are a little high in sugar as legumes (or vegetables) go, but that’s balanced by the fact that 100 g—a little more than ½ cup—of cooked peas has 5.5 g of fiber. Peas also have 42 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin A, and 5 g of vegetable protein. They’re also low calorie (78 calories for 100 g). And 100 g of peas contains 30 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin K, an important vitamin that helps anchor calcium to the places in the bone where you need it to be, thus making this vitamin an essential part of a nutrition program for bone health.

Dried peas don’t hold their shape as well as the fresh (or frozen) peas, and their taste is a little more earthy than the sweeter fresh ones. They’re best used in purees, soups, and dishes that need some thickening. Dried peas, being more concentrated and dense than the fresh variety (which are more than 70 percent water) are higher in fiber—½ cup of dried split peas has more than 8 g.

Lentils

Lentils are small, disk-shaped brown, reddish-orange, or brownish-green legumes that grow on an annual bushlike plant and are native to central Asia. They’re used throughout the Mediterranean region and the Middle East and are especially popular in India, where they’re cooked to a puree and called dahl, an amazing-tasting lentil curry. The crisp Indian crackers called pappadams are made with lentil flour. In the United States, lentils are often enjoyed in soup.

Lentils are dried as soon as they ripen and then sold that way. There are at least fifty varieties of lentils in addition to the brown variety most common in the West, with colors that range from yellow to red-orange to green. Lentils are distinguished from beans in that they don’t contain sulfur and therefore don’t produce gas. So anyone wanting the benefits of high fiber without the social unpleasantness associated with beans would do well to check out this cool little legume.

The history of lentils goes way back. The earliest archeological dating of lentils is from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic layers of Franchthi Cave in Greece (13,000 to 9,500 years ago), and from the end-Mesolithic at Mureybit and Tell Abu Hureya in Syria, and about 8000 B.C.E. in the Jericho area of Palestine. The ancient Greeks used lentils in a variety of ways, including bread making. Catholics who could not afford to buy fish during Lent ate lentils. The double convex optical lens gets its name “lenticular” from the shape of the lentil.

Lentils Help Treat High Cholesterol and High Blood Sugar

But the real claim to fame for lentils is the fact that they’re so loaded with fiber, especially soluble fiber. Soluble fiber breaks down as it passes though the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps some substances related to high cholesterol. Soluble fiber also helps control blood sugar by delaying the emptying of the stomach and retarding the entry of sugar into the bloodstream. This is why high-fiber foods like lentils have such a low glycemic load. Because fiber slows the digestion of foods, it can help blunt the sudden spikes in blood sugar and insulin that can cause you to be hungry again an hour after eating a low-fiber meal. Those constant spikes in blood sugar and insulin can also contribute to diabetes and can make weight very hard to take off. High-fiber diets have been consistently associated with better “glucose control” for both diabetics and nondiabetics, and with better management of weight. High-fiber diets also are associated with lower risks for cancer and heart disease.

A cup of lentils contains a nice amount of protein—about 18 g. But best of all, that same cup contains a whopping 16 g of fiber. Lentils are also a terrific source of folate and a good source of at least seven minerals. One cup provides 37 percent of the Daily Value for iron and 49 percent of the Daily Value for manganese, an important trace mineral that’s essential for growth, reproduction, wound healing, peak brain function, and the proper metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol.

WORTH KNOWING

Unlike beans, lentils need no presoaking and are ready in 20 to 30 minutes. Brown and green lentils hold their shape well after cooking and are excellent for salads or other dishes where you want texture. Red lentils cook quicker and work best in purees and other dishes where softness is an advantage.

Unfortunately, the lentils used to make those delicious Indian dahls I mentioned earlier have had their outer skins removed, which lowers their nutritional value, especially the fiber content. They’re still delicious, though, and they do still have some fiber left.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Elson Haas, M.D.

Elson Haas has devoted thirty years to healing through detoxification and cleansing. He is the bestselling author of seven books, including the seminal Staying Healthy with Nutrition: Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine and The New Detox Diet. He also wrote a wonderful book called The False Fat Diet, from which I have quoted more times than I can remember. Haas is the founder and director of Preventive Medical Center of Marin, an integrative health care facility in San Rafael, California. See www.elsonhaas.com for more infromation.

1. Blueberries: Great antioxidant with a low glycemic index.

2. Kale/chard: Nutritious and cleansing; loaded with B vitamins and minerals.

3. Apples: “An (organic) apple a day keeps the doctor (bill) away.”

4. Almonds: Good oils and lots of nutrients.

5. Red lentil sprouts: Good-quality protein, nutritious and tasty, and crunchy to boot.

6. Salmon: Yum! And full of great oils (omega-3s) and quality protein and nutrients.

7. Avocado: One of my favorites, for the good oils; only Haas avocados for sure!

8. Brown rice: We need the fiber, the trace minerals, and the fuel.

9. Mango: For both the carotenoids and the wonderful taste.

10. Sea vegetables: The full complement of ocean minerals and the good detoxifiers, a value in everyone’s diet!

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Barry Sears, Ph.D.

Barry Sears is the creator of the Zone Diet and is considered one of the leading authorities in the world on the hormonal response to food. He has written eleven books on his Zone technology, including the New York Times number-one bestseller The Zone, and his most recent book, The Anti-Inflammation Zone. A superb scientist and biochemist by training, Sears is resident of the nonprofit Inflammation Research Foundation that is conducting worldwide research on the role of diet in controlling chronic disease. His Web site, www.drsears.com, is consistently interesting and informative.

Sears was the impetus for my move from personal fitness training into nutrition. His theories and research about the hormonal impact of food—revolutionary back in 1995 and now accepted as “conventional wisdom”—moved me away from the high-carb, low-fat dogma of the 1980s and inspired me to go back to school for nutrition. He and I don’t agree on everything—egg yolks and soy being two examples of where we differ—but I consider him one of the brightest and most dedicated people in the field.

1. Wild salmon: A great source of omega-3 fatty acids coupled with great taste.

2. Chicken breast: A standard low-fat protein that goes with everything.

3. Egg whites: A convenient source of low-fat protein that can be added to any meal to balance carbohydrates. A great snack is a couple of hardboiled eggs in which the egg yolk has been removed and replaced with hummus.

4. Broccoli/cauliflower: Both are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, with the least amount of carbohydrates. Cooking cauliflower, then mashing it up and baking, makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes.

5. Spinach: A powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. Sautéed with olive oil, it makes a great carbohydrate source.

6. Red peppers: There is no better way to add color to a plate than red peppers. They’re loaded with antioxidants and protective phytochemicals, not to mention fiber.

7. Barley/oatmeal: These are two great grains, since they are rich in soluble fiber that slows the entry of any carbohydrate into the bloodstream.

8. Black beans: Another great source of soluble fiber.

9. Berries: The best dessert known. They’re rich in antioxidants, and they taste great, too.

10. Extra virgin olive oil: My number-one favorite fat, as it contains powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols. Making a béarnaise or hollandaise sauce with olive oil instead of butter is a great way to make any vegetable taste better.

CHAPTER 4

Fruits

There are no bad fruits.

Selecting fruits for a book like this presented a problem that I didn’t encounter in too many of the other categories (except vegetables): an embarrassment of riches. The problem wasn’t finding fruits that belong on the list, it was eliminating worthy contenders to get the list down to manageable proportions.

Of course, some fruits are just absolute superstars and there was never any question that even if there were to be only ten foods on the list, they’d make the cut. Apples and blueberries, for example. And guava. If this list were an all-star basketball team going to the Olympics, they’d be the Kobe Bryants. To continue the analogy, we also found some good “utility” players that, while terrific, wouldn’t have made a short list of Olympic contenders. The star fruit, for example, is not quite as loaded with nutrients as some of the winners, plus it’s harder to find and smaller in size. Star fruits went on the runners-up list.

Why Some Fruits Didn’t Make the Cut

Sometimes the selection process had to do with availability and convenience, and sometimes the decision took into account how the fruit was most commonly available. For example, pomegranate is a great fruit, but it takes a lot of work to eat it, and the edible part of the fruit is small. But pomegranate juice is widely available. Hence, the juice made the list (see page 259); the fruit did not. Similarly with the noni and acai berries. The noni berry tastes terrible (but the juice—see page 257—does not); plus, you can’t find the berry itself anywhere but the tropics. The acai berry is really only available in Brazil, but the excellent juice products can be found everywhere. Not so for the Goji berry, however (see page 112), which has made its way to the States in both berry and juice form. In that case, you really have a choice; I decided to include the whole berry on the list since space was limited and the juice isn’t as well known.

Although the mantra “eat more fruits and vegetables” has been repeated so often it’s become a cliché, it’s worth pointing out that fruits and vegetables as categories are quite distinct from a blood sugar point of view. If you put a gun to my head and made me choose one of the two categories, it would be no contest: Vegetables are the clear winner. That’s because fruit—wonderful though it is—has a lot of sugar and can play havoc with both blood sugar and insulin. For this reason, there are dietary programs (for example, most lowcarb programs) that don’t allow fruit at all during the first few weeks. Almost all the nutrients found in fruits are obtainable in vegetables, and with substantially less impact on blood sugar.

High Blood Sugar? You Can Still Eat Fruits

Does this mean that people watching their weight or their blood sugar should avoid fruit? Not at all. But if you’re in that category, fruit’s not an unlimited item. Much has been written about the sugar impact of fruits, and if you’re concerned about sugar, or if weight, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome are issues for you, it would be wise to read more about the subjects of glycemic index and glycemic load. (See the introduction to this book for more information.)

If you’re not overweight and don’t have issues with blood sugar, there are no concerns about fruit at all. Eat it, juice it, consume it raw or cooked, just make it a part of your daily routine (along, of course, with tons of vegetables). But if weight, diabetes, or any other condition that requires paying attention to your blood sugar is an issue, you might not want to munch mindlessly on large bowls of grapes and bananas.

The ancient Greek aphorism “Know thyself” was inscribed in golden letters at the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. It’s as true now as it was then. Some people are more sensitive to sugar than others. That’s just how it is. To quote Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true”—it’s the key to making good choices in food as well as good choices in life.

Apples

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a good example of one of those old clichés that actually turns out to be right. According to Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, men who eat one apple a day lower their risk of heart attack by 32 percent.

Apples have certainly rehabilitated their image since first becoming known as the little fruit that brought down the Garden of Eden. Their résumé of health benefits could easily fill a book. Epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of apples with reduced risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes. And that’s just for openers.

Apples contain quercetin, a flavonoid that, in a 2001 Mayo Clinic study, helped prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. Another study, at Cornell University, showed that phytochemicals in the skin of an apple inhibited the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43 percent. And the National Cancer Institute reported that foods containing flavonoids like the ones in apples may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50 percent.

Apples Take Second Place for Antioxidant Power

But wait, there’s more! Apples contain a whole host of phytochemicals, including the aforementioned quercetin, plus catechin, phloridzin, and chlorogenic acid. So what does that mean for you? Strong—really strong—antioxidant power. Since both cardiovascular disease and cancer are thought to be highly related to what’s called “oxidative stress” (the damage done to cells and DNA by oxidation), the ability to fight off the destructive effects of that oxidation is a major weapon in the healing power of any food. Apples have that antioxidant power in spades. In fact, apples have the second highest level of antioxidant activity of any other commonly consumed fruit in the United States (beaten out only by cranberries).

Apples are also ranked second for total concentration of phenolic compounds, a huge class of biochemically active substances most of which belong to the flavonoid group. There are literally thousands of flavonoids, but all you really need to know about them is this: They are really, really good for you. And compared to every other fruit, apples have the highest portion of free phenolics. While that may sound like the phenolics just got out of prison, it actually means they’re not attached to other compounds in the fruit, which in turn means they’re more available for absorption into your bloodstream, where they can go to work providing you with all the amazing health benefits and cancer-fighting ability they have to offer.

Apples Eaters Enjoy Less Risk of Tumors, Lung Cancer, and Cardiovascular Problems

Now we already know from a zillion studies that eating more fruits and vegetables helps protect against a host of diseases. In data involving 34,467 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, frequent consumption of fruit in general was found to be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing colorectal adenomas (benign tumors). It’s not often, however, that the individual fruits or vegetables are examined for their impact. But in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, women who consumed at least one serving per day of apples and pears had a reduced risk of lung cancer. And in another study in Hawaii, there was a 40 to 50 percent decreased risk in lung cancer in participants with the highest intake of apples, onions, and white grapefruit. Other studies have also shown a relationship between flavonoid intake—particularly quercetin—and the development of cancer. And in the Women’s Health Study, the women ingesting the highest amounts of flavonoids had a 35 percent reduction in the risk of what’s called “cardiovascular events.”

Apple consumption has been inversely linked with asthma (the more apples, the less asthma). And apples may also be associated with a lower risk for diabetes. In a study in Finland, apple consumption was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, and in a study in Brazil it was associated with weight loss.

Apples contain pectin, a valuable source of soluble fiber that can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and help regulate blood sugar. Speaking of sugar: Yes, apples do have some sugar (fructose), but I wouldn’t worry about it (unless you are a diabetic or have serious blood sugar challenges). The sugar in apples come wrapped with 5 g of fiber and a rich blend of nutrients, very different from the high-fructose corn syrup used to sweeten every junk food on the market. And one study, by Dr. Silvina Lotito at the Linus Pauling Institute, actually suggests that the fructose in apples might even turn out to be responsible for some of the apple’s health benefits.

Osteoporosis and Apples

Oh yes, one more thing. No one ever seems to mention this, but apples are one of the best dietary sources of boron. Boron is a mineral that has real bone-building properties and is an important part of an osteoporosis prevention program. A recent article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition by Rex E. Newnham, Ph.D., D.O., demonstrated a high probability that there’s a connection between not having enough boron in your system and having symptoms of arthritis. This arthritis-boron connection was observed in various populations around the world. Boron also seems to be energizing. My friend Dr. John Hernandez, director of the Center for Health and Integration in San Antonio, Texas, tells of a study in which drowsy college sophomores were given supplements of 3 mg of boron—all of a sudden, no more falling asleep in class.

The Best Apple of All

By the way, when you eat (or juice) apples, don’t forget the peel. Apple peels have been found to have potent antioxidant activity and can greatly inhibit the growth of liver cancer and colon cancer cells. Though almost all apples contain valuable phenols and antioxidants, the good old Red Delicious seems to frequently come out the winner when it comes to antioxidant power.

WORTH KNOWING

Unfortunately, the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put apples on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. The organization suggests you buy organic. I agree.

WHAT ABOUT APPLE JUICE?

Nope. Sorry. Doesn’t even come close to making the list of healthiest foods. So how can I still be such a fan of home juicing (see page 247)? Simple. Homemade juice isn’t even close to the stuff you get in the supermarket. Home juicing gives you all those amazing vitamins, phytochemicals, live enzymes, and all the other good stuff in the apple (except, of course, the fiber). Plus, most juice recipes call for a mix of veggies and other fruits to go with the apples (for example, spinach). Sure, homemade juice is still a little high in sugar, but I’m okay with that because of all the benefits you get. Not so with commercial apple juice in the bottle, which is nothing more than sugar water and apple flavoring. Sure, it may have a tiny amount of vitamins, but the sugar cost is way too high for a beverage that gives us few, if any, of the benefits of real apples. Apple juice may be marginally better than soda, but not by much. I’m pretty convinced that a lot of the behavioral problems we see in kids would be modulated noticeably if we didn’t stuff them with sugar water all day long.

Apricots

An apricot is basically a tasty little low-calorie bundle of nutrients put together in a beautiful, sun-colored package. What’s not to like?

Two medium apricots have about 1½ g of fiber, 1,348 IUs of vitamin A, 766 IUs of beta-carotene, 181 mg of potassium, and, just for good measure, 13 mg of phytosterols, plant chemicals that have numerous health benefits. Apricots also contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family that is a strong antioxidant and seems to reduce the risk of lung and colon cancer.

Some studies have demonstrated that beta-cryptoxanthin can reduce the risk of lung cancer by more than 30 percent, and other studies have shown that it reduces the risk for the untold arthritis by 41 percent. In order to absorb the beta-cryptoxanthin, it’s essential that your diet contains some fat, since, like other carotenoids, beta-cryptoxanthin is fat soluble. That makes a pretty strong argument for apricots and almonds as a really healthy treat, don’t you think?

The apricot originally hails from China, where it has been grown for more than 4,000 years. Legend has it that it was brought to the West by Alexander the Great. Most of the apricots in the United States are grown in California, but many varieties come from the Middle and Near East, especially Turkey. I remember that one of the first “natural food” stores I ever patronized was owned by a Turkish family who were especially proud of their high-nutrient fresh apricots, imported from “home.”

What about Dried or Stewed Apricots?

Dried apricots are a favorite “health food” and frequently found in trail mixes. They’re a little high in sugar since they’re so concentrated, the calories are higher (½ cup of dried apricots has 157 calories vs. 34 for two small whole apricots), and for some strange reason you lose the beta-cryptoxanthin. But they’re still a good source of beta-carotene and vitamin A. Another option is stewed apricots (106 calories for ½ cup of stewed fruit, unsweetened); they’re delicious, even higher in potassium and fiber, and still loaded with beta-carotene and vitamin A. No beta-cryptoxanthin, though—for that, you need to eat the whole fruit raw.

WORTH KNOWING

Apricots are a dietary staple of the Hunza—a remote little kingdom of folks in the Himalayas that have attracted tons of attention because they live long and stay healthy.

Avocados

Avocados are an amazing food. But until recently, you’d never know it. Avocados were almost a casualty of the fat phobia that swept the nation back in the 1980s. That fat phobia has not yet died a much-deserved death, but there are promising signs that it’s dying out. Which is good news for those of us trying to redeem the reputation of this (and other) glorious high-fat foods that are really, really good for your health.

Why the Fat in Avocados Is Good for You

So yes, avocados are high in fat. But that fat is largely monounsaturated fat, specifically oleic acid, an omega-9 fat that is found in high amounts in olive oil and macadamia nut oil and many nuts. Monounsaturated fat actually lowers cholesterol. In research at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Mexico, forty-five volunteers who ate avocados every day for a week experienced an average 17 percent drop in total blood cholesterol. Far more important, in my opinion, their cholesterol ratio also changed: Their levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides, both associated with heart disease, went down, while their HDL (“good” cholesterol), which is protective, went up. And avocados are also high in beta-sitosterol, a natural substance shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol and is also highly protective of the prostate. In the December 1999 issue of the American Journal of Medicine, researchers pointed out that beta-sitosterol was shown to reduce cholesterol in sixteen human studies.

Monounsaturated fat like the kind found in avocados has also been linked to a reduced risk of cancer and diabetes. Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and reprinted on the American Diabetes Association Web site demonstrated that people following a “Modified Low-Carb Diet” higher in monounsaturated fat lost more weight than a matched group of people following the standard National Cholesterol Education Program diet. And monounsaturated fats are a key component of the Mediterranean diet, which in every major study has been linked with lower rates of heart disease.

Great for Eyes, Heart, and Skin!

Avocados also contain lutein, a valuable member of the carotenoid family that is a natural antioxidant and helps your eyes stay healthy while maintaining the health of your skin. According to David Herber, M.D., director of the Center for Human Nutrition at University of California in Los Angeles and one of my favorite nutritionists, “California avocados rank highest in lutein, which acts as an antioxidant, and beta-sitosterol, which blocks cholesterol absorption compared ounce-per-ounce to other fruits. These attributes make the avocado an important fruit to choose, along with other fruits and vegetables, to protect your heart.”

Though there are a few grams of saturated fat in an avocado, it’s precisely the kind of saturated fat I’m not afraid of. It’s from a natural whole food, and quite different from the saturated fat you might find in an order of fries. Not coming from a factory-farmed animal, it doesn’t contain a lot of toxins. And as many nutritionists—myself included—have pointed out, some saturated fat is necessary in the diet and may even be beneficial. Politically incorrect though this may be, I’d like to point out that one recent study in the prestigious American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that in postmenopausal women who consumed a reasonable 25-percent-fat diet, a greater amount of monounsaturated fat and a greater amount of saturated fat intake was associated with less progression of coronary atherosclerosis—(high glycemic carbohydrate intake was associated with a greater progression).

Avocados are also a great source of fiber (between 11 and 17 g per avocado!) and potassium. They also contain folate, vitamin A, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin, another healthy carotenoid. Call me crazy, but I’ve been known to eat a whole one as a mini-meal right out of the skin. Couple hundred calories, tons of heart-healthy fat, one-third to one-half of the day’s fiber, plus it’s filling and delicious. And next to zero effect on blood sugar.

WORTH KNOWING

There’s a bit of difference in the nutritional composition of California and Florida avocados. According to the USDA food database, a California avocado has about 20 percent fewer calories (289 compared to 365 for the Florida variety), 13 percent less fat, and about 60 percent less carbohydrates. California avocados are also the only one of the two that is a significant source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two important carotenoids that are becoming the superstars of eye nutrition and are being studied for their ability to prevent macular degeneration. On the other hand, Florida avocados have 20 percent more potassium, plus a bit more calcium and phosphorus. If you’re still worried about fat and calories, go with the California version, but either way you can’t miss.

Bananas

Bananas are definitely a healthy food, though they’re not quite the nutritional heavyweight some people think they are. Their main claim to fame is potassium and fiber. Don’t get me wrong—those are good things to have. Bananas provide a nice 3 to 4 g of fiber per banana, and while they are probably the first food that comes to mind when you think of potassium, calorie for calorie, foods like spinach and broccoli beat the pants off them. So does a cup of baked beans, navy beans, tomato juice, cantaloupe, or two medium kiwifruits.

The Importance of Potassium

Bananas are convenient, relatively low in calories (about 100 calories per banana), and the fiber is a big selling point. And even though other foods may contain just as much potassium, that doesn’t mean the 422 mg of potassium per medium banana is anything to sneeze at. Let’s not forget the major role potassium plays in the body, helping to maintain cell integrity, fluid and electrolyte balance, and, most important, a steady heartbeat!

A drop in potassium levels can make you weak and tired, and low potassium is often connected to muscle cramps. Plus, many health professionals believe that potassium might both prevent and correct hypertension.

An interesting Swedish study on the risk of developing kidney cancer found that regular consumption of specific foods—bananas, root vegetables like carrots and beets, salad greens, and cabbage—was linked to a 50 to 65 percent decrease in risk for kidney cancer. The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer. Women in the study who ate bananas four to six times a week had about half the risk of kidney cancer as those who didn’t eat them. My friend Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of Food as Medicine, has said that “a woman who wants to remain youthful for life should eat one banana every day.”

One little-known benefit of bananas that’s worth talking about is the fact that they contain fructoogliosaccharides. What are these? Well, they’re basically food for the good bacteria in your gut. You’ve probably heard of probiotics like lactobacillus—well, those are the “good bacteria” in the digestive system, and for optimal health, they need to be kept alive and flourishing. Like all bacteria, they need food to live, and the food they like the best is FOS (fructooligosaccharides). Bananas are a great source of fructoogliosaccharides. In one study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, bananas were hands down the most potent fruit source of these valuable compounds. (The Jerusalem artichoke, see page 44, won in the vegetable category, followed by onions.) Bananas and rice have long been a folk remedy for digestive upset, especially diarrhea.

Not as High in Sugar as You Might Think

Among advocates of controlled carb eating (especially hard-core low-carbers) bananas got a bad rep as being a high-sugar food. That’s partly true, but not as bad as people think. The glycemic load of the average banana is 12. Glycemic load—the only measure that really counts when it comes to evaluating a food’s effect on blood sugar—is considered low if it’s under 10, medium if it’s 10 to 20, and high if it’s over 20. The banana’s rating of 12 puts it right in the low part of the “medium” category. I think part of the problem with bananas was that they suffered from guilt by association with the typical 1980s “low-fat” breakfast of crummy processed commercial cereal, skim milk, orange juice, and toast, a nightmare from a blood sugar point of view. The occasional banana, particularly one that’s not overripe, is really not a problem for most people.

In yoga nutritional therapy, bananas are considered a cleansing and rejuvenating food.

WORTH KNOWING

The inner peel is rich in nutrients—either eat it directly, or scrape it and put it in your smoothie.

Blueberries

Mention blueberries around scientists, and you’re sure to hear the name of Dr. James Joseph.

Joseph is lead scientist in the Laboratory of Neuroscience at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. His special interest is what we should eat if we want to keep our marbles intact as we grow older. And it’s largely because of Joseph that blueberries now have a firmly established reputation as a memory-protecting food.

Blueberries Are Brain Food

In Joseph’s lab, he’s got something he calls the Rat Olympics. He tests motor function and memory function with mazes and assorted tests for muscle strength and coordination. Around middle age, rats start showing the same kinds of decline in performance that humans do. But what Joseph’s studies show is that when you feed the lab animals extracts of blueberries, wonderful things start happening; or, more accurately, bad things don’t happen.

Bad things meaning mental deterioration. And loss of coordination and balance. Gone. Those rats that chowed down on the blueberries behaved like young studs. In Joseph’s lab, they’d found the Rat Fountain of Youth.

Blueberries contain compounds like anthocyanin that are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. And inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in virtually every major killer disease: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease, not to mention “run-of-the-mill” conditions of aging like arthritis. These compounds by themselves would be enough to land blueberries on anyone’s list of superfoods. But the blueberries do even more. They actually help neurons in the brain communicate with one another more effectively.

BLUEBERRIES KEEP YOUR MEMORY SHARP

“Old neurons are kind of like old married couples,” Joseph says. “They don’t talk to each other so much any more.” Memory goes down, and the “processing” necessary for coordination and balance will tend to decline. The technical term for this communication is “signaling,” and special compounds in blueberries called polyphenols actually “turn on” the signals. “Not only can you get one neuron to talk to another more efficiently, but you can actually enable the brain to grow new neurons,” Joseph explained in an interview.

Blueberries are the ultimate memory food. Animal studies have demonstrated that daily consumption of blueberries dramatically slows impairments in motor coordination and memory that are the usual accompaniments of aging. What’s more, they may help lower blood cholesterol and promote urinary health.

Bilberries, a close European cousin of the blueberry, have been shown to promote eye health and protect against glaucoma and cataract progression. In fact, wild blueberries are called “the vision fruit” in Japan, because they have very high concentrations of anthocyanins, natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories whose benefits include reducing eyestrain and improving night vision. And there are currently plans to study the ability of blueberries to prevent macular degeneration, a disease of the retina and the leading cause of blindness in people over age sixty-five.

Blueberries Are the Highest-Scoring Fruit of All Time

Then there are all those antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which help fight against cardiovascular disease. Blueberries have been tested to have one of the highest ORAC values of any food in the world. What does that mean? Well, ORAC, which stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity, is a rating system for antioxidant power. Scientists test how well all the different phytochemicals and antioxidants in a given food perform together, and then give the food a rating based on that performance. It’s easy to understand if you think of a sports team. A really good team is not just about how good the players are individually, just like a superfood is not just about which nutrients it contains. In both cases, it’s about how well the elements work together as a group. And that’s what the ORAC rating tells you: how much protection and value antioxidants and phytochemicals give you as a group in a particular food. The highest-scoring fruit of all time? Blueberries.

Just recently, in the May 4, 2005, issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, it was reported that blueberries contain a beneficial compound called pterostilbene. Pterostilbene’s lipid-lowering ability was superior to both resveratrol (the antiaging compound also found in grapes) and the prescription drug Ciprofibrate. On a cellular level, it works much like resveratrol in regulating fatty acid metabolism and fats in the bloodstream—and it helps prevent the deposition of plaque in the arteries.

Need more reasons to eat blueberries? How about fighting cancer? A University of Illinois study tested different fruits for the presence of a particular flavonoid that inhibits a cancer-promoting enzyme. Of all the fruits tested, wild blueberries showed the greatest anticancer activity.

Fresh or Frozen, You Choose

Best of all, you can get all these amazing health benefits by just adding ½ cup a day of wild or frozen blueberries to your diet. No studies have been done to date comparing fresh to frozen to canned berries, but virtually all forms of the fruit have essential anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, making them a genuine health bargain. In fact, all of Joseph’s studies were done using frozen berries, which, last time I looked, were pretty inexpensive and available in any grocery store freezer.

Throw them on a salad, in a blender with a protein powder, or, best of all—my personal favorite—eat them frozen with a dollop of yogurt. The yogurt sort of freezes upon making contact with the ice-cold blueberries, making the resulting blend the most delicious, healthy “dessert” you can imagine.

Cantaloupe

All melons are high-volume foods. That means that for a given amount of weight, they contain a relatively high amount of water, fiber, and air (and a relatively low number of calories). Why should it matter? Consider this.

The Benefit of High-Volume Foods

Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., a nutrition researcher at Pennsylvania State University, has done a ton of research on appetite and appetite control. In study after study, Rolls found that people basically ate about 3 pounds of food a day, regardless of whether the food was high calorie or low calorie. After about 3 pounds, people stopped eating. They’d eat nearly identical servings of food (by weight), whether it was watermelon (high volume) or cheesecake (low volume). Most important, the subjects in her studies felt just as full after the low-calorie meals as they did after the calorie-rich meals—provided both meals contained the same volume of food.

Bottom line: Foods with high volume and low calories—that is, foods with a lot of water and fiber—are your best friend in a weight control program.

Cantaloupe is truly a high-volume food. For goodness’ sake, an entire large melon has only 277 calories, way less than most desserts, and way more than most people can eat at one sitting. (A more typical serving is a wedge, or maybe half a melon.) About 90 percent of the melon is water. But, as Rolls has shown in research study after research study, that water in the melon goes a long way toward filling you up. (And by the way—water in foods seems to do this more than water that you drink alongside foods. Hence melons and soups do a better job of appetite control than solid food plus a glass of water. No one really knows why.)

Cantaloupe Lowers the Risk of High Blood Pressure and Stroke

But cantaloupe’s not a great food just because it’s high-volume and low-calorie, though that certainly gives it points. It’s also a potassium and vitamin A heavyweight. One little cup of melon cubes gives you a whopping 427 mg of potassium (not to mention a little calcium and magnesium). A ton of studies show that people who eat potassium-rich foods have lower rates of heart disease and stroke. Potassium is also a key component of healthy blood pressure. According to the latest studies, people who regularly consume high-potassium foods have lower blood pressure than those who don’t. A recent review of thirty-three studies examined the effect of potassium on blood pressure, and researchers discovered that participants who added 2,340 mg of potassium daily (from foods, supplements, or both) were able to lower their risk of developing high blood pressure by 25 percent. The reductions were ultimately greatest for people who already had high blood pressure. Another possible benefit of potassium: It may protect against stroke. One study found that people with high blood pressure who had a daily serving of potassium-rich foods (like figs) decreased their risk of fatal stroke by 40 percent.

Then there’s vitamin A and beta-carotene, both of which are plentiful in cantaloupe. Though a lot of people know about vitamin A’s role in vision and growth and bone development, what’s not as well known is how terrific it is for the immune system. I consider it one of the best immune-system boosters around.

Eat Cantaloupe to Ward Off a Cold

Vitamin A deficiency results in decreased resistance to infection. But you don’t really have to have a deficiency to benefit from its effect on the immune system. There is some evidence that vitamin A can stimulate and otherwise favorably affect the immune system even in the absence of vitamin A deficiency. (Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I take large doses of supplemental vitamin A for a few days, plus a few other things like C, zinc, and N-acetyl-cysteine. It works.) And some years ago it was demonstrated that high-dose vitamin A can significantly protect against some of the immune-depressing effects of radiation and cancer chemotherapy.

Beta-carotene, a carotenoid that turns into vitamin A in the body, has protective health properties of its own. (A cup of cantaloupe cubes has more than 3,000 mcg of beta-carotene.) Beta-carotene, in addition to being a great antioxidant that protects against cellular damage, may be protective against some forms of cancer in some populations and may also play a role in protecting against heart disease. Though a large study a few years ago that looked at the effect on smokers of large supplemental dosages of synthetic beta-carotene had disappointing results, there is overwhelming epidemiologic evidence that those who consume three or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily have significantly lower risk of many forms of cancer and heart disease and that the protective association is particularly strong for dietary carotenoids, especially with respect to protection against lung cancer.

Canteloupe also makes a great juice, and if your juicer can handle it, you don’t need to remove the skin. You can mix some canteloupe juice with watermelon juice and sparkling water for an amazing summer cooler, or vary the recipe and add some lemon juice and/or ginger.

Cherries

“The day when doctors say ‘take 10 cherries and call me in the morning’ may not be far off,” said a recent Newsweek article. You might wonder what the writer was talking about if you looked cherries up in a food database. What’s the big deal? Sure, they’re relatively low in calories, and, like most fruits and vegetables they’re a good source of potassium. And the sour ones have a nice amount of vitamin A. But the real benefits of cherries are not in plain sight, at least not if the only place you look is on the nutrition facts label. And when you understand the real benefits, suddenly the Newsweek reporter’s comment starts to make a lot of sense.

Why? Because cherries are loaded with anti-inflammatory, antiaging, anticancer compounds that don’t show up on your average nutrition facts label. The cancer-fighting agents in cherries include a flavonoid called quercetin, as well as ellagic acid and perillyl alcohol.

The Wonders of Quercetin and Ellagic Acid

Quercetin has been found be researchers to be a potent anticancer agent. It also exhibits significant anti-inflammatory activity, which is why quercetin is one of my favorite supplements for allergies and asthma. Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic known to be both anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic.

Also found in red raspberries, ellagic acid has been shown in animal research and in laboratory models to inhibit the growth of tumors caused by certain carcinogens. A publication by the American Cancer Society called “The American Cancer Society’s Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods” says that ellagic acid is a very promising natural supplement because it causes apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells in the lab, with no change to healthy, normal cells. According to studies posted on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Web site, ellagic acid also has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Perillyl Alcohol in Cherries May Inhibit Tumor Growth

Another compound in cherries is perillyl alcohol. Though the exact mechanism of its action is unknown, it appears that perillyl alcohol and its metabolites may inhibit tumor growth. In animal models, it exhibited this effect in pancreatic, stomach, colon, skin, and liver cancers. The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center is currently running phase one of a multiple-dose trial of perillyl alcohol on healthy women with a history of breast cancer.

Cherries have been shown to lower levels of uric acid in the blood, which is one of the most common causes of gout pain. A study at the University of California-Davis showed that consuming a serving of cherries daily significantly lowered the blood uric acid levels of women by as much as 15 percent.

Even Cherry Juice Packs a Punch

The secret to the benefits of cherry juice are compounds called anthocyanins, which are the pigments that give cherries their bright red color and are also believed to be the key to helping the body relieve inflammation. As an added bonus, these same anthocyanins may significantly reduce your risk for colon cancer, the third leading cancer in America.

Doctors and scientists believe that it’s the anthocyanins in the cherries that cause the decrease in blood urates and the relief from gout pain.

Anthocyanins act like natural COX-2 inhibitors. “COX” stands for cyclooxygenase, which is produced in the body in two or more forms, called COX-1 and COX-2. COX-2 is used for signaling pain and inflammation. The popularity of arthritis drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex was based on their unique ability to block only the pain and inflammation messages of COX-2 while leaving the noninflammatory COX-1 alone. Unfortunately, there were some really unpleasant side effects associated with Vioxx, and it was taken off the market. But anthocyanins produce a similar effect with none of the problems of drugs. Cherries (and raspberries) have the highest yields of pure anthocyanins. In one study, the COX inhibitory activity of anthocyanins from cherries was comparable to those of ibuprofen and naproxen. And researchers feel that in addition to helping with pain and inflammation, consuming anthocyanins on a regular basis may help lower heart attack and stroke risk.

Your New Favorite Dessert

You can get the health benefits of cherries by eating the tart ones whole, or by juicing them. I have a favorite secret dessert that I’ll share with you: I buy organic frozen red cherries and put them in my freezer. When I’m ready to eat them, I put them—direct from the freezer—into a little bowl with some raw milk or yogurt, which promptly semifreezes on the cherries, forming a kind of “ice milk.” Stir it up, and the resulting mixture is like Cherry Garcia ice cream, only with a zillion times more health benefits. It’s absolutely delicious, and it’s my secret weapon against The Attack of the Ice Cream Craving.

WORTH KNOWING

Unfortunately, the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put cherries on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. The organization suggests you buy organic. I agree.

Coconut

I really looked forward to writing this section, because I felt it would give me a chance to right one of the greatest nutritional misconceptions of all time: the idea that coconut, because it contains saturated fat, is bad for you.

Let me be very clear at the outset: Coconut and coconut oil are superfoods. Coconut—and its oil—is one of the most healthy, amazing things you can ingest.

Island Studies Prove the Value of Coconut

The good news on coconut actually started with research back in the 1960s and 1970s. It has long been observed that people from the Pacific Islands and Asia whose diets are very high in coconut oil are surprisingly free from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. A long-term, multidisciplinary study was set up to examine the health of the people living in the small, idyllic coconut-eating islands of Tokelau and Pukapuka. And what it found was astonishing. Despite eating a “high-fat” diet (35 to 60 percent of their calories were from fat, mostly saturated fat from coconuts), the Pukapuka and Tokelau islanders were virtually free of atherosclerosis, heart disease, and colon cancer. Digestive problems were rare. The islanders were lean and healthy. There were no signs of kidney disease, and high blood cholesterol was unknown. Yet when these native people moved to the “big cities,” changed their diets, and gave up eating coconut oil in favor of the refined polyunsaturated vegetable oils that are believed to be “healthier,” their incidence of heart disease increased dramatically.

A ½ cup of shredded coconut meat has almost 4 g of fiber, 142 mg of potassium, 13 mg of magnesium, less than 3 g of sugar, and—most important—13 g of the most heart-healthy, life-supporting fat on the planet (more on that in a moment).

Saturated Fat in Coconut Is Nothing to Fear

But even now, coconut suffers from a completely undeserved negative reputation. And how did coconut come to get this bad reputation? You guessed it—because it has fat. Not only does it have fat, it has saturated fat. And because of the mass hysteria and widespread misinformation about saturated fat in this country, most people think anything that has saturated fat should be avoided like the plague. (Back in 1962, one writer observed that “the average American now fears saturated fat the way he once feared witches.” I believe that’s still true today.) Now it’s true that we shouldn’t overdo saturated fat, though truth be told, I’m way more concerned about trans fats than I am about naturally occurring saturates in butter, coconut, and eggs. But that’s a whole different discussion. The point here is this: Wonderful, amazing health foods like eggs (with their yolks) and coconut have been absent from the American diet, for no other reason than that people—including doctors—simply don’t really understand the full story when it comes to fat.

The human body needs fat. We can’t exist without it. It’s incorporated into our cell membranes. It’s used as an energy source. It cushions and protects our organs. It makes certain critical vitamins—like vitamins A and D—available to us. Some fats—like sterols—serve as the basic molecule for important hormones like the sex hormones. And fats are the precursors for a whole group of important compounds in the body known as prostaglandins that are vitally important for human health.

Coconut’s Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Are Easier to Metabolize

What we know as “fats” and “oils” are mostly made up of smaller compounds called fatty acids. These fatty acids—whether they’re saturated or unsaturated—come in many different lengths. For convenience’s sake, they’re classified into three groups: short, medium, and long. The saturated fats in coconut are mainly medium chain—they’re also known as MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides). The physiology and biochemistry of medium-chain triglycerides are very different from their “long-chain” saturated fat cousins. For one thing, they are easier to metabolize. (AIDS patients suffering from fat malabsorption and chronic diarrhea with weight loss were significantly benefited by a twelve-week regimen of medium-chain triglycerides.) For another, they are preferentially used for energy rather than stored as fat around your hips. Third and most important, they are mainly composed of a particular fat called lauric acid, which is antiviral and antimicrobal. According to no less a source than the Physicians’ Desk Reference, there is preliminary evidence that MCTs may be helpful in some cancers and may have some positive effects on immunity.

Fifty percent of the fat in coconut is lauric acid. In the human body, lauric acid is formed into monolaurin, which is basically a bug killer: It’s antiviral and antibacterial. Mary Enig, Ph.D., arguably one of the most distinguished lipid biochemists in the country, has written eloquently on the antiviral and antibacterial effects of lauric acid and coconut in general, documenting its effects on a host of microbes and quoting study after study after study showing its immune-enhancing effects. She has also debunked the idea that the saturated fat in coconut has any adverse effects on the heart or on health in general. (Many of Enig’s essays for the general public are available by Googling Mary Enig, Ph.D.—they’re tough reading, but rigorously documented with strong science.)

Coconuts May Protect against STDs

Another 6 or 7 percent of the fatty acids in coconut fat are a MCT called capric acid. Capric acid is formed into monocaprin in the human body, which has also been shown to have antiviral effects and is being tested for effects against herpes and antibacterial effects against chlamydia and other sexually transmitted bacteria.

Though some people believe MCTs can be helpful for weight control and athletic performance (since they are an easily metabolized source of calories that are not likely to be stored as fat), this use is controversial. (One researcher estimated that people would have to eat more than 50 percent of their calories as MCTs in order to lose weight, though others have suggested that the percentage is lower.) What is not controversial at all is the use of MCTs therapeutically for cystic fibrosis, AIDS, cachexia (physical wasting secondary to cancer), and childhood epilepsy.

But you don’t have to have any of those diseases to benefit from some healthy MCTs in your diet, the best source of which is coconut and coconut oil. Remember the Pukapuka and Tokelau islanders—they ate a ton of coconut and very little processed food, and had hardly any heart disease. And in today’s world, any food that tastes delicious and can enhance the performance of your immune system at the same time deserves a place in the honor roll of healthy foods.

Cranberries

The only time most people come face to face with an actual cranberry is during Thanksgiving dinner, but there are a lot of reasons to get more familiar with this tart little red berry.

Cranberries are low in calories (44 per cup), high in fiber, and low in sugar. But like grapes, many of their real benefits aren’t readily apparent from the typical nutrition facts label.

Cranberries Really Do Prevent UTIs

Studies presented at the 223rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society show that the ruby red berries have some of the most potent antioxidants of any common fruits studied. They possess anticancer properties, inhibit the growth of common foodborne pathogens, and contain antibacterial properties to aid in the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Catherine Neto, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, isolated several bioactive compounds from whole cranberries and found compounds in the berries that were toxic to a variety of cancer tumor cells. “The tumor cell lines that these compounds inhibited most in our assays included lung, cervical, prostate, breast, and leukemia,” according to Neto.

Cranberries are high in phenols (also known as phenolic acids), plant chemicals known to be highly protective against a wide range of health problems and conditions. According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, cranberries had a higher phenol concentration than any of the twenty commonly eaten fruits studied: A ½ cup contains 373 phenols per serving, more than red grapes, apples, strawberries, or blueberries.

What You Don’t Know about Cranberries

It’s widely known that cranberries help prevent UTIs. This is accomplished by preventing bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract (see also cranberry juice, page 252). More recently it has been discovered that the same properties help reduce bacterial adhesion to teeth, thus reducing the formation of dental plaque. Recent studies have also revealed that compounds in cranberries stop certain disease-causing bacteria from sticking to the stomach lining, thus helping to prevent ulcers.

Remember now, we’re talking about actual, raw cranberries here. Once you dry and sweeten them they may still have a lot of the healthful phenolic compounds, but the calories jump into the stratosphere (from 44 per cup to 370 per cup!) and so does the sugar. If that’s not a problem for you—i.e., if you’re an avid hiker about to go out for five hours—by all means throw them in the trail mix! If not, use the dried and sweetened kind sparingly.

Note: You can get raw, whole berries in the frozen section of the grocers. I find them a terrific addition to smoothies. If the tart taste is too much for you, sweeten with some xylitol, a healthy natural sweetener that’s actually a sugar alcohol—it has minimal effect on blood sugar but tastes just like sugar. You can get it at health food stores or through a link on my Web site, www.jonnybowden.com.

Dates

I’ve heard dates described as “nature’s candy,” and I think that description is on the money. Dates aren’t on this list, though, because they are such an amazing source of nutrients you can’t get anywhere else. No. They’re on this list because well, let’s face it, we love sweets, and if we’re going to eat sweets, they might as well come in a package that does minimal harm and actually might do some good.

Enter dates.

Full of Sugar, but Also Full of Nutrients

Dates are not a low-calorie food, nor are they a low-sugar food. A single large pitted date has a whopping 66 calories, not bad if you eat just one, which, unfortunately, almost nobody does. But that same single date has calcium and magnesium in an almost perfect 1:1 ratio (15 mg to 14 mg), 1½ g of fiber, and more than 160 mg of heart-healthy potassium. There’s even a smidgen of vitamin A, plus trace amounts of a half dozen other vitamins and minerals. You can’t say that about a lot of commercial candy bars! The royalty of dates is the Medjool, which most people regard as the best-tasting one.

And wait, there’s more! In a comprehensive study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Dr. Harold Miller and his colleagues analyzed the antioxidant content of cereals, fruits, and vegetables using a complicated scientific method that scores the foods in units called TEs (Trolox equivalents). The findings were surprising (Dr. Miller found that many popular vegetables tended to be relatively low in antioxidants). Of the fruits, his team found that red plums had the highest TE score (2200). Of the berries, blackberries won handily with 5500. And of the dried fruits, the winner was . . . dates! On the TE score, dates beat the nearest competitor (raisins) with a score of 6600!

Dates come in various states of “dryness”: The most common of the “semidry” dates is the Deglet Noor. Six Deglet Noor dates provide a reasonable 140 calories plus a very respectable 4 g of fiber, a bit of calcium, magnesium, and a really nice 327 mg of potassium.

Who Should Avoid Eating Dates?

If you’ve got blood sugar issues, including metabolic syndrome or diabetes, or if you’re trying to lose weight and control sugar, you might want to pass on this one. But if you’re an athlete looking for a natural healthy food to provide sugar and calories or to help replace glycogen after a workout, dates might have a place in your kitchen. Chopped up and mixed with some higher-fat, lower-sugar foods like organic almonds and other nuts, they make the perfect trail mix for a long hike.

WORTH TRYING: DATE MILK

A few pitted dates chopped up and blended into some warm milk might just be the ultimate late-night comfort food. It may not be a low-carb, low-calorie, or low-anything food, but it sure tastes amazing.

Figs

I love figs. Fresh or dried, they’re luscious, chewy, rich, textured, and sweet as honey. And, like dates, they might not be the single most nutritionally dense food on the planet, but they sure beat candy if you want some instant sugar in a nice nutritional package.

Figs for Maximum Fiber

Besides tasting great and producing the famous “leaf” that covered key parts of Adam and Eve, figs have several claims to fame. First is fiber. The American Diabetes Association—with whom I rarely agree—is actually right on this one: When it comes to fiber, people should eat between 25 and 50 g a day. The National Academy of Sciences says between 21 and 38 g, depending on age and sex. Want to know what the average American takes in? A paltry 11 g. Research from Harvard University has shown that men with the highest dietary fiber intake (about 29 g a day) had a 40 percent reduction in heart attacks compared to men eating the least fiber. High-fiber diets have also been shown to be associated with better blood sugar control and with much better weight control. Six figs contain almost 5 g of fiber, making them a high-fiber food in my book.

Then there’s calcium. That same six figs (about 125 calories) give you 82 mg of calcium (plus 34 of magnesium). That’s more than three times the amount in a glass of orange juice.

You also get a whopping 473 mg of potassium, making figs a high-potassium food. A ton of studies show that people who eat potassium-rich foods like fruits and vegetables have lower rates of heart disease and stroke. And potassium is a key ingredient in keeping blood pressure down. According to the latest studies, people who regularly consume high-potassium foods have lower blood pressure than those who don’t. In a recent review of 33 studies that examined the effect of potassium on blood pressure, researchers discovered that participants who started out with normal blood pressure and then added 2,340 mg of potassium daily (from foods, supplements, or both) were able to lower their risk of developing high blood pressure by 25 percent. The reductions were ultimately greatest for people who already had high blood pressure. Another possible benefit of potassium: It may protect against stroke. One study found that people with high blood pressure who had a daily serving of potassium-rich foods (like figs) decreased their risk of fatal stroke by 40 percent.

Use Fig as a Sweetener

And here’s a cool tip: Louisiana State University Agriculture Center nutritionist Catrinel Stanciu notes that fig puree can be used as a sweetener or as a fat substitute in many recipes. You can make your own fig puree by combining 8 ounces of figs with ¼ to ⅓ cup water in a blender.

WORTH KNOWING

There are about a hundred references on the Internet that mention that fig extracts have shrunk tumors in (unidentified) “Japanese studies,” supposedly because figs contain benzaidehyde (usually misspelled as benzaldehyde). If only. I was able to track down exactly two experimental studies on benzaidehyde, both from the 1980s, and neither showed that figs prevented or protected against cancer. Sorry. Figs are still worth eating, and who knows—maybe one day in the future some food scientist will discover that they contain some cancer-fighting phytochemicals. Meanwhile, eat them for their fiber, their calcium, their potassium, and their taste!

Remember: The dried ones are a denser source of calories.

Goji Berries

First things first. Goji berries are delicious. They’re also expensive. But partisans claim they are one of the best foods on the planet. A deep-red, dried fruit about the same size as a raisin with an unusual taste—sort of a cross between a cranberry and a cherry—Goji berries have been used in Tibet for at least 1,700 years. They’re used in Chinese medicine, and they’re traditionally regarded by the people of Tibet and elsewhere as a longevity, strength-building, and sexual potency food of the highest order.

Do Goji Berries Really Cure Cancer?

The problem with these exotic berries and the juices made from them (Goji, noni, acai) isn’t that they’re not incredibly healthy foods—they are. Foods that have been used in medical and healing traditions for thousands of years generally don’t keep their reputation if they don’t actually deliver the goods. The problem is that the multilevel marketers discover them, and then you have a war in which everyone claims their product is the only “real” one, fantastic health claims are made that range all over the map and compete for sheer silliness, and before you know it you’re in multilevel marketing hell and don’t know what to believe. I’ve seen Web sites that claim that Goji berries cure cancer, guarantee you an extra twenty years of life, and make you a sexual superman. All of this is nonsense.

The Goji berry is one of about eighty varieties of the Lycium berry (Lycium barbarum) that is indigenous to the Tibetan and Mongolian regions. A lot of published research exists on the Lycium berry, most of it positive, but none of it strong enough to support the ridiculous claim that it cures cancer. But marketing hype aside, this is a great food. Published research that I was able to actually document showed that polysaccharides extracted from the Lycium barbarum have had a positive effect on insulin resistance in rats and have a neuroprotective effect on animal cells. Polysaccharides extracted from the Lycium berry also demonstrate strong antioxidant properties. And at least two studies showed that they have a significant effect on the immune system. In one study, they reduced the weight of tumors, and in at least two others, protected animal cells from DNA damage.

That the Goji berry is full of nutrients is not in doubt. But Gojis are not listed in the USDA database, so their exact makeup is hard to verify. The general consensus is that they contain eighteen amino acids and up to twenty-one trace minerals, and are a rich source of carotenoids and vitamin C. They’re also high in fiber (4 g per serving).

You can buy the juice if you don’t mind paying astronomical rates and wading through a bunch of multilevel marketing hype. Personally, I buy the organic berries themselves in a package at the natural foods supermarket. One of my favorite “raw foods” breakfasts is made of raw oats, almond slices, apple slices, flaked coconut, and Goji berries. Moisten with some pomegranate juice and enjoy!

WORTH KNOWING

The Goji is distantly related to the Chinese wolfberry, but partisans are very adamant that they are not the same thing. According to Dr. Jigme Dorje, research director of the Tanaduk Botanical Research Institute, which has been studying forty-one varieties of Lycium barbarum, the Chinese wolfberry is loaded with pesticides. Dorje believes that the best (and authentic) Goji berries come from Tibet and are grown organically.

Grapefruit

Virtually everyone who has ever tried to lose weight has heard of the Mayo Clinic Diet, which has been passed around for more years than I can remember and which always features grapefruit at every meal followed by some bastardized (and not very good) version of the Atkins Diet.

Only trouble is this: The diet has nothing to do with the Mayo Clinic, was never associated with the Mayo Clinic, and is not endorsed by the Mayo Clinic. Nevertheless, some version of “the grapefruit diet” has been around forever, and so has the legend that grapefruit has some mystical property that helps people lose weight. Nutritionists like me have been telling people for eons that that’s simply not the case, but that grapefruit, being a whole food with enzymes and low calories and high volume, can certainly help fill you up and be part of any smart weight loss regimen.

Grapefruit Diet May Be Credible After All

Now it turns out we may have spoken too soon. In spring 2006, a study from the division of endocrinology of the department of nutrition and metabolic research at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California, was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, and guess what? The grapefruit legend may have some science to back it up! The researchers wanted to study the effect of grapefruit on weight and on insulin resistance, a central feature of metabolic syndrome (and often of diabetes). They took ninety-one obese patients and divided them into four groups. Group one got grapefruit capsules before meals, group two got grapefruit juice, group three got half a grapefruit, and group four got a placebo (nothing). The placebo group lost about ⅓ of a pound, the grapefruit capsule group lost 1.1 pounds, the grapefruit juice group lost 1.3, and the real grapefruit folks lost 1.5. Overall, only the fresh grapefruit group reached “statistical significance,” but among those with metabolic syndrome, all three grapefruit groups lost significantly more weight. Insulin resistance was improved in everyone. The authors admitted that the mechanism isn’t understood, but that it would be prudent to include fresh grapefruit in a weight loss diet.

Why Smokers Should Eat More Grapefruit

Meanwhile, even if you’re not trying to lose weight, grapefruit’s still a good food.

Researchers at Texas A&M University showed that freeze-dried grapefruit pulp, similar to whole grapefruit, reduced the incidence of early colon cancer lesions in an animal model of the disease. Grapefruit juice may help reduce the risk of cancer in smokers. In a controlled study involving forty-nine smokers, researchers at the University of Hawaii found that drinking three 6-ounce glasses of grapefruit juice a day reduced the activity of a liver enzyme called CYP1A2 that is thought to activate cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. It’s reasonable to think that might be helpful for nonsmokers as well, since reducing the activity of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing chemicals is a good thing no matter where the chemicals come from! And speaking of cancer, grapefruits—depending on the species and harvest time—contain substances called limonoids, which inhibit the development of cancer in laboratory animals and in human breast cancer cells and reduce cholesterol. And red (and pink) grapefruit contains lycopene (see guava and tomatoes), a carotenoid that has been associated with reduced risk of prostate and other cancers.

Red or White?

Recently, researchers in Israel found that a diet supplemented with red grapefruits was effective in lowering triglycerides, a blood fat that is a risk factor for heart disease. In this study, fifty-seven postoperative bypass patients with high triglycerides were divided into three groups. One group was given the standard “heart-healthy” diet, and the other two groups were given the identical diet but with the addition of either Israeli Jaffa red grapefruit or standard “white” grapefruit. Only the diet supplemented with the red grapefruit was effective in significantly lowering triglycerides. Those eating the red grapefruit also lowered their LDL (“bad” cholesterol) by 20 percent, all the more impressive since all of the subjects had previously failed to benefit from cholesterol-lowering drugs! “Red grapefruit is higher in antioxidants, which may explain the difference in health benefits,” said study author Sheila Gorinstein, Ph.D.

Potential weight loss, cholesterol lowering, and anticancer benefits aside—and those are pretty big benefits to put aside—grapefruit is a good low-calorie source of potassium and vitamin C. It even has a drop of calcium and magnesium, 20 mg of phytosterols, and a gram or two of fiber. The red and pink varieties also have vitamin A, beta-carotene, and the aforementioned cancer-fighting lycopene.

WORTH KNOWING

Don’t take grapefruit juice with medicine. Why? It causes the medicine to stay in the bloodstream longer, which in some cases can boost the amount in your system to a dangerous high. Drugs that are affected include allergy medication (like Allegra), congestive heart failure medication (like Digoxin), blood pressure medicines and/or calcium channel blockers (like Cozaar, Plendil, Procardia, and Sular), epilepsy drugs (like Carbatrol and Tegretol), and cholesterol-lowering drugs (like Mevacor, Zocar, and Lipitor), but there are probably tons more, so if your med isn’t on that list, don’t take a chance. If you’re curious as to why this happens, three compounds in grapefruit belonging to a class called furocoumarins inhibit a key enzyme, CYP3A4, that metabolizes and regulates certain drugs. Researchers are actually hoping to turn these enzyme blockers into a kind of “super-pill” that can be given with prescription drugs to increase their bioavailability. But until that day, do not mix and match prescription meds with grapefruit juice! Multiple studies have also suggested that grapefruit juice raises the risk of kidney stones.

Grapes

Grapes are one of my favorite desserts, but my secret is this: I freeze them. Don’t knock it till you try it. They taste like little balls of sherbet, and they’re the perfect munchy finger food for watching late-night reruns of Seinfeld.

Grapes are a whole pharmacy of healthful nutrients, many of which are potentially life extending. Take resveratrol. Resveratrol is a compound found in red wine (and usually given the credit for red wine’s health-promoting properties), and in the skins of grapes.

Technically, if you want to know, resveratrol belongs to a class of compounds called phytoalexins, which are chemical substances produced by plants as a defense against attack by pathogenic microorganisms. But resveratrol doesn’t just protect the plants that make it. In humans, high resveratrol intake is associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and a reduced risk for cancer.

Scientists at the Illinois College of Pharmacy in Chicago found that resveratrol showed cancer-preventive activity in three major stages of tumor formation. Resveratrol also acted as an antimutagen, blocking other cell-changing agents from starting cancer. It’s also a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect cells against DNA-damaging free radicals.

Grapes Can Add Years to Your Life

Resveratrol may be one of the best antiaging substances around. Research by David Sinclair, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology at Harvard University Medical School, says the life span of all life forms tested so far—yeast cells, fruit flies, worms, and mice—have been dramatically lengthened by minute amounts of resveratrol. That’s one of the reasons resveratrol is touted (by me among others) as one of the best antiaging supplements you can take. But you don’t have to take a supplement to get your daily dosage of this antiaging compound. Just make grapes a part of your diet! The skins of the dark (red, purple) grapes are the best source.

The benefits of grapes don’t stop with resveratrol. Grape seeds and skins are also a huge source of a class of flavonoids called oligomeric proanthocyanidins, or OPCs. Proanthocyanidins are powerful antioxidants—several times more potent than vitamins C and E. They help protect against the effects of internal and environmental stresses (cigarette smoking, pollution). Additionally, studies have shown that OPCs may prevent cardiovascular disease by counteracting the negative effects of high cholesterol on the heart and blood vessels. The Physicians’ Desk Reference states that grape seed proanthocyanidins may be “cardioprotective,” a claim that was bolstered by a recent study in Spain showing that subjects who drank 100 ml of red grape juice every day for two weeks had significantly lowered LDL (“bad” cholesterol), increased HDL (“good” cholesterol), and decreased inflammatory markers. And OPCs (proanthocyanidins) are terrific for allergies. According to Dr. Gina Nick, who has written in the Townsend Newsletter for Doctors and Patients on the use of OPCs for allergy symptom relief, OPCs found in grapes have a natural antihistamine effect.

Eat Grapes in Moderation

Many folks are concerned about the sugar in grapes, and yes, the carb count is moderately high if you’re watching your carbs. But the glycemic index is moderate, and much more important, the glycemic load—the only number you need to worry about—is moderately low (under 10). The trick is not to overeat them, which is sometimes difficult. One cup contains 106 calories (and 1 cup disappears really quickly!). Grapes have small amounts of calcium and magnesium, vitamins C, A, and K, and a decent amount (294 mg) of potassium. I recommend eating them seeds and all. Too many amazing health-promoting compounds have been extracted from the seeds to throw them away.

A number of grape seed oil vendors have claimed that grape seed oil is high in OPCs (proanthocyanadins). However, independent studies have indicated that grape seed oil is actually the grape product with the lowest concentration of OPCs. I don’t recommend grape seed oil in any case. According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, the toxins of a plant (like the toxins in an animal) are concentrated in its fat, and a plant’s fatty acids are concentrated in its seeds. Until someone makes an organic, unrefined grape seed oil free of the chemicals most commercial grapes are grown with, buying grape seed oil isn’t advised.

WORTH KNOWING

Unfortunately, the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put imported grapes on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. The organization suggests you buy organic. I agree.

Guava

Guavas are fragrant, delicious tropical fruits that many Americans know only because they’re frequently used in jellies. But these red-fleshed (and sometimes white-fleshed) fruits pack an amazing nutritional wallop. New government research demonstrates that guava may indeed deserve a place among the antioxidant elite. On one widely used test of antioxidant power called the ORAC test, guava beat out strawberries, spinach, and broccoli. (Both the red and the white-fleshed types of guava scored in the top ten fruits and vegetables tested, but the red flesh had a higher antioxidant score.)

Let’s start with the number-one-with-a-bullet reason why guava is such a superstar: lycopene.

Lycopene in Guava Fights Prostate and Breast Cancers

Guava has a higher concentration of the carotenoid lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable. Tomatoes are the main way Americans get their lycopene, but guavas are an even better source. (A cup of guava has 17 percent more lycopene than an equivalent amount of tomatoes.) Why do we care? Consider this: In laboratory experiments, lycopene has been found to provide more protection against free radicals than any other member of the entire carotenoid family (and that includes beta-carotene!).

And lycopene may save lives. It’s an antioxidant that, once absorbed by the body, helps prevent and repair damaged cells. Antioxidants are the internal bodyguards that protect our cells from DNA-damaging free radicals. The degenerative effects of free radicals include—but are not limited to—cancer. Free radicals can also cause blockages in the arteries, joint deterioration, nervous system degradation, and aging.

There is promising research showing that lycopene is associated with significant reduction in prostate cancer. As far back as 1995, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of a study conducted by Harvard University researchers that looked at the eating habits of more than 47,000 men between the ages of forty and seventy-five. They found that the men eating ten servings or more a week of high-lycopene tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, and even pizza had 45 percent fewer prostate cancers than men who ate fewer than two servings a week. In another study, done a few years later at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, researchers gave lycopene supplements to thirty men who already had prostate cancer. Those given the lycopene supplements had smaller tumors and less spreading of the cancer. Best of all, the tumors in the participants who consumed lycopene supplements showed signs of regression and decreased malignancy.

Lycopene also inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells; in research, it has suppressed and delayed breast tumors in mice. And according to studies with Lithuanian and Swedish people, lower blood lycopene levels are also associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Cooked or Uncooked, You Get All the Benefits of Guava

More lycopene is absorbed from cooked or processed tomatoes than from raw ones because their cell walls are tough and heat and processing breaks them down. According to my friend Dr. C. Leigh Broadhurst of the USDA, the same isn’t true of guavas, whose cell walls are much less tough. Unlike tomatoes, you’ll get all the benefits of guava, the lycopene superstar, with or without cooking.

But it’s not just lycopene that makes guava a superstar. It’s also potassium. This fruit is a potassium heavyweight. One little cup of guava cubes gives you a whopping 688 mg of potassium. (Just for comparison, that’s 63 percent more than a medium banana!) A ton of studies show that people who eat potassium-rich foods have lower rates of heart disease and stroke. Potassium is a also a key component of healthy blood pressure. According to the latest studies, people who regularly consume high-potassium foods have lower blood pressure than those who don’t. A recent review of thirty-three studies examined the effect of potassium on blood pressure, and researchers discovered that participants who added 2,340 mg of potassium daily (from foods, supplements, or both) were able to lower their risk of developing high blood pressure by 25 percent. The reductions were ultimately greatest for people who already had high blood pressure. Another possible benefit of potassium: It may protect against stroke. One study found that people with high blood pressure who had a daily serving of potassium-rich foods (like figs) decreased their risk of fatal stroke by 40 percent.

Potassium Is Just the Beginning: Guava Is Also High in Fiber and Vitamin C

There’s just no end to what this fruit has to offer. It’s really high in fiber. (In fact, if this fruit did nothing more than offer the amount of fiber it does, it might make the top 150 list on that alone.) The same 1 cup of fruit we’ve been talking about delivers almost 9 g of fiber, making it a high-fiber food in anyone’s book. High-fiber diets have been associated with lower rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

And if all that weren’t enough, 1 cup of guava delivers an amazing 376 mg of vitamin C, making it a heavyweight in that department as well. Plus it offers 81 mcg of folate, a decent amount of calcium and magnesium, and a significant amount of vitamin A (1,030 IUs) and beta-carotene (617 mcg). Fruit really doesn’t get much better than this.

With all of these powerful nutrients, it is no wonder that a study from the Heart Research Laboratory in India demonstrated that people who ate five to nine guavas a day—about 2 to 3cups—for three months reduced their cholesterol levels by 10 percent, triglycerides by 8 percent, and blood pressure by 9.0/8.0 mm Hg, while boosting their “good” cholesterol (HDL) by 8 percent.

WORTH KNOWING

It’s interesting to note that the leaves of the guava plant, though they are not eaten, have a huge history of medicinal uses. Guava leaves are in the Dutch Pharmacopoeia for the treatment of diarrhea, and the leaves are still used for diarrhea in Latin America, Central and West Africa, and Southeast Asia. In Peruvian herbal medicine systems today the plant is employed for diarrhea, gastroenteritis, gastric disorders, and menstrual pain. Indians throughout the Amazon make a leaf decoction—a tea made by boiling the leaves—and use it for mouth sores and bleeding gums. A decoction is also recommended as a gargle for sore throats, laryngitis, and swelling of the mouth, and is used externally for skin irritations and discharges. A Chinese study published in 2004 noted that the guava leaves contained “remarkably high phenolic content.”

Honeydew

Honeydew melon may not be as loaded with vitamins and minerals as cantaloupe, but it’s still a high-volume food that’s both nutritious and potentially useful in a weight loss program.

All melons are high-volume foods. That means that for a given amount of weight, they contain a relatively high amount of water, fiber, and air (and a relatively low number of calories.) Why should it matter? Consider this:

Eat Honeydew to Control Your Appetite

Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., a nutrition researcher at Pennsylvania State University, has done a ton of research on appetite and appetite control. In study after study, Rolls found that people basically ate about 3 pounds of food a day, regardless of whether the food was high calorie or low calorie. After about 3 pounds, people stopped eating. They’d eat nearly identical servings of food (by weight), whether it was honeydew (high volume) or cheesecake (low volume). Most important, the subjects in her studies felt just as full after the low-calorie meals as they did after the calorie-rich meals—provided both meals contained the same volume of food.

Bottom line: Foods with high volume and low calories—that is, foods with a lot of water and fiber—are your best friend in a weight control program.

Honeydew is truly a high-volume food. For goodness’ sake, an entire half melon has only 180 calories, way less than most desserts. (A more typical serving is a wedge, or maybe a quarter of a melon.) About 90 percent of the melon is water. But, as Rolls has shown in research study after research study, that water in the melon goes a long way toward filling you up. (And by the way—water in foods seems to do this more than water that you drink alongside foods. Hence melons and soups do a better job of appetite control than solid food plus a glass of water. No one really knows why.)

But honeydew’s not a great food just because it’s high-volume and low-calorie, though that certainly gives it points. It’s also a potassium and vitamin A heavyweight. One little cup of melon balls gives you a whopping 404 mg of potassium (not to mention a little calcium and magnesium and 31 mg of vitamin C). A ton of studies show that people who eat potassium-rich foods have lower rates of heart disease and stroke. Potassium is also a key component of a healthy blood pressure. According to the latest studies, people who regularly consume high-potassium foods have lower blood pressure than those who don’t. A recent review of thirty-three studies examined the effect of potassium on blood pressure, and researchers discovered that participants who added 2,340 mg of potassium daily (from foods, supplements, or both) were able to lower their risk of developing high blood pressure by 25 percent. The reductions were ultimately greatest for people who already had high blood pressure. Another possible benefit of potassium: It may protect against stroke. One study found that people with high blood pressure who had a daily serving of potassium-rich foods (like figs) decreased their risk of fatal stroke by 40 percent.

Honeydew also makes an amazing juice. Like canteloupe and watermelon, it can be combined with other melons and with sparkling water for a terrific summer cooler. Try adding some ginger and mint to the mix.

NOTE: Crenshaw and casaba melons are pretty similar nutritionally to the honeydew. All are high in potassium; have a little calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C; and are mostly water, low in calories, and utterly delicious.

Kiwifruit

According to my friend Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., the internationally acclaimed expert in integrative medicine and author of Food as Medicine, the kiwifruit is one of the most underrated healing foods. “Because of their rich array of disease-fighting antioxidants and phytonutrients, they are often prescribed in yoga nutritional therapy to help fight cancer and heart disease,” he says.

Kiwis Have Twice the Vitamin C of Oranges

I’m not surprised. A study conducted at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, evaluated the nutritional value of twenty-seven different fruits to determine, ounce for ounce, which provides the most nutrition. The results? Kiwifruit, with an index of 16, was found to be the most nutrient dense of all fruits. (Second place was papaya at 14, and third place was a tie between mango and orange, which both scored 11.) Kiwi has the highest level of vitamin C, almost twice that of an orange, and is also a decent source of magnesium. Two medium kiwifruits have almost 5 g of fiber. And kiwi—along with papaya and apricot—outranked bananas and oranges as the top low-sodium, high-potassium food!

Another study in the Journal of Medicinal Food examined nine different fruits and fruit juices and reported that eight of them—including kiwi—exhibited significant ability to reduce oxidative stress (damage from free radicals) in human plasma. This ability of kiwi to protect against cellular damage was confirmed in yet another study in Carcinogenesis that was even more promising: In the Carcinogenesis study, not only did the kiwifruit limit the amount of oxidative damage to DNA, but it also stimulated cellular repair of the damage that did occur! Even better, the effect of kiwifruit on DNA damage and repair was seen when it was simply added to a normal diet, and the effects were seen across a whole group of volunteers and in a very short time!

Kiwi Works as a Blood Thinner, with None of Aspirin’s Side Effects

In research at the University of Oslo in Norway, kiwi has been shown to promote heart health by working as a blood thinner. This latter ability is really important, considering how many people are told to take an aspirin a day for the same purpose. According to gastroenterologist and author of Optimal Digestion Dr. Trent Nichols, daily aspirin can cause small breaks in the intestinal walls, contributing to all sorts of problems. In the Norway study, lead researcher Dr. Asim Duttaroy noted that it was unlikely that kiwi would create any of the risk factors associated with aspirin such as stomach pain, excessive bruising, or bleeding. Kiwi also doesn’t disrupt the effects of any other medication. Can you imagine how great it would be to find natural food substances and supplements that accomplish the same cardiovascular protections as some medicines do, without any of the side effects?

Kiwifruits look like little brown furry eggs, and are native to China, though they’re now grown in Australia, New Zealand, and California. The little black seeds inside are completely edible, and the kiwi makes a great addition to fresh juice. If you juice them unpeeled, and with the seeds, they are rich in healthy enzymes.

Consumption of fresh fruits rich in vitamin C has been shown to be beneficial in protecting against respiratory symptoms associated with asthma and to help with wheezing symptoms in children. Kiwi has one of the highest vitamin C contents of any fruit.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put kiwifruit on its 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

Lemons/Limes

“When life gives you a lemon . . . squeeze it, mix with 6 ounces of water, and drink twice daily.” That folk wisdom was first reported by Jethro Kloss in his classic book, Back to Eden. And he was on to something.

Lemons

Lemons are another of those fruits that has been used in folk remedies for as long as anyone can remember and whose health benefits are now being documented in the science lab (I love when that happens!). Back when I was a musician, I remember all the singers drinking hot water and lemon for their throats; the “Master Cleanse,” a folk remedy for detoxification that has been endorsed by my friend the great integrative physician Elson Haas, M.D., contains nothing but hot water, grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and the juice of organic lemons. My good friend Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., has long used hot water and lemon as a staple in all her dietary programs, largely for its positive effects on the liver, the bile, and digestion. And according to naturopath Andrew Rubman, N.D., a ½ of lemon juice daily raises the level of citrate in the body, which may help in fighting kidney stones. (NOTE: Other citrus juices do not have this effect; grapefruit juice has the opposite effect and should be avoided if you’re prone to kidney stones.)

Lemon Peel and Hot Black Tea for Reduced Risk of Skin Cancer

Most of us know that lemons, like other citrus fruits, are a great source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory agent. For that reason alone, lemons would be a healthy fruit. But lemons also have been found to have two other compounds—a group of chemicals called limonoids, and specifically a compound called limonene, both of which have documented anticancer properties. Limonene is found in the peel and has been shown in studies to be chemopreventive against mammary, liver, lung, and UV-induced skin cancer, and chemotherapeutic against mammary and pancreatic tumors. A recent study from the University of Arizona concluded that when citrus peel is consumed with hot black tea, the risk of skin cancer is reduced by 30 percent (amazing how these traditional combinations—tea and lemon, for example—keep being validated by science, isn’t it?). And it doesn’t take much limonene to get the value. According to the researchers, consuming 1 tablespoon a week of the grated peel is all you really need to make a significant difference. One good idea: When making lemonade, use the whole fruit, including the peel! And don’t be afraid to make fresh juice with a juicer, using the whole fruit.

Meanwhile, another limonoid in lemon, limonin, seems to be able to lower cholesterol. Stay tuned as more research unfolds.

WORTH KNOWING

There are two basic types of lemons—acidic and sweet. While the acidic types, Eureka and Lisbons, are the most widely available, the sweet types are becoming increasingly more available, though they’re used primarily as ornamental fruit.

Limes saved Lives

Back in the days when the maritime explorers started penetrating the Indian and Pacific Oceans, huge numbers of crew members were being lost to scurvy. Vasco da Gama lost two-thirds of his crew to the disease while making his way to India in 1499. Magellan lost 80 percent of his crew while crossing the Pacific. The symptoms of scurvy weren’t pretty: skin black as ink, ulcers, difficult respiration, teeth falling out, and perhaps most revolting of all, a strange mass of gum tissue sprouting out of the mouth. Not anything you’d want to have.

Now we know that scurvy was a vitamin deficiency disease, mainly of vitamin C, and sometimes compounded by an overdose of vitamin A from eating seals’ livers. Only when Captain James Cook of England insisted on feeding his crew sauerkraut and lime juice to fight scurvy (based on studies done by Dr. James Lind in 1747) did the death rate begin to go down. But it was not until 1795 that lime juice rations were provided for all sailors in the Royal Navy, and to this day, British sailors are known as “limeys.”

Limes don’t differ a lot from lemons in their nutritional value. They’re hardly a nutritional powerhouse, but they’re a good source of vitamin C, add a nice tart taste to foods and drinks, and can be substituted for lemons in most dishes.

WORTH KNOWING

Citrus fruits are among the dozen or so most allergenic foods—not as high on the list as wheat and dairy, but they can pose a problem for some sensitive people.

Mangoes

Mangoes are known as the “king of fruit,” and it’s easy to understand why: They’re just plain delicious. They originated in Southeast Asia and have been growing for more than 4,000 years; legend has it that Buddha found tranquility in a mango grove. In India, the mango tree plays a sacred role: It’s a symbol of love, and some believe the tree can grant wishes. Many Southeast Asian kings and nobles had their own mango groves, which were a source of great pride and status. That’s where the custom of sending gifts of the choicest mangoes began.

Mangoes are a “high-volume” food, meaning they contain a high percentage of water, so you get a lot of food for a relatively few number of calories (135 for a whole mango). Mangoes have a lot of potassium, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, plus they have some vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as a smattering of other nutrients. They’re believed to be a rich source of enzymes, making them ideal to use as a tenderizing agent and perfect for marinades. And one mango contains more than 3½ g of fiber.

Choosing the Best Mango

Picking out a mango to buy is pretty easy. The ripe ones have a full, fruity aroma coming from the stem end. When they’re slightly soft to the touch and yielding to gentle pressure, they’re considered ready to eat. The best way to ripen them is at room temperature, though you can hasten the process by putting them in a paper bag. (Some folks put an apple in the bag with the mango because it further decreases the ripening time by creating more natural ethylene gas.) They have the most flavor if you eat them at room temperature, though you can refrigerate them if you like.

Mangoes are another of the tropical fruits that got a bad reputation among the low-carb folks due to their sugar content. While it’s true that a whole mango contains 30 g of (natural) sugar, and people with blood sugar concerns may have to watch their intake of fruit, mangoes don’t actually have a very high glycemic load, weighing in at about 8 (under 10 is considered “low,” over 20 is considered “high”).

NOTE: Pureed mango can be frozen and used for all kinds of good things like shakes and healthy “slurpees.” Aliena’s, a gourmet restaurant in Chicago, serves little disks of frozen mango puree with frozen sesame oil in the center, a dollop of soy on top in the middle, and shaved bonito over the whole thing. A home run!

WORTH KNOWING

According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, mangoes—along with poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac—all contain urushinol, a toxic resin that can cause contact dermatitis. The peel and the juice seem to be the problem rather than the flesh. It’s possible—though not common—that eating mangos to excess could cause itching or skin eruptions. On a good note, the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put mangoes on its 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

Oranges

A few years ago, when the low-carb craze was “sweeping the country,” there were rumblings that an association of citrus growers was threatening to sue low-carb diet docs who were claiming that orange juice was not much more than sugar water. At the time, my book Living the Low-Carb Life: Choosing the Diet That’s Right for You was a bestseller, so Fox News asked me to be a talking head on one of their magazine shows, debating another talking head representing the orange growers.

On my way to the studio I picked up a well-known brand of “single-serving” orange juice drink from the local 7-11. Shortly after the “debate” began, I simply held the bottle up, and read the ingredients out loud. As I recall, the first two ingredients were water and sugar and the total carb (sugar) content was somewhere around 50 g. But wait, said my opponent. Look how much better it is than soda! “Better than soda?” I said. “Yes. Does that make it ‘good’? No. It makes it ‘better than soda.’”

Game over.

Orange Juice Can’t Compete with Whole Oranges

Don’t get me wrong. Real, squeezed orange juice isn’t all bad. In fact, the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, which included more than 87,000 people, showed a 25 percent lower risk of stroke in those who drank one glass of orange juice a day (though those results may have been due to other healthy habits of the juice drinkers). And many of the cancer-fighting limonoids (see below) are also present in the juice. But compared to the whole fruit, orange juice is a second-class citizen and contributes far too much sugar to our diet; it doesn’t hold a candle to the health benefits of the whole orange.

So no, I’m not much of a fan of orange juice, especially not “orange juice drink.” I am, however, a huge fan of oranges, for a host of reasons of which vitamin C is only the first. Vitamin C, of course, is one of the premier antioxidants on the planet, maintaining the health of cells and helping to protect them against damage from destructive molecules known as free radicals, which are linked to cancer, DNA damage, and aging. But though the orange is famous for its vitamin C content (63.5 mg per medium fruit), it actually has more than 170 cancer-fighting phytochemicals and 60 flavonoids, making it a complete package of health-promoting goodness.

Orange Therapy

Oranges contain limonoids, phytochemicals abundant in citrus fruit that account for the scent of fresh lemon and orange peels. (Many of the plants used in traditional healing, such as the neem plant, are rich in limonoids.) Currently limonoids are under investigation for a wide variety of therapeutic effects such as antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antineoplastic, and antimalarial. In laboratory tests with animals and with human cells, citrus limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon. And a metabolic by-product of these limonoids called limonin remains in the bloodstream for up to twenty-four hours, helping to explain some of its ability to fight cancer cells. Early research has speculated that limonin may help lower cholesterol—Agricultural Research Service scientists are now investigating its cholesterol-lowering ability.

In addition to limonoids, oranges have other polyphenols that have been shown to have a wide range of benefits. Hesperidin, for example, is the predominant flavonoid in oranges; it strengthens the capillaries and has anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, vasoprotective, and anticarcinogenic actions. Hesperidin works together with vitamin C to protect the heart, combat cancer, and fight infection. Together, these two powerful antioxidants also reduce the risk of stroke, lower high blood pressure, reduce inflammation, lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Oranges also contain additional heart-health promoters, including blood pressure–lowering potassium, cholesterol-lowering pectin fibers, and homocysteine-lowering folate. Plus, the heart is protected by the orange-yellow carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin. Numerous studies have shown that citrus fruits lower the risk of many cancers. To top it off, oranges contain calcium to promote strong bones and teeth. One medium orange also contains a nice 3.4 g of fiber, another benefit of eating the fruit instead of just drinking the juice.

Don’t Forget: Pulp Is Your Friend

The thing to remember is that a lot of these healthy compounds like the limonoids are found in the white stuff that surrounds the orange, or even in the peel. That’s another reason I prefer eating (or juicing) the whole orange. If you do juice, remember that the pulp is your friend—don’t throw it away. If you want to make orange juice and your juicer is one of those powerhouses that can handle it, throw the whole fruit in, peel and all.

WORTH KNOWING

Though the nutritional content is a little different and so is the flavonoid profile, all citrus fruits in the orange family—navels, mandarin oranges, tangerines, tangelos, etc.—have benefits. Tangerines, for example, contain a citrus flavonoid called nobiletin, which in one study was found to “prevent atherosclerosis at the level of the vascular wall by inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation.” Translation: Tangerines are good for you, and you should eat them.

Papaya

When I was growing up in New York, far away from the tropical home of this great fruit, I remember going into the hot dog and papaya stands known as “Orange Julius” and discovering the taste of this exotic fruit, which the guys behind the counter would actually throw fresh into blenders that were churning 24/7. I didn’t know anyone who didn’t like the taste of it then, and I still don’t. It wasn’t for nothing that Christopher Columbus called papaya the “fruit of the angels.”

Papaya Enzymes Ease Digestion, Pain, and Inflammation

Papaya—along with pineapple—is one of the best sources of digestive enzymes. Papaya contains papain, one of a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes that help break down or digest protein. Papain is often extracted from papaya and used in digestive enzyme supplements as well as in enzyme supplements that are used for pain (arthritis, sports injuries). Papain may have anti-inflammatory properties.

Papaya is a potassium heavyweight. One medium papaya—which you can easily eat by yourself—contains 781 mg of potassium and only 119 calories, not to mention 5.5 mg of fiber. (A cup of cubed fruit has only 55 calories and still contains 360 mg of potassium, as well as 34 mg of calcium, 2.5 g of fiber, 86.5 mg of vitamin C, 53 mcg of folate, more than 1,500 IUs of vitamin A, 386 mcg of beta-carotene, and 105 mcg of the eye-protecting carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Figure there’s a little more than 2 cups of fruit in one medium papaya.) And papaya could easily be considered an immune system–building fruit since vitamin C and vitamin A are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system.

Reduce Your Lung Cancer Risk by 30 Percent

Papaya is also a great source of the lesser-known cousin of beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin. (One medium fruit contains 2,313 mcg.) Beta-cryptoxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family that seems to reduce the risk of lung and colon cancer. Studies have shown that beta-cryptoxanthin can reduce the risk of lung cancer by more than 30 percent. Other studies have shown that it reduces the risk for rheumatoid arthritis as well (by 41 percent in one study). It also appears to have strong antioxidant properties.

There are about fifty varieties of papayas, many of which are inedible and not sold commercially, and they can range from 8 ounces to—believe it or not—20 pounds. Most common commercial varieties, such as the Hawaiian Solo, are on the small side. Papayas with reddish flesh have a taste that differs from that of the orange-fleshed types, which are sweeter. The babáco, a natural papaya hybrid from Ecuador, is often canned or made into jam, but if you can find it, it’s also good eaten fresh.

If you buy papayas green and firm, they will probably not ripen, but you can use them in cooking (they can be cooked like winter squash). For eating raw, choose fruit that’s free of black spots and skin damage. The spreading yellow color indicates that the fruit is softening and shows how far along it is in ripening. By the way, the black seeds inside are edible—they have a slightly bitter, peppery taste.

WORTH KNOWING

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put papaya on its 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

Peaches

Peaches are my idea of a nice, generic fruit. Maybe they’re not the nutritional superstar of the fruit community, but they sure meet all the requirements of a healthy food. Low calorie, 1½ grams of fiber, small but measurable amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins C and K, plus not insignificant amounts of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and potassium. And peaches contain a little beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid with some anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. They even have a smattering of lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoids now considered the superstars of eye nutrition.

Not bad for a mere 38 calories per medium-size fruit. And just for good measure, they have a low glycemic load—the impact a food has on your blood sugar.

The New Superbreed of Peaches

In coming years, peaches may even reach “superstar” status, if researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station have anything to say about it. “The trend is to develop varieties that have more health benefits, because the public is becoming more health conscious and making decisions based on that,” said Dr. David Byrne, experiment station researcher who has been breeding peaches for about twenty years. “Twenty years ago, the [breeding] emphasis was on big and pretty. That’s still important, but now we are looking at quality and trying to develop peaches with better health benefits.” Peaches already rank high in some types of phytochemicals and have been shown to have good to excellent antioxidant activity, some antimicrobial activity, and good to excellent tumor growth inhibition activity.

Did I mention that they also happen to be delicious?

The peach originated in China, and the peach tree was the Tree of Life to the ancient Chinese. Both peaches and nectarines have to be picked ripe—they don’t ripen well after picking. You also have to be careful with them, as one small bruise and they’ll go bad. Clingstone peaches are ones in which the pit clings to the flesh; freestone peaches are ones where the pit breaks free.

WORTH KNOWING

Unfortunately, the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put peaches and nectarines on its 2003 list of twelve foods most contaminated with pesticides. The organization suggests you buy organic. I agree.

Pineapple

This delicious fruit not only looks healthy, but also it smells healthy. And most important, it is healthy. How can you miss?

Nutritionally, pineapple’s claim to fame is the fact that it contains bromelain, a rich source of enzymes that has many health benefits, including aiding digestion, speeding wound healing, and reducing inflammation. According to well-known integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil, bromelain is effective in treating bruises, sprains, and strains by reducing swelling, tenderness, and pain. It’s also a natural blood thinner, as it prevents excessive blood platelet stickiness.

The Good Stuff Is in the Stem

Because it’s a group of powerful digestive enzymes, bromelain can relieve indigestion. A member of the class of enzymes known as proteolytic enzymes, bromelain breaks down the amino acid bonds in protein. It’s often extracted from pineapple and is a key ingredient in most over-the-counter digestive enzymes. But the beneficial effects of bromelain are due to multiple factors, and many of those are as yet unknown. In recent research at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, two molecules—CCS and CCZ—were extracted from bromelain and shown to have promise in fighting cancer growth. Lead researcher Dr. Tracey Mynott said, “. . . [W]e discovered that the CCS and CCZ proteins . . . could block growth of a broad range of tumor cells, including breast, lung, colon, ovarian, and melanoma.” Remember that most of the extracts come from the inedible pineapple stem.

A cup of cubed fresh pineapple has almost 100 percent of the Daily Value for manganese, an essential trace mineral needed for healthy skin, bone, and cartilage formation, as well as for glucose tolerance. Manganese also helps activate an important antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD). Depending on the variety, pineapple also has between 25 and 50 mg of vitamin C, plus a smattering of other vitamins and minerals, including potassium. One cup contains about 2 g of fiber. And pineapple’s glycemic load—a measure of a food’s impact on your blood sugar—is relatively low.

WORTH KNOWING

Most of the bromelain is found in the stems—not necessarily something you’d actually eat. (The enzyme found in most supplements is extracted mainly from the stem.) But some is found in the fruit as well. Want proof? Try making a gelatin dessert with fresh pineapple. It’s the bromelain enzymes that prevent the gelatin from setting, leaving you with a runny mess. That said, those who are using bromelain for specific health reasons—digestion, anti-inflammation, blood thinning—might want to take supplements to get more bromelain than is found in the average serving of pineapple.

Bromelain has shown therapeutic benefits in doses as small as 160 mg per day, but for most conditions the best results are seen at 750 to 1,000 mg per day in divided doses, usually between meals.

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocate and protection nonprofit research organization, put pineapples on its 2003 list of twelve foods least contaminated with pesticides. Nice to know!

Prunes

Okay, honest answer: What’s the first thing you think of when I say “prunes”? Half the people I know think of shuffleboard courts, retirement colonies, and their ancient relatives sipping prune juice for “regularity.” But truth be told, this is one delicious fruit, and one of the best and easiest ways to get soluble fiber into your diet. And don’t underestimate the whole idea of “regularity”—though it’s hardly sexy, regular healthy bowel movements are a very good indication of good digestion, and since the gut is ground zero for both the immune system and nutrient absorption, they’re more important for ultimate well-being than you might think.

Prunes Are the Dried Version of European Plums

All prunes come from plums, but not every variety of plum can become a prune. Prunes are actually the dried version of European plums. But juicy plums can’t morph into prunes—the fermentation will spoil them before they can dry.

You can thank the California gold rush for domestic dried plums (another term for prunes). Though plum trees have been cultivated since ancient times, they weren’t introduced to North America till 1856, by a Frenchman. When he failed miserably at mining gold, he planted plum trees, covering California with more than 90,000 acres of orchards over the next thirty-five years.

Prunes are high in fiber, which is beneficial in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. Fiber is also important in reducing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, diabetes, and diverticular disease. High-fiber diets are usually much more successful for weight loss than low-fiber diets.

Prunes are also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and iron. They contain large amounts of phenolics, the general name for a huge and diverse group of plant compounds with numerous health benefits. The phenolics in prunes have high antioxidant activity. The two types of phytonutrients (nutrients from plants) found in plums and prunes, neochlorogenic acid and chlorogenic acid, are effective antioxidants, particularly effective against a very destructive free radical called the superoxide anion radical, which can really wreak havoc on the cells in your body.

Prunes Boast More Antioxidants Than Any Other Fruit

The damage-preventing substances in prunes have been shown to help prevent damage to fats. Since our cell membranes and brain cells are largely composed of fats, preventing free radical damage to fats is a significant benefit. Cholesterol is also a kind of fat, and in fact, is only a real danger to us when it gets oxidized (or damaged by free radicals) in the body. So anything helping to prevent this oxidation would be a very good thing. In actuality, prunes have the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of any food tested, which means that the compounds in prunes, working as a group, deliver more of a protective antioxidant punch than any other food tested. Prunes actually topped the list with more than twice the antioxidant capacity as other high-scoring fruits such as blueberries and raisins.

Raisins

Raisins are known as “nature’s candy.” According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, if you were to take 4 pounds of grapes and remove most of the water, you’d be looking at 1 pound of raisins. Wood also points out one of the good things about raisins is that their transformation from grapes takes place via an old-fashioned drying process called the sun (hence the commonly seen term “sun-dried raisins”), although some companies do it by a mechanical process of oven drying. Sun-dried foods have their own special mystique and energy. However, Wood also points out one of the not-so-good things about raisins: Most of the grapes they come from are grown with more chemical fertilizers and pesticides than any other fruit.

Since the raisins are basically concentrated grapes, they are believed to have the highest pesticide residue of any fruit. Which would be a good reason to go organic.

Raisins are high in phenols, plant compounds that have repeatedly been shown to have antioxidant activity and to help prevent damage to cells in the body from destructive molecules called free radicals. University of Scranton scientists found that raisins (as well as prunes, dried apricots, and cranberries) scored higher in phenol content than their fresh counterparts (dried dates and figs scored lower).

In a comprehensive study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Dr. Harold Miller and his colleagues analyzed the antioxidant content of cereals, fruits, and vegetables using a complicated scientific method that scores the foods in units called TEs (Trolox equivalents). The findings were surprising (Dr. Miller found that many popular vegetables tended to be relatively low in antioxidants). Of the fruits, his team found that red plums had the highest TE score (2200). Of the berries, blackberries won with 5500. Of the dried fruits, dates were highest at 6600 followed by good old raisins, weighing in at a whopping 6400! That’s a pretty darn high rating for antioxidant activity.

Boron Improves Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women

Raisins are also relatively high in boron, and are in fact among the top fifty contributors to total dietary boron in the U.S. diet. Boron is a mineral we don’t hear about a lot, but we should. It’s increasingly coming under scrutiny as an important mineral for the promotion of bone and joint health, particularly in women. In one study, twelve postmenopausal women were given a diet deficient in boron for 119 days, followed by a 48-day period in which they received 3-mg boron supplements daily. On the boron-deficient diet, the women experienced increased loss of both calcium and magnesium, but on the boron-supplemented diet the opposite was true. According to the Physicians’ Desk Reference, “Boron appears to be a very important partner with calcium metabolism and as such should be expected to play an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis.”

Raisins are also a source of flavonoids, including myricetin, one of the three most common flavonoids in the American diet. Myricetin may have anti-inflammatory activity, and in test tube studies has shown antitumor and antioxidant properties as well. It may also inhibit beta-amyloid fibril formation, a key problem with Alzheimer’s disease.

WORTH THINKING ABOUT

Raisins are a great example of what I call the “fallacy of the perfect friend.” All of us have a pal who’s really great for doing certain things with, but not so great for other things. For example, we might have a friend whom we can really open up to about our feelings, but maybe that friend is kind of useless when we’re looking for a tennis partner. Food is a lot like that. Some are really good for some things, but not so great for others. Raisins, for example. If you want a reasonably low-calorie snack, or an ingredient for trail mix that’s sweet; tastes great; has got a smattering of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, a decent amount of potassium, and 1½ grams and fiber; and packs a nice antioxidant punch, reach for that little ubiquitous box. On the other hand, if you’re trying to control blood sugar and you need to cut back on carbs, raisins might not the perfect choice.

Raspberries

Raspberries deserve a place of honor on the healthy foods list if for no other reason than the fact that they are a high-fiber powerhouse. For a measly 64 calories a cup, they provide—get this—8 g of dietary fiber, making them calorie for calorie one of the most high-fiber foods on the planet. (You’d have to eat more than 100 calories’ worth of black beans to get the same amount of fiber.)

But the benefits of raspberries hardly stop with the fiber. Raspberries have calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, and bone-building vitamin K. And, if you’re watching your carbs, only about 7 g of “net” carbs (the kind that count) per cup. But that’s just what shows up on the nutrition facts label. There’s way more to this picture than meets the eye.

Raspberries’ Ellagic Acid Fights Cancer Cells with No Damage to Healthy Cells

Raspberries are one of the best sources on the planet of ellagic acid. Ellagic acid, also found in cherries and strawberries, has been shown in animal research and in laboratory models to inhibit the growth of tumors caused by certain carcinogens. A publication by the American Cancer Society called “The American Cancer Society’s Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods” says that ellagic acid is a very promising natural supplement because it causes apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells in the lab, with no change to healthy, normal cells. Here’s how it works: Healthy cells have a normal life cycle of approximately 120 days before they die. This process is called apoptosis (natural cell death). The body replaces the dying cells with healthy cells, and life goes on. But with cancer cells, no such luck. Instead of dying, they multiply by division, making two, then four, then eight cancer cells (and so on). In lab tests, ellagic acid caused the cancer cells to go through the normal apoptosis process without doing damage to healthy cells. (Remember, chemotherapy and radiation cause the death of cancer cells also, but they leave some powerful side effects.) No one is saying that ellagic acid cures cancer—but it’s interesting and promising that it has shown such beneficial activity in the lab. Perhaps it will turn out to benefit humans as well. According to studies posted on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Web site, ellagic acid also has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Raspberries Could Be a Natural Arthritis Treatment

Raspberries also contain anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have the ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase, a compound produced in the body in two or more forms, called COX-1 and COX-2. COX-2 is built only in special cells and is used for signaling pain and inflammation. It was the ability of arthritis drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex to inhibit COX-2 that made them effective. Unfortunately, at least in the case of Vioxx, side effects were dangerous enough to cause it to be withdrawn from the market. Anthocyanins have no such side effects. Research conducted at Michigan State University investigated a range of fruits and berries for the level and activity of anthocyanins found in each. The yield of pure anthocyanins in raspberries was the second highest of all the fruits tested (cherries were first, but not by much). And anthocyanins also have significant antioxidant activity as well.

Raspberries are fragile. They’ll turn to pulp if you hold them in your hand too long. So if you buy them fresh, handle carefully and eat soon.

You can also get them frozen, and they’re great in shakes.

WORTH KNOWING

Unfortunately, raspberries were on the Environmental Working Group’s list of twelve most consistently contaminated (with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals) fruits and vegetables. I’d consider putting them on my “buy organic” list.

Strawberries

Strawberries, like all berries, are a real health bonanza. All berries—strawberries, blueberries, raspberries—contain chemicals found to protect cells against cervical and breast cancer. Researchers at Clemson University tested freeze-dried fruit extracts against two cultures of aggressive cervical cancer lines and two breast cancer cell lines. Extracts from strawberry and blueberry significantly decreased the growth of cervical and breast cancer cells.

In fact, preliminary data (reported on the USDA Web site) suggest that phytochemicals from strawberries (and blueberries) inhibit steps in tumor initiation. In addition, a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry analyzed eight types of strawberries for their content of protective plant compounds like phenols and anthocyanins, as well as for their antioxidant capacity. All eight types of strawberries were able to significantly inhibit the proliferation of human liver cancer cells. And a number of other analyses have shown that strawberries have potent antioxidant action.

Strawberries also contain ellagic acid, which you may have read about in my discussion on cherries and raspberries. Research since 1968 has shown that ellagic acid has anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activity. Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic compound in many plants, especially strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Ellagic acid has been shown in animal research and in laboratory models to inhibit the growth of tumors caused by certain carcinogens. A publication by the American Cancer Society called “The American Cancer Society’s Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods” says that ellagic acid is a very promising natural supplement because it causes apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells in the lab, with no change to healthy, normal cells.

Strawberry Compound May Improve Short-Term Memory

Compounds in strawberries may also protect your brain and memory. Researchers at Tufts University and the USDA published a study in the Journal of Neuroscience showing that animals that consumed an extract of blueberries, strawberries, and spinach every day had significant improvements in short-term memory. The rats that received the fruit and vegetable extracts learned faster than the other rats, and their motor skills improved significantly. This study was the first to show that fruits and vegetables actually reverse dysfunctions in behavior and nerve cells. The extracts also protected their little blood vessels against damage.

Strawberries also contain anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have the ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase, a compound produced in the body in two or more forms, called COX-1 and COX-2. COX-2 is built only in special cells and is used for signaling pain and inflammation. It was the ability of arthritis drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex to inhibit COX-2 that made them effective. Unfortunately, at least in the case of Vioxx, side effects were dangerous enough to cause it to be withdrawn from the market. Anthocyanins have no such side effects. Though the anthocyanin content in strawberries isn’t as high as that in cherries or raspberries, it’s still significant. And anthocyanins have significant antioxidant activity as well.

A cup of strawberries has only about 50 calories and delivers about 3 g of fiber. It has calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, plus a very nice dose of vitamin C (about 85 mg).

WORTH KNOWING

Unfortunately, strawberries were on the Environmental Working Group’s list of twelve most consistently contaminated (with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals) fruits and vegetables. I’d consider putting them on my “buy organic” list.

Watermelon

Watermelon owes its claim to fame as one of the world’s healthiest foods to three facts: One, its high water content (about which more in a moment); two, its high content of lycopene; and three, its high levels of vitamin A and carotenoids, including the important but relatively unknown carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin.

Watermelon Is Extra Filling, Helps with Weight Loss

The fact that watermelon is mostly water falls squarely under the heading of “duh” for most people, but that’s a pretty important fact that’s only now beginning to be completely understood. At Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Barbara Rolls has been doing research for years on appetite, satiety, and weight loss, and her findings have been unequivocal: High-volume foods (defined as those that take up a lot of space for very few calories) are one of your best allies in the quest to lose weight. Watermelon is 92 percent water. Rolls has found that water as part of food has a very satisifying—and filling—effect. For example, soup made of vegetables and water will fill people up and cause them to eat fewer calories than the same amount of vegetables eaten along with a glass of water. “When you add water to a bowl of vegetables as in soup, the soup has greater satiety than when the vegetables are eaten alone with a glass of water,” Rolls says. “When water is incorporated into food or shakes, satiety is increased and (people) ultimately eat less food.”

So from that point of view alone, watermelon is the perfect food. When water is bound to food, it slows down absorption and lasts longer in the belly. Rolls’ research has shown that a high-volume eating plan produces more weight loss than a lowfat diet.

Lycopene in Watermelon May Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer

But water isn’t the only good thing about watermelon. Watermelon is a great source of a carotenoid called lycopene, which in several studies has been shown to be associated with lower rates of prostate cancer. In one study, at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University, men facing surgery for prostate cancer were given 30 mg of lycopene for three weeks before undergoing surgery. The men who received the lycopene supplement had lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and less aggressive tumors than the nonsupplemented control group. Plus, their tumors were smaller. Other studies have shown that people who eat lots of tomatoes and tomato products have less prostate cancer, a fact that has largely been attributed to the high lycopene content of tomatoes. And in a review of seventy-two studies, one researcher reported fifty-seven associations between blood lycopene levels and reduced rates of cancer, thirty-five of which were statistically significant. The benefit was strongest for prostate, lung, and stomach cancers, although protective associations were also found for cancers of the pancreas, colon, rectum, esophagus, oral cavity, breast, and cervix.

Other researchers have pointed out that lycopene supplements may or may not give the desired effect—there’s good reason to think these incredible plant compounds work best when found in their natural surroundings along with other food ingredients (like other carotenoids). That’s another reason I like watermelon—it contains a nice supporting cast of other carotenoids and sources of vitamin A like beta-carotene and the less well-known beta-cryptoxanthin. In one study, beta-cryptoxanthin reduced the risk of lung cancer by 30 percent; in another study, it provided a 41 percent reduction in the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. And in rats, beta-cryptoxanthin has been found to have a bone-building effect.

High on Watermelon?

Interesting story: My friend, the great integrative medicine expert and yogi Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., sings the praises of watermelon as a detoxifier. Khalsa recounts a visit to Brazil in which he went on a watermelon fast: “After just three days I was very tuned in and meditating very deeply. This was one of the greatest highs I have ever experienced. When I boarded the plane for home, I was definitely in an altered state.”

Watermelon: low calorie, high volume, filling, satisfying, thirst quenching, and with a nice dose of vitamin A and carotenoids, including cancer-fighting lycopene. Plus it’s absolutely delicious. What’s not to like?

WORTH KNOWING

Watermelon, like carrots, is another of those foods with a bad reputation in the weight loss world based simply on having a high glycemic index. Yes, watermelon has a high glycemic index (72)—but its glycemic load, which is the far more important number, is a ridiculously low 4. Unless your doctor specifically tells you to avoid it, I see no reason not to incorporate watermelon into a weight loss diet.

Fruit Runners-Up

Bitter Melon

Bitter melon is actually not a melon, but a cucumber-shaped summer squash grown in tropical areas such as Africa, Asia, and South America. It’s also known as balsam pear. By either name, it’s a great source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and manganese. But its real claim to fame is its ability to lower blood sugar.

Historically, bitter melon has been used to treat a whole assortment of conditions ranging from common infections to diabetes. In China, India, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, bitter melon is widely used for diabetics. It actually contains a number of compounds that have proven antidiabetic properties, including a compound known as charantin. According to the highly respected naturopath Dr. Michael Murray, charantin is more potent than the drug Tolbutamide, which has been used to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. There are at least two other groups of constituents in bitter melon besides charantin—insulinlike peptides and alkaloids—that are reputed to have blood sugar–lowering effects. It’s not completely clear which of the three is most effective or if they all work together. Nonetheless, science has pretty much confirmed the blood sugar–lowering action of the fresh juice of the unripe bitter melon.

Usually, the bitter-flavored unripe fruit is used as a vegetable. It can be cooked a number of different ways, including stir-fried, steamed, and curried. Some enthusiasts recommend it as part of a vegetable curry with eggplants and onions. Cooking mellows its bitter flavor, which is due largely to the quinine content. Bitter melon is sold by many Asian grocery stores and is sometimes available frozen.

WORTH KNOWING

Experts recommend that bitter melon be eaten moderately—if at all—during pregnancy.

Pears

Fiber and potassium in a delicious package for about 100 calories—the same description that might apply to a banana applies equally well to a pear. One medium pear has a really hefty 5 g of fiber, plus about 200 mg of potassium; a smattering of other minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium; 13 mg of phytosterols; and 75 mcg of eye-supporting lutein and zeaxanthin. Anjou, Bartlett, Bosc, and all the other varieties—including Asian pears—are pretty similar nutritionally.

When I was in New York hanging out with my friend the nationally known nutritionist and antiaging specialist Dr. Oz Garcia, he’d always make us detox drinks in a base of pear juice. While there’s no strong scientific evidence for this, many natural healers recommend pears and pear juice because they believe they’re less likely than other fruits to provoke any kind of allergenic response. I can’t prove that to you, but it seems to be the conventional wisdom. One of my favorite juice recipes is celery, pear, and ginger (see page 256).

If for no other reason, pears are a great food because of their high fiber content.

WORTH KNOWING

Pears are among the twelve foods on which pesticide residues have been most frequently found, according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2003 report, “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.” You might want to be sure to wash them in a strong vegetable wash, or buy organic.

Persimmons

Here’s an interesting little factoid about persimmons that you might not know (assuming you knew anything about them in the first place, which not a lot of people do!). The original “energy bar,” used by explorers and Native Americans, was something called pemmican. Pemmican is basically dried meat (jerky) mixed with wild nuts and berries and pressed into a bar (which is quite tasty, by the way, especially when it’s made with grass-fed beef). And one of the main fruits used in pemmican is persimmon.

You can buy persimmons in the grocery store, and they come in two basic flavors: astringent and nonastringent. It’s important to know which one you’re getting. The astringent kind needs to be soft and ripe before eating, or else it tastes horrible. The reason for this is the presence of tannins, a group of chemicals that are also in red wine and tea. Once the fruit ripens and gets soft, the tannins become inert and the taste is no longer astringent. (A cool way to ripen it quickly is to leave it in the freezer overnight and then allow it to thaw in the morning.) If you’ve accidentally tasted one of these “before its time,” you might think this is the worst fruit on the planet, but give it another shot once it’s soft. Without the tannins, it’s a whole different experience. The nonastringent kind, on the other hand, can be eaten firm or soft. Both kinds look like the plastic fruit you used to see on your grandmother’s dining room table, but they taste a lot better (unless, of course, you’re eating the astringent kind before it softens).

There are two basic varieties of persimmon: Hachiya (also called Japanese persimmon) and Fuyu. Hachiya is the most widely available persimmon in the United States, but it’s astringent, so remember to let it ripen. Fuyu are nonastringent, so you can eat them firm or soft. There’s also Sharon fruit (also called Israeli persimmon), which is round and sweet, and like Fuyu, can be eaten anytime.

PERSIMMON MAY LOWER BLOOD FATS

There are a couple of interesting studies on persimmons that are worth mentioning, even though they were done on rats. In one, a team of researchers led by Sheila Gorinstein from Hebrew University of Jerusalem supplemented the diet of two groups of rats with added cholesterol. One group of rats was also fed supplemental persimmon. Now normally, when you feed rats cholesterol, their blood fats rise—but in the group fed the persimmon, the blood fats rose a lot less than expected. In fact, the rats with the persimmon-supplemented diet had much lower “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipid peroxides (a measure of cellular damage caused by free radicals) than the rats that didn’t get the persimmon. The researchers concluded that persimmon possesses hypolipidemic properties (the ability to lower blood fats) as well as being a potent antioxidant (having the ability to protect against free radicals).

Both the persimmon pulp and the peel are good sources of fiber. A study published in Phytotherapy Research concluded that persimmon peel extract has potential therapeutic value as an antitumor agent. And persimmons have a number of carotenoids and polyphenols that have been shown to have health benefits. The fruit also contains potassium, magnesium, manganese, and iron.

Finally, a very interesting study done in South Korea found that polyphenols isolated from the persimmon leaf had an antiwrinkle effect when applied to human skin. I’m not sure you get those same benefits by eating the fruit, but, as they say, “It couldn’t hurt.”

Quince

What if it wasn’t the apple that Eve used to tempt Adam? Believe it or not, some historians think it might have been a quince. In fact, some people believe that a quince—not an apple—was the fruit that’s mentioned in the Song of Solomon. This makes sense, since the quince was actually cultivated before the apple and probably reached Palestine by 100 B.C.E.

While all that makes for nice folklore, the quince of today is hardly tempting to look at and is almost never eaten raw, especially in the United States, where its tannin content gives it a very astringent, tart taste. (In western Asia and tropical countries, the fruit is softer and juicier.) So quince is one of the few fruits that’s almost always eaten cooked. But stewed or baked, it’s a whole different story: Cooking brings out its unique flavor and makes it a really nice addition to various meat recipes or sweet dishes. It also makes a terrific fruit sauce, similar in texture to applesauce.

Quince is high in pectin, a kind of soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol and also delays the absorption of glucose (sugar) into the bloodstream. A single quince has more than 1½ g of fiber, plus 181 mg of potassium and 13 mg of vitamin C. While it’s not exactly a nutritional superstar, it’s a nice addition to your menu of healthy fruits to experiment with. The quince has a really powerful aroma, and if you leave it at room temperature, you’ll smell it for weeks. In ancient times they were used as room fresheners.

WORTH KNOWING

In the 1990s, a sweeter variety called the “apple quince” was developed, which can be eaten raw. Another unique version, the passé-crassane, is actually a pear-quince hybrid that was developed in Normandy. It is particularly useful in cooking because of its firm, grainy flesh, but it is also tasty eaten raw. And if you’re into making healthy jellies, jams, and preserves, the pectin content of quince makes it a perfect choice.

Star Fruit

This exotic-looking golden-yellow fruit, a native of Indonesia, is unique because each crosswise slice is a perfectly shaped star. Currently the major producers include Taiwan, Malaysia, Guyana, India, Philippines, Australia, Israel, and the United States (Florida and Hawaii).

Two types of star fruit are grown, tart and sweet. Tart varieties typically have narrowly spaced ribs, while sweet varieties tend to have thick, fleshy ribs. The tastes between the two are not as distinct as you might think, since the tart variety still has some sweetness. The sweet star fruit can be eaten right out of your hand, used as a dessert, or thrown into a salad. The tart kind is a great substitute for lemon or lime. Truly a tropical fruit, it’s readily available from July through February, at least in the United States.

Star fruit is a good source of vitamin C (45 mg per cup), potassium (176 mg per cup), and fiber. According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, star fruit is cooling and astringent, clears excess heat, and is very good for diarrhea. It’s also very low in calories.

According to research published in Food Chemistry, star fruit appears to be a good source of antioxidants. The major antioxidant present in the fruit’s extract is proanthocyanidins, most notably epicatechin, an antioxidant more commonly associated with green tea and red wine. That puts this lovely little fruit in very good company.

CHAPTER 5

Nuts, Seeds, and Nut Butters

The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is as true as it ever was, but we might have to expand the prescription to include a handful of nuts. People who eat nuts regularly are less likely to have heart attacks or to die from heart disease than those who don’t. Some of the largest and most important long-term studies such as the Nurses’ Health Study, the Iowa Women’s Health Study, and the Adventist Study, have shown a consistent 30 to 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks or heart disease associated with eating nuts several times a week.

Walter Willett, M.D., chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and arguably the most distinguished nutrition researcher of our time, suggests that there may be several mechanisms at work here. One of them may be the fact that nuts contain arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that is touted for its role in protecting the inner lining of the arterial walls, making them more pliable and less susceptible to atherogenesis.

Arginine is also needed to make a very important molecule called nitric oxide, which helps relax constricted blood vessels and ease blood flow. In addition, nuts are a great source of numerous phytonutrients—bioactive chemicals found in plants. These compounds have powerful health benefits, not the least of which are their antioxidant activity, which is linked to the prevention of coronary heart disease.

Nuts Are Full of Good Fat

One of the mechanisms that’s almost certainly responsible for the health benefits of nuts is their fat. Surprised? Don’t be. The fat in nuts is healthy fat. Most of it is monounsaturated (about which more in a moment). Some is polyunsaturated, and, in the case of walnuts (see page 162), a significant amount of it is a specific polyunsaturated fat known as omega-3, whose health benefits are legion. (Omega-3s have been the subject of more research than almost any food component I know of, with the possible exception of vitamin C). And in my opinion, the naturally occurring saturated fat in nuts (and seeds) is not a problem and may even have health benefits.

Most of the fat in nuts and seeds is indeed monounsaturated fat, the key fat found in the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in virtually every research study to be associated with lower levels of heart disease and cancer, not to mention longer life spans. In the famous Lyon Diet Heart Study, people who had a heart attack between 1988 and 1992 were counseled either to follow the standard post–heart attack dietary advice (reduce saturated fat) or to follow the Mediterranean diet. After about four years of follow-up, the people on the Mediterranean diet experienced 70 percent less heart disease (about three times the reduction in risk achieved by statin drugs!). Not only that, but their overall risk of death was 45 percent lower.

Choosing the Right Nut

So which nuts are best? Well, we don’t have a perfect answer to that question. Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and pistachio nuts all alter the composition of the blood in ways that would be expected to reduce the risk of coronary disease. And it doesn’t take a ton of them to give you the health benefits found in the research. One 1-ounce serving a day—or 5 ounces a week from a variety of nuts—ought to do it. It’s possible you’d get benefits with even less.

Melissa Stevens, M.S., R.D., L.D., the nutrition program coordinator for preventive cardiology and rehabilitative services at the Cleveland Clinic, has come up with some wonderful quick and easy tips for adding nuts to your diet. Here are some of my favorites:

• Add cashews or peanuts to a stir-fry

• Toss roasted pine nuts into a marinara sauce

• Add slivered almonds to yogurt

• Toss walnuts into a spinach and strawberry salad

• Create your own homemade trail mix (I suggest nuts, dates, raisins, and oats)

And of course, there’s the snack that I’ve been recommending for years: natural peanut or almond butter smeared on an apple or a few sticks of celery.

Almonds/Almond Butter

Almonds are our oldest cultivated nut and one of the great foods of all time. And to think, not so long ago they were avoided by “health-conscious” consumers because of their fat content. We’ve come a long way, baby!

Eaten in Moderation, Almonds Help with Weight Loss

Let’s get the “almonds are fattening” thing out of the way right at the start. Epidemiologic studies such as the Nurses’ Health Study, the Adventist Health Study, and the Physicians’ Follow-up Study universally show that those who eat the most nuts also tend to have the lowest body mass indexes (a measure of overweight). Sure, almonds have fat and calories, and you can’t eat two tons of them at a time and expect to lose weight, but there is a massive amount of research showing that fat (and protein) are highly satiating, and that almonds eaten in moderation can actually help with weight loss. One study compared two groups of dieters eating the same number of calories; one group ate 520 of their calories from almonds and lost more weight. Preliminary research is indicating that almond cell walls may partially limit the amount of dietary fat available for digestion or absorption, so it’s possible that a small portion of the calories from almonds are not fully absorbed. In any case, research is quite clear that replacing a given amount of calories in the diet with an equal number of calories from almonds does not equal weight gain.

But maintaining a healthy weight aside, there are a million other reasons to eat almonds. In July 2003, the FDA approved a qualified health claim stating, “Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.” The cautious wording should not distract you from the hard fact that there’s a ton of research showing that almonds reduce heart disease risk. In a meta-analysis of seven almond studies, the results showed a 5.3 to 7.2 percent decrease in total cholesterol and—more important—a 6.8 to 10 percent reduction in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in subjects who had high cholesterol to begin with.

Almonds Rich with Heart-Healthy Benefits

Far more important than the fact that they may lower cholesterol is the fact that almonds are rich in monounsaturated fat, which has heart-health benefits beyond the reduction of cholesterol. About 70 percent of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated fat, the key fat found in the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in virtually every research study to be associated with lower levels of heart disease and cancer, not to mention longer life spans. In the famous Lyon Diet Heart Study, people who had a heart attack between 1988 and 1992 were either counseled to follow the standard post–heart attack dietary advice (reduce saturated fat) or counseled to follow the Mediterranean diet. After about four years of follow-up, the people on the Mediterranean diet experienced 70 percent less heart disease (about three times the reduction in risk achieved by statin drugs!). Not only that, but their overall risk of death was 45 percent lower. These astonishing results were obtained despite the fact that there wasn’t much change in their cholesterol levels, showing that heart disease is about much more than just cholesterol. The Lyon study results were so impressive that the study had to be stopped early for ethical reasons—all participants were given the advice to follow the Mediterranean diet, with its generous amount of monounsaturated fat, the same kind found in almonds.

Almonds Safe for Diabetics

Almonds also contain about 6 g of protein in an ounce, not to mention a hefty 3 g of dietary fiber. And almonds are rich in calcium—1 ounce contains 80 mg. They also contain phosphorus and vitamin E and are an excellent source of magnesium. Since they contain virtually no carbohydrates, they are a perfect food for diabetics and those with blood sugar issues.

One ounce of almonds (or a smear of almond butter) together with a piece of fruit like an apple makes a great snack and is one of my five favorite “preworkout” snacks. (The almond butter also goes great smeared on a few sticks of celery.) Total calories for either snack is reasonable (about 250), and the nutrient density is terrific.

WORTH KNOWING

You can make a great “milk” out of almonds and water. Throw a few tablespoons of organic almonds into a blender with a cup of bottled water, and you’re good to go. If you need it sweeter, use some raw unfiltered honey, or some powdered Xylitol (available at www.jonnybowden.com).

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts have the highest selenium content of any food I know of, and for this reason alone belong among the world’s healthiest foods. Selenium is an essential trace element that, in tons of research, has been shown to have a protective effect against cancer. According to the Physicians’ Desk Reference, it’s “antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticarcinogenic, and anti-atherogenic,” which, translated into English, means that it protects the cells, boosts the immune system, helps fight cancer, and helps prevent heart disease. Not exactly an undistinguished résumé.

Why Americans Need Brazil Nuts

Unless we’re taking selenium supplements or eating Brazil nuts, we most likely get whatever selenium we get either from fish or from plants and the animals that graze on them (beef, chicken). How much we get depends on the soil in which the plants were grown (and how much fish we eat). In countries with selenium-poor soil—and consequently low selenium intake—all kinds of health problems have been noted, including higher rates of cancer. As far back as 1984 the government of Finland started adding selenium to fertilizers as a way of improving the selenium intake of its citizens. The high plains areas like northern Nebraska and the Dakotas are known to have very selenium-rich soil because it was derived from volcanic deposits. Most of the rest of the country is not so lucky. In any case, since many Americans don’t eat nearly enough plant foods anyway, it’s reasonable to assume that many people don’t get nearly enough to get the protective benefits of this mineral.

Low intakes of selenium are associated with increased incidence of prostate, lung, colorectal, gastric, and skin cancers. And it’s essential for healthy immune function. It also seems to be responsible for maintaining the structure of sperm, at least if you’re a mouse. But it’s probably so in humans as well: Infertile men have low selenium levels.

Selenium also helps antagonize the effects of a number of toxic metals. Some of these toxic metals, like cadmium, are found in cigarette smoke and other places, and are carcinogenic. Others, like mercury, are just plain bad news. Selenium seems to bind with some of these bad guys, creating inactive complexes and helping to rid the system of them.

The thyroid is dependent on selenium to function properly. Selenium is a component of the enzyme that helps convert T4 (thyroxine), the less-active thyroid hormone, to the active one, T3 (triiodothyronine). If you’re on conventional thyroid medication like Synthroid, which is pure T4, you need selenium to convert it. Deficiencies of selenium, though probably rare in North America, may impair thyroid function.

Brazil Nuts Are the Best Source of Selenium

Without a doubt, Brazil nuts are the best source of selenium. One ounce (six to eight kernels) has a whopping 544 mcg (the next best sources are clams, oysters, tuna, turkey, and beef, but none comes close to Brazil nuts). Brazil nuts also have protein, calcium, and 2 g of fiber per ounce, and are a good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

Cashews

I love cashews. Who doesn’t? They got a bad rap for a short time during low-carb mania because their carb content is higher than any other nut, but for all but the most inveterate carb-gram counters this shouldn’t be a deterrent from enjoying this delicious food.

Frequent Nut Eaters Have Fewer Heart Attacks

The benefits of cashew nuts—besides how good they make you feel when you eat them—are similar to the benefits you get when you eat nuts in general. People who eat nuts regularly are less likely to have heart attacks or to die from heart disease than those who don’t. Some of the largest and most important long-term studies, such as the Nurses’ Health Study, the Iowa Women’s Health Study, and the Adventist Study, have shown a consistent 30 to 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks or heart disease associated with eating nuts several times a week.

About half the fat in cashews is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, the key fat found in the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in virtually every research study to be associated with lower levels of heart disease and cancer, not to mention longer life-spans. Compared with carbohydrates, for example, monounsaturated fat lowers LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) and raises the protective HDL cholesterol. In the famous Lyon Diet Heart Study, people following the Mediterranean diet, with its high level of monounsaturated fat (the same kind that’s in cashews) experienced 70 percent less heart disease risk than is achieved by taking statin drugs. Monounsaturated fat is really good for you!

WORTH KNOWING

When adding cashews to hot foods, you should add them late in the game when you’re almost ready to serve; they soften quickly when cooked.

Cashews Are Low in Calories, Rich in Healthy Minerals

Cashews are slightly lower in calories than other nuts. They’re also slightly higher in carbs. Like other nuts they are mineral rich (magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium) and full of protein (5 g per ounce of nuts). They also have about 1 gram of fiber per ounce.

And here’s some really interesting trivia for you: “Raw” cashews aren’t really raw. The nut meat has an outer protective layer that itself contains a rather nasty, caustic oil that is highly irritating to the skin—not surprising since cashews are a member of the poison ivy family. The oil is removed by heating the nuts in an inclined, perforated, rotating drum. (You can’t heat them in a shallow pan because the oil “spurts” and causes blisters.) Once they’re rid of the oil, the harvesters spray the nuts with water to cool them. The ones closer to the heat source tend to get scorched and are sold at a cheaper price as a lower-grade nut, though they’re just as tasty and nutritious. (Grade 1 nuts are white; grade 2 are lightly scorched.)

Hazelnuts (filberts)

Poor hazelnuts. Nobody loves them, at least not enough to invite them to the A-list parties in Hollywood. Sure, you’ll find a few hanging out in the nut bowl, but you know they’re just there because the supermarket stuck them in the variety pack. This is a shame, because they’re really good for you.

Hazelnuts Help with High Cholesterol and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Hazelnuts—like pecans—contain beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol that has been found to have two very important properties: One, it lowers cholesterol, and two, it lessens the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is the annoying condition every man over forty is familiar with, as it causes multiple trips to the bathroom at night. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is harmless, but it’s a nuisance. A study in the prestigious medical journal Lancet showed that men with this condition who were given 20 mg of beta-sitosterol three times a day showed significant improvements in urinary difficulties. Of course, that’s way more beta-sitosterol than is in one serving of filberts, but still, it’s nice to know it’s in there.

Hazelnuts also contain a nice amount of potassium, a little magnesium, a little phosphorus, and some vitamin E. And 1 ounce contains almost 3 g of fiber. Hazelnuts add a rich, crisp texture and a smooth, mellow flavor to prepared foods.

Hazelnuts Go Hollywood

Hazelnuts got a nice public relations boost when they were discussed recently on Oprah. The wonderful Dr. Mehmet Oz, an Oprah regular and one of the best doctors in the country, told a national TV audience that hazelnuts are a source of omega-3 fatty acids during a show segment called “Inside Secrets to Make You Younger and Healthier.” Now maybe they’ll get invited to those Hollywood parties.

Macadamia Nuts

Because he died before I even began writing this book, I didn’t get a chance to ask Dr. Atkins to submit a list of his top ten favorite healthy foods. But if he had, I’m pretty darn sure macadamia nuts would have been on his list. Here’s what he said about them: “I’ve always looked for a food that could serve as a meal in itself—nutritionally complete and safe as a snack. All you need to do is keep a jar of macadamia nuts handy. I snack on them whenever a meal is late ... I simply will not board an airplane without them.”

—Dr. Robert Atkins, Health Revelations, November 1996

Now I wouldn’t go so far as to say that macadamia nuts are “the” perfect food, but they sure are a good one. The oil in macadamia nuts is more than 80 percent monounsaturated, higher than any other nut (olive oil is about 75 percent monounsaturated). Monounsaturated fat is the main fat in the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in virtually every research study to be associated with lower levels of heart disease and cancer, not to mention longer life spans. In the famous Lyon Diet Heart Study, those following a Mediterranean diet, with its high intake of monounsaturated fat, experienced three times the reduction in risk for heart disease than that achieved by statin drugs and had an overall risk of death that was 45 percent lower. There’s not much question that monounsaturated fat—like the kind found in macadamia nuts—is awfully good for you.

Macadamia Nuts Can Help Lower Cholesterol and Promote Prostate Health

These nuts contain calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium (for strong bones and teeth), heart-healthy potassium, plus a couple of grams of fiber per ounce. Macadamia nuts also contain a small amount of selenium, a trace mineral with significant anticancer properties. And they contain phytosterols, including beta-sitosterol, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol and to promote prostate health, possibly by its anti-inflammatory activity.

Macadamia nuts are very high in calories—about 204 per ounce—so if you’re trying to lose weight, don’t just go munching on them out of the jar; instead, substitute an ounce of the nuts two or three times a week for an equivalent number of calories from other sources.

Peanuts/Peanut Butter

As former peanut farmer President Jimmy Carter would be the first to tell you, peanuts aren’t nuts. They’re actually legumes—like beans and peas—and they grow underground. But since their nutritional properties so resemble nuts—plus they look like nuts—plus everyone calls them nuts—I figured the nut section of the book is where you’d look for them.

Peanuts Rank as High as Strawberries in Antioxidants

Peanuts are surprisingly high in antioxidants. In a study published in the Journal of Food Chemistry, researchers at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences found that peanuts rivaled many fruits for antioxidant content. “When it comes to antioxidant content, peanuts are right up there with strawberries,” said Steve Talcott, one of the researchers. “We expected a fairly high antioxidant content in peanuts, but we were a bit shocked to find they’re as rich in antioxidants as many kinds of fruit.”

Researchers at the University of Florida also found that peanuts contain a high concentration of a polyphenol called p-coumaric acid. P-coumaric acid has been studied for its antioxidant abilities and its potential as an anticancer agent, though much more research is needed to determine the ideal dose. One research paper in the American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology showed that p-coumaric acid worked as a powerful antioxidant in rats, significantly inhibiting the oxidation of their LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. And another study (in Pharmacological Research) concluded that it might be worthy to “consider the usefulness of p-coumaric acid as adjuvant therapy in cancer management.” Of course, you have to remember that the amount of p-coumaric acid concentrates given in research is way more than found in a handful of peanuts—still, it’s nice to know that these healthy compounds are found in the food in the first place. And best of all, research has shown that roasting can increase the level of p-coumaric acid, boosting their overall antioxidant content by as much as 22 percent.

Eating Peanuts May Stave Off Heart Disease

Don’t get me wrong—peanuts are not blueberries or kale, or any of the other superpowers in the antioxidant world. But they’re about equal in antioxidants to blackberries or strawberries. And it’s not just the obscure, newly discovered compounds like p-coumaric acid that make peanuts a good food. Researchers at Purdue University investigated the impact of peanut consumption on total diet quality. “We found that including peanuts in the diet significantly increased magnesium, folate, fiber, copper, vitamin E, and arginine consumption, all of which play a role in the prevention of heart disease,” said Dr. Richard Mattes, one of the principal investigators. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition under the impressive title “Eating Peanuts Improves Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Healthy Adults.” Their findings were consistent with a previous study at Penn State University that found a 13 percent decrease in triglyceride levels when participants consumed a diet with peanuts and peanut butter, compared to the average American diet. Peanuts are also high in niacin, a B vitamin important for keeping the digestive system, skin, and nerves healthy. Niacin is also critical to releasing energy from carbohydrates and helping to control blood-sugar levels.

About half of the fat in peanuts comes from monounsaturated fat—the same kind that’s so plentiful in the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in virtually every research study to be associated with lower levels of heart disease and cancer, not to mention longer life spans. In the famous Lyon Diet Heart Study, people following the Mediterranean diet with its high level of monounsaturated fat experienced 70 percent less heart-disease risk than is achieved by taking statin drugs. Note: A new peanut has been developed recently called a “high-oleic peanut.” This is really good news—oleic acid is the official name of the monounsaturated fat that all the shouting is about. The new high-oleic peanut has been engineered to have about 80 percent of its fat (instead of 50 percent) from oleic acid, thus boosting the monounsaturated fat content even higher.

WORTH KNOWING

In my natural foods store there is a little grinder machine that sits in the produce section. You throw peanuts into the sieve and put a little plastic container underneath, flip the switch, and out comes the richest, most delicious, oily, thick peanut butter you can imagine. That’s real peanut butter with nothing added, just the benefits of the peanuts described above. You can also buy ready-made jars of peanut butter like that in health food stores, usually labeled natural, and sometimes also organic. Do not confuse the real kind with the household brands that are crammed with sugar and frequently have trans fats. There should be no sugar in your peanut butter (other than the tiny amount in the peanuts), and there should certainly be no “partially hydrogenated oil” (translation: trans fats) in the ingredient list.

Pecans

Pecans deserve their reputation as a health food largely because of their monounsaturated fat content. Monounsaturated fat is the same kind of heart-healthy fat that you find in olive oil. Pecans are also loaded with nutrients like potassium, vitamin E, phytosterols, and beta-sitosterol, a plant compound that has been found to lower cholesterol. And one portion of pecans has almost 3 g of fiber.

Three studies from Harvard University, two of which appeared in the prestigious (though conservative) Journal of the American Medical Association all confirmed that nuts like pecans belong in a healthy diet. One of the studies found that eating nuts may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Another concluded that one of three strategies to effectively prevent coronary heart disease was a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains and low in refined grains. When I was in school, we were told to remember the good nuts by the acronym PAW: pecans, almonds, and walnuts. (Actually there are others, but it’s still a good acronym.)

Pecans are indigenous to the United States and are grown mainly in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia. There are more than 300 varieties. It’s a good idea to eat them really fresh (within 3 weeks of harvesting), since they can go rancid pretty quickly because of the very thing that makes them healthy: their high oil content. Buying them in the shell ups the odds that they won’t be rancid, since shelled ones can go south pretty quickly. You might want to keep them in the fridge or frozen in an airtight container, where they can keep for up to a year.

Portion Control Is Crucial When Eating Nuts

Nuts are one of those foods where portion control really really makes a difference. They’re amazingly healthy, but they’re high in calories (1-ounce portion = 196 calories) and very easy to overeat. I don’t worry at all about the fat content—it’s all good fat, and besides, if your calories are where they should be, who cares? The high fat content doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference. But I have seen people go through bags of these babies. Remember: A portion equals twenty pecan halves. If you can’t be trusted with the family-size bag, count out a portion and step away from the nuts.

Pistachio Nuts

While most of the positive research on nuts has not distinguished among the various types, some research has. One study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, specifically investigated pistachio nuts and concluded that eating pistachio nuts instead of other dietary fat calories improved lipid profiles and decreased coronary risk. A second study, published recently in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease, indicated that the consumption of pistachio nuts decreased oxidative stress and improved both total cholesterol and HDL (“good”) cholesterol in healthy volunteers. (There was a trend toward reducing triglycerides and LDL [“bad”] cholesterol, but this didn’t reach statistical significance.) The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, reported to be one of the most specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease, fell by 21 percent in the pistachio-eating group.

If pistachio nuts had a public-relations agent, she would have been mighty happy with the results of a recent study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. The study was the most comprehensive analysis of nut and seed varieties to date—it examined twenty-seven different products. Though pistachio nuts did not have the highest phytosterol content of all (that distinction went to sesame seeds and wheat germ), they did have the highest phytosterol content of any product generally considered a snack food (270 mg per 100 g). “Given the many possible mechanisms of action of phytosterols on cholesterol metabolism, it is important to have quantitative estimates of total phytosterol content,” reported the team of researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The main phytosterol identified in all the nut and seed samples was beta-sitosterol, which is known not only for lowering cholesterol but also for supporting prostate health.

Pistachio Nuts Give the Immune System a Boost

Unsalted pistachios have a very high potassium-to-sodium ratio, which helps normalize blood pressure and maintain water balance in the body. Pistachio nuts also contain the powerful antioxidant vitamin E, which boosts the immune system. (Best of all, the vitamin E in pistachio nuts is mostly the gamma-tocopherol form, which may have even more health benefits than the more common alpha-tocopherol form found in most supplements.) Pistachios also contain magnesium and phosphorus and trace amounts of other minerals and vitamins, as well as phytosterols. Extracts from the pistachio kernel have shown significant antiviral activity.

And they’re so delicious.

NOTE: Some pistachio growers and importers dye the nut red, which exposes the kernels to chemical dyes. You’re better off with the plain kind.

Pumpkin Seeds

It’s hard to pick up a vitamin supplement geared to men these days—especially a “prostate support” formula—without seeing pumpkin seed extract in the list of ingredients. That’s because pumpkin seeds contain beta-sitosterol, a phytosterol that has some benefit in treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), that annoying—though not dangerous—condition that causes men over forty to have to go to the bathroom several times a night. Beta-sitosterol also has demonstrated cholesterol-lowering activity.

Study Debunks Myth about Pumpkin Seeds

But here’s the irony: Despite much urban legend, pumpkin seeds don’t contain all that much beta-sitosterol. Researchers at the department of biochemistry and chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tested twenty-seven nut and seed products commonly consumed in the United States. Pumpkin seeds were relatively low in beta-sitosterol (only 13 g per 100 g of seeds). But that doesn’t mean pumpkin seeds don’t have a role in prostate health. They may work synergistically with other botanicals like saw palmetto, as a couple of studies have demonstrated. And pumpkin seeds contain chemicals called cucurbitacins, which are believed to intefere with the production of a metabolic by-product of testosterone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is partly responsible for both hair loss and benign prostate hyperplasia. Men want to keep their DHT as low as possible—believe me, I know.

Prostate health aside, these delicious seeds still pack a great nutritional wallop. In the Virginia Polytech research, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry in 2005, pumpkin seeds had a respectably high phytosterol content (265 mg /100 g), second only to pistachio and sunflower kernels in the subgroup of foods commonly consumed as snacks. Plant sterols have multiple health benefits, not the least of which is lowering cholesterol.

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of minerals, especially magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. Interestingly, the roasted kind have far more protein, at least according to the USDA food database. (They also have a lot more calories.) The roasted kind also have way more magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as more zinc, fiber, and cancer-fighting selenium. Both have a nice amount of manganese, an important trace mineral that’s essential for growth, reproduction, wound healing, peak brain function, and the proper metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol. Ultimately, both the raw (dried) and the roasted are nutrient dense.

Oils and Spices Can Multiply the Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

You can roast your own pumpkin seeds really easily and combine them with great oils and spices to multiply their health benefits even further. Try melting some organic butter—or macadamia nut or olive oil—then tossing in the pumpkin seeds and spreading them on a single layer on a baking sheet. Season ’em with turmeric, garlic, or cayenne pepper, and bake them till they’re crisp. You can also add pumpkin seeds to trail mix, sautéed vegetables, and salads, not to mention my favorite—oatmeal.

Sesame Seeds/Sesame Butter/Tahini

The sesame seed is truly ancient. In fact, sesame is the oldest known plant grown for its seeds and oil and is especially valued in Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cultures. The sesame seed pod bursts open when it reaches maturity, the origin of the famous phrase “Open sesame!” from The Arabian Nights.

In popular health food books, and on countless Internet sites, there is much confusion over the names of the healthful phenolic compounds found in sesame seeds and their oil. It’s understandable, and you’ll see why in a minute. The actual seeds contain about 50 to 60 percent of a fatty oil that is characterized by two members of the lignan family: sesamin and sesamolin. When the seeds are refined (as in the making of sesame oil), two other phenolic antioxidants—sesamol and sesaminol—are formed. Now did that clear it up for you?

Sesame Seeds Can Help Burn Fat

The point is, these plant chemicals of the lignan family are very good for you indeed. Sesame seed lignans—including the a forementioned sesamin and sesaminol—enhance vitamin E’s absorption and availability, improve lipid profiles, and help normalize blood pressure. Animal studies show that sesame lignans enhance the burning of fat by increasing the activity of several liver enzymes that actually break down fatty acids. (That research did not escape the notice of the manufacturers of bodybuilding supplements, which immediately began offering sesamin supplements for fat loss all over the Internet. Do they work? I have no idea.)

Sesame lignans also help reduce cholesterol. In a study published in the Journal of Lipid Research, sesamin lowered both serum (blood) and liver cholesterol levels. The researchers suggested that sesamin deserves further study as a “possible hypocholesterolemic agent of natural origin.” In a recent study in the Journal of Nutrition, 50 g of sesame seed powder taken daily for five weeks by twenty-four healthy postmenopausal women improved total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, and antioxidant status. The researchers noted some improvements in sex hormone status as well and suggested a benefit of sesame for postmenopausal women.

Sesame Seeds Rank Highest in Cholesterol-Lowering Phytosterols

It’s hardly surprising that sesame seeds help reduce cholesterol, since they are so rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols. How rich? Get this: A team of researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tested twenty-seven different nut and seed products. If sesame seeds had a public relations agent, the results of the study would have made her very happy indeed. Sesame seeds (and wheat germ) had the highest phytosterol content of all the products tested: 400 mg per 100 g. The main phytosterol identified in all the nut and seed samples was beta-sitosterol, which is known not only for lowering cholesterol but also for supporting prostate health.

The Calcium Controversy

Sesame seeds are very high in calcium, but there is some controversy over how useful that calcium is to the body since much of it is bound to oxalic acid, making it less bioavailable. According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, hulling (the process of removing the outer skin) removes the oxalic acid, but it also removes most of the calcium, plus the fiber and a lot of the potassium and iron. In certain parts of Japan, whole sesame seeds are an essential part of the diet and are prepared as a condiment known as gomasio, made by toasting whole sesame seeds with unrefined sea salt at high temperatures. Toasting the whole sesame seeds at these high temperatures may improve the assimilation of calcium by getting rid of the oxalates.

Calcium aside, sesame seeds are also a rich source of minerals, fiber, and protein. Two tablespoons of seeds contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and manganese, 35 percent of the Daily Value for copper, 2 g of fiber, and 3 g of protein—more protein than any other nut or seed.

You can really enhance their nutty flavor by toasting them in a dry skillet over medium heat until they’re golden brown. They come in shades of black, brown, and yellow as well as the more common beige variety. The black seeds have a stronger flavor. Sesame butter is a great alternative to peanut butter and is usually made of whole roasted sesame seeds. Tahini is made from hulled sesame seeds and is therefore a more refined product, though still delicious. Other traditional sesame-based dishes include hummus, a Middle Eastern appetizer made of ground chickpeas, garlic, and tahini, and baba ghanoush, which has a base of roasted eggplant seasoned with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt.

WORTH KNOWING

Those with Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder that causes copper to accumulate in the liver, should probably avoid large amounts of sesame seeds due to their copper content.

Sunflower Seeds

According to research by Katherine Phillips, Ph.D., in the department of biochemistry at Virginia Tech, the sunflower kernel is rich in a number of components that have been shown to protect against disease and to act as antioxidants and anticarcinogens; thus, the kernel can be considered a “functional food.” (Functional foods are generally defined as foods that provide benefits beyond basic nutrition.) Pretty good for something that was once considered only useful as birdfeed!

Snack on Sunflower Seeds to Lower Your Cholesterol

Sunflower seeds contain a wide variety of nutrients and protective plant compounds known as phytosterols. Phytosterols are well known for their ability to lower cholesterol and provide other health benefits. “Given the many possible mechanisms of action of phytosterols on cholesterol metabolism, it is important to have quantitative estimates of total phytosterol content,” reported a team of researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, who tested twenty-seven different nut and seed products for phytosterol content. The results would have made the sunflower association very happy. Of all the products tested that are typically consumed as snacks, sunflower kernels were one of the two richest sources of phytosterols (the other was pistachio nuts). The main phytosterol identified in all the nut and seed samples was beta-sitosterol, which is known for not only lowering cholesterol but for also supporting prostate health.

Sunflower seeds contain a potent antioxidant team of selenium and vitamin E to fight cancer and heart disease. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body, and ¼ cup serving of dried sunflower seed kernels provides more than 40 percent of the recommended Daily Value (yes, I personally think the Daily Value is too low, but still). Better yet, that same ¼ cup provides 30 percent of the Daily Value for selenium, a vitally important cancer-fighting trace mineral that works synergistically with vitamin E.

Sunflower seed kernels are also rich in protein and fiber, with ¼ cup providing more than 8 g of protein and almost 4 g of fiber, not to mention 248 mg of potassium, 127 mg of magnesium, 254 mg of phosphorus, more than 2 mg of iron, plus manganese, copper, and zinc.

Sunflower Seeds May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

These little kernels are also a source of betaine (also known as trimethylglycine [TMG]), which may help lower homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease. And they have a higher arginine content than almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans. Arginine is an amino acid that is touted for its role in protecting the inner lining of the arterial walls, making them more pliable and less susceptible to atherogenesis. It’s also needed to make a very important molecule called nitric oxide, which helps relax constricted blood vessels and ease blood flow.

Call me crazy, but I’ve been known to eat the whole seed, hull and all. They’re great to chew on, and take longer to consume—plus, who knows what beneficial compounds might be in the shell that haven’t been discovered yet.

Also, it lets me share my stash with the birds, who don’t seem to mind which version I feed them.

WORTH KNOWING

Though I’m a big fan of sunflower seeds (with or without the shell), I’m not a big fan of sunflower oil, which you might notice, is not listed in this book. It’s just way too unbalanced, and too high in omega-6s.

Walnuts

The “Doctrine of Signatures” is a concept in herbalism that’s been around for centuries and is based on the idea that God marked everything God created with a sign (signature). The signature was an indication of the item’s purpose. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, since the walnut looks just like a human brain, its purpose is to support that organ. This just might be one case of modern science supporting centuries-old wisdom, because walnuts—like fish—are truly “brain food.” Read on.

Can Eating Walnuts Improve Your Mood?

Walnuts contain the highest amounts of omega-3 fats of any other nuts. In addition to the other remarkable things omega-3s do for you, like help lower triglycerides and reduce plaque formation, they also support brain function on a number of levels. One of those levels has to do with mood and feeling. In his excellent book The Omega-3 Connection, Harvard Medical School professor Andrew Stoller, M.D., answers his own question, “Can eating more omega-3s really boost our mood?” with the statement: “The answer, based on the available scientific and clinical evidence, seems to be a cautious yes.”

There are compelling population studies linking the consumption of large amounts of fish (omega-3 fatty acids) to low rates of depression. Controlled clinical trials of omega-3s in depression are under way at any number of research centers. There is biochemical evidence of low levels of omega-3s in depressed patients (as well as a number of other behavioral and cognitive disorders and conditions). Here’s why it makes sense: Fats in the diet are incorporated into cell membranes. Omega-3s are soft and fluid and give the cells enough “give” to allow them to communicate with each other, facilitating the movement of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in and out of the cells, and helping to support memory and thinking as well. Omega-3s truly are “brain food,” and walnuts are rich in them.

Why Walnuts Make a Great Snack for Kids

Several studies have demonstrated greater attention, reduction in behavioral problems, and less “ADD-like” behaviors in schoolkids when they’re given omega-3s. Since it’s hard to get kids to eat fish, let alone carry it to school in their lunchbox, walnuts are a really smart idea for a kid snack.

And walnuts may also be a great tool for weight management. According to experts at Loma Linda University, eating a few walnuts (say four to six halves) before meals decreases levels of hunger and may cause people to eat less at meals. “Walnuts help alleviate hunger and are naturally nutrient dense, meaning you consume many essential nutrients for a relatively small percentage of daily calories,” said Joan Sabate, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., chair of the department of nutrition.

Just don’t add walnuts to an already high-calorie diet and expect to lose weight. As long as you replace some calories from your regular diet with an approximately equal number of calories from walnuts, you’ll do fine—the nuts may even work as a natural appetite controller in addition to providing you with all those nutrients.

Walnuts Aid in Growth, Reproduction, and Brain Functioning

Walnuts, like most nuts, are nutrient rich, especially in minerals. They have protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, plus about half the Daily Value for manganese, an important trace mineral that’s essential for growth, reproduction, wound healing, peak brain function, and the proper metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol.

Natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood cautions that you should purchase walnuts in the shell and crack them just prior to use. Since this is a pain in the butt, you can purchase shelled whole walnut halves, but make sure their flesh is white rather than yellow, since the yellow indicates rancidity. Wood also points out that organic walnuts have darker brown shells, and their color will vary depending on how much sun the branch they grew on was exposed to.

There are two common kinds of walnuts—the English (most of which ironically come from California) and the black walnut, which is native to America. They differ slightly in their nutritional profile—the English has slightly less protein and slightly more fat. Both are great.

WORTH KNOWING

The omega-3 fat that’s found in walnuts and walnut oil is not the same as the kind of omega-3 found in fish. Much of the research on omega-3 fats that demonstrates such strong cardioprotective benefits involves two omega-3 fats that are found in fish: EPA and DHA. The third omega-3—ALA, or alpha-linolenic acid, is the kind found in walnuts (and flaxseeds). The body can theoretically make the other two (EPA and DHA) from the ALA in walnuts, but it doesn’t always do such a great job. ALA from walnuts is still a great omega-3 and has health benefits of its own, but I personally recommend getting some additional, fully formed EPA and DHA in your diet either through fish or fish-oil supplements.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.

Dharma Singh Khalsa is the only United States–born and–trained medical doctor I know of who is also a practicing Sikh. For thirteen years he has been the president and medical director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, the leading voice in the integrative medical approach to the prevention and treatment of memory loss. In this capacity, he’s testified before Congress about his pioneering work on lifestyle and Alzheimer’s. He is the author of one of my favorite books on brain health, Brain Longevity, as well as the international best sellers Meditation as Medicine and Food as Medicine. He generously contributed a number of recipes, many taken from Food and Medicine. His radio show The Healing Zone can be heard on HayHouseRadio.com and he can be reached at www.drdharma.com.

1. Kiwifruit: Very high in vitamin C and vitamin E, helps boost your immune system, and protects your DNA integrity.

2. Blueberries: The best brain food! Just ½ cup per day will keep your brain young—they have been shown to actually reverse some brain deterioration.

3. Tomatoes: Very rich in antioxidants that help decrease cancer risk, but they are most healing when cooked.

4. Broccoli: The latest discovery in fantastic anticancer nutrients.

5. Kale: Dark-green leafy vegetables like kale are very healing for heart disease and stroke, and they help your vision.

6. Spinach: One of the best natural sources of folic acid, excellent for preventing heart disease. Also a great brain tonic.

7. Sea vegetables: Provide ten times the mineral content of broccoli!

8. Almonds: One of the oldest healing foods in the world, almonds contain complete protein, good fats, and fiber, making them an ideal food for anyone, from children to elderly people.

9. Mung beans: High in protein, very easily digestible, this lesser-known bean is widely used in Asia.

10. Green tea: Contains very powerful antioxidants, shown to enhance your immune system and fight cancer cells, among other things.

CHAPTER 6

Soy Foods

What about Soy?

Wait a minute, I can almost hear you saying. In a book on the world’s healthiest foods, you barely mention soy. What gives? Is there a misprint? No misprint, and full disclosure: I’m not a big fan of soy. Many people reading this book are probably unaware that there is a huge controversy in the nutrition community over soy. The pro-soy PR effort has been so strong that most people simply accept that anything with soy in it is a health food. You hardly hear about the many scientists, nutritionists, and researchers who have grave doubts about this so-called “fact.” And in fact, the anti-soy contingent is sometimes so strident and angry (probably because it is frustrated with not being heard) that it sometimes tends to overstate some of the negatives (and the dangers) associated with soy, making that group easier to ignore.

The Bad News about Soy

That doesn’t mean those problems don’t exist. Soy contains large amounts of natural toxins or “anti-nutrients,” chief among them potent enzyme inhibitors that block the action of enzymes needed for protein digestion. (Of course, these same protease inhibitors are believed by some to have a cancer-protective effect, hence part of the controversy.) Soybeans also contain haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance that causes red blood cells to clump together, and goitrogens—substances that suppress thyroid function. And soy has one of the highest phytate levels of any grain or legume studied. (Phytates block the absorption of minerals; fermentation reduces them.) Yes, soy contains phytoestrogens, but that can be a good thing or a not-so-good thing, depending on many factors, not the least of which are your age and sex. The Israeli Health Ministry recently issued a health advisory that strongly recommended that the consumption of soy foods be limited for young children and adults and that soy formula be avoided altogether by infants. And a recent article on soy protein infant formula by the Journal of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition suggested that soy protein formula had no nutritional advantage over cows’ milk protein and that the “high concentrations of phytate, aluminum and phytoestrogens (isoflavones). . . might have untoward effects.”

FDA Reconsidering Its Position on Soy

The universal acceptance of all things soy may be showing signs of cracking, even among the establishment organizations. As of April 2006, the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Nutrition Committee no longer recommends eating soy to lower cholesterol. The FDA is currently reviewing its policy on soy health claims. And a recent article by Harvard Women’s Health Watch (April 2006) was titled “Soy: Not So Miraculous?”

The soy associated with the Asian diet is a whole different animal from the soy we’ve been sold in America as a health food. There, they eat naturally fermented soy foods like tempeh and miso and old-fashioned fermented soy sauce—and they eat way less of it than you might imagine. It’s also far from clear that the health benefits they get from their diet are attributable to eating soy rather than the fish and sea vegetables they consume regularly.

The Real Deal on Soy

Let me be clear: In a world of French fries, fast food, trans fats, and high-fructose corn syrup, I hardly think a few servings of soy protein is the worst thing in the world. We have bigger battles to fight in the food arena. But I also don’t think soy products are among the healthiest foods on the planet, for all the reasons mentioned above. Currently, my thinking can be summed up this way:

1. Fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh—fermented the old-fashioned way, the way they are in Asia—are very healthy foods, as are most traditionally fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut).

2. One serving of a high-quality soy protein powder a day is not going to kill you and may even be good for some people.

3. Most “soy products”—e.g., soy chips, soy milk, soy ice cream, tofu ice cream, soy burgers, soy cheese, soy lattes, and all the rest—are junk food and no healthier than the crap they replace.

4. I would not feed soy formula to infants and small children unless there were absolutely no other choice.

5. I would not make soy my only source of protein under any circumstances. (Vegetarians take note.)

6. I do not recommend supplements of soy isoflavones. Period.

Since you don’t have to look very hard to find “pro-soy” info but you might have to dig a little to get to hear “the other side,” I suggest that anyone really interested in the soy controversy start by Googling Dr. Mary Enig and reading her extensive writing on soy, including “The Ploy of Soy” and “Soy Alert: Tragedy and Hype.” For a more easy and entertaining—but no less scientifically documented read—get the essential book, The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Health Food, by Kayla Daniel, Ph.D. (Daniel was a doctoral student under Enig.) Then, to get the single most balanced and fair reading of both sides, read the conclusions of Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D., based on her reading of more than five hundred studies (pro and con). DesMaisons’ conclusions, which you can read online at www.radiantrecovery.com/soy4303html.htm, are eminently reasonable, and I agree with them wholeheartedly.

By the way, it’s interesting that of the fifteen experts I surveyed for their “top ten favorite health foods” (sixteen if you include me!), not a single one chose soy.

Edamame (green soybeans)

As you might have guessed by a cursory glance through this book, I’m not a huge fan of soy (to read why so few soy foods are included in this book, see page 166). One soy food I do like well enough to include it in the top 150 foods is edamame.

Edamame is the Japanese word for green vegetable soybeans. In Asia, they’re finger food—the Japanese eat them as a snack with beer, much as Americans eat peanuts. And as snack foods go, they’re great. They’re young, they’re sweet, and they’re not very “beany” or bitter. They also have lower amounts of the compounds in soybeans that I’m not crazy about—protease inhibitors, trypsin inhibitors, and phytates.

And they’re not terribly processed. Typically, edamame are boiled or steamed in the pod for 20 minutes, then chilled and salted and served at sushi restaurants as an appetizer, or they’re quick frozen and packaged and shipped to your grocer. Trader Joe’s, a national chain of specialty grocery stores that’s huge here in California where I live, started carrying frozen edamame not too long ago and now reports that they sell better than frozen corn.

Edamame Makes a Healthy Snack Alternative

If you’re comparing edamame to one of the cancer-fighting brassica like cabbage or broccoli, or to one of the fiber heavyweights like raspberries or lentils, it’s not going to look like a nutritional superstar. But no one builds a meal around edamame. What it really is is a highly nutritious, high-protein vegetarian snack food. If they were to replace potato chips during football season, you’d probably see a quantum improvement in the health of the average sports fan. About 3½ ounces of the edible portion (the actual beans) provides more than 12 g of protein, 4 g of fiber, 145 mg of calcium, 60 mg of magnesium, 111 mcg of folate, plus, just for good measure, a tiny bit of vitamins A and C. It’s also a potassium heavyweight, providing more than 500 mg per 100 g. Granted, not many people consume that much in a sitting, but still.

Recent research in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that edamame had a fair amount of both soy isoflavones and carotenoids. Cooked edamame have a sweet, nutty flavor and are traditionally eaten as a vegetable in stir-fries in China and Korea. As a snack, the seeds are usually squeezed directly into the mouth with the fingers.

Fermented Soy

(tempeh and miso)

Two soy products I do like for their health benefits are tempeh and miso. Tempeh is actually a traditional Indonesian food, made from the controlled fermentation of cooked whole soybeans. It’s usually fermented with a Rhizopus mold (also known as a tempeh starter), which binds the soybeans into a compact white cake. Tempeh fermentation produces natural antibiotic agents that are believed to increase the body’s resistance to infections.

Tempeh May Ease Symptoms of Menopause

Tempeh contains phytochemicals such as isoflavones and saponins. The fermentation leaves the soy isoflavones intact. In research on soy protein, there is some evidence that the isoflavones may be responsible for helping to ease menopause symptoms. Soy protein and isoflavones such as those found in tempeh may possibly reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Tempeh also contains saponins, health-promoting components of vegetables and legumes with strong biological activity, including acting as natural antibiotics. There is some suspicion that saponins may have cancer-protective or cancer-fighting activity. Saponins protect soybeans from predators and insects, but according to research from Keith Singletary, Ph.D., at the University of Illinois, they may also help protect people from colon cancer.

Tempeh has a nutty mushroom flavor and can be sliced and sautéed till the surface is golden brown. It can also be used in soups, salads, and sandwiches. Any recipe that works with mushrooms will work with tempeh as well.

Miso

Miso is a soybean paste that has been a mainstay of Japanese cooking since the seventh century. It’s made by mixing cooked soybeans with salt, a grain, and a fermenting agent called koji. There are many varieties of miso; hacho miso is made only from soybeans, and natto miso is made from ginger and soybeans. Most of the others are made from soybeans and a grain.

Despite my reservations about soy in general, there is a lot of research on the benefits of some soy protein in the diet, and miso would be one way to get soy protein in your diet from a healthy traditional food. A ¼ cup of pure miso contains 8 g of soy protein—not a fantastic amount, but worth noting nonetheless. It also contains almost 5 mcg of the cancer-fighting mineral selenium, plus 144 mg of potassium, 109 mg of phosphorus, and a small amount of calcium and magnesium. And ¼ cup of miso contains a respectable 3.7 g of fiber to boot. Most Westerners are likely to get miso in the form of miso soup, which also usually contains vegetables, making it a nice, low-calorie, healthy start to a meal.

WORTH KNOWING

Miso contains a high amount of sodium—more than 2,500 mg in ¼ cup. Remember, sodium per se is not sodium chloride (table salt), and if sodium is balanced with plenty of potassium in the diet (vegetables, fruits), it isn’t a problem for most people. Still, it’s worth mentioning.

Natto

Natto is a traditional Japanese food and definitely an acquired taste. It’s made from soybeans fermented by the Bacillus natto, which result in a soybean that’s sticky and can be rather. . . well, strong smelling. That’s one reason it’s not exactly an American favorite. Nonetheless, natto—also known as “vegetable cheese”—has been consumed safely for thousands of years due to its health benefits.

Its claim to fame is its richness in an enzyme called nattokinase. Nattokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme that can help reduce and prevent clots. The way it works is this: The body produces a number of substances that assist in blood clotting, one of which is called fibrin. Fibrin is like a web of sticky fibers that your body produces to form a structure that stops excess bleeding. You need fibrin for healthy blood thickness, but too much can impede blood flow and elevate blood pressure. One enzyme in the body, plasmin, dissolves and breaks down fibrin, but plasmin declines with age. Nattokinase, the enzyme in natto, is very structurally similar to plasmin and can directly break down fibrin, helping to prevent clots and keep blood flowing smoothly. That’s why natto is such a “circulation-friendly” food.

Study Shows That Natto Contributes to Healthy Blood Flow

Nattokinase has been the subject of a number of studies, including two human trials. In one of them, twelve healthy Japanese volunteers were given 200 g of natto before breakfast. The amount of time it took to dissolve a blood clot dropped by 48 percent, and their ability to dissolve clots remained for 2 to 8 hours.

Recently, some highly regarded vitamin companies began marketing nattokinase as a supplement, and some very cutting-edge nutritionists often recommend it as an alternative to blood-thinning medications and to help guard against strokes. (Note: Don’t try this at home, folks. If you’re going to wean off a medication, do it under the supervision of your licensed health professional.) Nattokinase does help keep clotting factors in a nice, healthy range, but note that the actual food, natto, also contains vitamin K. Vitamin K is great for healthy bones, but it can interfere with Coumadin and other blood-clotting medications. This is no problem if you’re eating natto for its circulatory benefits, but it is a potential problem if you’re on meds. Some vitamin companies remove the vitamin K from their nattokinase supplements.

Natto Works Wonders for the Skin

I’m including natto in the list of the world’s healthiest foods because it really is—but there’s not much danger that too many people are going to start eating it. Most people hate the softness of the fermented soybeans, not to mention the stickiness and the smell. Even many Japanese don’t like it. But if you can stand it, it not only supports good circulation, but it also makes your skin glow. The very same compound that makes it sticky—polyglutamic acid—also increases the natural moisturizing factor in skin.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Andrew L. Rubman, N.D.

Andrew Rubman is one of my go-to guys when I need answers to difficult and complex medical and nutritional questions. He has practiced as a licensed physician in Connecticut for twenty-five years and has frequently consulted and lectured for the National Institutes of Health, medical schools, and commercial interests. He serves on the editorial advisory boards of many publications and is the consulting medical editor for Daily Health News.

1. Fresh, ripe pineapple: Contains multiple anti-inflammatory enzymes that stimulate immunity and slow aging.

2. Poached, free-range eggs: Water-cooked eggs are ideal; they actually improve HDL (“good”) cholesterol and help manage cholesterol overall.

3. Steel-cut oats: An excellent, low-gluten whole grain with minimal impact on blood sugar. Oats serve as an important protector against colorectal cancer.

4. Kimchi: This Korean fermented cabbage concoction spiced with capsicum provides healthy stimulus and therapy for the stomach and is often beneficial to those with gastritis, reflux, and even Helicobacter infections.

5. Wild salmon: This excellent omega-3 source also provides highly digestible protein and trace minerals. I like it baked in a 450° F oven with a small pot of water. Personal favorite: Copper River Alaskan, only available in the spring.

6. Yemen Mokha Mattari coffee: Coffee is a surprising source of antioxidants. My favorite: a single-source robust bean, rough espresso-ground, fresh-from-freezer beans, brewed fresh with springwater in a Bialetti Moka Express.

7. Wild baby greens: Loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants. Transform the mundane by choosing dandelion, broccoli rabe, mustard, yellow dock, radish, and chicory added into Bibb, butter, and red leaf lettuces. Don’t cut. Instead, pull apart the tiny heads and season with your favorite olive oil, sea salt, and fresh chunky-ground varietal peppers.

8. Fresh wild mushrooms: Mushrooms are like wines; different species and preparations yield amazing textural and palatal effects and important immunological benefits.

9. Vidalia onions: A low-glycemic, sweet-tasting, sulfur-rich delight!

10. Mixed bean and seed sprouts: Packed with enzymes and other cofactors, they add crisp freshness to a salad and make the nutrients in the rest of the meal better absorbed.

CHAPTER 7

Dairy

Let me be very clear where I stand on the whole milk thing: I’m not a fan.

Let me explain. I’m a huge fan of raw, organic, unpasteurized, nonhomogenized milk from grass-fed cows that graze on pastures in small farms devoted to sustainable agriculture. In fact, I think milk—raw, whole milk from the cows I’ve just described—is one of the best whole foods in the world. But I can’t say the same thing about the milk we find in the typical supermarket.

I realize this goes against generations of amazingly effective public-relations campaigns from the dairy industry, including the one with beautiful, healthy-looking, sexy, milk-mustachioed models smiling “got milk?” and warnings about how we will all get osteoporosis if we don’t drink a quart of the stuff a day (not true), but this book is about facts, not about spin. And though there are many ways to read the facts on milk—it’s a complex subject involving not only food but agribusiness, economics, and politics as well as nutrition—my job is to give you my reading of those facts, and my reading is this: Cow’s milk is a great food if you’re a baby cow, and even if you’re a human—provided it comes direct from grass-fed cows untreated with antibiotics, steroids, and hormones, and is raw, unpasteurized and unhomogenized—but even calves probably wouldn’t touch the stuff we get in supermarkets.

Modern Efficiency Leads to Nutritional Deficiency

In the modern factory farm—which is truly a farm in name only—cows are milk-and-beef production machines that exist to turn corn and grain (their main source of food) into milk and meat as quickly as possible. Since the natural food of cows is grass, the resultant situation is no less than a biological absurdity, akin to keeping lions alive on a diet of chocolate chip cookies. As Michael Pollan wrote of the situation in his utterly brilliant book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, “. . . animals exquisitely adapted by natural selection to live on grass must be adapted by us—at considerable cost to their health, to the health of the land, and ultimately to the health of their eaters—to live on corn, for no other reason than it offers the cheapest calories around.”

“Considerable cost” is putting it mildly. A concentrated diet of corn can give a cow acidosis, which can lead to a general weakening of the immune system that leaves the animal vulnerable to a host of horrible feedlot diseases. Cattle rarely manage to live on these diets for more than 150 days. Between 15 and 30 percent of them are found at slaughter to have abcessed livers. Some estimates are considerably higher.

In addition, with intensive production schedules (they don’t call them “factory” farms for nothing), it’s common for modern dairy cows to produce many times the number of pounds of milk they would produce in nature. Growth hormones and unnatural milking schedules cause dairy cows’ udders to become painful, heavy, and infected. To prevent this, factory-farmed cows are routinely given large doses of antibiotics, the residue of which, along with that of the steroids and growth hormones they are given, invariably wind up in the milk and meat they produce.

If you think all those hormones don’t have any impact on your health, consider this: A study in the prestigious Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in February 2005 demonstrated a significant positive association between milk drinking and teenage acne. The researchers suggested that the most likely explanation was the presence of hormones and “bioactive molecules” in the milk.

The Truth about Pasteurization and Homogenization

So if hormones, steroids, and antibiotics weren’t enough—and they are—the resultant milk is then pasteurized and homogenized. Both procedures destroy vitally important health-giving compounds in the milk. As Dr. Joe Mercola (www.mercola.com) accurately points out, “Pasteurizing milk destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamins, denatures fragile milk proteins, destroys vitamins B_12 and B_6, kills beneficial bacteria and promotes pathogens.”

Milk and Cancer?

There have been more than a few studies linking dairy consumption—especially milk—with increased risks of both prostate and ovarian cancer. One study in the May 2005 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that “Dairy consumption may increase prostate cancer risk through a calcium-related pathway” and that “. . . the mechanisms by which dairy and calcium might increase prostate cancer risk should be clarified and confirmed.” On April 4, 2000, the Harvard School of Public Health issued a press release titled “Higher Intake of Dairy Products May be Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk.” And in October 2001, a paper called “Dairy Products, Calcium, and Prostate Cancer Risk in the Physicians’ Health Study” appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Its conclusion: “These results support the hypothesis that dairy products and calcium are associated with a greater risk of prostate cancer.”

Connection between Milk and Ovarian Cancer Still in Dispute

Similarly disturbing connections have been found between dairy—especially milk—and ovarian cancer. In November 2004, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Swedish researchers concluded that “our data indicate that high intakes of lactose and dairy products, particularly milk, are associated with an increased risk of serious ovarian cancer, but not of other subtypes of ovarian cancer.” And just as the manuscript for this book was being submitted, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health examined twelve different previously published studies to try to find some trends. The results, published in Cancer Epidemiological Biomarkers and Prevention in February 2006, noted that while no associations were observed for intakes of specific dairy foods or calcium and ovarian cancer risk, “A modest elevation in the risk of ovarian cancer was seen for lactose intake at the level that was equivalent to three or more servings of milk per day.” The researchers noted that since three servings is exactly what the dietary guidelines recommend, “the relation between dairy product consumption and ovarian cancer risk at these consumption levels deserves further examination.”

I wish we could say for certain what conclusions can be drawn from so many conflicting studies that suggest connections without proving cause. Unfortunately, we can’t. All I can do is point them out in the hope that they will at least cause people to reflect on whether the “all milk all the time” mantra of the dairy industry ought to be taken with a grain of salt. Or two. Or three.

It’s also worth pointing out that in all these studies it’s very unlikely that the majority of the milk drinkers were drinking the raw, organic, unpasteurized, and non-hormone-treated milk I recommend. Does that make a difference? It’s anyone’s guess—my personal belief is that it probably does. That’s why milk—or meat, or cheese—from factory-farmed cattle is not food I can recommend.

I do, however, recommend yogurt. In a perfect world, we’d make it ourselves, or get it from the same grass-fed animals that provide raw milk and healthy meat. But even commercial yogurt can contain large amounts of healthy bacteria—called probiotics—and for this reason alone, yogurt is worth including. (There are other reasons as well—see page 182.) And both organic butter and ghee, for all the reasons listed (see pages 176 and 177) remain among my favorite fats.

Butter/Ghee

I have to smile as I begin writing this entry, knowing that it’s going to cause apoplexy among the diet dictators, conventional dietitians, doctors, and other members of the diet establishment. But the fact is that butter—from pasture-fed, organically raised cows—is a wonderful, healthy food. Surprised? Read on.

Butter

To understand why real butter is a healthy food, you have to unlearn a great deal of what you’ve been taught about saturated fat. Now the argument over saturated fat is way too complex to go into here, but I’ll give you the Cliffs notes, and if you’re interested in reading further, some suggested sources. Number one, yes, butter contains saturated fat. Number two, yes, saturated fat raises cholesterol somewhat, but it raises both the bad and the good kind, so the net result on your health is anyone’s guess. Three, whether an increase in cholesterol translates into higher rates of heart disease or greater rates of mortality is a hotly debated topic whose subplots, political intrigue, and warring factions make the arguments over The Da Vinci Code look like a household discussion over which television channel to watch. If you’re interested in exploring this issue further for yourself, I’d suggest you start by reading the section on fat in the seminal food book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon or visiting the Weston A. Price foundation at www.westonaprice.org. There is also an excellent article on “healthy butter” by Dr. Stephen Byrnes at http://chetday.com/healthybutter.htm.

Some Saturated Fat Is Good for Us

So yup, butter has saturated fat, and nope, let’s not debate the whole saturated fat issue here. Suffice it to say that I agree with the conclusion of the sober and meticulous discussion on saturated fat recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in September 2004, which suggested that it might be prudent to wait until evidence clearly indicates which amounts and types of saturated fat are optimal before eliminating all saturated fat from our diet. Certainly, in the view of the writers—and of myself and many of my most esteemed and trusted colleagues—some saturated fat is good for us and necessary in the diet. To remove healthy foods like butter and avocado and eggs from the diet simply because they contain saturated fat, is, in my opinion, extremely unwise, not to mention unjustified by the research data.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the good stuff on butter. Butter is a rich source of vitamin A, which is needed for many functions in the body, not the least of which are optimal functioning of the immune system and maintaining good vision. Butter also contains all the other fat-soluble vitamins—E, K, and D. Vitamin D deficiency is being called a “silent epidemic” by many nutritionists these days, many of whom don’t believe we get nearly enough of this cancer-fighting, bone-building nutrient.

CLA in “Good” Butter Can Keep You Trim

When you eat animal products that come from healthy, grass-fed animals, you are getting the benefits of the animal’s diet. Real feed for cows is green grass, not grains. Foods like butter that come from grass-fed cows are rich in the fats proven to be healthful, like omega-3s, which are virtually absent from their grain-fed counterparts. Food that comes from grass-fed animals also contains CLA (conjugated linolenic acid), a particularly healthy fat that has demonstrated anticancer properties. Research has also shown CLA to have a lot of promise in fighting weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. The promise of CLA is so great that it has been the subject of an entire research conference (Perspectives on Conjugated Linolenic Research, Current Status and Future Directions), which is posted on the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements Web site. Butter, milk, and meat from grain-fed animals contains virtually no CLA, while food from grass-fed animals is a rich source of this health-promoting fatty acid.

The fat in butter is rich in health-giving properties. For years, I’ve bucked the diet dictators and recommended butter as a “good fat,” alongside nuts, eggs, fish, coconut, avocados, and certain oils. Mary Enig, Ph.D., one of the country’s most respected lipid biochemists, who has written extensively on fat and is the author of a textbook on the subject, points out that butter has been used for centuries and that 30 percent of the fat from butter is from monounsaturated fat (the same kind that’s in olive oil). She also points out that the fat in butter inhibits the growth of pathogens, and that butter is a source of several kinds of antimicrobial fats, including lauric acid, which disables many pathogenic viruses. Finally, she adds that butter has glycolipids, which have anti-infective properties, as well as the aforementioned CLA (conjugated linolenic acid), which has “anticarcinogenic properties.” She concludes her textbook discussion on butter with the following words: “Butter is definitely a fat with health-potentiating properties.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Ghee

Ghee is clarified butter, which means it’s basically butter with the milk solids removed (more on this in a moment). But to treat ghee as just a “form” of butter doesn’t properly acknowledge the fact that this food has been used specifically for its healing and health-giving properties for thousands of years in an honorable and esteemed medical tradition.

Ghee has a long and respected history as a medicinal and healing food in Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine, a tradition that dates back nearly 5,000 years. According to Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of Food as Medicine, ghee is highly regarded in yoga nutritional therapy, where it is valued as both a nutrient and a preservative for food and medicine. In Ayurvedic medicine, ghee is believed to strengthen the ojas, our vital energy cushion at the root of our well-being and immunity.

Happy Cows, Healthy Ghee

Remember that in India, the cow is revered as a sacred being. There are no “factory farms” for cattle in India—all cows are “grass fed.” Therefore, all the health benefits of grass-fed butter discussed under “Butter” (above, page 175), apply completely to ghee. As Amanda Morningstar explains about the cow in her excellent book Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners, “her milk and her butter, clarified as ghee, are like mother’s milk in Ayurveda, absolutely essential for health and well-being. They must be pure to do this. Many Westerners are concerned that the use of ghee will increase their cholesterol or add unnecessary amounts of fat to their diet. Used within the context of an Ayurvedic lifestyle, this is unlikely to happen.” Dr. Annemarie Colbin would agree. In her terrific book Food and Healing, she says that ghee is one of the three best quality fats to use.

In Ayurvedic medicine, ghee is believed to help stimulate the healthy flow of fluids throughout the body. It is considered an important rejuvenative tonic for the mind, the brain, and the nervous system. And, since it has all the milk solids removed, it can be used for cooking at higher temperatures. Ayurveda describes ghee as one of the finest cooking oils; it increases “digestive fire,” thereby improving assimilation and enhancing the nutritional value of foods. It also doesn’t go rancid. I keep a container of ghee out on my kitchen counter all the time, unrefrigerated, and dip into it for a spoonful almost every day.

Like butter, ghee contains butyric acid, a fatty acid that has antiviral and anticancer properties and that raises the level of the antiviral chemical interferon in the body.

WORTH KNOWING

According to Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, an easy way to make ghee is to simmer unsalted butter over medium-low heat for 10 to 20 minutes until an almost transparent crust forms on top. Then skim off the crust and strain the golden liquid that remains into a container. Make sure you discard the white sediment at the bottom. Or, you can do what I do and buy ready-made ghee in most natural food stores. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and in fact, according to some traditions, has more healing properties if you leave it out at room temperature.

Cheese

The whole thing with cheese is this: It’s all about the source. Unfortunately, the generic name “cheese” covers an awful lot of territory. Just as “carbs” include lollipops and cauliflower, the “cheese” section of the deli is a pretty big umbrella, containing everything from phenomenally wonderful natural cheeses made from the raw and unpasteurized milk of sheep and goats to single-sliced “cheese foods” that bear absolutely no resemblance to anything that should ever be put into the human body.

Why Some Cheeses Don’t Make the List

In fact, it’s that very diversity and confusion that caused me to decide not to include “cheese” as one of the top 150 foods on the planet. Sorting out the types and kinds and their origins could fill a book on its own, and if each healthy “type” were given its own entry, there’d be no room for anything else. So this general introduction to the category will have to suffice.

Cheese falls into four main categories, according to production techniques and maturity:

• Soft, unripened (e.g., cottage, ricotta, Neufchâtel)

• Soft, ripened, either mold ripened (blue vein, Brie) or salt cured (feta)

• Firm (Cheddar, Swiss)

• Hard (Parmesan or Pecorino)

Some nutrients that are in all classes of cheese include calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and folate. Natural cheese also has all four fat-soluble vitamins: A, E, K, and D. The mineral content of cheese is influenced by the addition of salt, optional ingredients, the method of coagulation, the treatment of the curd, and the resulting acidity.

French Cheese Has More Cancer-Fighting, Fat-Reducing Fat

But once again, what’s more important is the quality of the cheese, not the type. And, as I’ve said many times elsewhere in this book, the quality of animal products—cheese in this case—is directly related to the quality of the diet of the animals it comes from. For example, cheese from grass-fed cows is more than four times richer in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a cancer-fighting, fat-reducing fat that has been widely studied for its health benefits. Cheese from standard, grain-fed cows doesn’t have nearly as much. (French cheeses are especially high in CLA. A 1998 survey found that CLA levels in French cheese range from 5.3 to 15.8 mg/g of fat. American cheese from conventional dairies has half this amount. Why? French dairies are more likely to raise their cows on pasture, which results in naturally high levels of CLA.)

The benefits of cheese from healthy animals extends beyond CLA. Unpasteurized Camembert is a natural source of probiotic lactobacilli, the very same protective bacteria we find in yogurt and naturally fermented food. And, as my friend Dr. Regina Wilshire, author of the well-known blog “Weight of the Evidence,” points out, “Alpine cheese is superhigh in omega-3s when it’s made from milk from cows grazed on northern-latitude alpine grasses instead of feedlotting!”

Consider the Source

The take-home point? Once again, “consider the source.” Sheep and goats are less likely to be factory farmed, so their milk (and cheese) may contain a lot less drugs and antibiotics. Natural, raw milk cheeses (whether from cow’s milk or any other animal) are likely to be richer in healthy fats like omega-3s and CLA, especially if the animals graze on grass.

And while usually there are no hard and fast rules for quality, in this one case I’ll make an exception: If it says “cheese food” on the label, for goodness’ sake, put the package down and step away from the counter.

Raw Organic Milk

Raw, certified organic milk—unpasteurized and unhomogenized—is one of the true health foods on the planet. It’s a wonderful source of protein and calcium, the fat in it is perfectly acceptable, and it tastes absolutely delicious.

Raw milk is loaded with nutrients, including beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. Because it isn’t subjected to the high heat of pasteurization, those good bacteria—along with wonderful beneficial enzymes—aren’t destroyed. And according to Dr. Joe Mercola, raw milk is the finest source of calcium available.

Raw milk virtually always comes from grass-fed cows. Milk from grass-fed cows contains higher levels of cancer-fighting CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and will be richer in the full gamut of vitamins and minerals. Vitally important nutrients like vitamins A and D are greatest in milk from cows eating green grass. And the healthy enzymes contained in raw milk help the body assimilate all those great nutrients, including, by the way, calcium. According to Connecticut naturopath Dr. Ron Schmid, author of Traditional Foods Are Your Best Medicine and The Untold Story of Milk: Green Pastures, Contented Cows and Raw Dairy Products, enzymes are a critical component in recovering from disease and establishing and maintaining health. “I have become more convinced than ever of the value and importance of raw milk in the diets of people of all ages,” says Schmid.

Milk from Grass-Fed Cows Much Higher in Omega-3s

The fat content of the milk from organically raised, grass-fed cows is wholly different than that of their factory-farmed brethren. Studies have shown that the omega-3 fat content of grass-fed, pasture-roaming cows is as high as 50 percent (it’s virtually nonexistent in factory-farmed animals). And research at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) at Aberystwyth, Wales, showed that organic milk contains between 71 percent and a whopping 240 percent more omega-3s than nonorganic milk, plus it has a much better ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats than conventional milk. This is probably because the pasture-fed cows graze on a diet rich in red clover silage as well as their natural diet of grasses.

While it’s always possible to become sick from any contaminated food—just read the newspapers—raw milk seems to have been unfairly singled out as a risk. Consider this, from the Weston A. Price Foundation Web site:

Except for a brief hiatus in 1990, raw milk has always been for sale commercially in California, usually in health food stores, although (there was) a period when it was even sold in grocery stores. Millions of people consumed commercial raw milk during that period and although the health department kept an eagle eye open for any possible evidence of harm, not a single incidence was reported. During the same period, there were many instances of contamination in pasteurized milk, some of which resulted in death.

Raw organic milk is hard to find—only a couple of states sell it (California is one). But more and more people are turning to small farms and collectives (at this writing, there are nearly forty such farms licensed to sell raw milk in Pennsylvania alone). It’s worth looking for.

A Note on Goat’s Milk

Goat’s milk has more easily digestible fat and protein content than cow’s milk. (This increased digestibility of the protein is of great importance to infant diets as well as for invalid and convalescent diets.) It also has 18 percent more calcium, 41 percent more magnesium, 22 percent more phosphorus, 42 percent more potassium, and almost twice the vitamin A. What it doesn’t have is much folic acid or B12, something to consider if you’re using it for an infant’s diet. And many people who are allergic to cow’s milk do fine with goat’s milk. Plus, it tastes great.

However, the same caveats exist as with cow’s milk. Much of commercial goat’s milk is not only pasteurized but “ultrapasteurized.” That gives it a ridiculously long shelf life, but unfortunately, according to Dr. Ron Schmid, “turns a great food into something that’s basically useless.”

WORTH KNOWING

A great source for locating real, raw, organic, certified milk in your area is www.realmilk.com.

Yogurt

(kefir, lassi)

When I was a kid, I remember hearing stories of long-lived robust mountain people in the plains of Bulgaria who regularly consumed this weird white food that was evidentially the secret to their longevity and health. The food, I later found out, was yogurt, and as far as I was concerned, it tasted horrible (of course, those were my five-year-old taste buds speaking). Now, decades later, yogurt comes in a zillion varieties (including, of course “frozen”) and no longer has to fight for shelf space in the American grocery store—it’s practically become a staple. Of course, whether this is the same food that the robust, rugged centurians of Bulgaria ate is quite another matter. Read on.

As long ago as the turn of the twentieth century, a Russian scientist named Metchnikoff wrote of yogurt’s benefits in his 1908 book The Prolongation of Life. He believed that bacteria in the gut produced toxins that would shorten our life span and promote disease and that the “good” bacteria in yogurt would displace the “bad” bacteria and improve our health. More than a century later, abundant research has shown that he was on to something. According to many experts in health and nutrition, all health begins in the gut, which is, after all, the site of digestion and the absorption of nutrients and is a huge part of the body’s immune system. As Metchnikoff intuited, the gut is the site of a turf war between “bad” and “good” bacteria. You can never completely get rid of the “bad” bugs, but you can balance them with “good” bacteria and create a healthy environment that promotes digestion, increases immunity, fights against Candida overgrowth (Candida albicans, or “yeast,” is one of the “bad” bacteria), and strengthens the immune system.

Probiotics in Yogurt Make for a Healthy Gut

Yogurt—real yogurt, that is (about which more in a moment)—is a wonderful, rich source of those “good” bacteria. They’re called probiotics, which literally means “for life.” Because of their critical importance in supporting overall health, and because most people don’t get nearly enough in their diet, many nutritionists consider probiotic supplements to be among the most important supplements a person can take on a daily basis. That’s probably true—however, you can go a long way toward creating a healthy “gut environment” by consuming foods that are rich in these amazing, health-promoting microorganisms.

Which is where yogurt comes in.

First a bit of history and some definitions. The word “yogurt” (or yoghurt) probably derives from the Turkish adjective meaning “dense and thick.” Yogurt is basically fermented milk. Any milk can be used as a starter—goat’s, sheep’s, or cow’s—but it’s the fermentation of milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid that gives yogurt its texture and tangy taste. Traditionally fermented foods—like yogurt, sauerkraut, and miso—are among the healthiest foods in the world. They’re rich in enzymes and other live microorganisms that have a wide array of health benefits.

The yogurt that the hardy centurians in Bulgaria were eating was very rich in a particular bacteria called bulgaricus. According to Dr. Sonja Pettersen, N.D., who practices in Arizona, bulgaricus has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Bulgaricus—also known as B. bifidum or bifidobacteria—is part of that larger class of “good” bacteria known as probiotics (see above). Another member of the same class is the better known Lactobacillus acidophilus. It’s the presence of these live cultures that are responsible for the main health benefits of yogurt.

Yogurt Ups Your Immunity

And what a list of health benefits it is. Various members of the lactobacillus class have been found to support and improve immunity in a number of studies. One Austrian study published recently in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism found that daily yogurt consumption had a stimulating effect on cellular immunity in healthy young women. Another recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that yogurt containing lactobacillus and bifidobacteria can suppress H. pylori. “By maintaining good gut flora, you’ll prevent all kinds of different diseases, especially chronic degenerative ones,” Pettersen has said. “Probiotics (live cultures) help control inflammation, which is a central feature of so many degenerative diseases, including heart disease. Probiotics—like the bulgaricus found in the yogurt in Bulgaria—help increase NK (natural killer) cells, a powerful immune system weapon. They increase antibodies when we have infections. They improve digestion. They have anticancer properties. And if this weren’t enough, they can increase good cholesterol while decreasing the bad kind.”

Why You Should Look for the LAC Seal

As the announcer on the old quiz show To Tell The Truth might have said, “Will the real yogurt please stand up?” All yogurt taking up shelf space in American supermarkets is not created equal. The product has to actually contain real live cultures to be of any real benefit. The National Yogurt Association (NYA) has developed a “Live and Active Cultures” (LAC) seal for the yogurt label to identify yogurt that contains significant levels of live and active cultures. Be aware that a label stating “made with active cultures” does not mean the same as the LAC label. All yogurt starts with active cultures—the question is whether any remain after the processing. The LAC label means that the yogurt contains at least 100 million cultures per gram of yogurt at the time of manufacture and after pasteurization.

Some yogurt products may indeed have live cultures but not happen to carry the LAC seal. To determine whether the yogurt you buy contains living bacteria, check the labels for “active yogurt cultures,” “living yogurt cultures,” or “contains active cultures.” Two brands that contain live cultures are Stonybrook Farms and Dannon (plain). Remember, don’t be fooled by the words “made with active cultures.” All yogurts are made with live cultures, but no live cultures survive heat treatment.

The Fewer Ingredients in Yogurt, the Better It Is for You

The best nutritional deal is plain yogurt, which has only two ingredients: live cultures and milk (whole milk, low-fat, or skim). The longer the ingredients list, the more calories you get and the less yogurt nutrition. In some highly sweetened containers of yogurt, you’re getting more calories in the sweetener than you are in the yogurt. Be sure to read the protein and sugar values on the nutrition panel. The higher the protein and the lower the sugar content, the more actual yogurt you’re getting in the container.

The NYA has been urging the FDA not to allow products that do not contain live and active cultures to be called yogurt. The LAC label ensures consumers that the healthful properties of the organisms are present at the time they eat the yogurt, not just at the time of manufacturing.

Those Who Are Lactose Intolerant Can Still Enjoy Yogurt

Besides live cultures, yogurt is also a good source of protein and a great source of calcium and potassium. Depending on brand and type, it also has some B vitamins and a little of the important cancer-fighting mineral selenium.

Remember, live yogurt culture contains enzymes that break down lactose, so many individuals who are otherwise lactose intolerant find that they can enjoy yogurt with no problems.

One more thing: I’m not a fan of no-fat foods, including yogurt. Many vitamins and minerals—including calcium—are better absorbed with some fat. As I’ve pointed out many times, if the total number of calories in your diet does not exceed what you need, the percentage of calories from fat is of no real importance, provided it’s not damaged fat like that found in fried foods, or horrible fat like trans fats. Yogurt with some fat in it fills you up and is much more satisfying than the no-fat kind, and generally contains a lot less sugar to boot. If you’re still squeamish about the fat, at least go for “low fat” rather than “no fat”

Some of the types of yogurt available include:

• Bulgarian yogurt. Known for its specific taste, Bulgarian yogurt contains the important probiotic Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

• Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is made from milk that has been blended with cream to a fat content of exactly 10 percent, though standard (5 percent) and low-fat (2 percent) and even no-fat versions are available. The traditional Greek tzatziki sauce is made from yogurt, cucumber, and garlic.

• Lassi is a yogurt-based beverage that originated in India and comes in two varieties: sweet and salty. The salty kind is usually flavored with the wonderful spices cumin and chile peppers; the sweet kind often has fruit juice.

• Kefir is another traditionally fermented milk drink sometimes billed as “drinkable yogurt.”

• Goat’s milk and sheep’s milk yogurt have the properties of the milk they were made from; they’re definitely worth trying as well, if you can find them.

WORTH KNOWING

If you like the taste of frozen yogurt, or “yogurt-covered peanuts and raisins”—all of which may indeed be delicious—by all means eat them. But don’t kid yourself that they have any of the health properties of real yogurt. They’re sweet treats masquerading as a health food.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., C.N.S.

Stephen Sinatra is a board-certified cardiologist, a certified bioenergetic psychotherapist, and a certified nutrition and antiaging specialist. Sinatra integrates conventional medicine with complementary, nutritional, and psychological therapies that help heal the heart. In my opinion, his classic Heart Sense for Women should be required reading. His latest book is The Fast Food Diet.

Sinatra couldn’t choose among his top twelve, so I let him list all twelve!All foods listed below are organic, natural, wild, or free range. These are the foods Sinatra eats in everyday life.

1. Asparagus: Loaded with folic acid, vitamin C, and glutathione precursors.

2. Avocado: Contains lots of vitamin E, glutathione, and monounsaturated fat that doesn’t require an insulin response.

3. Onions: Slice raw onions on salad. Contains many important flavonoids, especially quercetin, which supports the immune system, improves prostate health, and is perhaps the major nutrient responsible for the “French Paradox.”

4. Spinach: Spinach contains lutein, which helps prevent macular degeneration and is instrumental in both lung and heart health. It is also one of the best sources of calcium.

5. Wild blueberries: Blueberries contain flavonoids that not only improve the macula and retina of the eye, but also help neurons in the brain communicate with one another.

6. Pomegranate juice: Pomegranate is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to assist in plaque regression in both the carotid arteries and the heart.

7. Free-range buffalo: An outstanding source of protein with minimal saturated fat. No hormones, antibiotics, or chemicals are added. Grass-fed buffalo also contains precious omega-3s.

8. Wild Alaskan salmon: Outstanding protein source with the vital carotenoid called astaxanthin. This carotenoid prevents lipid peroxidation and assists in mending DNA breakdown products. It is seventeen times more powerful than pycnogenol and fifty times more powerful than vitamin E. It is the carotenoid that gives the orange color to salmon flesh.

9. Broccoli: Contains sulfur compounds that assist in detoxifying the body. A major source of cancer-preventing compounds such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Steamed with fresh garlic and olive oil, broccoli is a heart saver.

10. Almonds: Great monounsaturated fat containing precious gamma tocopherol, a vital nutrient that neutralizes the perioxynitrite radical, a dangerous free radical that causes destruction to cellular endothelial membranes.

11. Seaweed: Contains all fifty-six minerals and especially natural iodine, which are needed for the thyroid gland. Magnesium, chlorophyll, and alginates are also vital for optimum health.

12. Garlic: Whole baked garlic cloves not only will help blood pressure and cholesterol but will help detoxify the body from heavy metals, especially mercury and cadmium. Garlic was used during World War II as Russian penicillin, as it also neutralizes dozens of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is a perfect nutraceutical.

CHAPTER 8

Meat, Poultry, and Eggs

Sorting through the options of “free range,” “organic,” and “grass fed”—the terminology of the local natural food store can be a minefield. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture put into place a set of national standards that must be met in order for a food to be labeled “organic.” Those standards apply whether the food was grown in the United States or imported from other countries. It’s a huge step in the right direction. Organic food is now defined as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled “organic,” a government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too

But what does that really tell us? After all, you can now get some version of “organic” crispy choconutty cereal, and my local health food store is filled with “organic soda.” More specifically, when it comes to meat and poultry, what does organic really mean? Clearly, from the above definition, it means the animals were given no antibiotics or growth hormones, and that’s a great thing! But is it enough? And how does the term “organic” dovetail with other catchphrases like “free range,” “cage free,” and, in the case of meat, “grass fed”? Which of these terms really matters, and which should we be paying attention to?

Some Organic Meat Still Comes from Grain-Fed Cows

First, let me be clear. I’m glad there are standards for organic food. I buy organic food whenever possible, although my eyes are much more open to what that really means than they used to be (see “What about Organic?” on page 14). I’m glad that organic meat is now available and that when we buy it, we’re not getting a nice additional dose of hormones, steroids, and antibiotics with our protein. But is that enough to guarantee a healthy product? I don’t think so.

Why? Because the inescapable fact is this: Cows aren’t meant to eat grain. It’s just not their natural diet. You can make them eat it, just like you can make lions eat Cheerios, but it’s not what they normally eat, and they won’t do real well on it.

The meat (and milk) that comes from cows that primarily spend their lives being fattened up on grain at CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations or “factory farms”) is simply not the same meat or milk that comes from their pasture-fed, grass-grazing brethren. The fat content is different, the nutrients are different, and except for the protein, it’s just not the same food. Though I suppose eating a steak that comes from a cow that was fed organic grain is marginally better than eating a steak that comes from a cow that was fed nonorganic grain, eating a steak that comes from a cow that ate grass beats both of those options by a longshot.

Grass-Fed Meat Always Wins

Organic meat may be free of unwanted chemicals, but it is nutritionally inferior to grass-fed meat. When a ruminant is taken off pasture and fattened on grain, it loses a number of valuable nutrients. For example, compared with grass-fed meat, grain-fed meat has only one-quarter as much vitamin E, one-eighth as much beta-carotene, and one-third as many omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn’t matter whether the animal is fed ordinary grain, genetically modified grain, or organic grain. Feeding large amounts of any type of grain to a grazing animal will have this effect simply because grain has fewer of these nutrients than fresh pasture. Grain-fed animals also produce far more of the proinflamma-tory omega-6s and far less of the anti-inflammatory omega-3s. The balance between these two types of fats is essential to human health. We get far too many omega-6s and far too few omega-3s. The fat in grass-fed animals is much closer to a healthy balance. The fat in grain-fed animals makes the situation worse.

Compared with grass-fed products, organic grain–fed products are also relatively deficient in a cancer-fighting fat called CLA—conjugated linoleic acid. CLA has been widely studied for its anticancer and tumor-fighting ability, as well as for its ability to reduce the accumulation of abdominal fat. (CLA supplements are among the most popular weight control supplements on the market.) When you feed a ruminant grain—even as little as 2 pounds a day—its production of CLA plummets. CLA may be one of the most potent cancer-fighting substances in our diet. In animal studies, as little as 0.5 of 1 percent CLA in the diet has reduced tumor burden by more than 50 percent.

Now that we’ve talked about cows, let’s move on to the chickens and the eggs. Free-range? Omega-3? Let’s take a look.

The Advantages of Organic, Free-Range Chicken and Eggs

I’ve always bought free-range chickens and the eggs that come from them. The advantages are enormous. Just like the natural diet of humans is that which we can hunt, fish, gather, or pluck, the natural diet of farm animals is what they can graze or forage for (insects, worms, wild plants, grass). According to Loren Cordain, Ph.D., and dozens of other researchers, this natural diet guarantees a healthful ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. An exclusive diet of grain is no more the natural diet of chickens than it is of cows.

Theoretically, free-range chickens are allowed to run around and forage and eat their natural diet (which means pecking at worms and insects and incorporating all those good omega-3s into their system as a result). Because they get exercise, they’re not as fat. Because their quality of life is theoretically better than what it would be if they were confined to tiny, dark cubicles in close quarters for all of their natural life, it’s reasonable to assume that they’re healthier. Organic, free-range chickens are theoretically less likely to be filled with the growth hormones and antibiotics that the poultry industry routinely uses on factory-farmed animals. And if you’re one of those bleeding hearts—like me—who actually cares about the welfare of animals, it’s easier to make peace with eating animals that have had reasonably healthy, happy lives and quick and painless deaths.

The operative term here is “theoretically.”

Can We Trust the Term “Free Range”?

Recently, there’s been quite a controversy as to exactly how “free range” free-range chickens really are. Birds raised for meat (“broilers”) may be considered “free range” if they have USDA-certified access to the outdoors. Note the word “access.” According to Michael Pollan’s utterly fascinating book The Omnivore’s Dilemma (which should be required reading for anyone interested in where his or her food comes from), free range is an option few chickens actually choose. “Since the food and water and flock remain inside the shed,” he writes, “and since the little doors remain shut until the birds are at least five weeks old and well settled in their habits, the chickens apparently see no reason to venture out into what must seem to them an unfamiliar and terrifying world. Since the birds are slaughtered at seven weeks, free range turns out to be not so much a lifestyle for these chickens as a two-week vacation option.”

Today’s “free-range” chicken has little in common with the chickens I saw on the small sustainable farms I visited as a kid where chickens ran around pecking at stuff to their hearts’ content and produced delicious eggs and meat that were relatively toxin free. According to The Washington Post Magazine, the term free range “doesn’t really tell you anything about the (animal’s) . . . quality of life, nor does it even assure that the animal actually goes outdoors.” Even Richard Lobb, spokesperson for the National Chicken Council, admits, “Even in a free-range type of style of production, you’re basically going to find most of them inside the facility.”

No Guarantees with Organic, Just the Possibility of Something Better

So why do I continue to buy and recommend organic meats (hopefully grass fed) and free-range organic chickens? One word: hope. I continue to hope against mounting evidence that companies held to a standard of “organic” will produce chickens, meats, and eggs that are at least marginally better than the chickens, meats, and eggs that come from companies that maintain unspeakably horrible factory-farm conditions. I realize this may not be true. “Organic” doesn’t guarantee much when it comes to animal products—certainly not the quality of life I like to imagine it does—but by buying organic meats and poultries, or eggs that have been “omega-3 enriched,” or eggs from chickens that have been fed organic feed whose manufacturers at least made a stab at trying to reproduce the nutrients found in the chicken’s natural diet, I’m hoping to get something better than I might otherwise find. If I had access to a small sustainable local farm, believe me, I’d just get my stuff there.

Now what if, like most people, you don’t have access to organic and free range? What if you can’t afford it, or even find it? What if you’re on a budget? What if you’re a single mom with two kids who’s not inclined to go shop at the natural organic supermarket far from your home and pay considerably more for marginally better stuff? Should you never eat chicken or eggs that are “conventionally” farmed or produced?

Free-Range, Organic Chicken or None at All?

No. Chicken, for example, is still an important source of protein, and eggs are still arguably the most complete and perfect food on the planet (or one of them). So we do the best with what we have. The message here is this: Changing the way our food is produced and delivered to us is going to take a superhuman effort on the part of an awful lot of people over a very long period of time. And it’s going to be about more than just slapping the term “organic” or “free range” on something and then watching the food companies do everything they can to comply with the letter—rather than the spirit—of the regulations.

I think the effort is worth it. Meanwhile, we have to eat.

WORTH KNOWING

If you’re interested in learning more about grass farming and the health benefits of pasture-raised animals and their products, a great place to start is www.eatwild.com. Another fine source of information is the Weston A. Price Foundation (www.westonaprice.org).

Eggs

I can’t say enough good things about eggs. They’re nature’s most perfect food. Eggs are plentiful, inexpensive, easy to prepare in a zillion different ways, and loaded with vitamins. They’re also one of the best sources of protein on the planet. On three of the four scientific scales for protein quality used in the past few decades—Protein Efficiency Rating, Biological Value, and Net Protein Utilization—eggs consistently score highest in the quality of their protein, soundly beating milk, beef, whey, and soy. (All are tied with a perfect score of 1.00 on the fourth, the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score.)

Why Egg Yolks Are Actually Good for You

So what’s so great about eggs? Well, besides the abovementioned fact that they’re a perfect source of protein, containing all nine essential amino acids, they’re also loaded with vitamins and nutrients that help your eyes, your brain, and your heart. They’re one of the best sources of choline, which, though it’s not a vitamin, is an essential nutrient that must be consumed in the diet to maintain good health. Choline is essential for cardiovascular and brain function and for the health of your cell membranes. It’s an essential part of a phospholipid called phosphatidylcholine (the popular supplement lecithin is about 10 to 20 percent phosphatidylcholine). Without adequate phosphatidylcholine, both fat and cholesterol accumulate in the liver. Have you picked up on the paradox yet? People avoid egg yolks because they’re afraid of the cholesterol, but the choline in the egg yolk actually helps prevent the accumulation of cholesterol and fat in the liver! Egg yolks (and beef liver) are two of the richest dietary sources of phosphatidylcholine. One large egg provides 300 mcg of choline (all in the yolk), and also contains 315 mg of phosphatidylcholine.

There’s more to the choline story. Choline forms a metabolite in the body called betaine, which helps lower homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease. And phosphatidylcholine is one of the most liver-friendly nutrients on the planet. In Europe, phosphatidylcholine is used to treat liver disease, and many nutritionists recommend it as part of a liver support program. Most liver metabolism occurs on cell membranes, and phosphatidylcholine is the universal building block for cell membranes. Phosphatidylcholine helps protect the liver from a wide range of toxic influences. And choline is also needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, one of the major neurotransmitters in the body. Acetylcholine is critical for memory and thought; according to the Physicians’ Desk Reference, adequate acetylcholine levels in the brain are believed to be protective against certain types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. So eggs—like fish—are truly brain food!

Eggs for Healthy Eyes

Eggs are also “eye” food. Eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two of the new “superstar” nutrients when it comes to eye health. Lutein, present in the macula of the eye’s retina, appears to filter harmful, high-energy blue wavelengths of visible light from both natural sunlight and indoor light. Dr. Michael Geiger, a New York optometrist and author of Eye Care Naturally, says that lutein and zeaxanthin have been found to be among the most effective supplements for eye health. That’s true—but according to an article in the August 2004 Journal of Nutrition, lutein bioavailability is even higher from eggs than it is from supplements.

Carotenoids are always better absorbed with some fat, and lutein is a carotenoid—hence, even though there is a little less lutein in egg yolk than there is in spinach (another good source of lutein), it’s more bioavailable. If you’re interested in getting the most bang for your buck in terms of eye health, eat eggs and spinach together—you’ll get the maximum amount of these nutrients from two potent sources, and the fat from the egg yolks will help you absorb them. Lutein and zeaxanthin are always found together in nature and are generally measured as a unit—one jumbo egg has 215 mcg.

Eggs May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Eating eggs was one of two major dietary patterns found in one recent study to be protective against breast cancer. Recently (January 2005), a study was published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention that took note of the difference in breast cancer incidence in Chinese women as they migrate from China to Hong Kong to the United States—their incidence of breast cancer more than doubles. In this study, the researchers looked at changes in diet and discovered two significant patterns: One, the women eating the most fruits and vegetables were significantly less likely to have breast cancer. No surprise there. But two—get this—the women eating the most eggs were also least likely to have breast cancer: Eating six eggs per week vs. two eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44 percent.

In addition to the high-quality protein, the lutein and zeaxanthin, the choline and phosphatidylcholine, eggs also contain trace amounts of more than fifteen vitamins and minerals; one jumbo egg contains 18 percent of the Daily Value for riboflavin (vitamin B2), 14 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin B12, and 29 percent of the Daily Value for the important cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium. Not only that, eggs make you look good! Their high sulfur content promotes healthy hair and nails. Many people report finding their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previous deficient in foods containing sulfur—or vitamin B12.

What about Omega-3 Enriched Eggs?

Recently, there has been an influx in the supermarkets of omega-3 enriched eggs (for more on that, see my introductory essay on meat and poultry, page 187). Chickens that roam free produce eggs that are higher in omega-3 fats, and some companies are offering eggs that have been omega-3 enriched. If you can find these omega-3 eggs, by all means get them.

Full disclosure: I frequently eat my eggs raw. I throw them in a smoothie (à la Rocky!) or I add them whole to vegetable juice and drink them down. Before you gasp, understand that eggs from healthy chickens are rarely contaminated with salmonella. In fact, according to a study by the USDA (Risk Analysis, April 2002, 22(2):203–18), only about .03 percent of the 69 billion eggs produced annually are contaminated at all. And according to my friend Dr. Joe Mercola (www.mercola.com), if you are obtaining high-quality, cage-free, organically fed, omega-3-enhanced chicken eggs, the risk virtually disappears. Salmonella only comes from sick birds, and the risk of sickness decreases when animals aren’t kept in dark, crowded, sickening conditions.

You may have noticed that many of the experts who contributed top ten lists to this book mentioned eggs but noted a specific way of cooking them. That’s because the less you scramble or expose the yolk to oxygen, the less the cholesterol gets oxidized. For “health athletes”—those looking for the absolute best, healthiest way to do everything—minimizing oxygen exposure is probably a good idea. Poaching is one way to minimize oxidation, boiling is another, and of course, so is eating them raw (though I imagine I’m not going to win many converts over to that method). Personally, I’d rather see you eat scrambled eggs than not eat them at all, but at least try to stay away from buffets where scrambled eggs have been sitting out exposed to air for hours. As always, fresh is better.

WORTH KNOWING

One more thing. Do me a favor. Stop with the egg whites already. If I see one more healthy, robust, well-muscled, athletic young person ordering an egg-white omelette for breakfast, I’ll scream. Listen carefully: The egg yolk is good for you! It’s part of the package. Worried about cholesterol? According to the Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating, “No research has ever shown that people who eat more eggs have more heart attacks than people who eat few eggs.” People vary widely in their response to dietary cholesterol, and the effects of eggs on your health can’t be predicted by the amount of cholesterol they contain.

Free-Range Poultry

(chicken and turkey)

Chicken is a great source of protein and has an awful lot of other nutrients in it as well. Plus you can make one of the world’s healthiest prepared foods out of it: chicken soup.

Now, obviously, I’m not talking chicken “nuggets” of indeterminate composition. I’m talking the real bird. I prefer free range and organic, but everything I’m about to say about chicken and turkey applies to the plain, old-fashioned, grocery store kind as well.

Four ounces of skinless, boneless chicken breast contains almost 35 g of high-quality protein as well as small amounts of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. Those 4 ounces also contain 255 mg of phosphorus and 287 mg of heart-healthy potassium. One large (6-ounce) chicken breast is even more loaded: It contains more potassium than there is in a medium banana, plus a whopping 53 g of protein. Skinless dark meat contains somewhat more calories and fat; add the skin and you’re talking seriously more fat and calories. Nutritionally, turkey is fairly similar.

Chicken (but not turkey) is also an excellent source of niacin, a B vitamin that’s important in energy metabolism and in biochemical functions needed to maintain healthy skin and a properly functioning gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. It’s also involved in the metabolism of fats. Four ounces of chicken provides three-quarters of the RDI for niacin.

Light vs. Dark Meat

The fat in boneless, skinless chicken is actually mostly monounsaturated. There’s about 4 g of fat per 4 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast, and only 1.1 g of that is saturated fat. The rest is mostly monounsaturated, with a smattering of polyunsaturates in the mix. Light-meat turkey has even less fat than chicken breast, but the dark meat has about the same, with a marginally higher percentage of saturated fat.

Then there’s selenium. I consider selenium—a trace mineral—one of the single most important nutrients in the human diet. First of all, selenium is a powerful antioxidant. Second of all, epidemiological data indicate clearly that low dietary intake of selenium is associated with increased incidence of several cancers, including lung, colorectal, skin, and prostate cancers. And there are in vitro animal and human data showing that supplemental selenium can protect against some cancers. There’s a lot of interest now focusing on these findings, given gathering evidence that selenium intakes may actually be declining in some parts of the world, including some areas of the United States, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. I believe most people would be a lot healthier if they consumed at least 200 mcg of selenium daily (the current RDI for selenium is 70 mcg). Four ounces of chicken breast provides 30 mcg, and one large breast contains 47 mcg, making chicken an excellent source of this cancer-fighting mineral. Turkey has even more: 36 mcg for 4 ounces of light meat, 45 mcg for 4 ounces of dark meat. (The dark meat of turkey also has more zinc than the light meat.)

Where the Vegans Have It Wrong

Speaking of protein, I’m always amused by the vegan propaganda about how animal protein “causes” bone loss and osteoporosis. Actually, the opposite is true.

The Framingham Osteoporosis Study investigated protein consumption over a four-year period among 615 elderly men and women with an average age of 75. The amount of protein eaten daily ranged from as low as 14 g a day to as high as 175 g. Those who consumed more protein had less bone loss, and those who consumed less protein had more bone loss, both at the femoral bone and at the spine. The study also found that “higher intake of animal protein does not appear to affect the skeleton adversely.” Calcium is better absorbed on a higher-protein diet, even if there is somewhat more urinary calcium excretion. High-protein diets in two recent studies resulted in significantly more calcium absorption than the low-protein diets they were compared to. And a recent study in Obesity

Research compared a low-protein diet to a high-protein diet to determine whether the protein content of the diet impacted bone mineral density. It did. The folks in the low-protein group had greater bone mineral loss.

Because of the toxins, antibiotics, steroids, pesticides, and growth hormones used in factory farming, I’m reluctant to recommend unlimited amounts of nonorganic meat and poultry. But let’s not kid ourselves—protein is a critical part of a healthy diet. Of course we should try to get it from the healthiest sources we can (which, in my humble opinion, doesn’t include fast-food restaurants). While it’s certainly possible to be healthy on a vegetarian diet, it takes more planning than you might imagine. And many people—perhaps not all, but many—just do better with some animal products in their diet. It’s been that way since the beginning of the human genus, and until our digestive “fuel tanks” undergo significant genetic alteration, I suspect it will remain that way.

WORTH KNOWING

Urban legend department: Everyone thinks that the reason we get tired and fall asleep after Thanksgiving dinner is because of the tryptophan (an amino acid) in turkey. Nope. Four ounces of turkey actually has less than half a gram of tryptophan. We get sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner cause we eat too darn much; we zone out while all the blood leaves our head to go down to the digestive tract, where it has a ton of work to do.

Grass-fed Beef

Beef is beef and carrots are carrots, right?

Wrong, grasshopper.

Whether your food is animal, vegetable, plant, fish, or fruit, where a food comes from, how it’s raised (or grown), what it ate (or was fed), what soil it was grown on (or grazed on), how it is processed, prepared, and cooked (or not cooked) is vitally important to its nutritional content and absolutely central to its effect on your health.

Which brings us to beef.

The natural diet of cattle is grass. It is absolutely not grain. Yet most of the beef that comes to us via traditional routes has been eating nothing but grain. When a ruminant like a cow is taken off its natural diet of pasture and fattened on grain, it loses nutrients. According to one reputable source, grain-fed meat has only one-quarter as much vitamin E, one-eighth as much beta-carotene, and, probably most important, one-third as many omega-3 fatty acids. (This makes sense—grain has far fewer of these nutrients than fresh pasture!)

Grass-fed Beef Ranks Higher in All Nutritional Categories

The fat content of grass-fed beef is quite different from that of grain fed because the diet of the animals significantly alters their fatty-acid composition. Cattle that are primarily fed grass enhance their omega-3 content by 60 percent. A massive amount of research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent certain chronic diseases such as heart disease. The ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids in our diet is of enormous importance to our health. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids (a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio) contributes to the development of disease, while a proper balance helps maintain and even improves health. Our Paleolithic ancestors consumed a ratio of between 1:1 and 4:1 omega-6 to omega-3, which is believed to be optimal. The typical American diet is between 11:1 and 30:1 in favor of the proinflammatory omega-6s. The fat of grass-fed beef has a much more favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio than the fat of grain-fed cows.

And the benefits don’t stop with higher omega-3s. Ruminants like cows produce another very important fat called CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which has long been investigated for its anticancer activity as well as for its ability to reduce fat accumulation, particularly around the abdomen. The antiatherosclerotic activity of CLA was first reported in 1994, and evidence for its health-promoting properties has continued to grow since then. CLA comes mainly from the meat and milk of ruminants (cows). Problem is, grain-fed cattle don’t make nearly as much CLA as their grass-fed cousins do. At least four studies have shown that grass-fed ruminant species produce two to three times more CLA than ruminants fed in confinement on grain diets.

Grass-fed Farmers Organic “In Spirit”

A final reason to choose grass-fed meat is that most grass farmers avoid the use of many of the chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics that we’d like to keep out of our food. While they might not always be striving to reach the “organic” certification (they often use nitrogen fertilizers on their fields or may treat their animals with relatively benign medications), they nonetheless generally conform to the “spirit” of organic (see my essay on page 187). And feeding a cow “organic” grain means nothing, as far as I’m concerned, except that he was fed a less-contaminated version of a food he shouldn’t be eating in the first place. Given a choice between organic and grass fed, I’ll go with grass fed every time. Of course if I can get both, I’ll take them.

Though the nutrient composition of beef depends somewhat on the cut of the meat, all beef is a great source of protein, a good source of B vitamins—especially vitamin B12—and a good source of heme iron, the most absorbable kind of iron you can get from food. About half of the fat in beef is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Beef is also very high in zinc, with almost any kind of 3-ounce portion of beef providing more than half the Daily Value for this important nutrient.

If you’re interested in learning more about grass farming and its benefits to your health, a great place to start is www.eatwild.com. Another is the Weston A. Price Foundation (www.weston-aprice.org). Also highly recommended: the excellent book by Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

WORTH KNOWING

The original “energy bar” was a food called pemmican, which was developed by the Indians and other indigenous cultures like the Inuit in Greenland. It’s a high-energy food that can be transported easily and lasts for many months. Meat from buffalo—or occasionally moose and caribou—was dried, then pounded into a fine texture and mixed with animal fat and sometimes berries. This created a high-calorie, highly nutritious food for traveling. Since the meat was all wild game and by definition “pasture” fed, it was as healthy as the day is long. I eat pemmican as a snack all the time. You can get it from the same place I get it—there’s a link on my Web site under “Storefront: Shop for Healthy Foods.” It’s made by US Wellness Meats, which only uses grass-fed animals.

Lamb

For a meat eater, lamb has a lot to recommend it. For one thing, almost all lamb is grass fed. (In parts of the United States, lambs that don’t make it to sufficient weight to be marketed may be fattened up on grain; this also happens in other countries when there are adverse conditions like a drought.) But grass is the natural diet of cattle and sheep, and the meat of animals that are grass fed has a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids. In my book, a grass-fed animal eating its natural diet is automatically superior from a nutritional point of view to its grain-fed factory-farmed brethren.

For another thing, growth hormones are not used on sheep. (Lambs are sheep that are less than one year old.) And if you get organic lamb—highly recommended—you are buying meat from animals that are not dipped, sprayed, or dermally dosed with insecticides and are the closest to the kind of animals our Paleolithic ancestors hunted. Problem is, the simple term “organic” doesn’t really guarantee all that much. According to “The Natural Food Guide to Commonly and Occasionally Eaten Animals” (www.naturalhub.com), the closest we can come to ideal is what might be called “certified organic meat,” which implies not only avoiding medicines and insecticides, but also extends to a philosophy that prohibits the use of artificial fertilizers on the pasture.

The cut of lamb and the tenderness of the meat are the best indicators of fat content. Lamb has fewer retail cuts than beef. In general, leaner cuts—the foreshank and parts of the leg—are less tender than cuts from areas where the muscles are not used as much, such as the loin and rib. But even leaner cuts of lamb tend to be more tender than similar cuts of beef.

Lamb Is Low in Calories and High in Protein

Lamb is not a high-calorie food, and it’s loaded with protein. One 4-ounce portion of fresh, lean loin, trimmed to ⅛″ fat, cooked, is only 217 calories. For that you get about 30 g of high-quality protein, plus some calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, almost 50 percent of the RDI for niacin, and 90 percent of the amount of potassium in a banana! Less than half of the 9 or so g of fat in that 4-ounce portion of meat is saturated fat; most of the rest is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and the remainder is polyunsaturated.

That 4-ounce portion of lamb also contains 25 percent of the RDI for zinc and more than one-third of the RDI for vitamin B12. Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every cell and stimulates the activity of approximately 100 enzymes, substances that promote biochemical reactions in your body. It’s essential for a healthy immune system, which is adversely affected by even moderate degrees of zinc deficiency. (Men take note: Zinc is needed for the production of healthy sperm, which may be one indirect reason why high-zinc oysters got their reputation as an aphrodisiac!) Vitamin B12 is necessary to bring down homocysteine, a nasty metabolic compound that puts you at risk for heart disease and memory impairment. Vitamin B12 is most absorbable from animal foods; vegetarians—despite what they tell you—are most at risk for deficiency.

While lamb is the principal meat in parts of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and India, it is much less popular in the United States. On average, we consume a pound of lamb per person annually, a fraction of our beef consumption (as opposed to New Zealand, where the per capita consumption of lamb and goat averages more than 60 pounds a year).

Liver (calf’s liver)

Some cultures place such a high value on liver that human hands are not allowed to touch it; rather, special sticks are used to move it. The Li-Chi, a handbook of rituals published during China’s Han era (202 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.) lists liver as one of the Eight Delicacies. (I realize that might be a hard concept to sell to your liver-hating teenager.) But liver is really a great food. In fact, gram for gram it contains more nutrients than any other food!

Go through any college nutrition text and look up the best food sources for practically every B vitamin and you’ll see liver at the top of almost every list. A small 3-ounce serving of braised liver provides all the Daily Value for vitamin A (preformed), riboflavin, copper, and vitamin B12. It also contains 93 percent of the selenium, a valuable trace mineral that’s one of the most truly powerful cancer-fighting nutrients on the planet. That same 3 ounces also has 55 percent of the Daily Value for zinc,

50 percent of niacin, a surprising 50 percent of folate (which is usually associated with vegetables and fortified foods), 40 percent of thiamin and B_6, and about a third of the RDI for iron. For goodness’ sake, it even has some vitamin C! And of course, liver is a superb source of protein.

Now let’s talk for a minute about the common advice to avoid liver while pregnant because of its vitamin A content.

Should Pregnant Women Avoid Vitamin A?

You know how when you go on an airplane they sternly warn you not to use your cell phone? Well, just about every engineer I asked and every responsible scientific article I’ve read on the subject is unequivocal about the fact that nothing you buy at Radio Shack is going to bring down a 747 jetliner. There just isn’t any danger. But no one is going to “take a chance” because just in case they’re wrong, the damages could be so great that no one’s willing to risk it. (I wholeheartedly believe that within a year of the publication of this book, the cell phone ban on planes will be a thing of the past.) What does this have to do with vitamin A and pregnancy? Simple. There were some very early studies on mice that showed that vitamin A was associated with fetal abnormalities, and based on this, women have been advised for years that large doses of vitamin A could be toxic, especially to their unborn child. And just in case they’re right, no one who’s pregnant is going to take a chance. I don’t blame them. Now I personally think this advice is about as accurate as the warning against cell phones on planes, but once again, who’s going to take the chance to prove it’s wrong?

Reexamining the Study

Why do I believe the dangers of vitamin A have been way overstated? Several reasons. One, I went back and read the original mice studies. The amount of vitamin A given to the rodents was so huge that when my assistant and I tried to translate it into IUs (the units in which we commonly measure vitamin A), we simply couldn’t do it—the number of zeros was greater than the calculator could work with. (Many of these studies used intravenous injections of synthetic vitamin A in massive quantities.) No one—repeat, no one—consumes that amount of vitamin A, ever. Ever. Secondly, the natural vitamin A found in liver does not seem to cause the same toxicity problems that synthetic vitamin A does. In fact, the amount of vitamin A in one slice of liver is a little less than that in two carrots, for goodness’ sake. Thirdly, a study carried out in Rome (published in Teratology, January 1999) found no congenital malformations among 120 infants exposed to more than 50,000 IUs of vitamin A per day. Fourth, a study from Switzerland published in the International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research in 1998 looked at blood levels of vitamin A in pregnant women and found that a dose of 30,000 IUs per day resulted in blood levels that had no association with birth defects (one slice of liver has about 21,000 IUs; a carrot has 12,000).

Better Safe Than Sorry

But even though I believe wholeheartedly that the navigation system of airplanes doesn’t have a darn thing to fear from a cell phone (and that a pregnant woman has not a darn thing to fear from eating natural food containing vitamin A a few times a week), I still keep my cell phone off when I fly. I mean, just in case . . .

Interestingly, textbooks on nutrition written before World War II recommended that pregnant women eat liver frequently. And I personally use high-dose vitamin A (50,000 IUs) every single time I feel a cold coming on, and so do a dozen nutritionists I know. Point is that the amount of vitamin A in calf’s liver—substantially less than we’re talking about here—in my opinion, poses no risk to anyone. But that’s just my opinion. (Remember, though: You read it here first.)

WORTH KNOWING

With liver—calf, chicken, turkey—the first and foremost thing that is important is the source. Commercially raised animals have all the problems talked about in the introductory essay (see page 187): The feeding practices and synthetic hormones and antibiotics taint the liver of the animal. And since the liver is “detoxification central” for all animals (including us), it’s likely that all that junk is really concentrated in the liver. I recommend organic and/or pasture raised to reduce the risk of contaminants, and if that’s not an option, then only young animal liver. If supermarket liver is your only option, the best choice would be calf’s liver, since U.S. beef cattle do spend their first months on pasture.

Wild Game

(buffalo, venison, elk)

Everything said so far regarding grass-fed, pasture-raised beef applies to wild game as well. Humans are genetically adapted to eat what our Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) ancestors, the hunter-gatherers, ate. And that was quite simply this: food you could hunt, fish, gather, or pluck. According to Loren Cordain, professor of health and exercise science at Colorado State University and author of the excellent book The Paleo Diet, “Just 500 generations ago—and for 2.5 million years before that—every human on Earth ate this way. It is the diet to which all of us are ideally suited, and the lifetime nutritional plan that will normalize your weight and improve your health.”

Believe it or not, our Paleolithic ancestors were lean, fit, and free from heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues that are plaguing Western countries. Did they die earlier than we did? Sure. But probably more from the harsh elements and the dangers of wooly mammoths. Is our life span longer? Absolutely. (And that’s probably due as much to reduced infant mortality, protection from the elements, and the ability of modern medicine to keep us alive longer.) Meanwhile, compare our ancestral diet to our modern diet and then look at the laundry list of degenerative diseases that now plague modern man (and modern woman), yet were virtually unknown as recently as a couple of hundred years ago. The point is, if you want a blueprint for what fuel mix the human digestive system was really designed to work best on, you need look no further than the basic food source that nourished the human genus for a couple of million years. And that food source was a mix of what we could hunt—wild game—and what we could gather—natural foods like roots, berries, nuts, wild vegetables, and fruits.

Wild Game Can Help Lower Cholesterol and the Risk of Heart Disease

So what did Paleolithic man actually eat? Wild animal foods dominated their diets, and these foods provide a higher proportion of good fats compared to other types of commercial meat. (That included, by the way, some saturated fat as well!) Meat from grass-fed animals has two to four times more omega-3 fatty acids than meat from grain-fed animals. Wild game is a good source of protein and contains large quantities of B vitamins, including vitamin B12, and absorbable heme iron. It also provides potassium (which helps the body’s cells work properly) and phosphorus (essential for healthy bones and teeth), zinc, and the valuable, cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium (3 ounces of bison or buffalo contains more than 40 percent of the Daily Value for this important mineral). With its low saturated fat content and healthy ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats, game can help lower cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease. And wild game is not factory farmed, and therefore not loaded with antibiotics, steroids, growth hormones, and other toxins that are a by-product of the modern CAFO (confined animal feeding operations, or the modern factory farm).

Remember, we’ve been eating wild game for as long as we’ve been on the planet. The modern supermarket food we know today—freeze-dried everything, juice concentrates, self-cooking meals, TV dinners, “cheese food,” packaged snacks, high amounts of sodium, sugar, trans fats, artificial colorants and sweeteners—came of age in the late twentieth century. Before 1961, no one ever heard of the Golden Arches. But we’ve eaten wild game for as long as we’ve been on the planet.

Do the math: Which is more natural to the human diet?

CHAPTER 9

Fish and Seafood

Given how confusing and contradictory health advice from the “experts” can frequently be, it’s refreshing to find a principle upon which absolutely everyone agrees. One such principle is to eat more vegetables and fruit. Another is that seafood is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Fish in general is a high-protein, low-calorie food that provides a range of health benefits, but some fish are real superstars. According to Oceans Alive, a division of the Environmental Defense Fund, fish high in omega-3s that are caught or farmed in an ecologically sound manner and are low in contaminants include wild salmon from Alaska (fresh, frozen, and canned), Atlantic mackerel and herring, sardines, sablefish, anchovies, and farmed oysters.

White-fleshed fish, on the other hand, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein. They’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals and are incredibly low calorie. In addition, most fish are naturally low in the proinflammatory omega-6 fats (a possible exception being farmed salmon—see page 216).

Fish for Smarter Babies

Scientific findings presented at a conference sponsored by the governments of the United States, Norway, Canada, and Iceland, and assisted by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, supported the notion that all Americans—especially pregnant and nursing women and children—should eat seafood twice a week, despite the current concerns about pollution contamination (see “What about Mercury?” page 218). Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, iron, and choline, present in fish such as wild salmon, shrimp, pollock, cod, canned light tuna, and catfish, are important to brain development; researchers have found that they may lessen the effects of dyslexia, autism, hyperactivity, and attention deficit disorder. Some studies have linked those nutrients with increased intelligence in infants and young children.

Aim for Two Servings a Week

The American Heart Association recommends that we eat at least two fish meals a week. This recommendation is also included in the USDA’s 2005 dietary guidelines. The nutrients found in seafood help reduce risk of death by heart attack and prevent a host of chronic health problems and terminal illnesses. Seafood cuts the risk for heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

By the way, I hope you know that when I’m waxing on and on about the virtues of fish, I’m not talking about “mystery fish nuggets deep fried in recycled vegetable oil” or some similar Frankenfood from the local fast-food emporium or food court. I’m talking the real deal. Research shows that more nutrients are retained in fish that is baked or broiled, rather than processed and/or fried. (But you knew that, didn’t you?) And to protect against viral and germ contamination, handle uncooked seafood with care and properly cook fish or shellfish, as you would any meat or poultry.

Back in the 1980s, Dr. William Castelli, director of the famous Framingham Heart Study, said this: “I have no qualms about the American public eating three or even four meals of fish a week.”

Neither do I.

Crustacea

(crayfish, prawns, shrimp, lobster)

Crustaceans are one of two main classifications of shellfish (the other being mollusks). They’re a class of arthropods which characteristically have segmented bodies. And they’re very, very tasty. Enjoy.

Crayfish (also called “crawfish”) are freshwater cousins of the lobster, found in most parts of the world. According to the comprehensive Web site “The Savvy Shellfish Lover”, at least 593 different species of these crustaceans have been identified, and there may be hundreds more to come. The most biologically diverse concentration of crayfish species in the world is found in the southeast United States. You can prepare them in the same style as lobster—steamed, boiled, fried, blackened, or baked. They’re a big favorite in Louisiana.

Prawns are basically really large shrimp, though there are regional differences of opinion about the distinctions. (In Europe and some Asian countries, prawns are considered large decapods with long antennae and toothed beaks, some varieties of which have slender bodies, with tails that don’t curve under as much as typical shrimp tails; but in the United States they’re just “big shrimp.”) One particularly desirable type is called the Black Tiger, a huge prawn that can grow to over a foot in length. Its name comes from the distinctive coloration of its shell: black with alternating bands of yellow. They’re usually sold frozen, with most commercial supplies coming from Asian shrimp farms.

Shrimp are one of about 40,000 known species of crustacea, the only group of arthropods that is primarily marine. They’re the most popular shellfish in the world and are probably one of the most popular varieties of seafood, period. And no wonder—they’re lean, high in protein, rich in nutrients, and delicious; some might say an ideal food.

First things first: Shrimp are a great source of protein, and a low-calorie one at that. One small 3-ounce serving has 17 g of protein and only 90 calories. Shrimp have all nine essential amino acids, plus small to moderate amounts of nine important minerals. They’re relatively high in the important trace mineral selenium, with one 3-ounce serving providing 46 percent of the Daily Value for this cancer-fighting nutrient. They also provide more than 30 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin D. I happen to think the Daily Value (400 IUs) for vitamin D is way too low, but 3 ounces of shrimp gives you 129 IUs of this cancer-fighting, bone-building vitamin, whose true value is only now beginning to be appreciated.

Then there’s astaxanthin. You probably never heard of astaxanthin, but it’s the main carotenoid pigment found in aquatic animals and is responsible for giving salmon their pink color. The thing of it is, salmon get most of their astaxanthin from dining on crustaceans like shrimp. Why should you care? Because this red-orange pigment, closely related to other well-known carotenoids like beta-carotene and lutein, has stronger antioxidant activity than either of them (ten times higher than beta-carotene, in fact). Studies suggest that astaxanthin can be more than 100 times more effective as an antioxidant than vitamin E. And shrimp are loaded with it. In many of the aquatic animals in which it is found, astaxanthin has a number of essential biological functions, including protection against oxidation of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, protection against UV light effects, pro–vitamin A activity, immune response, pigmentation, communication, and improved reproduction. In species such as salmon and shrimp, astaxanthin is considered essential to normal growth and survival and has been attributed vitaminlike properties. We’re just beginning to understand its potential in human health, but there’s every reason to believe it’s really good for you.

Lobsters are large crustaceans. They have hard shells and ten legs, two of which have developed into pincers. Although considered a gourmet food today, lobsters were so plentiful in the nineteenth century that they were used as bait for fish or even as fertilizer in the fields. Lobsters have firm, rich meat in their bodies, tails, and legs. You can also eat the lobster’s liver (known as “green tomalley”) or its roe (known as “coral”).

Ounce for ounce, lobsters are somewhat similar to shrimp in nutritional value, with a few differences. Three ounces of lobster meat has about 95 calories and delivers almost 19 g of high-quality protein, with all nine essential amino acids. It’s even higher in the cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium than shrimp is (3 ounces provides 56 percent of the Daily Value for this valuable nutrient), and in addition provides 32 percent of the Daily Value for zinc, plus small amounts of seven or eight other minerals. Unlike shrimp, it doesn’t have any vitamin D, but it’s one of the best nonanimal sources of vitamin B12, with 3 ounces of lobster providing 50 percent of the Daily Value for that important B vitamin. Both shrimp and lobster have only about 1 g of fat per 3-ounce serving.

WORTH KNOWING

Shrimp and other shellfish have been given a bad rap for their high cholesterol content. But here’s the thing: The cholesterol in your food has minimal effect on the cholesterol in your blood, at least for the vast majority of people. Trans fat (and to some extent, saturated fat) raises blood cholesterol far more than cholesterol in the diet. One well known study, published in 1996 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, actually tested a high-shrimp diet at Rockefeller University. They fed the subjects 300 g of shrimp a day. Blood cholesterol went up a bit, but HDL (“good”) cholesterol went up far more than LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, resulting in an improved cholesterol ratio. As an added benefit, subjects on the high-shrimp diet saw a significant lowering of their triglycerides (a significant risk factor for heart disease). Bottom line: For the overwhelming majority of people, the cholesterol in shrimp and related species isn’t a problem.

NOTE: As with mollusks, there is a potential for allergic reaction that you need to be aware of. But it’s also worth noting that seafood poisoning frequently masquerades as an allergic reaction. The take-home point: Get all your seafood from reputable sources, eat fresh, and prepare correctly.

Mackerel

Mackerel has long been one of the most underappreciated fish. Just as the manuscript for this book was being submitted, the New York Times published a story by food columnist Marian Burros, placed prominently on the cover of its Wednesday “Dining In” section. The headline? “Holy Mackerel.” The story—a paean to the health benefits and environmental friendliness of this terrific fish—began like this: “Like the shy kid at the dance whose charms are not readily apparent, unpopularity has kept some species (of fish) in circulation, waiting to be discovered. Atlantic mackerel wears its reputation like a pocket protector and horn-rimmed glasses, but a little attention reveals its sweet side.”

Mackerel live in both the Atlantic and the Pacific, but the Atlantic mackerel (also known as Boston mackerel) is preferred and the one I recommend (more on that in a moment). A relative of the tuna, the Atlantic mackerel is found in the Atlantic’s cold waters, where it forms large schools and can live up to an astonishing seventeen years. Before 1870, all mackerel caught in New England waters was salted on board and sold that way in Boston. Fresh mackerel is very perishable and has to be kept on ice or it develops a really fishy flavor.

Mackerel is a sleek, oily fish with a forked tail and contains two kinds of meat: the red outer meat and the light inner meat. You can get it canned, whole, as fillets, and as steaks. Pacific jack mackerel (also called horse mackerel) is often canned. Atlantic mackerel (also called Boston mackerel) is often used in sashimi, as is wahoo, a subtropical fish with a delicate flavor that is also known as ono and is a very close relative of the king mackerel. Spanish mackerel has only a small percentage of red meat and a milder taste than other kinds of mackerel. King mackerel (also called kingfish or cavalla) has a firm texture and distinct taste. Cero mackerel (also called cerro or painted mackerel), caught in waters along the coast of Florida, has leaner flesh and a more delicate flavor than most varieties. Pacific mackerel (also called American, blue, or chub) is an oily fish with a strong flavor.

Mackerel Low in Environmental Contaminants

One of the reasons the New York Times article was so excited about mackerel is that in addition to being delicious and extremely healthy, the Atlantic version is on the list of “Best Seafood Choices” on the Oceans Alive Web site (Oceans Alive is a division of the Environmental Defense Fund). Not only is mackerel high in omega-3 fatty acids, but it’s also low in environmental contaminants. According to the Oceans Alive Web site (www.oceansalive.org), Atlantic mackerel come from marine fisheries, not fish farms, are primarily caught with purse seines and trawls, and have relatively low “by-catch.” They can safely be eaten more than once a week. All good news.

Three ounces of mackerel has roughly 20 g of protein and plenty of good healthy fat, though there are some slight differences. Three ounces of Pacific mackerel has 6 g of monounsaturated fat and about 1½ g of omega-3, while 3 ounces of Atlantic mackerel contains 3 g of monounsaturated and a little more than 1 g of omega-3. But both are very good sources of the cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium, providing more than 50 percent of the Daily Value. And while Pacific mackerel has a respectable amount of vitamin B12 (60 percent of the Daily Value), the Atlantic variety is a B12 heavyweight, providing more than five times that amount.

WORTH KNOWING

Herring are very similar to mackerel nutritionally, though they taste a lot different and are usually prepared a completely different way. However, they too are loaded with good fat, protein, and vitamin B12.

Mollusks

(clams, mussels, scallops, oysters)

Mollusks include all the shelled creatures of the sea (with the exception of barnacles). They form one of the largest groups in the animal kingdom, with more than 80,000 known species.

Mollusks have always been a readily available food source for humans. Mussel and oyster beds, clam flats, and other abundant shellfish reserves have traditionally provided an easy, accessible source of food, as evidenced by many of the archeological digs that have uncovered huge middens heavy with shells. Mollusks are almost pure protein, naturally low in fat, and rich in a host of minerals, including zinc and copper.

Clams, Mussels, and Scallops

Clams are one of the richest sources of iron on the planet, containing many times the amount found in beef liver. And 3 ounces of clams provides a whopping 700 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin B12, plus 66 percent of the Daily Value for iron. A comparable 3 ounces of oysters contains 271 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin B12, and 43 percent of the cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium. And 3 ounces of raw blue mussels provides more than 100 percent of the Daily Value for manganese, an important trace mineral that’s essential for growth, reproduction, wound healing, peak brain function, and the proper metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol. Mussels also have a decent amount of selenium, providing more than 50 percent of the Daily Value. Finally, scallops, while not being a superstar in the nutrient department, are more than 80 percent protein, providing a rich 15 g per low-calorie 3-ounce serving, plus trace amounts of at least eighteen vitamins and minerals.

Oysters

Oysters are often referred to as the “milk of the ocean.” They’re one of nature’s most concentrated packages of zinc: A 1-cup serving of drained oysters supplies many times more than 100 percent of the Daily Value, much more than the same amount of beef liver. Adequate zinc is crucial for a strong immune system. It’s also crucial for fertility and male sexual health, which might be the origin of

WORTH KNOWING

A running theme in this book has been that the source of your food—where it comes from, what it eats, where it is grown, how it is harvested—is of huge importance in determining its quality. Nowhere is this more true than in the area of fish, especially shellfish. Bacteria multiply at a phenomenal rate in dead shellfish, making them dangerous to consume. So for example, if you’re buying live oysters, make sure that they are indeed alive! Also, if they’re harvested improperly or come from contaminated waters, watch out . . . Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that lives in warm seawater and was responsible for more than 300 infections between 1988 and 1995 in the Gulf Coast states alone, where most of the cases occurred, and it can be found in oysters and shellfish in warm coastal waters during the summer months. It’s especially dangerous to immunocompromised people.

The point is not to be afraid of shellfish, but to buy it from only extremely reliable sources—restaurants and suppliers you trust—and prepare and consume it properly. Fresh shellfish from clean waters prepared and served properly is a delight and a nutritional bonanza. But be smart: As in the case with consuming other raw animal protein products, there is a risk associated with consuming raw oysters, clams, and mussels. If you suffer from chronic illness of the liver, stomach, or blood, or have immune disorders, don’t eat them raw.

oysters’ reputation as an aphrodisiac. (Another might be the odd fact that oysters are sexually fluid—they change sex one or more times during their life span. They always start life as males, and usually end up as females. Go figure.)

And oysters really are a “brain food,” helping to boost your mental energy and acting as a mood elevator. The protein in oysters is rich in the amino acid tyrosine, which your brain converts to the feel-good, energizing neurotransmitter dopamine.

Some oysters produce nacre (a combination of calcium and protein), with which they coat any irritating sand or grit that gets trapped within their shell. This substance hardens into a smooth ball . . . we know it as a pearl.

Sardines

Sardines are a health food in a can.

I first discovered this way of thinking about sardines in Florida. My friend, the great New York nutritionist and author Dr. Oz Garcia (see his top ten list, on page 318), and I were jointly leading a seminar on nutrition for personal trainers in Miami Beach. We were driving around near the hotel looking for something remotely healthy to eat and couldn’t find anything promising. Garcia, who is a Miami native, stopped the car at a local bodega and came out with two cans of sardines and a couple of plastic forks. They were delicious and filling and ever since have been on my top ten list of the healthiest and most convenient foods on the planet. (Airplane travelers take note!)

Sardines Are Full of Healthy Omega-3 Fats

Sardines are simply loaded with omega-3 fats. The benefits of omega-3s are legion (see a lengthier discussion in the section on salmon, page 216). Epidemiologic studies in the United States report that a mere ½ gram a day of these fats can significantly decrease cardiovascular risk. (The average American gets about one-fifth this paltry amount, which is also five times less than the World Health Organization’s current dietary recommendations.) Omega-3s help with mood, thinking, circulation, and glucose and insulin metabolism; they lower blood pressure; and they protect against heart disease. In my CD set, 23 Ways to Improve Your Life, I call omega-3s “wellness molecules.” Books have been written on their health benefits. By some estimates, sardines are as high in omega-3 fats as salmon; by other estimates, they are a close second. Either way, you can get all you need of this amazing fat from one little can of sardines.

And that’s not all you’ll get from one can of these innocuous fish. They are absolutely loaded with calcium—depending on the type of sardines, one can gives you between 25 percent and 38 percent of the Daily Value. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese, not to mention a full complement of B vitamins. And they are notable for being a superb nonmeat source of vitamin B12: One little can provides a whopping 150 percent of the Daily Value!

Sardines are also a good source of selenium. Higher levels of this important cancer-fighting trace mineral have been found to be associated with lower rates of cancer in numerous studies. A can of sardines provides between 58 percent and 75 percent of the Daily Value of this critical mineral. And because sardines are real low on the marine food chain, toxins like mercury don’t accumulate in them.

WORTH KNOWING

Get sardines packed in their own oil. They’re harder to find, but worth it. Do not be afraid of the fat—it’s good stuff! If you can’t find them in sardine oil, olive oil is a perfectly fine substitute. Do not—repeat, do not—buy the kind that’s packed in vegetable oil, which simply loads them up with highly inflammatory omega-6 fats from a heavily processed oil that does nothing good for you. If you’re really trying to reduce the fat for some reason, go with sardines packed in tomato sauce. Or mustard sauce. Anything but vegetable oil is fine.

Tuna

Canned tuna is the second most popular seafood product in the United States after shrimp. If other healthy foods were that popular, we’d be in good shape.

All of the good stuff about seafood applies, of course, to tuna. Although it doesn’t have as many omega-3 fats as salmon or sardines do, it’s still considered a fatty fish, and a serving of tuna does provide some healthy omega-3s. Here again, the source of the food is everything. The big companies with the household names cook their fish twice, first baking them on a rack, which results in a loss of a lot of the beneficial oils. Then they debone it, can it, stick in flavorings and additives, and cook it again.

Canned tuna from big commercial companies typically has less than ½ a gram of omega-3s, if that. It’s better than nothing, but you wouldn’t write home about it.

Water Packed or Oil Packed: Which Is Better?

Small specialty companies, on the other hand, usually pack their fish in the can raw and cook them only once, so you’re more likely to be getting the natural fats and juices. The small specialty companies are often family owned and catch their tuna in the Pacific by hook. As soon as it’s hooked, it’s brought aboard the boat and fresh-frozen. The big commercial companies typically fish for tuna in the Atlantic using “long lines,” which are harvested only once a day.

Then there’s the issue of water packed versus oil packed. Many people avoid the oil packed because of a fear of fat, but the oil packed is more likely to retain at least some of the omega-3s. That is, unless you drain it, which is what most people do. Then the omega-3s are likely to leak out with the oil and go down the drain. That’s less likely to happen with water packed, but on the other hand there might be less omega-3s there to begin with. So either buy the kind in oil and don’t drain it, or buy the kind in water. Better yet, in my opinion, seek out the small specialty companies that produce a better-quality product (like gourmet or premium canned Pacific tuna) in the first place.

Forty-two Grams of Protein in Just One Can of Light Tuna

The nutrient content of tuna differs depending on the company that canned it, the type of tuna (Atlantic, Pacific, white, light), and how it’s packed (water or oil). Nonetheless, all tuna is a terrific source of protein, containing large amounts of all the essential amino acids and then some. A single can of light tuna canned in water and drained provides an astonishing 42 g of high-quality protein, for under 200 calories. That same can has more than 100 percent of the Daily Value for niacin, 29 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin B6, and 82 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin B12.

And tuna is a superb source of the vitally important cancer-protective trace mineral selenium. That water-packed can of light tuna provides almost 200 percent of the Daily Value. Even if you use one can for two portions, you’re still getting almost 100 percent of the Daily Value for this vital nutrient.

Tuna steak is likely to be higher in omega-3s but may be higher in mercury as well. (For a fuller discussion of the mercury issue, see page 218.) A 3-ounce portion of yellowfin or bluefin tuna is still a nutritional bargain at less than 150 calories and around 25 g of high-quality protein. There are slight differences, though: The yellowfin has almost no B12, while the bluefin contains more than 150 percent of the Daily Value.

All that said, whatever kind is used, tuna is still my favorite fish at a sushi restaurant.

White-fleshed Fish

(cod, flounder, halibut, orange roughy, pollack, rockfish)

White-fleshed fish are a perfect way to get all the benefits of seafood that the experts keep telling us about. They may not be quite as good as fatty fish, because they’re not a source of those powerful omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, sardines, and the like, but they have plenty of other good things to recommend them. And although fatty fish have more omega-3s than lean fish, even lean fish contain some—and these healthful fatty acids are found in very few other foods.

Lean fish are low in fat and calories, but extremely rich in high-quality protein. One 3-ounce portion of cod, for example, provides about 20 g of extremely high-quality protein, all for less than 100 calories. (A whole fillet is still a nutritional bargain, delivering a whopping 41 g of protein for under 200 calories.) Cod is also rich in B vitamins and minerals, especially the all-important, cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium. One 3-ounce portion of cod provides about half of the Daily Value of this vital nutrient. Orange roughy is similar to cod in protein and calories, but delivers even more selenium—one 3-ounce portion delivers more than 100 percent of the Daily Value for this nutrient, which has been linked to lower rates of cancer. Flounder and sole fall somewhere between the two in the selenium sweepstakes, but are otherwise competitive on vitamins, minerals, protein, and calories. All are terrific, and all are great foods.

Lean fish typically have a mild flavor, making them adaptable to every sort of cuisine. And most of them are similar enough in taste and texture that you can easily substitute one variety for another—cod for sole, grouper for flounder, and so on.

COD

Among the five most popular fish eaten in the United States, Atlantic cod is one of the mainstays of New England fisheries. The flesh is firm, white, and mild. Small cod (under 3 pounds) are sometimes marketed as scrod; they are sweeter and more tender than full-grown cod.

FLOUNDER

This widely available flatfish, found on nearly every American coastline, has a mild flavor and light texture that have made it a longstanding favorite. The flounder family includes the true sole (caught only in European waters), European turbot, and fluke. Winter flounder from New England is sometimes called “lemon sole,” and other flounders are offered as “gray sole,” “petrale sole,” or “rex sole.” If you see Dover sole on a restaurant menu, it may be imported from England (and priced accordingly), or it may be a type of Pacific flounder that is sometimes called “sole” in the United States.

HALIBUT

A flatfish, like flounder, halibut is found in both the North Atlantic and the northern Pacific waters.

ORANGE ROUGHY

This small saltwater fish is imported from New Zealand and sold in the form of frozen fillets. It has become quite popular, probably because its firm, slightly sweet flesh possesses an adaptable “neutral” flavor like flounder.

POLLACK (ALASKA AND ATLANTIC)

Tons of mild white Alaskan pollack from the Pacific go into fish sticks and surimi (mock crab-meat), making it one of the top fish in the American diet.

ROCKFISH (OCEAN PERCH)

Fish of this large family go by many names: on the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic ocean perch, rosefish, or redfish; on the West Coast, rock cod, Pacific ocean perch, or Pacific red snapper (although they are quite different from cod, freshwater perch, and true red snapper).

WORTH KNOWING

I highly recommend checking around for the latest warnings on fish. Several consumer groups are constantly monitoring the situation, and some rate fish both for their contamination and for how harvesting them affects ecology and the environment. For more information, start by checking out Oceans Alive (www.oceansalive.org).

Wild Alaskan Salmon

What’s in a name? When it comes to salmon, a lot. If you and I have a discussion about the health benefits of salmon, and I’m thinking “wild salmon” and you’re thinking “farmed salmon,” we may think we’re talking about the same food, but we’re not. Wild and farmed salmon are two very different animals.

So this entry really has two parts. One has to do with the wonders of wild salmon and why you should eat it. The second has to do with why you should try to avoid eating farmed salmon and why you should not confuse the two. Remember, you can use theword “pets” to describe both cats and dogs, but that doesn’t mean they’re the same creature. And so it is with salmon. Read on.

Salmon is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and one of the main reasons is that it’s chock full of a particular kind of fat that has more health benefits than almost any other single food on the planet. The type of fat in salmon belongs to a family called the omega-3s, which is the general, “family” name for a group of three fatty acids (it’s just a coincidence that there happen to be three of them). Books have been written detailing the benefits of omega-3 fats to human health—The Omega-3 Connection by Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Andrew Stoll is just one of a dozen examples. (For a more detailed discussion of omega-3s and what they can do for you, see page 10.)

Best Source of Omega-3s on the Planet

Omega-3s are helpful for heart health and brain health as well as for inflammation, circulation, memory, thought, and blood sugar control. And we know that salmon is one of the best sources of these omega-3s on the planet. So it should be a slam dunk: Eat more salmon. Who cares if the salmon comes wild, direct from the ocean, or from a salmon farm?

You should. At least if you want to get your 16 omega-3s.

Here’s why: Just like every other creature on earth, the salmon conforms to the mantra “you are what you eat.” The omega-3 fats in salmon are “made” by the salmon from their food, just like every other fish or animal creates its tissues from the stuff it eats. When salmon eat their natural diet in the wild (more on that in a moment), the result is a fish filled with wonderful omega-3 fats. But farm-raised salmon do not eat the “natural diet” of salmon, the diet that produces all those omega-3s. Farm-raised salmon eat grain—their diet has very little to do with what salmon eat in the wild. Hence, they produce very little omega-3 fats. To the degree that they produce any at all, it’s not even close to the amount produced by their wild brethren.

Farm-Raised Salmon Has More Inflammatory Fats

Salmon is an excellent example of a once-great food that has become so popular it is now a commodity. At salmon farms, thousands of salmon are crowded into small, roped-off areas called “net pens” with serious health repercussions for both the fish and the surrounding waters. The fish are packed in like sardines. Disease can spread rapidly in these conditions, so farmed fish receive tons of antibiotics, both in their feed and through injections. Salmon are naturally carnivores—they eat mackerel, sardines, krill, and other fish. But to raise them in pens, salmon farmers do the same thing that factory farmers do with cattle—they feed them grain. Grain is not the natural diet of salmon any more than it is for cows and chickens. The result is that the fat in farm salmon is completely different from the fat in wild salmon. As a result of their grain diet, the fat of farm-raised salmon contains a much higher proportion of inflammatory omega-6s, a fat that we already consume far too much of. You may think you’re getting all the health benefits of salmon when you’re eating farm raised, but you’re actually eating a grain-fed fish that more than likely comes with a nice helping of antibiotics, a higher proportion of omega-6s, and far less omega-3 fat than you imagine, if in fact there is any at all.

It gets worse.

Wild salmon get their gorgeous pink color from eating krill and shrimp, which are high in a natural pigment called astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family—in fact, it has ten times the antioxidant activity of beta-carotene. (Dr. Steve Sinatra mentioned astaxanthin as one of his reasons for including wild salmon on his top ten list, see page 186). But farmed salmon don’t get to eat krill and shrimp. They get their color a completely different way. Farmers are able to pick out the color of their salmon from a color wheel that looks exactly like the ones you see in the paint section of Home Depot. I’m not making this up—I’ve seen it. It’s called the SalmoFan, and it’s an actual farmed salmon color wheel where you can choose the shade of red or pink you’d like your “product” to be.

PCBs: Another Reason to Choose Wild Salmon

If all this weren’t enough to convince you that wild salmon and farmed salmon are two different animals, consider this: According to independent laboratory tests by the Environmental Working Group, seven of ten farmed salmon purchased at grocery stores were contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at levels that raise health concerns. These first-ever tests of farmed salmon from U.S. grocery stores show that farmed salmon are likely the most PCB-contaminated protein source in the U.S. food supply. On average, farmed salmon have sixteen times the dioxinlike PCBs found in wild salmon, four times the levels in beef, and 3.4 times the levels in other seafood. American consumers nationwide are exposed to elevated PCB levels by eating farmed salmon.

So to get the real benefits of this amazing fish, you really have to go for the wild variety. I’ve gotten in the habit of asking at restaurants, “Is it wild?” If it’s not, I don’t order it. It may take some effort to find the wild Alaskan variety, but it’s totally worth it.

Salmon is not only a superb source of omega-3 fats, but it’s also a great source of high-quality protein. One 3-ounce serving of wild salmon gives you more than 18 g of first-rate protein, not to mention 360 mg of potassium and almost half of the Daily Value of the important cancer-fighting trace mineral selenium. It also contains more than half of the Daily Value for vitamin B12 and 30 percent of the Daily Value for niacin.

WORTH KNOWING

Some people wonder whether the benefits of wild salmon are counteracted by the potential for mercury contamination. That’s a tough call, but my answer would have to be no. Here’s why: There may be—theoretically—a concern about mercury, but the health benefits of salmon are so enormous that, in my judgment, they outweigh that concern, especially since salmon is one of the least mercury-contaminated species, and especially since there are companies marketing salmon that routinely screen for every possible contaminant and impurity. One company I’m particularly fond of that harvests toxin-free salmon from pristine Alaskan waters and ships it—and other “clean” fish—direct to your door is Vital Choice. (You can find them on my Web site, www.jonnybowden.com, in the shopping section under “Healthy Foods.”)

WHAT ABOUT MERCURY?

I’m frequently asked what to do about the mercury in fish. Honestly, I don’t have a perfect answer. No one is more concerned about mercury than I am. We all know that retooling industrial plants so that they don’t spew it everywhere costs a fortune, and we’ve all watched with dismay as the issue has become a political football, largely because no one wants to pay the enormous price of change. Big business insists that the amount released into the environment is insignificant, politicians continue to curry favor with big business by giving them unacceptably long lead times to clean up their act, and meanwhile our rivers, lakes, and oceans are contaminated with this powerful toxin. What makes matters worse is that those attempting to avoid responsibility can point to the fact that the stuff travels so effectively via wind and sea that even if they did clean up their act it might not make much difference unless every company on the planet followed suit—mercury and other toxic metals like cadmium and industrial pollutants like PCBs have been found as far away from their original industrial sources as the waters of the Arctic Ocean. In Greenland, for goodness’ sake, 16 percent of the population’s blood mercury levels exceed the levels that could have toxic effects on people.

No one—I hope—denies that mercury is a powerful toxin and damaging to the brain. It impairs neurological function. And yes, there’s a good chance it’s in your fish. The questions are “how much?” and “does it really matter?” In 2004, two federal agencies that have traditionally disagreed about how much contaminated fish is “too much” were charged with issuing a joint warning advisory. Not surprisingly, the “compromise” position pleased few people.

Should We Trust the FDA and EPA Guidelines for Mercury?

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), which regulates the fish you buy, supposedly has more knowledge of nutrition and tries to weigh the potential harm of eating contaminated fish against the enormous potential benefits. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), on the other hand, is concerned with contaminants like mercury and doesn’t really concern itself with nutrition—only with toxins and safety. Charged with finding a compromise warning, they issued a joint document in 2004 that set the following limits for women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers:

• No more than two meals (12 ounces) a week of most fish, including salmon, catfish, and canned light tuna

• No more than 6 ounces a week of albacore (white) tuna

• No swordfish, king mackerel, shark, or tilefish at all

But as reporter Amanda Schaffer pointed out in her excellent article in Slate magazine (http://www.slate.com/id/2115878), an average woman could follow these rules to the letter and still exceed the EPA’s cutoff for mercury—0.1 mcg of mercury per kilogram of body weight per day—by a sizable margin. “For instance,” she writes, “a 140-pound woman who ate just one 6-ounce can of white tuna a week would be 30 percent over the EPA cutoff, defined as a daily exposure level that over time is unlikely to cause appreciable harm.”

Mercury Advisories Risk Scaring People Away from All Seafood

None of this would be a problem if fish weren’t so damn good for us. It’s for just that reason that the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis has recommended that government advisories about mercury in seafood need to “walk a fine line” and avoid scaring consumers off of seafood altogether. To add to the problem, the warnings have been for specific risk groups (e.g., pregnant women, women of childbearing age) and, it could be argued, do not apply equally to all groups of people. Plus, they have a tenfold safety margin built in as a precaution. According to a statement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Women will not put their baby at risk if they avoid eating shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, tuna steaks and whale meat until after they have delivered and stopped breast feeding.” For good measure, women planning to become pregnant should avoid these fish for six months beforehand.

There’s one more reason I’m a little less panicked about mercury in seafood than you might think I’d be. And that reason is selenium. That amazing, anticancer trace mineral that I have made reference to in so many discussions of the foods in this book, is plentiful in seafood. Why does it matter? Because selenium is a powerful chelator of mercury—it helps mitigate the effects. At a 2005 Washington conference sponsored by the governments of the United States, Norway, Canada, and Iceland and assisted by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, evidence was presented that showed that selenium helps neutralize the effects of mercury acquired from foods. “This very important but little analyzed point helps us to understand how people from the Seychelles islands can eat fish twelve times per week and show no toxic signs,” said William E. M. Lands, a retired professor of biochemistry at the Universities of Michigan and Illinois and an expert on the metabolism of fats.

What to Do, What to Do?

The best response to mercury warnings, obviously, is to stay away from the fish that are known to be the most contaminated (which includes, unfortunately, canned albacore tuna, though not canned light tuna). Keep your eyes open for the reports of consumer advocate groups who often sound the alarm way in advance of government agencies (a good place to start is with the Environmental Defense Networks’ Oceans Alive Web site, www.oceansalive.org). Read the thoughtful books by Dr. Marion Nestle, who tends to take a middle ground (Safe Food, Food Politics, What to Eat). Keep your fish consumption to the recommended levels.

And if you’re so moved, get involved. Write to your congressperson. Elect people who want to clean up the environment and the food it produces. Join a consumer advocacy group.

But for goodness’ sake, do not stop eating fish. The good stuff in it will do more for you than the bad stuff will do you harm, especially if you choose your sources carefully. One source I personally like a lot is Vital Source, linked on my Web site, www.jonnybowden.com, in the shopping section under “Healthy Foods.”

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Alan R. Gaby, M.D.

Alan R. Gaby is a legend and a pioneer in the world of integrative medicine. The Wright-Gaby seminars in nutritional medicine (cotaught with Dr. Jonathan Wright) have been attended by thousands of doctors, nutritionists, and health care practitioners over the past dozen years. Gaby is past president of the American Holistic Medical Association and the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis.

He also writes the excellent Research Review column for the Townsend Newsletter for Doctors and Patients.

1. Fish: Good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids for brain and heart health.

2. Eggs: Contains the highest-quality protein of any food. Good source of choline needed for healthy brain and liver function. Avoid scrambled eggs. Scrambling oxidizes the cholesterol, and oxidized cholesterol increases the risk of atherosclerosis.

3. Spinach: Excellent source of lutein, which helps prevent age-related macular degeneration.

4. Nuts, preferably raw: Good sources of protein, essential fatty acids, fiber, and magnesium. Eating nuts lowers serum cholesterol and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

5. Onions: They keep serum cholesterol and blood pressure low, and they inhibit platelet aggregation, all of which might prevent heart disease. Good source of quercetin, which may help relieve allergies and prevent complications of diabetes.

6. Blueberries: Good source of anthocyanidins, which are needed to keep the body’s tissues strong and healthy, and which enhance visual function.

7. Brewer’s yeast: Good source of protein, B vitamins, and minerals. The most potent source of glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which helps regulate blood sugar levels.

8. Flaxseed: Good source of essential fatty acids and anticancer lignans. Ground flaxseed is frequently an effective treatment for constipation.

9. Broccoli and other brassicas (cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts): Good source of sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, which may help prevent different types of cancer.

10. Apples: Good source of fiber, potassium, and quercetin. Folk wisdom is frequently correct!

CHAPTER 10

Specialty Foods

This group of foods is connected only by two facts: One, they are all superbly healthy foods, and two, none of them fits neatly into any of the other categories. Sure, sauerkraut and kimchi are both technically vegetables, but they’re also fermented and used as condiments. And olives are a fruit, but no one thinks of them that way. And into what category would bee pollen go?

It seemed simpler to group the “misfits” into their own category.

So what we have here is a baker’s dozen of wonderfully healthy foods that range all over the map, from traditional fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, to the mineral-rich seaweeds, to juices made from green grasses, to completely modern inventions like whey protein powder and brewer’s yeast. And though this category includes a few foods not found in our Paleolithic diets (our hunter-gatherer ancestors, for example, never came across dark chocolate bars in the wild), a list of the world’s healthiest foods would not be complete without any one of them. Eat and enjoy!

Bee Pollen, Propolis, and Royal Jelly

Advocates of bee pollen can be their own worst enemies, claiming that bee pollen can cure everything from cancer to hangnails. But inflated claims aside, a significant body of literature shows that bee products—particularly propolis—do have significant and documented health benefits that help explain why they have been a staple in folk medicine and healing traditions for more than 2,000 years.

Bee pollen is a phenomenally nutritious and well-balanced food that can be consumed by people and domestic animals. It’s been called nature’s perfect food because it is loaded with vitamins and contains almost all known minerals, trace elements, enzymes, and amino acids. (It actually has more amino acids and vitamins than any other amino acid–containing product like beef, eggs, or cheese.)

This makes sense because bee pollen captures the essence of every plant from which it collects pollen. In addition, bee pollen contains digestive enzymes from the bees. According to Ray Sahelian, M.D., bee pollen contains eighteen amino acids; DNA and RNA; vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and B12; niacin; pantothenic acid; folic acid; vitamins C, D, E, and K; choline; inositol; rutin and other bioflavonoids; calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc; ten types of enzymes; coenzymes; and many other nutritional factors. Bee pollen contains flavonoids that have significant antioxidant properties. According to Dr. Mark Stengler (whose top ten list appears on page 319), bee pollen also contains hard-to-get trace minerals such as silicon, molybdenum, boron, and sulfur. And it’s one of the few nonmeat sources of vitamin B12.

Bee Propolis Fights Infection

Propolis possesses a multitude of pharmacological activities. It’s created by the bees by mixing a resinous sap from trees with wax back at the hive. Bees use it as a kind of glue or general-purpose sealer—they coat the hive with propolis in much the same way we use paint and caulking on our homes. People began using propolis more than 2,300 years ago for many purposes, the foremost of which was applying it to wounds to fight infection. A recent review of the biological activity of bee propolis on health and disease published in the January 2006 Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention noted that propolis possesses antimicrobial, antioxidative, antiulcer, and antitumor activities.

Many scientific articles are published every year in different international journals related to the pharmacological properties of this amazing substance. More than 300 compounds have been identified in propolis samples, including polyphenols, and many of these compounds have surprisingly protective effects. One active compound from propolis—caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)—is known to have anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. In a recent study published in the May 2006 Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, CAPE derived from propolis inhibited the cell migration and colony formation of tumor cells, providing direct evidence for the role of CAPE as a potent antimetastatic agent that can markedly inhibit the metastatic and invasive capacity of malignant cells.

Humans Benefit from Bee Susceptibility to Infection

Propolis is well known for its antimicrobial activity. It’s been shown to have an antibacterial effect (against Staphylococcus aureus) as well as an antifungal effect (against Candida albicans, or yeast), and even an antiviral effect (against Avian influenza virus). It’s really not so surprising that bee products like propolis would have such powerful antibiotic effects. Any beekeeper will tell you that bees are very susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. From a sheer Darwinian point of view, it makes survival sense that the very material that they “caulk” their hives with would be highly protective against the microbes that could easily destroy them.

One recent study, in the July 2006 issue of International Immunopharmacology, suggested that the anti-inflammatory activities of propolis might make it a novel therapeutic agent for asthma. (One of the flavonoids found in bee pollen is the powerful anti-inflammatory quercetin.) And a paper in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2005 found that propolis stimulates antibody production, perhaps accounting for its reputation as an immune-system enhancer.

Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is a special creamy substance secreted from the nurse worker bees that stimulates the growth and development of the queen bee; without it, she’d just be a regular old worker bee. When eggs turn into larvae, all baby bees eat this special food for only two or three days and quickly develop into large and healthy bees. But the queen continues to eat this food for the rest of her life, with the result that she grows 40 to 60 percent larger and lives about four to six years, while the worker bees live only about six weeks. These facts may account for the anecdotal reputation of royal jelly as an amazing antiaging substance that can foster health and extend life.

Royal Jelly May Be Overrated

I’m less enthused about royal jelly than I am about propolis and bee pollen, though it is a concentrated source of nutrition. Royal jelly has the appealing property of being a creamy emulsion that is strongly antibacterial, which makes it an ideal component of cosmetics and skin care products. But as some responsible experts point out, internal uses of royal jelly are less promising as the antibacterial activities disappear when the pH is raised to above 6 by the natural buffering systems in the body (which maintain a pH of about 7.4). In fact, no clear evidence exists to support claims of internal usefulness for royal jelly as a therapeutic agent—though one study showed that royal jelly (at approximately 50 to 100 mg per day) reduced total serum cholesterol and serum lipid levels. And neopterin—a substance found in humans that appears to play an important role in the human immune system—has been isolated from royal jelly.

Still, it is a greatly nutritious food—containing all the B-complex vitamins, including a high concentration of B_5—plus minerals, vitamins A, C, D, and E, eighteen amino acids, enzymes, and hormones. But none of these vitamins or minerals appears to be unique to royal jelly, and there is much less published research on royal jelly than there is on propolis. Its antibacterial activity seems unlikely to be expressed when the food is ingested, yet that same antibacterial activity, along with other properties of the substance, make it a really desirable ingredient in topical preparations and skin creams.

WORTH KNOWING

Bee pollen has been touted by enthusiasts for its supposed ability to significantly enhance athletic performance and stamina. There’s no real evidence for this at all. But it may improve recovery time and prevent illness. In one study, the number of missed training days due to colds and upper respiratory infections was reduced in adolescent swimmers who took bee pollen.

Note: Allergic reactions to bee pollen have been reported. All bee products are contraindicated in anyone allergic or hypersensitive to pollens.

Dark Chocolate

In a fascinating and much-discussed article that appeared in the December 18, 2004, issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers put forth an idea called the “Polymeal.” They examined all of the research on foods and health to see if they could put together the ideal meal (“the Polymeal”) that, if you ate it every day, would significantly reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. They examined all of the research, did all the calculations, and came up with a theoretical meal that, eaten daily, would not just reduce cardiovascular risk, but reduce it by a staggering 75 percent (there’s not a pill in the world that can do that). The ingredients of this Polymeal? Wine, fish, nuts, garlic, fruits, vegetables, and chocolate.

In fact, they even figured out the risk-reduction contribution of each of the individual foods; the actual percentage of reduction in risk for cardiovascular disease from eating 100 g a day of cocoa-rich chocolate (about which more in a moment) turned out to be a pretty impressive 21 percent.

Flavonoids in Cocoa Prevents Clogged Arteries

Cocoa is loaded with compounds called flavonoids, which are also found in cranberries, apples, strawberries, onions, tea, and red wine, placing chocolate in excellent company. There are more than 4,000 of these flavonoids in the plant kingdom. In plants, flavonoids provide important protection like shielding from environmental toxins, and when we consume plant-based foods that are rich in flavonoids, we also get a lot of the same benefits the plant gets. The particular class of flavonoids found in cocoa are called flavanols, and the flavanols in cocoa prevent fatlike substances in the bloodstream from clogging the arteries. When you reduce the blood’s ability to clot, you also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. (That’s why they sometimes tell you to take a baby aspirin—for the same reason.) All these things make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. As an extra bonus, cocoa also contains magnesium, one of the most important minerals for heart health.

Flavanols in cocoa also do something else that’s very important. They modulate a compound in the body called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is critical for healthy blood flow and healthy blood pressure and is a very important compound in the area of cardiovascular health. In one Italian study, dark chocolate was shown to lower blood pressure, and the reason may well be that flavanol-rich cocoa actually supports the body’s ability to synthesize nitric oxide. In another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was reported that dark chocolate not only decreased blood pressure but also improved insulin sensitivity in healthy people!

Eating the Right Kind of Chocolate Is Key

But here’s the thing: This endorsement of chocolate comes with a very big qualification. I am not talking about commercial chocolate bars. I’m not talking about those chewy caramel-marshmallow-nut-covered candy bars you see in the grocery store. That’s not the stuff that has the health benefits. The health benefits come from the flavanols and antioxidants, and those are found in real cocoa—in fact, that’s the stuff that makes cocoa kind of bitter. So if you want the benefits of these flavanols in your diet, you’ve got to get the real deal chocolate—high-cocoa-content dark chocolate. You’ll see the best of these bars with labels that say things like “60 percent cocoa” (70 percent or higher is even better, but much harder to find). Milk chocolate and white chocolate have virtually none of these health benefits. Plus, the commercial candy bars are loaded with extra sugar, fat, waxes, and chemicals that are not what you want to be adding to your diet. And the more chocolate is processed, the more the beneficial flavonoids are lost.

The fat in chocolate is from cocoa butter and actually contains three different kinds of fat. One of them is oleic acid, which is the same kind found in olive oil—a very heart-healthy fat. The second is stearic acid, which has a neutral effect on the body. The third kind, palmitic acid, is probably not the best kind of fat to be eating large amounts of, but it really only accounts for a third of the fat in chocolate, and if you keep your portions small, you won’t be taking in a lot. Remember, though, that cocoa butter is expensive. Cheap brands of chocolate replace the good cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils, another reason to seek out the best brands if you’re interested in getting the health benefits—and the amazing taste—of real, cocoa-rich chocolate.

Chocolate Is Not for Everyone

Health benefits aside, chocolate is not for everybody. It seems to trigger addictive eating behavior in some people, and if you’re one of those, and you know who you are, then remember the old adage “know thyself” and just stay away from this food. But if you can handle it and don’t have any medical condition that would prevent you from being able to enjoy it, then having a small—remember, I’m talking small—amount of dark chocolate a couple of times a week is a great idea. My friend the well-known cardiologist and nutritionist Dr. Steve Sinatra has gone on record as saying that even cardiac patients can enjoy dark chocolate regularly in moderation, if they’re not sensitive to caffeine.

I’d recommend you get the darkest, most delicious kind you can find, with a label that says at least 60 percent cocoa, and enjoy an ounce or two a few times a week.

Green Foods and Drinks

(cereal grasses: barley grass and wheatgrass; and microalgae: spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green alga)

If dogs happen to be a part of your family, you’ve undoubtedly seen them eat grass. Why? No one really knows. Some people believe that dogs eat cereal grasses because they contain nutrients not found in meat that are essential for the animals’ good health. One thing is for sure—grass is a rich source of nutrients, and “green foods” made from cereal grasses and algae are among the healthiest foods I know of for humans.

This unusual category—green foods and drinks—covers a lot of territory, from the perennial health food store favorite wheatgrass juice to the algaes like blue-green algae and spirulina. All have specific nutrient profiles and are used for different (but overlapping) purposes. Let’s start with the main thing they all have in common: chlorophyll. Chlorophyll, the substance that makes plants appear green, is a natural blood purifier. What does this mean? Well, consider that everything—from anaerobic bacteria to yeast and fungus—travels through the blood. Our own immune system creates complexes that attack these foreign substances, and chlorophyll assists our bodies in cleaning out the “sludge” that can cause damage. “Chlorophyll helps manage bacterial growth,” Dr. Sonja Pettersen, a naturopathic physician in Arizona, explains. “It helps remove unwanted residues and helps activate enzymes. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and it’s nutrient dense.” Indeed, chlorophyll-containing plants—such as spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green alga—are an essential part of the healing armament in traditional Chinese medicine and other Eastern practices.

As far as chlorophyll’s reputation as a “blood builder,” there may be some scientific basis for this. The molecular structure of red blood cells and chlorophyll is virtually identical except for the center atom—in red blood cells it’s iron, in chlorophyll it’s magnesium. Chlorophyll is sometimes called “the blood of plant life.”

Then there’s the issue of acidity and alkalinity. As every gardener knows, the relative acidity and alkalinity of the soil can be determined by measuring its pH. The body also needs a balance of acid and alkaline for optimal health (pH can be measured in urine, in blood, and in saliva). “I believe the future of preventative medicine is in managing the pH of your body,” Pettersen told me. “All kinds of things can cause acidity—stress, rock music, sugar, and many foods. But if you balance your body with alkaline substances—such as spirulina, algae, and chlorella, all ‘supergreens’ with the benefits of chlorophyll—you can maintain the pH of your body at the right level, which goes a long way toward increasing your resistance to disease. At the proper pH level, enzymes flourish and the body mobilizes all its healing forces.”

Cereal Grasses: Barley Grass and Wheatgrass Juice

Barley grass and wheatgrass are both high-chlorophyll foods that are nearly identical, although barley grass may be a bit more digestible. It’s worth mentioning that people with wheat allergies are almost never allergic to wheat in its grass stage. Cereal grasses contain many enzymes, as well as the powerful antioxidant enzyme SOD (superoxide dismutase). They also contain large amounts of the mucopolysaccharides (MPs) discussed below (see “Spirulina”).

BARLEY GRASS

Barley grass is a great alternative for those who can’t tolerate wheatgrass. It’s milder, though bitter compared to the sweetness of wheatgrass. Young barley leaves have a tremendous ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. Dr. Howard Lutz, director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Washington, D.C., has said that barley juice “improves stamina, sexual energy, clarity of thought, and reduces addiction to things that are bad for you. It also improves the texture of the skin and heals the dryness associated with aging.” (NOTE: “Green magma,” often found in the “green foods/green drinks” section of the health food store, is the trade name for one well-known brand of barley grass powder.)

WHEATGRASS JUICE

Paul Pitchford and others note that wheatgrass juice is very concentrated, and even one ounce has therapeutic value. He recommends not taking more than 2 ounces at a time—it doesn’t increase the effectiveness. Wheatgrass juice is believed to help cleanse the lymph system, restore balance in the body, help remove toxic metals from the cells, and restore vitality. One ounce of the juice is believed to have the vitamin and mineral equivalent of more than 2 pounds of vegetables, though I have been unable to substantiate this. It is also thought to contain about thirty different enzymes. It should be consumed immediately after juicing.

Microalgae (spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green alga)

These members of the microalgae family contain more chlorophyll than any other foods and were among the first life forms. According to Paul Pitchford in his book Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition, microalgae exist on the edge between the plant and animal kingdoms. In addition to chlorophyll they contain protein, beta-carotene, and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA).

SPIRULINA

Rich with chlorophyll, protein, beta-carotene, and the beneficial fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), spirulina also contains a pigment called phycocyanin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and which, in one study, was shown to inhibit cancer-colony formation. The cell wall of spirulina is composed of mucopolysaccharides (MPs), which are complex sugars mixed with amino acids, simple sugars, and sometimes protein. MPs contain only completely digestible nutrients, which makes them very different from the indigestible cell wall found in other microalgae and other plants.

CHLORELLA

Chlorella is similar to spirulina but contains just a little less protein, much less beta-carotene, and much more chlorophyll and nucleic acids. It has a tough outer cell wall that is believed to bind with heavy metals, pesticides, and other carcinogens, carrying them safely out of the body. Its chlorophyll content is higher than any food, and it contains higher amounts of fatty acids, about 20 percent of which are omega-3s. Unlike spirulina, chlorella does not contain phycocyanin.

WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGA

This microalga grows wild in Klamath Lake in Oregon. Under certain conditions it can transform into a very toxic plant—it can cause death in animals within five minutes. However, according to experts, wild blue-green alga, has never been found in its toxic state in Klamath Lake, and the products coming out of Klamath Lake are believed to be completely safe, especially since freeze-drying denatures the toxin. (I only mention the toxicity issue in case you have visions of harvesting your own blue-green alga from the wild and you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.)

WORTH KNOWING

There are many good brands of “green drinks,” but the best of them use high-quality grasses, and extracts grown in rich soil, organically. Two of my favorite brands are ProGreens by Allergy Research and PaleoGreens by Designs for Health, both of which are available through links in the “Shopping for Supplements” section of my Web site, www.jonnybowden.com.

Kimchi

(kimchee, Chinese cabbage)

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made of fermented chile peppers and vegetables, usually cabbage. It’s so popular in Korea that Koreans reportedly say “kimchi” instead of “cheese” when posing for pictures. In Korea, it’s served as a popular side dish, but is also used as a cooking ingredient (in pancakes, as a topping on pizza, and in dishes like kimchi soup and kimchi fried rice). Many Chinese and Japanese eat this dish on a daily basis. Whatever you call it, it’s a nutritional powerhouse. Health magazine, a magazine I generally like, recently called it one of the world’s five healthiest foods. Want to know why? Read on.

The most common ingredients of kimchi are Chinese cabbage, radish, garlic, red pepper, onion, some kind of seafood (oyster or squid are common), ginger, salt, and maybe sugar. Internationally, it’s sometimes just known as Chinese cabbage. The first clue to kimchi’s health properties is its ingredients: Cabbage, onions, and garlic are not only all featured in this book as members of the elite group of 150 healthiest foods on the planet, but all three have also earned special mention (stars) for being superstars in their respective categories. All three ingredients in kimchi—cabbage, onions, and garlic—have both significant anticancer properties and significant heart benefits. (Garlic has been shown in research to reduce plaque, lower LDL cholesterol, and inhibit the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells; the indoles in cabbage fight cancer; and onions are one of four foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20 percent!) And other ingredients in kimchi—chile peppers and ginger, for example—have health benefits of their own.

Why Fermented Foods Are Almost Always Good for You

Then there’s fermentation. Kimchi is always fermented, which should be our next clue to the fact that this is going to be a healthy food. Almost all naturally fermented foods are health promoting. The healthy bacteria lactobacilli are heavily involved in the fermentation process, and kimchi is a potent source of these healthy “probiotics.” Various members of the lactobacillus class of healthy bacteria have been found to support and improve immunity in a number of studies. They help control inflammation, which is an essential feature of so many degenerative diseases, including heart disease. And on top of that, they’re essential in maintaining a healthy digestive system.

So kimchi is a superstar in the world of healthy foods. According to a comprehensive review in the ISHS Acta Horticulturae #482, it has demonstrated antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic activities. Pretty darn impressive for a sometimes smelly little cabbage dish! Kimchi also contains high levels of vitamins (vitamin C, the B vitamins), minerals (calcium, potassium, and iron) and dietary fiber.

Licorice

First things first—everyone knows licorice as a candy, which, at least when I was a kid, was very much an acquired taste. But candy confections aside, real licorice root is a serious food and a potent herb and has real health benefits.

Licorice is a perennial herb native to southern Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean. The herb is extensively cultivated in Russia, Spain, Iran, and India. Licorice is one of the most popular and widely consumed herbs in the world. Ancient cultures on every continent have used licorice, with the first recorded use by the Egyptians in the third century B.C.E. The Egyptians and the Greeks recognized the licorice herb’s benefits in treating coughs and lung disease. It’s the second most prescribed herb in China, following ginseng.

Licorice Root Soothes the Throat and Lungs

The most common medical use for licorice is for supporting upper respiratory tract health. It’s known for its soothing effect on inflamed mucous membranes. Licorice root, when mixed with water or used in cough drops, soothes mucous membranes like those found in the throat, lung, and bronchial tubes. (When I was a kid, my mom would give me Smith Brothers licorice cough drops at the first sign of a cough.) According to the Materia Medica, licorice root is also used for urinary tract irritation, adrenal fatigue and exhaustion, immune-deficient states, allergies, liver disorders, and detoxification. The Japanese use a licorice preparation to control hepatitis, not surprising since the Materia Medica suggests that it is particularly good for conditions in which the patient needs immune system support and has abnormally high liver enzymes (mononucleosis, hepatitis). It is also a wonderful herb for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Licorice Makes Top Six List for Anticancer Activity

The active ingredient in licorice is a member of the saponin family called glycyrrhizin, though according to Louis Vanrenen’s excellent book Power Herbs, the plant also contains flavonoids (at least twenty-five of them), terpenoids, amino acids, lignans, and plant sterols. (Vanrenen considers licorice one of his “50 power herbs.”) Glycyrrhizin, the most well-known constituent, is both anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating. (It may also raise blood pressure—see “Worth Knowing.”) There are literally dozens of published studies showing the health properties of the flavonoids and other compounds in licorice. There’s even one study showing that the flavonoids in licorice help reduce abdominal fat in obese mice. Other studies have shown glycyrrhizin to have antioxidant effects, and a number of constituents in licorice have shown antitumor activity in animal research. In fact, licorice was among six foods and herbs listed as having the highest anticancer activity according to the 1997 report “Phytochemicals: Guardians of Our Health” by the Journal of the American Dietetic Assocation (the others were garlic, soybeans, cabbage, ginger, and the umbelliferous vegetables).

Licorice has also been known to soothe joints and support normal blood sugar. The licorice root extract produces mild estrogenic effects, and it has proven useful in supporting the stress of menopause and menstruation. Licorice also has a beneficial effect on digestive processes.

NOTE: Don’t confuse real licorice root—a medicinal food and herb—with most common licorice candy, much of which is really made with anise and has virtually no real licorice root content. You can find “real licorice” candy, and it’s delicious—but you have to look for it carefully.

WORTH KNOWING

Because the active ingredient in licorice works in ways similar to the hormones of the adrenal glands, it is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it is anti-inflammatory (like the adrenal hormone cortisol), but on the other hand the glycyrrhizin content can easily raise blood pressure (like the adrenal hormone aldosterone). Do not use the herb licorice—or eat “real licorice” candy on a regular basis—if you have high blood pressure. It’s also contraindicated for heart failure, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, and cholestatic liver disorders.

De-glycyrrhizined licorice is frequently used in supplements for its anti-inflammatory and other beneficial properties. There is 2 to 9 percent glycyrrhizin in licorice root. The de-glycyrrhizined root extract has a maximum of 3 percent glycyrrhizin in it.

Olives

Look up any nutritional textbook and you’re sure to find an entry for olive oil, with a massive number of references touting its health properties. Strangely, you don’t see as much good press for the lovely little olive from which the oil comes.

You should. It’s a great healthy little fruit, and the source of many life-giving compounds.

Olives are an ancient food, and olive trees have been around since at least 3,000 B.C.E., particularly in the Mediterranean. Actually, the olive in its natural state isn’t very appetizing—it contains very bitter compounds that have to be removed by soaking and curing. Problem is that the traditional methods of fermenting—which produce a healthy and wonderful food—have become way too slow for modern times. The ancient fermentation techniques that were used to produce healthy foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, olives, tempeh, and miso have all too often been jettisoned in favor of fast, commercial techniques that don’t yield nearly as healthy a product.

Choose Your Olives Wisely

Traditional fermentation is a slow process caused by the action of yeast and bacteria, and it produces a food that is brimming with healthy compounds and active cultures that are good for you. But in today’s “faster is better” world, olives are much more likely to be treated with lye to remove the bitterness, then packed in salt and canned. “Processed” olives are those that have been through a lye bath; the more “old-fashioned” (and way better) method is to cure them in oil, brine, water, or salt. Those are known as “oil-cured,” “brine-cured,” “water-cured,” or “dry-salted” olives. If you’re willing to look, you can find the good kind in olive bars; they’re sitting in dishes, usually in the cheese section of some of the better grocery stores, and they’re olives that are still alive with active cultures that your body loves! Those are the ones to go for.

Olives and their oils contain a host of beneficial plant compounds, including tocopherols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, sterols, and polyphenols. Polyphenols are probably what give olives their taste; the polyphenols from olives have anti-inflammatory activity, improve immune function, help prevent damage to DNA, and protect the cardiovascular system. Olives and olive oil are a significant staple of the Mediterranean culture and are associated with countless health benefits, including lower incidence of heart disease and certain kinds of cancer.

The fat in olives (and olive oil, see page 302) is largely the monounsaturated fat oleic acid, which has been associated with higher levels of protective HDL (“good”) cholesterol. A number of studies have shown that people who get plenty of monounsaturated fat are less likely to die of heart disease.

Sauerkraut

(nonpasteurized)

Sauerkraut combines one of the healthiest foods on the planet (cabbage) with one of most healthy forms of processing on the planet (fermentation). The resultant food is a consistent winner in the health promotion sweepstakes.

Fermentation simply refers to an ancient technique of preparation and preservation in which food is naturally “processed” by microorganisms such as bacteria that break down the carbohydrates and protein in the food and produce the final result—yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, old-fashioned soy sauce, and kimchi being terrific examples. The key to their nutritional value is twofold—the ingredients and the process. Commercial food processors have tried to “standardize” the fermentation techniques, and many modern mass-produced foods (canned olives, pickles) are not actually fermented but just treated with chemicals, packed in salt, and then canned. Only true fermentation gives you the amazing health benefits of the “live cultures” like lactobacillus, which are legion for their health benefits.

Live Cultures in Sauerkraut Help Control Inflammation

And what a list of health benefits it is. Bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus feed the “good” bacteria in your gut, creating a natural balance of gut flora that improves digestion, immune function, and the absorption and assimilation of nutrients. Various members of the Lactobacillus genus have been found to support and improve immunity in a number of studies. Many of the studies used yogurt as the “delivery” system for these good bacteria (known as “active cultures” or “probiotics”), but any naturally fermented food—like sauerkraut—would be expected to have the same results. These studies have found that active cultures like those found in sauerkraut have a stimulating effect on cellular immunity and can actually suppress H. pylori. Dr. Sonja Pettersen, a naturopath practicing in Arizona and one of my favorite doctors, explains: “By maintaining good gut flora, you’ll prevent all kinds of different diseases, especially chronic degenerative ones. Probiotics (live cultures) help control inflammation, which is a central feature of so many degenerative diseases, including heart disease. Probiotics help increase NK (natural killer) cells, a powerful immune system weapon. They increase antibodies when we have infections. They improve digestion. They have anticancer properties. And if this weren’t enough, they can increase good cholesterol while decreasing the bad kind.” Probiotics are abundant in naturally fermented sauerkraut.

Cabbage Phytochemicals Ward Off Breast Cancer

Then there’s the cabbage from which sauerkraut comes. Cabbage—a superstar vegetable on its own—first came to the attention of researchers after they observed that women living in Eastern European countries surrounding Poland and Russia and eating four or more servings of raw or barely cooked cabbage per week were 74 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than Polish-American immigrants who ate 1.5 or fewer servings of sauerkraut per week. Researchers now believe that the likely reason for the protective effect were phytochemicals found in cabbage called indoles. Years of research have now demonstrated that these indoles in fact alter estrogen metabolism in a favorable way, one that is likely to reduce the risk of cancer.

The anticancer benefits of cabbage don’t stop with indoles, though. In a study published in the October 23, 2002, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Finnish researchers reported that fermenting cabbage produces compounds known as isothiocyanates, shown in laboratory studies (in test tubes and animals) to prevent the growth of cancer. Sulforaphane, a particularly potent member of the isothiocyanate family, increases the production of certain enzymes known as phase-2 enzymes, which can “disarm” damaging free radicals and help fight carcinogens. It’s believed that phase-2 enzymes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to research from the Department of Urology at Stanford University published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, sulforaphane is the most potent inducer of phase-2 enzymes of any phytochemical known to date.

The Unique Benefits of Red and Purple Cabbage

Though a lot of sauerkraut is made from white cabbage, some is made from the purple kind, which has a whole other set of protective phytochemicals. Red and purple cabbage is a source of anthocyanins, pigment molecules that make blueberries blue and red cabbage red. They’re found in many colorful fruits such as grapes and berries. Turns out they do a lot more than make our produce pretty. Anthocyanins (a member of a group of phytochemicals called flavonoids) have considerable bioactive properties, including acting as powerful antioxidants. In one study, anthocyanins were found to have the strongest antioxidizing power of 150 flavonoids studied (more than 4,000 different flavonoids have been identified). And the anthocyanins in red cabbage were found in another study to protect animals against the damages produced by a known toxin. There’s every reason to think that they’re equally protective for us.

Anthocyanins’ ability to act as antioxidants and to fight free radicals makes them powerful weapons against cardiovascular disease. And anthocyanins are also known for their anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammatory anthocyanins can help dampen allergic reactions as well as help protect against the damage to connective tissue and blood vessel walls that inflammation can cause.

Sauerkraut is also a high-fiber food with a ridiculously low number of calories—1 cup of undrained sauerkraut provides almost 6 g of fiber for only 45 calories. It also has 150 percent of the Daily Value for the vitally important bone-building nutrient vitamin K, not to mention generous amounts of calcium, vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron.

WORTH KNOWING

The downside of sauerkraut—especially the commercial kind—is that it’s really high in sodium (salt). And to make matters worse, most of today’s commercially available sauerkraut is pasteurized, making it a “dead” food lacking in the very beneficial bacterial that helped earn it a place of honor on this list. Instead of the good stuff, all you get is a lot of salt. (According to Dr. Andrew Weil, if you rinse and soak sauer kraut in cold water before eating, you can lower the sodium content considerably.) But to get all the health benefits this great traditional food is capable of delivering, look for fresh or raw sauerkraut in the refrigerated sections of natural food stores and in barrels in delicatessens that still make their own. Better yet, make your own!

Sea Vegetables

(seaweed)

According to Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., “sea plants are gifts from the sea.” She’s right. There is practically no group of plants on the planet richer in nutrients, minerals, and trace minerals. Coastal peoples all over the world have prized seaweed as a source of valuable nutrients—primarily minerals—for millennia. Sea vegetables have long been acknowledged for their ability to impart beauty and health and to prolong life.

As Paul Pitchford points out in Healing with Whole Foods: Traditions in Asian Medicine, the human body is nourished and cleansed by blood that has almost the same composition as seawater. According to ancient Chinese texts, “there is no swelling that is not relieved by seaweed.”

Seaweeds have a number of properties in common, and yet each has a distinct nutrient profile. Let’s first talk about them as a group. Seaweeds in general contain dozens and dozens of minerals and trace elements integrated into living plant tissue. They contain vitamins and amino acids and are particularly good sources of iodine, calcium, and iron.

Sea Vegetables Protect against Radiation and Environmental Pollutants

As a group, they are known for their ability to detoxify the body. (It’s no coincidence that one of the most popular spa treatments is a seaweed wrap.) Steven Schecter, N.D., believes they can help prevent assimilation of heavy metals such as cadmium as well as other environmental toxins. There’s good reason to believe that might be true. Canadian researchers at McGill University of Montreal studied a compound called sodium alginate that is present in strong quantities in brown algae. (Sea vegetables classified as brown algae include arame, hijiki, kombu, and wakame.) In their studies, it was found that sodium alginate (prepared from the sea vegetables kelp, kombu, and other seaweeds) reduced the uptake of radioactive particles into the bone. As Schecter says, “There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and environmental pollutants than sea vegetables.”

Seaweed Eaters Seem to Enjoy Lower Risk of Cancer

Seaweeds have also been studied for their possible anticancer effects. One recent paper published in Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology in 2005 investigated the antitumoral properties of a polysaccharide isolated from a brown marine algae Sargassum stenophyllum. And kombu and wakame are particularly rich in a substance called fucoidan, a polysaccharide believed to have anticancer activity. (To get the fucoidan in its effective form, the kombu or wakame needs to be eaten raw or dried, without heating. It’s worth noting that in Okinawa, Japan, which has one of the lowest cancer mortality rates in Japan, people eat their kombu mostly uncooked.) Breast cancer rates are lower in Japan than in Western countries, and this just might have something to do with seaweed consumption.

Seaweeds are also a great source of fluorine (not fluoride), a compound that boosts the body’s defenses and strengthens teeth and bones. However, to get the fluorine you have to eat the seaweed raw—even minimal cooking causes the fluorine to be lost. Seaweed is also a good source of the cancer-fighting mineral selenium.

Separately, each brings its own particular nutrient composition and health benefits to the table.

ARAME

A Japanese sea vegetable with a mild flavor, arame is dried and cut into thin strands and can be added to soups or served sautéed as a vegetable side dish. It contains between 100 and 500 times the iodine in shellfish, plus iron, vitamin A, and more than ten times the calcium of milk.

HIJIKI

This contains the most calcium of any of the sea vegetables and is also a rich source of iron and vitamin A. It’s very tough in its natural state; you usually get it dried, but when cooked it rehydrates and expands to about five times its dry volume. Like arame and wakame, hijiki contains more than ten times the calcium of milk. It also contains eight times the iron in beef.

KELP

The kelp family includes kombu, wakame, and arame. It’s a rich source of iodine, a component of the two main thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). Kelp can contain between 100 and 500 times the iodine in shellfish, and has about four times the iron in beef.

KOMBU

Kombu can be used for soup stock or added to a pot of beans. It helps the beans cook faster and renders them more digestible. It contains potassium, calcium, vitamins A and C, and between 100 and 500 times the iodine in shellfish. According to natural-foods expert Rebecca Wood, kombu should not be eaten excessively during pregnancy.

NORI

Best known to sushi lovers, nori is the seaweed that wraps around hand rolls. It contains protein, calcium, iron, potassium, and more vitamin A than carrots.

WAKAME

This is good source of protein, iron, calcium, sodium, and other minerals and vitamins. After hijiki, wakame is the seaweed highest in calcium, containing more than ten times the calcium in milk. Like kelp, it also has four times the iron in beef.

WORTH KNOWING

Though tests indicate that seaweeds are abundant in vitamin B12, don’t believe it. According to Paul Pitchford, much of what shows up in tests as B12 is actually a B12 “analogue” that is not an effective form of the vitamin. Despite all the other wonderful things they provide, seaweeds are not a viable B12 source.

Sprouts

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the term “health food”? If you’re like most people, it’s sprouts. For many people, sprouts conjure up images of the people who used to be quaintly referred to as “health nuts”—granola-eating folks in granny glasses and Birkenstocks wandering around Woodstock and growing organic food. Sprouts. Rabbit food.

Okay, so people make fun of sprouts. But all kidding aside, sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritional foods on the planet. They’re rich with enzymes and vitamins and amino acids. And perhaps most important of all, sprouts like alfalfa, broccoli, clover, mung bean, and the like contain concentrated amounts of phytochemicals that can have strong protective effects against disease.

Sprouts Are Baby Plants

When you eat a sprout, you’re actually eating a very, very young version of the whole plant. You’re eating the root, stem, and head. Different glucosinolates—phytochemicals that convert to very healthy metabolites in the body—are concentrated in different parts of the plant. Some are still in the root, others are in the leaves that are thrown away, still others are in the stem. According to one estimate, in each grocery store–size package of sprouts, there are about 4,000 “baby plants,” and each one can have as much or more of certain micronutrients as an entire mature plant. According to Sonja Pettersen, N.D., “Sprouts are one of the most concentrated sources of nutrition. They’re loaded with phytonutrients. Broccoli sprouts, for example, are densely packed with trace minerals, amino acids, and cancer-fighting compounds called indoles (see below). They pack an amazing nutritional wallop.”

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that broccoli sprouts contain anywhere from thirty to fifty times the concentration of protective chemicals found in the mature broccoli plants, including, indole-3-carbinole, one of the cancer-fighting compounds Pettersen was talking about. According to a great deal of research—including a review paper published in Integrative Cancer Therapies—indole-3-carbinole arrests human breast cancer cells as well as prostate cancer cells and may lower the risk of hormone-dependent cancers by altering estrogen metabolism. Both broccoli and broccoli sprouts are a significant source of these cancer-fighting indoles.

Broccoli Sprouts Help Our Bodies Fight Carcinogens

In addition, broccoli sprouts are a significant source of sulforaphane. (Two of the experts contributing top ten lists to this book mentioned sulforaphane as one of the important reasons for including broccoli on their lists.) Sulforaphane, a particularly potent member of the isothiocyanate family, increases the production of certain enzymes known as phase-2 enzymes, which can “disarm” damaging free radicals and help fight carcinogens. It’s believed that phase-2 enzymes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to research from the department of urology at Stanford University published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, sulforaphane is the most potent inducer of phase-2 enzymes of any phytochemical known to date. In one study, sulforaphane arrested human colon cancer cells. And feeding sulforaphane-rich broccoli-sprout extracts to lab rats that had been exposed to a carcinogen dramatically reduced the frequency, size, and number of the rats’ tumors.

Alfalfa sprouts are a source of another important class of phytochemical, saponins. Saponins are a kind of “natural detergent” found in a wide variety of plant life, especially beans. Saponins bind with cholesterol, preventing it from being reabsorbed into the system. Recent studies at the University of Toronto department of nutritional science indicate that dietary sources of saponins like alfalfa and alfalfa sprouts can be part of a chemopreventive strategy and may lower the risk of human cancers. Interestingly, cancer cells have more cholesterol-type compounds in their membranes than normal cells; since saponins can bind cholesterol, they can intefere with cell growth and division. In plants, saponins have a strong effect on the immune system, where they function as a kind of “natural antibiotic,” and it’s more than likely that they have a similar antimicrobial effect in the human body.

WORTH KNOWING

Some time ago, back in the 1990s, there was a big brouhaha over contamination of sprouts and some outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United States caused by salmonella or E. coli, which was traceable in some cases to the consumption of raw sprouts. In 2002 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory warning consumers of the “risks” of eating raw sprouts even though the outbreak was traced to alfalfa sprouts from a single producer, which later issued a voluntary recall and ceased production pending an internal review. Dr. Andrew Weil, a highly respected expert in integrative medicine, weighed in on the side of the CDC, and sprouts fell out of favor for a while. Should you be worried? I think not.

“Sprouts are no different from any other food in the sense that they can harbor bacteria,” Pettersen told me. “But the ‘warnings’ on sprouts are based far more on fear than on logic. A potato salad left outside at a picnic probably harbors way more bacteria than the average serving of sprouts.” Because of the scare, nonorganic sprout suppliers frequently try to “sanitize” their product by bleaching the seeds from which sprouts grow with chlorine. “It’s overkill,” said Pettersen. “Chlorine is a very damaging molecule to the human body and much more of a concern than a theoretical exposure to a small amount of bacteria.”

Pettersen advocates eating organic sprouts to avoid the chlorine issue altogether. I agree, though I’d probably add that people who are immunocompromised might want to avoid any food that has even a possibility of a little bacteria. For everyone else, sprouts are great. Pettersen summed it up perfectly: “They’re as close to a superfood as we have.”

Umeboshi Plums

(umeboshi plum paste)

I first learned about umeboshi plum paste from Dr. Annemarie Colbin, the founder of Natural Gourmet Institute for Healing and Culinary Arts and an internationally respected expert in natural foods and healing. One summer we were both speaking at the renowned Boulderfest conference for nutritional medicine, and I attended her fascinating presentation on healing foods, during which she explained that foods have “expansive” and “contractive” properties and that certain “expansive” conditions—like sugar addiction and cravings—could be treated with “contractive” foods. The contractive food she mentioned most frequently was this umeboshi plum paste, which I could barely pronounce and had never heard of. She later told me she never travels without it and offered to give me some.

Sure enough, it was not only delicious but also had a remarkable dampening effect on my desire to go out and buy a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. The word “umeboshi” means dried plum, but it’s actually a species of apricot. It’s been used as a food and medicine in China, Korea, and Japan.

Umeboshi plums are basically pickled plums. The freshly picked plums are first washed and then dried on rice mats by the sun. The plums are also left out during the night. At that time, dew forms and softens the plums. The next day the sun again dries them, and the process is repeated for several days. As a result, the plums become smaller, and many wrinkles appear.

At that time, the plums are packed in barrels together with white crude sea salt and sometimes the herb perilla, which is high in iron, acts as a natural preservative, and imparts the pinkish color to the plums. The plums are covered by weights and are left to ferment. Though in modern times they may only ferment for a few days and nights, in the traditional methods they could be left to ferment for a full year. During fermentation—through the action of salt and the pressure of the weights—the plums begin to shrink even more, and whatever juice is left is drained out. The result is the umeboshi plum.

Umeboshi Plums Are Aspirin and Apple to Those in the Far East

Umeboshi plums are an ancient Japanese health food used to balance and strengthen. They’re highly valued for their antibacterial properties and as a digestive aid. Japanese food authority Robbie Swinnerton writes, “Japanese pickled plums have remarkable medicinal qualities. Their powerful acidity has a paradoxical alkalinizing effect on the body, neutralizing fatigue, stimulating the digestion, and promoting the elimination of toxins. This is the Far Eastern equivalent to both aspirin and apple; not only is it a potent hangover remedy for mornings after, (but) an umeboshi a day is regarded as the best preventive medicine available.”

And by the way—next time you have a serious sugar craving, try dipping a chopstick or a pinky into a jar of the paste and licking it off. Remarkable stuff!

Wheat Germ

I’ll tell you right now, I’m not a huge fan of wheat. As you may have noticed, it didn’t make the list of the 150 healthiest foods in the world (it wasn’t even on the list of contenders). I am, however, a big fan of wheat germ.

First, some definitions. Any whole grain consists of four main components. The husk, or chaff, is the inedible outer layer of a grain kernel. That generally gets thrown away. The bran is the main source of fiber in whole grains and can also contain nutrients. (Much of the bran gets removed during the processing of refined carbohydrate cereals, including those that “sound” healthy.) The endosperm is the main content of a whole grain; it contains protein and starch and is basically the only portion used in refined and processed grain products. And finally, there’s the germ: the smallest portion of the grain, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

So wheat germ is simply the nutrient-rich core of a whole wheat kernel. Though it makes up only about 3 percent of the whole wheat berry, nutritionally it’s the motherlode. It’s rich in vitamin E, zinc, iron, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, thiamin, folate, vitamin B_6, manganese, and selenium. A ¼ cup of wheat germ contain 104 calories, more than 6 g of protein, a little more than 2 g of healthy fat, and almost 4 g of fiber.

The oil in wheat germ is also a source of a compound called octacosanol. There are a couple of animal studies suggesting that octacosanol might help with exercise performance, but there aren’t any human studies, and I think octacosanol as a supplement is overhyped. However, octacosanol aside, wheat germ is still a nutritional powerhouse. But because it’s high in oil (good oil, but still oil), it can easily go rancid if it’s not stored properly. A jar of vacuum-packed wheat germ is fine for up to a year, unopened, but opened jars should be refrigerated and used within a few months. If you’re someone who uses flour in recipes, consider replacing ½ to a whole cup of it with wheat germ to increase both fiber and nutrients.

Wheat germ has a nice nutty flavor and a crunchy texture and is great in shakes or sprinkled on all kinds for things, from cereal to yogurt.

Whey Protein Powder

Whey protein is hands down my favorite form of protein powder. (I’m not alone—it made the top ten lists of two of my experts as well.) Not only does it provide extremely high-quality protein, but it has a host of health benefits besides. It can help you lose weight and gain muscle, plus it provides powerful support for your immune system.

I’ll assume you already know how important protein is to the body in general, but a quick review: Protein provides the building blocks for hormones and neurotransmitters and antibodies, not to mention being necessary for strong muscles and bones. It is essential for metabolism. Without protein, you would die. (The same is not true of dietary carbohydrate, but that’s a whole different story.)

Whey Protein Stimulates the Immune System and Helps Generate a Valuable Antioxidant

On one level, whey protein is just another way to get high-quality protein into the diet and can take its place on the menu along with grass-fed beef and game, fish and eggs, and other protein sources. But whey protein powder has other properties—besides convenience—that make it valuable. It is highly stimulating to the immune system. Whey protein seems to be the best method for obtaining the building blocks of glutathione, arguably the most valuable antioxidant in the body. Glutathione is a “master antioxidant”—it destroys free radicals and is intimately involved in the detoxification of carcinogens. The white blood cells and the liver use glutathione to detoxify poisons in the body. Unfortunately, it’s hard if not impossible to absorb glutathione from the diet or from supplements. The glutathione in your cells needs to be made by the body, and the best way to do this is to provide the body with the amino acids that glutathione is made from. Whey protein powder has been found to be one of the richest sources of these glutathione “building blocks.”

Whey protein contains a number of other proteins that positively affect immune function. It contains protein fractions such as beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and immunoglobulins, all of which have important disease-fighting effects. In one recent study done at the department of food science and technology at Ohio State University, it was shown that dietary whey protein protected against oxidant-induced cell death in human prostate cells. Several other animal studies have suggested that whey protein may protect against certain kinds of tumors. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggested that whey protein rich in alpha-lactalbumin improved cognitive performance in “stress-vulnerable” subjects (a description that would probably include everyone I know). And in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, doctors from the University of Minnesota Medical School gave otherwise healthy individuals with mild to moderate hypertension 20 g daily of whey protein and observed a significant reduction in their blood pressure levels by the end of the first week. That effect was maintained throughout the study.

Whey and the High-Protein Diet

And then there’s weight loss. New studies suggest that whey may have an impact on food intake through its effect on hormones that influence a feeling of fullness. We already know from quite a lot of research that higher-protein diets help people feel full and satisfied and are very useful as weight loss regimens. But all protein may not be created equal. In one study, researchers consumed a liquid meal containing equal amounts of either whey or casein. Ninety minutes later, allowed to eat freely at a buffet, the whey group consumed significantly fewer calories. Whey protein powder may well be a great tool in the battle to control appetite naturally.

The benefits of whey have been known for centuries. Thanks to journalist and health reporter Will Brink, I found this wonderful aphorism dating from about 1777 that says the following: “If everyone were raised on whey, doctors would be bankrupt” (Allevato con la scotta il dottore e in bancarott). And that wasn’t the first time the health properties of whey were appreciated. According to an expression from Florence, Italy, around 1650, “Chi vuol viver sano e lesto beve scotta e cena presto,” which in beautiful Italian means simply this: “If you want to live a healthy and active life, drink whey and dine early.”

WORTH KNOWING

Though whey is technically a dairy product, those with milk sensitivities are often able to tolerate high-quality whey protein with no problems. Unlike soy protein, which is low in methionine, whey protein contains all the amino acids the body needs in the best possible balance.

Commercial whey protein varies in quality, and there is a difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate. Whey protein isolate is the most pure and concentrated form of whey protein available. It contains 90 percent or more protein and very little (if any) fat and lactose. Whey protein concentrate, on the other hand, has anywhere between 29 percent and 89 percent protein, depending upon the product. (As the protein level in whey protein concentrate decreases, the amounts of fat and/or lactose usually increase.) The isolate is the better choice. One brand I particularly like is Paleomeal by Designs for Health (available through a link on my Web site at www.jonnybowden.com). Paleomeal is made with exceptional-quality whey protein that comes from herds that graze on pesticide-free, chemical-free, natural grass pastures. The cows are never given bovine growth hormone or any other hormones, and the product is free of artificial flavors and sweeteners. The whey protein in Paleomeal is never exposed to high-heat temperatures, which can prevent it from being able to raise glutathione levels in the body.

Specialty Food Runner-Up

Brewer’s Yeast

In the old days when the only people who ate yogurt or organic foods were known as “health nuts,” before gyms became known as fitness facilities, and before every supermarket had a natural foods department with a dizzying array of energy bars, there were only a few supplements and powders that fitness enthusiasts used on a regular basis. One of them was brewer’s yeast.

Well, times have changed, fitness has become mainstream, and the menu of supplements, powders, bars, and things to throw into your protein shake has expanded exponentially, but brewer’s yeast still occupies a warm spot in the heart of many of those early “health nuts.”

Brewer’s yeast consists of the dried, pulverized cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type of fungus. It’s inactive yeast, meaning the yeasts have been killed and have no leavening powder. Brewer’s yeast is actually the yeast remaining after beer or alcohol making. It’s generally regarded as a health food because it is easily digested and has a high nutrient content. It’s a rich source of the B-complex vitamins, all essential amino acids, and fifteen minerals, particularly chromium, an important trace mineral that helps the hormone insulin do its job better in the body. High-quality brewer’s yeast powder or flakes contain as much as 60 mcg of chromium per tablespoon (15 gm). (In the days in which brewer’s yeast was a common supplemental food, chromium wasn’t widely available in supplement form.) Brewer’s yeast is one of the rare vegetarian sources of B12.

WORTH KNOWING

Brewer’s yeast fell out of favor largely because better ways of obtaining higher-dose chromium became available (supplements) and because so many people have chronic yeast problems, which can conceivably be made worse by taking brewer’s yeast, even though the yeast itself is inactive and not related to the Candida albicans fungus that causes yeast infection. Brewer’s yeast also causes lots of gas in some beginners. Nonetheless, if you do not have yeast problems (Candida) and would like an easily digestible way to get some extra B vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, brewer’s yeast is a fine food.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Mary Dan Eades, M.D., and Michael Eades, M.D.

Michael and Mary Dan Eades are great friends of mine, and two of the smartest and most committed M.D.s in the country. They are the best-selling authors of Protein Power (sixty-three weeks on the New York Times best-seller list) and The Protein Power Life Plan, and most recently, Staying Power: Maintaining Your Low Carb Weight Loss for Good and The Low Carb CookwoRx Cookbook. They write, coproduce, and host the PBS show Low Carb CookwoRx and can be reached at www.proteinpower.com.

1. Grass-fed beef, pork, lamb: Sources of good protein and quality fat, devoid of hormones, antibiotics, and toxins.

2. Cage-free chicken and eggs: Humanely produced, inexpensive, high-quality protein and cholesterol source.

(NOTE from JB: This is not a misprint. Cholesterol from the diet helps regulate the production of cholesterol in the body; if you don’t get it from the diet, you will make it. And cholesterol is the parent molecule of all sorts of important hormones.)

3. Sardines packed in sardine oil: Of all fish, lowest in heavy metals and other toxins, while still being rich in essential fats. Best packed in their own oil, but those packed in olive oil or water are okay, too. Avoid those in soybean or vegetable oil.

4. Coconut oil: Rich in lauric acid, important for immune health, stable at high temperatures, great for sautéing, frying, and baking.

5. Broccoli sprouts: No food is higher in sulforaphane than these. Great on salads or in wraps. If you are short on these tiny power-houses, eat cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage).

6. Spinach (and other dark green leafies): Packed with nutrients, especially folate, without a slug of carbs.

7. Tomatoes: Full of potassium and lycopene and so versatile you can serve them at any meal.

8. Pomegranate: Powerful antioxidant, and delicious to boot.

9. Celery root: All the benefits of potatoes, used in much the same way, but without the starch load.

10. Berries: King of fruits, chock-full of ORAC (a measure of antioxidant capacity), fiber, and flavor.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Oz Garcia, Ph.D.

Oz Garcia and I go way back—he’s one of my best friends and hands-down one of the brightest and most cutting-edge nutritionists in the country. We’ve worked together on and off for more than a decade, and I’m always awed by the breadth and depth of his knowledge on a variety of topics. An antiaging expert, he lectures internationally on health, lifestyle, aging, supplements, and nutrition, and is CEO of the lifestyle consulting firm Personal Best, Inc. Twice voted “Best Nutritionist” by New York Magazine, he has a huge clientele of bold print names and is the best-selling author of The Balance and Look and Feel Fabulous Forever. His fourth book is The New Fifty: Redesigning 50 to Look and Feel like 35.

1. Blueberries: Contain disease-fighting, age-proofing antioxidants and anticancer properties. They help lower cholesterol levels, help prevent short-term memory loss, and help promote weight control.

2. Wild salmon: One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce heart disease and inflammatory conditions. Rich in carotenoids, vitamins B, A, and D; good for calcium absorption.

3. Pomegranate: Rich in potassium and vitamin C, and has three times the antioxidants of red wine and green tea. Helps keep fatty deposits from collecting on arteries, thus preventing heart attacks, strokes, premature aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

4. Olive oil (extra virgin): A natural anti-inflammatory much like aspirin or ibuprofen. It reduces the risk of stroke, heart and cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, lung cancer, and some forms of dementia.

5. Nuts: Great source of dietary fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, copper, folic acid, vegetable protein, potassium, vitamin E, and healthy fats, all of which help reduce the risk of heart disease.

6. Mixed vegetables: Vegetables are low in fat and calories, are a good source of dietary fiber, and provide us with extra energy. They are one of the most natural foods and contain different vitamins, minerals, and thousands of other plant chemicals known to provide many disease-reducing benefits. Eating vegetables can also help control weight.

7. Garlic: Garlic fends off aging via its antioxidant properties. It contains strong antibacterial and antiviral compounds that boost your resistance to stress-induced colds and infections.

8. Green tea: Rich in antioxidants, promotes heart health, aids digestion, and regulates blood sugar and body temperature. It raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation, thus helping people lose weight. Also has a powerful effect against rheumatoid arthritis and tumors.

9. Whole grains/brown rice: They offer a wide array of health benefits. Not only do whole grains contain fiber and traditional nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, and iron, but they also contain numerous disease-fighting phytochemicals and antioxidants not found in fruits.

10. Yogurt with bioactive cultures: A great source of protein and calcium. Contains probiotics, which boost the immune system and protect the intestinal tract. Yogurt delivers calcium, potassium, and magnesium, three key nutrients that prevent hypertension and osteoporosis.

11. Coconut oil: It supports overall immune functions; prevents bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and digestive disorders; and increases the metabolic rate.

CHAPTER 11

Beverages

The best beverage in the world, bar none, is water. You can’t live very long without it, and it is necessary for almost every metabolic process. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other beverages that are amazing for your health. There are. And nine of them (ten if you include water) are portrayed in depth in this section of this book.

Since beverages don’t grow on trees or come out of the ground, every beverage, by definition, is made from something else (like a plant or a fruit). If I may be frank, one of the difficulties in picking foods and beverages for this book had to do with the following dilemma: When does the source of a beverage (for example, apples) get its “own” entry, when does the juice made from the source (e.g., apple juice) get its “own” entry, and when do both get their own entry. (Similar dilemmas existed for oils—e.g., olives vs. olive oil—and nuts—e.g., peanuts vs. peanut butter.) Here’s how I tried to solve the problem.

Why Some Fruit and Vegetable Juices Aren’t Included

If a fruit—or a vegetable or a plant—was extremely healthy in one form but not so great in another, processed form, I included the one that had the most health benefits and left the other out. Apples are a great example. The fruit itself is a nutritional powerhouse. The commonly available processed juice sold in supermarkets is a disaster (at least from the point of view of sugar content). On the other hand, cranberries are a great fruit and are on the list, but so is real, unsweetened cranberry juice, which retains many of the nutritional benefits of the berries (other than the fiber). Therefore, both cranberries and cranberry juice are listed. Pomegranates are a terrific fruit, but hard to eat and not very popular; the juice is widely available and has all the health benefits of the fruit, so pomegranate juice made the list while pomegranates, regrettably, did not.

Then there were the exotic berries—noni, acai, and Goji. Here the results were inconsistent. Noni berries are impossible to find outside Brazil and taste terrible—but the juice is a nutritional power-house. Solution? Noni juice is on the list; the berries are not. Similarly with acai berries. Goji berries, on the other hand, are easy to find in health food stores and are loaded with nutrients. The juice is perfectly good as well, but way over-hyped (and overpriced); hence Goji berries yes, Goji juice, regrettably, no.

Beverages That Deserve Their Own Entry

The rest of the beverages presented no such “dual” personality problems. The only way to consume tea is to drink it; same with coffee. Wine, though it comes from grapes (which got their own entry), has properties of its own and in any case has a whole different personality than the fruit it comes from. It deserved its very own entry.

Finally, aloe vera juice would have made the list except for the fact that when all is said and done, it’s used more frequently as a remedy and healing aid than as a daily beverage (though using it daily is probably not the worst idea in the world).

So there you have it—the beverage “system.” It’s imperfect, and certainly inelegant, but it’s the one I came up with and seemed the best solution to a difficult problem.

Drink up and enjoy!

Acai Berry Juice

Acai berries grow on an Amazon palm tree and have been prized for hundreds of years by Brazilian natives for their ability to provide a sense of strength and energy and a high nutritional content. The juice tastes like an interesting blend of berries and chocolate.

The acai berry got the best public relations boost any food could possibly hope for when Dr. Nicholas Perricone picked it as one of his ten top antiaging superfoods and it was subsequently featured on Oprah, giving this little Brazilian native instant celebrity. Does it deserve the hype? The answer is a qualified maybe. I’d never call the acai berry one of the ten top antiaging foods on the planet. But put the acai berry into a search engine and you’ll find no shortage of ringing endorsements and glowing testimonials about its powerful health benefits. Unfortunately, most of these come from companies that are marketing acai berry juice. That doesn’t mean there isn’t great stuff in this berry—there is. But it does mean that you should take the hype with a lot more than a grain or two of salt.

Acai Berry Juice Protects Blood Vessels and the Nervous System

There are some real potential benefits with acai berries. The berry is rich in antioxidants, and also very rich in anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids that have extremely high antioxidant activity and can reduce inflammation and protect blood vessels and the nervous system, including the brain. The berry contains a rich diversity of polyphenols, plant compounds that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. And though there are no published human trials, one study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that extracts from acai berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells in a test tube. Other studies are underway at the University of Florida to investigate the effects of acai’s antioxidants on healthy human subjects.

One researcher—who spoke to me on condition of anonymity because of ties to companies marketing acai products—said that the acai berry showed a lot of promise, but that it would be a stretch to assume that it contained compounds you couldn’t get elsewhere (in other fruits and vegetables and in tea and wine, for example). That doesn’t mean it’s not a great food—just that it’s no magic bullet. Nonetheless, the acai berry is particularly high in certain anthocyanins, and researchers believe we will see a great deal of investigation into its health properties in the coming years.

WORTH KNOWING

The acai berry itself—which is difficult to find and not usually consumed outside of Brazil—is rich in a number of compounds, including healthy fats. Which of these compounds—specifically the fats—survives in the juice depends on the philosophy and methods of the manufacturer.

Coffee

If you’re surprised to find coffee on the list of the world’s healthiest foods, you’re not alone. To tell you the truth, so was I. For years I’ve taken the position that coffee is not such a terrible thing, though I’ve always suspected that I was just a little prejudiced and that my views were partly influenced by the fact that I love it so much. But when coffee showed up on a couple of my experts’ top ten lists, I started really looking at the research and quickly realized that coffee was actually pretty darn good for you.

No one was happier than me.

Now let me be clear about one thing. Coffee is one of those substances about which it is possible to read the research a number of ways. One study shows that those drinking six or more cups a day are significantly less likely to have diabetes. Another study—in the 2006 Journal of Cardiac Failure, volume 12—showed that caffeine increases exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure. Other studies have shown it increases alertness and improves mental and physical performance in the short run. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, two or three cups a day may lower the incidence of Parkinson’s and decrease gallstone formation in men. And finally, a recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that coffee may protect against alcoholic liver disease—for every cup of java (up to four a day) the study charted about a 20 percent reduction in risk of alcoholic cirrhosis.

So far, so good.

But other research shows that even one to two cups of coffee may possibly increase the risk of early miscarriage in normal pregnancy. It’s well known that too much caffeine can cause nervousness and jitters and interfere with restful sleep. Three or more cups a day can seriously increase the symptoms of PMS. And research shows that the amount of caffeine in two or three cups of coffee can raise systolic pressure 3 to 14 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and diastolic pressure 4 to 13 mm Hg in people without high blood pressure.

Studies Disagree about Caffeine’s Effect on Blood Pressure

It isn’t clear exactly how caffeine increases blood pressure. Some research has found that people who regularly drink caffeine have a higher average blood pressure than those who drink none. Other research has shown that yes, it raises blood pressure for a few minutes or even hours, but it doesn’t cause ongoing hypertensive disorders. Still other research has suggested that regular consumers of caffeine actually develop a tolerance to it—and as a result, caffeine doesn’t have a long-term effect on their blood pressure.

If that weren’t confusing enough, a twelve-year study by Harvard researchers of 155,000 women (published in the November 9, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association) found that drinking caffeinated cola may be associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, but—get this—the same causal relationship was not found with caffeinated coffee. In fact, the study suggested that women who drink caffeinated coffee may actually have a reduced risk of high blood pressure.

So for now at least, it appears there’s no good reason to forgo reasonable amounts of coffee unless, of course, you have a medical condition like hypertension, in which case coffee is probably not a good idea. With that out of the way, let’s move on to the stuff that’s less controversial—the amazing properties of coffee that I was as surprised to discover as you may be, and the reasons one of my favorite indulgences wound up on this list.

Coffee Has More Antioxidant Activity Than Cocoa or Tea

Coffee increases antioxidants in the blood, what scientists call “plasma antioxidant capacity.” In one study, researchers in Italy gave a standard amount (200 ml) of brewed coffee to ten healthy, nonsmoking, moderate coffee drinkers and found that it produced a 5.5 percent increase in plasma antioxidant capacity that was mostly maintained after two hours. Even more impressive, a study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry in 2001 found that coffee has significantly more total antioxidant activity than either cocoa, green tea, black tea, or herbal tea. Another study in the Journal of Nutrition in 2004 looked at the dietary records of 2,672 Norwegian adults and concluded—much to the surprise of the researchers themselves—that coffee was the single greatest contributor to their total antioxidant intake.

More recently, a study published in 2006 consisting of a cohort of 41,836 postmenopausal women concluded that “Consumption of coffee, a major source of dietary antioxidants, may inhibit inflammation and therefore reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory diseases in postmenopausal women.” Of course, that study was on a specific subgroup of the population—postmenopausal women—and caution would dictate that we shouldn’t necessarily extrapolate the results to the general population. Still, taken as a whole, the evidence for the antioxidant capacity of coffee is compelling at the very least.

Two of the antioxidants responsible for coffee’s health benefits are chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Both are strong antioxidants, and coffee beans are one of the richest dietary sources of chlorogenic acid in the world. It’s been estimated that coffee drinkers might ingest as much as 1 g of chlorogenic acid and 500 mg (half a gram) of caffeic acid on a daily basis. For many people, coffee supplies as much as 70 percent of the total amount of their dietary intake of these important antioxidants.

The Truth about Coffee and Blood Sugar

Coffee got a bad rap from the low-carb diet movement for a while because of very questionable information that it significantly raises blood sugar and insulin. The truth is a bit more complicated. In a recent study from Finland published in the journal Hormone and Metabolic Research, coffee actually showed an inverse relationship with fasting insulin and with blood sugar markers, meaning it had a positive effect that the researchers believed “could reduce the risk of type II diabetes.” Nonetheless, chronic coffee consumption may raise blood sugar slightly, though what that really means from a weight loss point of view is very much in doubt. Chlorogenic acid—that same antioxidant in coffee that we’ve been talking about—reduces the absorption of new glucose and actually slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream after a meal. Caffeine, however, counters this effect—so decaf would be a great choice for diabetics and others concerned about raising blood sugar. The slight increase in blood sugar from caffeinated coffee is a boon for athletes, however, who need that blood sugar to fuel their muscles. That’s one reason why a small amount of coffee before an event is considered a performance enhancer.

WORTH KNOWING

On the negative side—and this is why research is so confusing to so many—one study showed that high doses of chlorogenic acid (about twice what a coffee drinker might ingest) given on a daily basis raises blood levels of homocysteine by 12 percent. Homocysteine is a nasty inflammatory molecule that is believed to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. (Just for the record, in the same study, the equivalent of two liters a day of black tea also increased homocysteine by virtually the same amount.) But both coffee and black tea are loaded with antioxidants, and virtually every scientific reference on the subject suggests that chlorogenic acid might actually contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. At this time, it appears to me that moderate coffee consumption has more in its favor than against it.

Cranberry Juice

Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman is one of America’s best-known nutritionists and the author of more than a dozen books. (In fact, she’s fondly known in America as “the first lady of nutrition.”) Anyone who’s read her knows that she’s a huge fan of unsweetened cranberry juice. Her famous “Fat Flush” plan relies on copious amounts of “cran-water,” which is a mix of the unsweetened juice diluted with fresh water in a 1:8 ratio.

“Fat Flushers” drink this stuff all day long. According to Gittleman, whose top ten list of favorite foods appears on page 72 and includes, of course, unsweetened cranberry juice, cranberry juice is a rich source of phytonutrients such as anthocyanins, catechins, lutein, and quercetin. These powerful phytonutrients act as antioxidants and provide nutritional support for the detoxification pathways in the body. She’s certainly right about the rich phytonutrient content of both cranberries and cranberry juice. In one study, biochemist Yuegang Zuo, Ph.D., from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, showed cranberry juice cocktail had the highest total phenol content of the twenty fruit juices tested. Phenolic compounds are natural antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body that are thought to be linked to most chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The researchers state that “cranberry has the highest radical-scavenging capacity among these different fruits studied.” In a second study, Catherine Neto, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, isolated several bioactive compounds from whole cranberries and found that the flavonoids showed strong antioxidant activity, and newly discovered compounds in the berries were toxic to a variety of cancer tumor cells. “The tumor cell lines that these compounds inhibited most in our assays included lung, cervical, prostate, breast, and leukemia,” according to Neto.

Cranberry Juice Prevents UTI Bacteria from Adhering to Bladder Cells

For ages, folk wisdom has held that cranberry juice helps relieve urinary tract infections (UTIs), and there is a great deal of research to support this. Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins that may be responsible for the fruit’s and the fruit juice’s positive effects on urinary tract infections. According to a study by Amy Howell, Ph.D., research scientist at the Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research at Rutgers University, and Jess Reed, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an 8-ounce serving of cranberry juice cocktail—but not the equivalent single servings of grape juice, apple juice, green tea, or chocolate—prevented E. coli (the bacteria responsible for the majority of UTIs) from adhering to bladder cells in the urine of six volunteers. (UTIs occur when bacteria in the urine bind to cells of the urinary tract wall.) In addition, the researchers analyzed the chemical composition of the proanthocyanidins in these foods, and according to Howell, “The cranberry’s proanthocyanidins are structurally different than the proanthocyanidins found in the other plant foods tested, which may explain why cranberry has unique bacterial antiadhesion activity and helps to maintain urinary tract health.”

WORTH KNOWING

While the health benefits of cranberries are mostly available in the juice, it’s important not to confuse real cranberry juice with the highly sweetened cranberry “cocktails” that are so popular. While anything made with cranberries—even the cocktails—has some benefits, many of the cocktails have less than 20 percent (if that) cranberry juice, and many also contain a lot of sugar. There may be some helpful compounds in there, but their nutritional wallop pales when compared to the real deal: pure, unsweetened cranberry juice that is 100 percent juice and nothing more. Several companies market it: Knudsen’s “Just Cranberries” is one great one, but there are others—for example, Trader Joe’s and Mountain Sun. But be aware of two things. One, real unsweetened cranberry juice is bitter as heck. Two, it’s expensive. However both “problems” are solved by using it in a diluted mix with fresh clean water. A little goes a very long way—a quart of the expensive “real” stuff can easily be stretched to four quarts of a nice diluted, healthful mix. And if you really can’t stand the tartness, sweeten it with Xylitol.

Fresh Vegetable (and Fruit) Juice

Consider how many times you’ve felt frustrated by conflicting advice about food, health, weight loss, supplements, and exercise. One day margarine is “good,” the next day it’s terrible. One day eggs are “bad,” the next day they’re “good” (actually, they’ve always been good, but that’s another story). Medical and nutritional information seems to change as often as the celebrities on the cover of People magazine. So if there was one thing that virtually every expert actually agreed on, and continued to agree on year in and year out, decade in and decade out, that would be a very big deal, right? And worth listening to, correct?

Well, there is. One thing everyone agrees on, that is. And it’s this: Eat more vegetables. And while you’re at it, eat some fruit. Sorry, but this is the biggest no-brainer in the history of nutrition, for all the dozens of reasons that have been discussed in the vegetable and fruit sections of this book. Let’s review: Vegetables and fruits provide fiber. Antioxidants. Phytochemicals. They help control weight, diabetes, blood sugar. They help fight or prevent cancer. They contain multiple compounds that act as anti-inflammatories. They’re associated with significantly lower rates of cardiovascular disease and stroke. They lower blood pressure. They contain compounds like carotenoids that support the eyes and protect against macular degeneration. And other compounds in vegetables and fruits may help prevent brain aging, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

There is compelling evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. The largest and longest study to date, done as part of the Harvard-based Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, included almost 110,000 men and women whose health and dietary habits were followed for fourteen years. The higher the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Compared with those in the lowest category of fruit and vegetable intake (less than 1.5 servings a day), those who averaged eight or more servings a day were 30 percent less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake by as little as one serving per day can have a real impact on heart disease risk. In the two Harvard studies, for every extra serving of fruits and vegetables that participants added to their diets, their risk of heart disease dropped by 4 percent.

Juicing Adds Healthy Enzymes to the Mix

Are you sold yet? I hope so. So now let’s talk about a fabulous way to get most of the benefits of fruits and vegetables, plus the benefits of live enzymes contained in raw food. A terrific way to get a superpotency multiple vitamin and mineral “supplement” every single day without taking a single pill. A superb solution to the “I don’t have time to cook” problem or the “I hate vegetables” complaint.

It’s called: Juicing.

Look, let me be honest. I start every single day—and I mean every day, 365 days a year—with freshly made juice. I honestly believe it’s one of the best, most life-enriching health habits I’ve ever developed. (Thank you to my friend David Scharps for turning me on to this!) And my decision to include freshly made juices on this list was largely influenced by how strongly I believe in the health benefits of juicing and how much I’d like to see as many people as possible adapt the same habit I’ve learned to love.

And it doesn’t take much work to learn to love it. Juices are absolutely delicious. The best thing about them is that you can “disguise” almost anything in a juice and still make it taste great. For example, I know a lot of people who just don’t like broccoli, but give me a juicer and a few ingredients, and I can mix broccoli’s cancer-fighting indoles into a sweet apple-flavored drink faster than you can say, “What’s in this thing, anyway?” Listen, if I can fool the teenager in our house into drinking it without grimacing, I can fool anyone.

Hundreds of Healthy Nutrients in a Quick and Easy “Package”

So here’s the deal: There’s a slight trade-off when you juice. You lose most of the fiber. That’s important—fiber is associated with weight control and reduced diabetes, and may play a protective role in some cancers. You want fiber. But what you gain when you juice is the ability to absorb hundreds of nutrients, phytochemicals, phenols, antioxidants, and enzymes in a quick and easy “package” that goes down easy and literally fortifies your body with as big a nutritional wallop as any food I can think of or that I’ve written about in this book.

So, you might be asking, what about sugar? I’ve warned about the high-sugar fruit juices that I consider to be a scourge on society so many times in the past—how can I be recommending juices made of fruit? Well, it’s like this: Commercial fruit juices are largely flavored sugar water. Homemade, freshly squeezed juices are vitamin powerhouses. Yes, they contain some natural sugar, but you can also modify that by intelligent mixing of low-sugar vegetables (which should constitute the bulk of the ingredients) and some carefully chosen fruits for flavor and additional nutrients. And for all but the most sugar sensitive—or diabetics—the results should be fine.

Add Fish Oil to Your Fruit Juice

And just in case you’re still worried, I have another tip for you, one that not only makes the nutrition in fresh juice more complete and makes the nutrients more absorbable, but also lowers the “glycemic load”—the impact the juice has on your blood sugar. Here’s the tip: I add 2 tablespoons of omega-3–rich fish oil to my freshly made juice. The fat makes the carotenoids in the vegetables and fruits more bioavailable—or usable—to the body. And fat lowers the glycemic load. Plus I get the benefit of the incredibly valuable anti-inflammatory omega-3s from the fish oil. Alternately (or sometimes in addition), I’ll use a whole egg. The fat in the egg accomplishes the same thing, plus I get some protein to boot.

Either fish oil or an egg is tasteless in a well-made juice. Even my darling partner Anja, ever on the lookout for weird ingredients in the concoctions I make for her, doesn’t notice them when I sneak them in—and the resultant drink is even more nutritionally complete.

One year, I gave my three best friends juicers for Christmas. They all asked me how to use them. I told them what I’m about to tell you: Use them any way you want! Have fun! Throw absolutely anything from the produce section into them in any combination! Hint: Use apples and/or carrots as a foundation, and you can’t go wrong.

Fruit Combinations That Work

Here are a few of my favorite combinations, but remember that any combination works well, and you’ll discover all sorts of terrific ways of putting these babies together. There’s no right or wrong way—they all work, and while some might be more delicious than others, every single one of them is nutritional dynamite.

Any of the following are terrific ingredients for a juice. Experiment and have fun!

Bell peppers (red, yellow, green, orange)

Parsley

Kale

Broccoli

Spinach

Celery

Carrots

Cabbage

Beets and beet greens

Pineapple

Cantaloupe and honeydew

Watermelon

Tomatoes

Apples

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries

Pears

Peaches

Oranges

Lemons

Limes

Rhubarb

Ginger

JONNY’S FAVORITES (all make between two and four servings, depending on how thirsty you are):

• Green Giant: 6 stalks celery / 1 pear / ginger

• Green Giant Deluxe: 2 cups spinach / 4 stalks celery / 2 stalks broccoli / 2 apples / ginger

• Spinach Sweetness: 2 cups spinach / 1 apple / 2 to 3 carrots / ginger (variation: add 1 beet with greens)

• Mixed Sensations: ½ large red bell pepper / 2 to 3 stalks broccoli / 3 stalks celery / 1 apple / 1 pear/ ginger

• Roots of Health: 3 parsnips / 2 stalks broccoli / 3 stalks celery/ 2 large carrots / 1 pear / 1 apple / ginger

• Red Juice Deluxe: 2 sticks rhubarb / ½ red bell pepper / 1 pear / 1 apple / 3 carrots / ginger

• Red Delight: 1 large beet with greens / ½ large red bell pepper/ 1 apple / 2 to 3 carrots / ginger

WORTH KNOWING

If your juicer can handle it—most can—throw the whole, unpeeled fruit in. There are hundreds of valuable phytochemicals in the peels of foods like lemons, limes, oranges, and kiwifruits, and there is no reason at all to throw them away. You won’t even notice them in the juice, and you’ll be getting all the benefits.

There are numerous terrific books on juicing, complete with recipes. One I like is The Complete Book of Juicing by Dr. Michael Murray, with a foreword by Jay Kordich, aka “The Juiceman.”

Noni Juice

Okay, let me be perfectly honest. I hate multilevel marketing, and I hate “magical” products that claim to cure everything from acne to cancer. The trifecta of my pet peeves is when the two combine, i.e., a multilevel marketing company selling a “magical” product that claims to cure everything. Even when the product isn’t bad—which happens more than occasionally—the multilevel marketers send their sales-people out with such hype and hoopla, quoting “scientific” studies and making claims that are so outrageous and unfounded, that I get turned off before I even try the product.

So I was already set to dislike noni juice. And acai berries, and Goji berries, and all the other berries that have been promoted in the last few years, some of them honestly and carefully, some of them outrageously.

But truth be told, marketing gimmicks and practices aside, many of these berries are amazing foods. Especially noni berries.

I ignore the “science” that the companies write about in their brochures because many of the “studies” that they boast about are questionable, biased, unpublished, or, worst-case scenario, made up. I go right to the National Institute of Medicine library, and look for what I can find on my own. And what I found about noni juice was pretty darn impressive.

Noni Juice Traditionally Used as Medicine

The official scientific name of the noni berry is the Morinda citrifolia fruit. Morinda is actually a genus of about eighty species, mostly of tropical origin. It’s known by all kinds of names: hai ba ji in Chinese, Indian mulberry, noni (in Puerto Rico and Hawaii), nonu (in Samoa), nono (in Tahiti), even—probably because of its potential as an anti-inflammatory—the painkiller tree (in the Caribbean). It’s been used for centuries as a food source and has a long tradition of being used for medicinal purposes. And while the fruit itself is pretty vile tasting, the juice products made from it are quite palatable.

You’ve heard me mention sulforaphane several times in this book—it’s a phytochemical that has significant anticancer properties, largely because it increases the production of certain enzymes known as phase-2 enzymes, which can “disarm” damaging free radicals and help fight cancer-causing carcinogens. But a recently published study from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that a compound in noni fruit was forty times more potent than sulforaphane. If that turns out to be true, that would mean that authentic noni (and noni juice) could have an astonishing amount of cancer-fighting potential. At least two studies have been published demonstrating that an extract from the Morinda citrifolia fruit (noni) has been found to have an antiproliferative effect on tumor cells. One report in the Annals of the New York Academy of Science, titled “Cancer-preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia (noni),” compared the antioxidant activity of noni juice to vitamin C, grape seed powder, and pycnogenol, all very powerful antioxidants. The researchers presented preliminary data showing that Tahitian noni juice mixed in drinking water for one week was able to prevent carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and suggested that the antioxidant activity of noni juice may contribute to its cancer-preventive effect.

Does Noni Juice Prevent Wrinkles?

One study found that constituents of the fruit inhibited the oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. (Remember that cholesterol only becomes a problem in the human body when it is oxidized.) Another study, in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that a compound in the noni fruit stimulated the synthesis of collagen. The authors stated that this compound—an anthraquinone—was a good candidate as a new antiwrinkle agent. And anti-inflammatory compounds have been isolated from the root of another member of the genus, the Morinda officinalis. If all that weren’t enough, researchers at the Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology studying Morinda officinalis on a well-known animal model of depression (the forced swimming test) concluded that an extract of the plant possessed antidepressant effects.

As with many fruits, juices, and foods that have been used medicinally for centuries in a variety of cultures, the rigorous scientific study of noni is still emerging, and it’s likely that the health claims may outpace the evidence for a while. Nonetheless, there’s enough solid science—not to mention a long history of folk tradition—to support the inclusion of noni juice on this list. Remember, the taste is off-putting—the best companies making this stuff make a pure juice that has to be diluted with water or taken in 1-ounce servings.

Pomegranate Juice

If nutrition were the movies, pomegranate juice would be what’s considered by the tabloids to be a “rising star.” Practically unknown in the United States a few years ago, the juice of this fruit has been the subject of more research than you can shake a stick at, and the results have been significant enough to make even mainstream medicine sit up and take notice.

First things first. The pomegranate didn’t get its own entry in this book not because it doesn’t deserve it, but because it’s kind of hard and time-consuming to eat. Though the fruit is eaten raw and is a common ingredient in Italian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Spanish cooking, extracting the edible parts takes more time than most people are willing to put in. (Only the seeds and the juicy translucent scarlet red pulp surrounding them are the edible part.) The juice, however, is readily obtainable, and most of the recent research has been done on the juice.

Pomegranate Juice May Slow Aging and Fight Heart Disease and Cancer

And what a résumé of research it is! Researchers at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa suggest that long-term consumption of juice derived from pomegranates may help slow aging and protect against heart disease and cancer. “Pomegranate juice contains the highest antioxidant capacity compared to other juices, red wine, and green tea,” said Professor Michael Aviram, who led the team. The Israeli research indicates that pomegranates contain flavonoids that are more concentrated than those found in grapes. Research at the University of California confirmed that the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate juice is two to three times that of red wine or green tea. In India, a preliminary study screening for antimicrobial activities of pomegranate seeds shows them to have potent antimicrobial activities against laboratory test organisms.

And that’s just the beginning.

Recently, a study was presented in San Antonio at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting in which forty-eight men who had been treated for prostate cancer through surgery or radiation drank 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily. Drinking the juice significantly lengthened the amount of time it took for the men’s average PSA to double (PSA is a marker for prostate cancer). The juice didn’t stop the progression of the disease, but it definitely lengthened the time it took to develop, indicating that there may be chemicals in the juice that have some cancer-fighting benefits. These chemicals are believed to be the polyphenolic flavonoids found in the Israeli—and other—research.

Pomegranate Juice May Promote Cardiovascular Health

In another study, published in the American Journal of the College of Cardiologists, forty-five patients with ischemic heart disease drank 8 ounces of pomegranate juice (or placebo) for three months. Compared to the placebo drinkers, the patients who consumed pomegranate juice had significantly less oxygen deficiency to the heart during exercise, suggesting increased blood flow to the heart. Pomegranate juice has also shown a greater ability to inhibit the oxidation of LDL (“bad” cholesterol) than other beverages. (LDL is only a real problem in the body when it’s oxidized, so anything that prevents oxidation has a positive effect on cardiovascular health.) And at least five other studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect of pomegranate juice on cardiovascular health, including a study that showed 30 percent reduced arterial plaque. According to the Mayo Clinic Web site, preliminary evidence indicates it may lower cholesterol.

Interestingly, the pomegranate has always been associated with love and erotica. The ancients connected the fruit with procreation and abundance. In Turkey, the bride throws the fruit to the ground, and it’s believed that the number of seeds that pop out will predict how many kids she’s going to have. Legend has it that the goddess Aphrodite, deity of love, planted the pomegranate on the isle of Cyprus. Fast-forward a couple thousand years for the kicker: Research published recently in the Journal of Urology examined the long-term intake of pomegranate juice on erectile dysfunction (in an animal model). The results suggest for the first time that free radicals (oxidative stress) are a contributing factor in erectile dysfunction and that due to its powerful antioxidant capabilities, pomegranate juice just may be a “natural Viagra.”

Red Wine

Plato may have been on to something when he said, “Nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the gods to man.” Red wine has gotten a ton of press for its health-promoting abilities and has even been credited for something called the “French Paradox.” The truth—as always—is a bit more complicated.

The French Paradox is the term used to describe the well-known fact that the French have less heart disease than Americans, despite the fact that they eat far more high-fat foods (like cheese).

If you buy into the fact that fat alone is responsible for heart disease (I do not), this indeed looks like a paradox, but as most nutritionists are now aware, the “fat causes heart disease” paradigm is woefully out of date. Nonetheless, for years it was believed that the reason the French could “get away” with such supposedly unhealthy fare is that they consumed liberal amounts of heart-healthy red wine, which contains numerous compounds that protect the heart and support health. This isn’t the place to go into the fallacies of the French Paradox (there are many). But it is the place to go into the heart-healthy, life-extending compounds that are in red wine. And the best place to start is with the superstar compound that many consider the number-one antiaging supplement in the world—resveratrol.

Resveratrol in Red Wine Is a Powerful Antioxidant That Also Prevents Heart Disease

Resveratrol is one of the most potent of the polyphenols and is found in red wine and the seeds and skins of grapes (see page 116). (It’s also found in peanuts, blueberries, and cranberries.) Red wine has a high concentration of this powerful antioxidant because the skins and seeds ferment in the grapes’ juices during the red wine–making process. This prolonged contact during fermentation produces significant levels of resveratrol in the finished red wine. (White wine also contains resveratrol, but the seeds and skins are removed early in the white wine–making process, reducing the amount of resveratrol in the final product.) Antioxidants like resveratrol are beneficial in preventing harmful elements in the body from attacking healthy cells. The antioxidant properties of resveratrol also offer certain health benefits in the prevention of heart disease and the reduction of lung tissue inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And a recent animal study in volume 54, 2006, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggested that resveratrol can improve blood flow in the brain by 30 percent, thereby reducing the risk of stroke.

Resveratrol also has anticancer activity. Writing in the journal Anticancer Research in 2004, researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reviewed dozens of studies on resveratrol and concluded that it exhibited anticancer properties against a wide range of tumor cells, including lymphoid and myeloid cancers, multiple myeloma, cancers of the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreas, and thyroid, melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and cervical carcinoma. The researchers concluded that “resveratrol appears to exhibit therapeutic effects against cancer.”

Drink Red Wine for a Longer Life

Resveratrol may be one of the best antiaging substances around. Research by David Sinclair, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology at Harvard University Medical School, shows that the life span of all life forms tested so far—yeast cells, fruit flies, worms, and mice—have been dramatically lengthened by minute amounts of resveratrol. That’s one of the reasons resveratrol is touted (by me among others) as one of the best antiaging supplements you can take. Red wine is an excellent way to get resveratrol into your diet.

Besides resveratrol, there are other health-promoting polyphenols in red wine, and many of these are heart protective. Studies investigating the benefits of red wine suggest that a moderate amount of red wine (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by 30 to 50 percent. It is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you have already suffered one. Other studies have indicated that red wine can raise HDL (“good” cholesterol). Red wine may help prevent blood clots and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits. Indeed, studies showed that people from the Mediterranean region who regularly drink red wine have lower risks of heart disease.

Recently, the British Medical Journal published a famous paper on the “Polymeal” in which researchers proposed a perfect meal that, if eaten daily, would substantially reduce the risk for heart disease as much as or more than many medications. Wine was a part of it. In fact, the authors calculated that based on the available research, 150 ml of wine a day would likely result in a 23 to 41 percent reduction in risk for coronary heart disease.

Red Wine and the Risk of Breast Cancer

Okay, before you go out and start guzzling, here’s where it gets tricky, especially if you’re a woman. The relationship of alcohol consumption to breast cancer risk is murky but troubling. Some studies have found an increased risk of breast cancer for women who drink, even moderately. At least ten studies have looked at the relationship of alcohol and breast cancer and the majority of these have shown a link between the two.

In general, alcohol does appear to increase the risk of breast cancer in women. The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment’s Non-Technical Summary concludes, “The new research estimates that a woman drinking an average of two units (drinks) of alcohol per day has a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer 8 percent higher than a woman who drinks an average of one unit of alcohol per day. The risk of breast cancer further increases with each additional drink consumed per day.” Both the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Walt Willett of Harvard put the increased risk for breast cancer at about 20 to 25 percent for women drinking two drinks a day. This doesn’t mean that 20 to 25 percent of women who have two drinks a day will get breast cancer—it means that drinking would increase the risk from about 12 out of 100 women getting breast cancer (the national average) to 14 to 15 per 100. This is a small increase, but no comfort if you’re one of those extra two or three people.

How Folic Acid Can Help Reduce Cancer Risk

But there’s good news, and it probably explains why there have been some inconsistent results in the breast-cancer-alcohol studies. If you get enough folic acid, the problem with alcohol and breast cancer goes away. According to the Mayo Clinic, folate (folic acid) counteracts the breast cancer risk associated with alcohol consumption. Women who drink alcohol and have a high folate intake are not at increased risk of cancer. Since folic acid has multiple protective benefits for everyone, taking folic acid supplements (or even a multiple vitamin with folic acid) is a great idea—most especially if you’re a woman and you drink alcohol. You can get the benefits of red wine and the multiple protective effects of a high folic acid intake.

If you’re able to handle it, and if you’re consuming it in moderation, red wine can be part of a wonderful healthy lifestyle. The trick is to know when enough is enough.

Or when even a little is too much.

So red wine is antioxidant rich, loaded with healthy polyphenols, and a major dietary source of the anticancer, antiaging compound resveratrol. On the other hand, wine—and alcohol in general—is one of those substances where God truly is in the details, and the dosage makes the poison. Moderate intake of red wine: good. Too much alcohol, especially for those with addictive personalities: unmitigated disaster. Alcohol can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure, and lead to weight gain. And it’s not possible to predict in which people alcohol will lead to alcoholism.

WORTH KNOWING

Under no circumstances should pregnant women drink any alcohol. Period. It can harm the baby seriously.

And if you’re unsure about your relationship to alcohol, stay away. Just about every antioxidant that’s in wine can be gotten from fruits and vegetables, and even resveratrol is plentiful in dark grapes and boiled peanuts.

Tea

(green, black, and white)

After water, tea is probably the most consumed beverage in the world. Not counting water, it’s also probably the healthiest.

The key to the health benefits of tea can be found in a large group of protective plant-based chemicals generally known as phenolic compounds, or polyphenols.

First, some clarifications. All four kinds of nonherbal tea—green, black, white, and oolong (red)—come from the same plant, a warm-weather evergreen known as Camellia sinensis. The leaves of this plant contain many chemicals from a general class of compounds called polyphenols.

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, many of which have anticancer activity (about which more in a moment). There are more than 4,000 of these compounds, and they fall into many classes and subclasses, including flavonoids, anthrocyanins, and isoflavones. Polyphenols, like other antioxidants, help protect cells from the normal, but damaging, physiological process known as “oxidative stress.” Although oxygen is vital to life, it’s also incorporated into reactive substances called free radicals. These can damage the cells in our body, and they have been implicated in the slow chain reaction of damage leading to heart disease and cancer. Many studies have demonstrated the anticancer properties of polyphenols. They can stop the damage that free radicals do to cells, neutralize enzymes essential for tumor growth, and deactivate cancer promoters.

Tea Color Related to Extent of Processing

What determines whether a tea is green, black, white, or oolong depends entirely on the degree of processing that the leaves of the Camellia sinensis undergo after they’ve been harvested. Here’s the short summary: Black tea is fully fermented; oolong tea is partially fermented; green tea is not fermented at all, but pan-fried and dried; and white tea is barely processed.

White tea is the only one of the four made from immature tea leaves, leaves that are picked right before the buds have fully opened. Silver fuzz still covers the buds, and the silver fuzz turns to white when the tea is dried (hence its name). Depending on the variety of white tea, the exact ratio of buds to leaves can vary—for example, White Peony contains one bud for every two leaves; Silver Needles—which can be expensive—is made entirely from buds picked within a short period in early spring. White tea is the least processed of the bunch, and actually highest in polyphenols.

Green, oolong, and black tea all start with mature leaves that are then “withered” or air-dried. After that, the process differs slightly. To make green tea, the withered leaves are then steamed or pan-fried, and then dried again. To make oolong (red) tea, the withered leaves are first bruised, then partially fermented, then pan-fried and dried. And to make black tea, the withered leaves are first rolled, then fully fermented, and then pan-fried and dried. Black tea represents 78 percent of the total consumed tea in the world, whereas green tea accounts for approximately 20 percent.

Both Green and Black Tea Fight Cancer

The processing does change the chemical composition of the teas, but we now know that simply because the darker teas are more processed, that doesn’t mean they’re without health benefits of their own. Green tea (and presumably the even less processed white tea) contains a very powerful group of polyphenols called catechins. One of these catechins in particular—epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—is believed to be responsible for the anticancer effects of green tea (about which more in a moment). The thing is, the fermentation process that creates black tea oxidizes—or deactivates—this particular catechin. So for a long time, urban legend held that only green tea (and presumably white) possessed anticancer activity, since EGCG wasn’t present in black (or oolong) tea due to the fermentation process.

Not so.

We now know that the very fermentation process that deactivates the catechin in green tea creates a whole other set of powerful antioxidants that are present in black tea. Black tea actually contains more complex polyphenols than green tea. The fermentation process needed for the production of black tea produces some unique antioxidants called biflavonols, thearubigens, and especially theaflavins.

In a number of studies, the theaflavins in black tea have been found to have just as much antioxidant activity—if not more—than the compounds in green tea. A research report published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2001 showed that the theaflavins in black tea and the catechins in green tea are equally effective as antioxidants, and a study by the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment found a connection between drinking black tea regularly and reducing the risk of stroke. Researchers looked at data from a study examining the health benefits of foods that are high in flavonoids and phytonutrients with antioxidant benefits. Although some of the flavonoids were obtained from fruits and vegetables, 70 percent came from black tea. The study looked at 552 men over a fifteen-year period. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids in black tea helped reduce the production of LDL—the “bad” cholesterol that can lead to stroke and heart attacks. Furthermore, men who drank more than four cups of black tea per day had a significantly lower risk of stroke than men who drank only two to three cups per day.

Black Tea Helps Blood Vessels Function, Prevents Stroke and Heart Attack

At Boston University’s School of Medicine, Dr. Joseph Vita conducted a separate study that supported these results. For four months, sixty-six men either drank four cups of black tea or took a placebo daily. Vita concluded that drinking black tea can help reverse an abnormal functioning of blood vessels that can contribute to stroke or heart attack. Furthermore, improvement in the functioning of the blood vessels was visible within two hours of drinking just one cup of black tea.

Finally, a study recently published in Cancer found that among 109 Polish women, high black tea consumption was associated with diminished salivary levels of 17 beta-estradiol, the most potent mammalian estrogenic hormone and one that can be carcinogenic in hormone-related cancers. (Lower levels of the hormone were also reported when women consumed high amounts of the catechins found in green tea as well.) In writing about the study, the medical/nutritional newsletter Clinical Pearls said the study “suggested that tea consumption may provide a relatively easy dietary intervention for reducing hormone-related cancer risk.”

Black Tea Can Lower Cholesterol

Black tea lowers triglycerides—in fact, it’s actually superior to green tea in doing so—and high triglycerides are strongly associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. It’s also slightly better than green tea at inducing the body’s powerful antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD). It lowers cholesterol—according to a USDA study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2003, black tea consumption reduced both total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in adults with mildly elevated cholesterol. And it appears to help the heart—in a small study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in 2004, men who drank black tea experienced improved blood flow in the coronary arteries only a few hours after drinking the tea.

I’ve spent this much time on black tea only because it’s so often overlooked, living in the shadow of its “big brother,” green tea. But wonderful health benefits of black tea aside, green tea fully deserves its primary place in the sun. It is truly one of the world’s great superfoods and has been acknowledged as such by virtually every nutritionist I know of worth his or her salt. It has anticancer activity. It’s helpful in weight loss. It lowers cholesterol. It’s associated with significantly lower levels of heart disease. And it has components in it that are helpful with depression and anxiety.

The National Cancer Institute Puts Its Faith in Green Tea

For cancer prevention, evidence for green tea is so overwhelming that the Chemoprevention Branch of the National Cancer Institute has initiated a plan for developing tea compounds as cancer-chemopreventive agents in human trials. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly 60 percent. And in 2004, a team from Harvard Medical School reported that EGCG (the catechin in green tea mentioned earlier) inhibits the growth and reproduction of cancer cells associated with Barrett’s esophagus. They said that green tea may help lower the prevalence of esophageal adenocarcinoma, one of the fastest-growing cancers in Western countries. University of Purdue researchers also recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Of the hundreds and hundreds of green tea experiments that have been conducted, about 10 percent have directly involved humans, and many more have involved observations of populations that drink large amounts of green tea. It’s now fairly established that green tea may help prevent the following types of cancers in humans: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectum, and stomach.

The studies showing the anticancer and antioxidant effects of catechins in green tea are numerous. Just for example, one particularly exciting study done at the Cancer Chemotherapy Center in Tokyo, Japan, and using leukemia and colon cancer cell cultures, demonstrated that “epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) strongly and directly inhibits telomerase.” Telomerase is the enzyme that “immortalizes” cancer cells by maintaining the end portions of the tumor cell chromosomes. Inhibition of telomerase could be one of the main anticarcinogenic mechanisms of catechins.

The More Green Tea You Drink, the Less Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

The cholesterol-lowering effects of green tea have been confirmed by both animal and human epidemiological studies. Green tea also lowers fibrinogen, which is a substance in the body that can cause clots and strokes. In a recent article in the Circulation Journal (July 2004) titled “Effects of green tea intake on the development of coronary artery disease,” researchers from the department of medicine at Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Chiba, Japan, concluded that “the more green tea patients consume, the less likely they are to have coronary artery disease.”

Green tea may be helpful for anyone who wants to lose weight. In one study, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, men who were given green tea burned more calories than men who were given a similar drink without the green tea, even after allowing for the possible effect of caffeine. My friend Dr. Shari Lieberman (see page 274 for her top ten list) says that green tea stimulates the metabolism way more than caffeine alone. While studies of weight loss using green tea supplements have shown mixed results, in several animal studies, green tea demonstrated the ability to lower blood sugar.

Green Tea Releases Feel-Good Dopamine

A substance in green tea called theanine is helpful in improving mood and increasing a sense of relaxation. In fact, it’s used in Japan for just that purpose. Theanine induces the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA, which tends to calm down the brain. Theanine also triggers the release of dopamine, one of the main brain chemicals associated with well-being. Dopamine is the brain’s master regulator of reward and pleasure, and the release of dopamine probably contributes to the sense of well-being associated with tea drinking. The calming effect of theanine may be the reason that drinking green tea—even with caffeine—doesn’t tend to produce nearly as “jittery” an experience as drinking coffee.

Finally, numerous studies have cited the connection between inflammation, oxidation, and Alzheimer’s disease. Antioxidants have a potent role in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. One study, “A review of antioxidants and Alzheimer’s disease,” published in the Annals of Clinical Psychiatry in 2005, reviewed all the research published to date in order to draw conclusions about the usefulness (or lack thereof) of specific antioxidants in the prevention of Alzheimer’s. The researchers scanned more than 300 articles and concluded that there were eight agents that showed promise in helping prevent Alzheimer’s. Green tea was one of the eight (the other seven were aged garlic, curcumin, melatonin, resveratrol, Gingko biloba, vitamin C, and vitamin E). And a paper published recently in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (September 2004) examined the neuroprotective mechanisms of green tea polyphenols—especially EGCG—on both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Everyone Benefits from Tea

I’ve spent this much time on tea because it is one of the few foods (or drinks) about which I can say that virtually everyone would benefit from drinking it. It offers powerful antioxidant protection, reduces blood sugar, is anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol, protects against heart disease and cancer, and has the ability to stimulate the metabolism.

For an innocuous and common little beverage that costs next to nothing, that’s a pretty powerful résumé.

Water

Okay, consider the following: You’re walking in the woods and you come upon a pond. The pond hasn’t seen life in ages. There’s a brown scummy film floating on it, the water is brown and dirty, it looks stagnant, and there are flies and mosquitos buzzing around it. Now imagine you’re on that same walk in the woods and you come upon a mountain glacier. The water is flowing freely down the rocks, with the light of the sun sparkling through, the water looks clean and clear and crisp, and you stand for a moment to admire it as it gushes down the mountain.

Which water would you rather have in your body? Well if you’re not drinking enough clean, pure water, the water in your body is more analogous to the pond than the glacier.

Water Runs Your Body

Think about it: Your body is 83 percent water. Your muscles are 75 percent water. Your brain, for goodness’ sake, is 74 percent water, and your bones are 22 percent water. You need water for every single metabolic process in the body. Water is necessary to digest and absorb nutrients and vitamins. It carries away metabolic waste. It helps “flush” fat and toxins through the liver and kidneys.

So doesn’t it make sense to constantly replenish that body of yours with the equivalent of the gorgeous clean mountain stream, rather than to let all that water just sit in your body and recycle like the stagnant pond?

Of course it does.

Water can improve energy, increase mental and physical performance, remove toxins and waste from your body, keep your skin healthy and glowing, and may even help you lose weight. If you’re dehydrated—and some experts think that most of us are at the very least “under hydrated”—your blood is thicker and your body has to work that much harder to cause it to circulate. As a result, your brain becomes less active, it’s harder to concentrate, and you feel fatigued.

Water is one of the fluids that lubricates and cushions your joints and muscles, protecting them from shock and damage. If the body is dehydrated (lack of water), it may become more susceptible to ailments. Also, before, during, and after exercise, drinking proper amounts of water can help reduce cramping of the muscles and early onset of fatigue.

Staying Well Hydrated Protects Your Heart

You can live without food for a long time, but try going without water for eight to ten days—you won’t make it, and most people would be dead long before that.

And there are health benefits to water beyond the fact that it keeps us alive. Dehydration can elevate at least four independent risk factors for coronary heart disease: whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, and fibrinogen. In one landmark study in the May 1, 2002, American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers from the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University examined more than 20,000 relatively healthy people over six years. High daily intakes of water (five or more glasses) were associated with significantly lower risk for fatal coronary heart disease events, even after adjusting for smoking, hypertension, and body mass index. That’s a pretty powerful study.

The Eight-Glass-a-Day Rule

In the interest of completeness, I should point out that there are naysayers who argue that the whole dehydration issue has been overhyped. Kidney specialists feel that the “eight glasses” rule is an overestimate and that an average-size adult with healthy kidneys in a temperate climate needs no more than one liter of fluid. And it is true that no one really knows where the “eight glasses a day” rule came from, and that there isn’t a lot of science to back up what we nutritionists are saying when we encourage people to drink, drink, drink. These experts also argue that we can get the fluids we need from other sources besides water.

I say, “phooey.” You wouldn’t wash your clothes in soda, would you? And though there may not be scientific confirmation on exactly how many glasses a day we need, based on the trillions of cells in the body that need water to function, I’m going to continue to go with the assumption that when it comes to water, more is better. Sure, even with something as good and wholesome as water you can go overboard if you drink massive amounts resulting in possible hyponatremia (extreme loss or dilution of sodium) or even water intoxication. But these are pretty darn rare. Most of us would benefit from more water, not less.

What about Bottled Water?

Here’s the deal. I drink bottled water. I do not, ever, drink tap. This is something I frequently argue with my brother about, and the argument we have is instructive, so I’ll repeat it here.

My brother—like many very intelligent, well-informed people—argues that the tap water in many parts of America is among the “safest” in the world and has been deemed perfectly acceptable for drinking purposes. He gently suggests that folks like me who spend all this money on bottled water might be being, well, a bit silly.

Here’s my answer.

Politics Can Get in the Way of Safe Water Standards

There are hundreds of chemicals, pollutants, and toxic metals (mercury, arsenic, etc.) that have the potential to wind up in our water; the government determines what an appropriate or acceptable, “safe” level of these compounds is. If the water has that amount (or less), it is deemed safe for drinking. However, what you have to understand is that there are full-time lobbyists in Washington whose job it is to try to make the “safe” levels of toxins as high as they can reasonably get away with. They fight for much more liberal emissions rules and lobby for much more lenient standards when it comes to environmental pollutants. They spin the research and the science, show that there is no “proof” that small amounts of certain chemicals cause cancer, and generally try to get regulations made that are as favorable for business and industry as they can. That’s their job. Knowing that, I’m not at all sure that I trust the government to decide exactly what level of carcinogenic toxins is “safe” for me to be exposed to, especially when I’m fully aware that their decisions and policies are the result of a marriage of some science and a lot of politics.

Just recently, a fifteen-year-old West Virginia high school student named Ashley Mulroy set out to conduct some tests for antibiotics in the water supply as a school project; she wound up winning the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize for her essay detailing the extent of antibiotic contamination of our American waterways. You think it ends with antibiotics? I don’t.

I’m also not confident that all the government “standards” are particularly up to date, largely because I see how behind the times large agencies and organizations are on other health recommendations. From time to time the government realizes that the amount of a toxin previously considered “safe” was way too high—whoops! In 2001, for example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency lowered the maximum level of arsenic permitted in drinking water from 50 mcg per liter to 10. That means they were previously allowing 400 percent the amount they now know to be “okay.” Who knows how many other toxins are currently in our water at levels now considered “safe” that will later be found to be much too high?

Cornfield Herbicide Shows Up in American Waterways

Finally, let me offer in evidence the following: Atrazine is a powerful herbicide that, according to Michael Pollan in the New York Times, is applied to 70 percent of America’s cornfields. At concentrations as low as 0.1 part per billion, the herbicide will chemically emasculate a male frog, causing its gonads to produce eggs. According to Pollan, who is a superb journalist and reporter known for his detail and accuracy, traces of atrazine routinely turn up in American waterways at concentrations much higher than 0.1 part per billion. But American regulators generally won’t ban a pesticide till the bodies or cancer cases start to really pile up—that is, until scientists can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspected molecule “causes” illness in humans or ecological disaster. So atrazine—in the American waterways and food system—is deemed innocent until proven guilty, “a standard of proof,” says Pollan, “(that is) extremely difficult to achieve since it awaits the results of chemical testing on humans that we, rightly, don’t perform.”

So for all these reasons, I’m leaving tap water alone. I’ll take my chances with filtered water or bottled water, such as the pristine Artesian waters, or even some reputable American brands like Dasani. Are there unscrupulous companies selling stuff that’s probably no better (or worse) than tap? Sure. Is the “good stuff” expensive? Yup. But compared to a drink at an upscale bar or hotel, or a day’s worth of lattes at the local coffee emporium, the best bottle of water in the world is cheap.

Doubly so for the peace of mind it buys me.

WORTH KNOWING

There’s an anecdotal water recommendation for weight loss (and also for general health) that goes like this: Divide your weight in two and drink that number of ounces a day. There’s no firm science to back that up, but I’ve been using it for years, and as a basic guideline, it works quite well.

Beverage Runner-Up

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera has been recognized for centuries for its remarkable health-enhancing and medicinal properties. Although known specifically for external application to the skin, aloe juice is also widely used to help a variety of conditions of the digestive tract.

Aloe is thought to have originated in the Sudan and the Arabian Peninsula. Today, it’s cultivated and found in the wild in Africa, the Near East, Asia, and the southern Mediterranean. It’s also cultivated in subtropical regions of the United States and Mexico, in the coastal regions of Venezuela, and on the Dutch Antilles.

There are more than 240 species of aloe now identified and grown mainly in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. A member of the lily family of plants, Aloe has a decided cactuslike appearance. Of the 240 or so species, only four are recognized as having significant nutritional value, with Aloe barbadensis miller being the leader. It is used the most in commercial products today that contain aloe. The aloe leaf contains at least seventy-five nutrients and more than 200 active compounds, including twenty minerals, twenty of the twenty-two necessary amino acids, and twelve vitamins.

ALOE VERA JUICE CONTAINS HEALING “GLYCONUTRIENTS”

According to Dr. H.R. McDaniel, who has spent sixteen years exploring the therapeutic nature of aloe, its active ingredients are eight sugars that form the eight essential saccharides: glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, xylose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylneu-raminic acid. The mannose molecules join together to form a kind of starch (polysaccharide) known by a variety of names: acemannan, acetylated polymannans, polymannose, or APM. The natural sugars of aloe should never be confused with sucrose—common table sugar. The sugars in glyconutrients are not sweet to the taste nor do they elicit a blood glucose or insulin rush. In fact, entire books have been written about the healing and medicinal properties of “glyconutrients” (see, for example, Sugars That Heal by Emil Mondoa, M.D.).

Recently, another compound in aloe was discovered; a substance called aloeride, which contains the essential sugars glucose, galactose, and mannose, as well as another sugar called arabinose. Such a discovery illustrates that healthy sugars from plant sources are continually being discovered.

The gel has the active medicinal sugars and other nutrients listed above. Most of the research on aloe vera has been done on the gel, but there’s good reason to suspect that the juice—if it is unrefined or unfiltered—contains a lot of good properties as well. After all, the medicinal part of the plant is the dried juice of the leaves.

ALOE REDUCES INFLAMMATION AND SPEEDS HEALING

The gel has been shown to reduce inflammation and also shows antibacterial effects. Inside the leaf is this clear, thin, jellylike substance that works great as a skin salve. Applied to the skin, it’s a mild anesthetic and relieves itching, swelling, and pain. An animal-based study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that both oral and topical aloe preparations speed wound healing. Animals were given either aloe (100 mg/kg body weight) in their drinking water for two months or 25 percent aloe vera cream applied directly to wounds for six days. Aloe had positive effects in both cases. The size of wounds decreased 62 percent in the animals taking oral aloe compared to a 51 percent decrease in the control group. Topical aloe produced a 51 percent decrease in wound size compared to a 33 percent decrease in the control group.

Aloe decreases surgical recovery time, according to a report in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology. Eighteen acne patients underwent facial dermabrasion surgery, in which lesions are scraped away. Dressings were applied to their faces, with half of each person’s face receiving the standard dressing coated with surgical gel, and the other half with aloe added to this dressing. The half of the face treated with aloe healed approximately seventy-two hours faster than the other side. Dermatologist James Fulton, M.D., of Newport Beach, California, principal author of the report, uses topical aloe in his practice to speed wound healing. “Any wound we treat, whether it’s suturing a cut or removing a skin cancer, heals better with aloe vera on it,” he states.

ALOE VERA JUICE EASES INTERNAL INFLAMMATION

The juice is also believed to have anti-inflammatory action in the digestive system and is often used for heartburn and to ease constipation. Aloe vera juice can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative Medicine. Ten patients were given 2 ounces of aloe juice, three times daily, for seven days. After one week, all patients were cured of diarrhea, four had improved bowel regularity, and three reported increased energy.

Researchers concluded that aloe was able to rebalance the intestines by “regulating gastrointestinal pH while improving gastrointestinal motility, increasing stool specific gravity, and reducing populations of certain fecal microorganisms, including yeast.” Other studies have shown that aloe vera juice helps detoxify the bowel, neutralize stomach acidity, and relieve constipation and gastric ulcers.

According to juice authority Steve Meyerowitz, aloe vera juice contains a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients including B1, B2, B3, B6, C, choline, calcium, copper, manganese, potassium, silicon, and others. But, also according to Meyerowitz, the real uniqueness of the juice lies in its wealth of phytochemicals such as the organic acids chrysophanic, salicylic, succinic, and uric; polysaccharides such as acemannen; enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase; and various resins.

WORTH KNOWING

Aloe vera juice was originally one of the 150 “world’s healthiest foods” and after much debate in my office, we moved it to a runner-up position not because it’s not a great food—all the runners-up are—but because it tends to be used more therapeutically for special conditions. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t drink it every day—you could, and many people do—but since it’s more of a “special situation” food, we decided to give it honorable mention instead of listing it as a primary food.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Fred Pescatore, M.D.

Fred Pescatore’s latest New York Times bestselling books, The Hamptons Diet and The Hamptons Diet Cookbook, combine the Mediterranean lifestyle with the preferences of Americans, emphasizing a whole-foods approach to health and weight management.

1. Macadamia nut oil: Heart-healthiest fat with high smoke point; no oxidation or trans-fatty acids.

2. Avocado: Rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

3. Alaskan sockeye salmon: Responsibly caught fish; high in omega-3 fatty acids; mercury and PCB either low or nonexistent.

4. Red/yellow/orange peppers: Rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, and flavonoids not generally consumed.

5. Kale: Rich in well-absorbed calcium, vitamin K.

6. Lean, organic red meat: Genetically perfect for carnivores and one of the only sources of CLA, a kind of fat that helps people lose weight.

7. Sea vegetables: These often-overlooked foods contain iodine and protein, and are perfect for vegetarians.

8. Lentils and beans: Legumes contain many naturally occurring B vitamins and protein for those who wish to consume less animal protein.

9. Alcohol: Every study around the world tells us the same thing: Drinking alcohol in moderation is good for you. Those who drink the least and those who drink the most have the worst health profiles, but those who drink in moderation can lower their risk for heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

10. Whole foods of any kind: These are foods that have not been touched by man or at the very least, minimally processed. They help speed up our metabolism and keep our appetite low, therefore keeping us at our healthiest.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

J.J. Virgin, C.N.S., C.H.F.I.

J.J. Virgin was the nutritionist for Dr. Phil’s Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of weight loss resistance. She was the nutritionist for the season finale of Extreme Makeover and most recently helped Brandon Routh prepare for his role in Superman 2006. Her knowledge of supplements is enormous. You can hear her weekly on the radio show Waking Up in America.

1. Apples: An apple a day keeps the constipation away. The pectin fiber in apples is great for your gut and detoxifying, too. They are also a rich source of the bioflavonoid quercetin, nature’s antihistamine.

2. Freshly ground flaxseed meal: The fiber will keep the hunger hormone ghrelin suppressed, and it is a rich source of alpha linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that helps reduce inflammation.

3. Green tea: Drink daily to boost your metabolism and load up on antioxidants. The theanine in green tea is also a great natural de-stressor.

4. Extra virgin olive oil: Add a few tablespoons to your salads and vegetables daily to help lower blood pressure and prevent LDL oxidation.

5. Berries (all kinds): Eat a serving of organic blue, black, or red berries daily for antioxidant protection. They also contain ellagic acid, which is protective against cancer.

6. Sardines: An excellent source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, without the risks of heavy metals and toxins contained in many large fish. Omega-3s are great for your brain and heart and also help reduce inflammation. You either love ’em or you don’t; if you do, you are in luck, and please make them part of your diet a few times a week!

7. Lentils: A great slow-release carbohydrate source that is rich in fiber and moderate in protein. The fiber helps lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. A cup of lentil soup as an appetizer is a great natural appetite suppressant.

8. Sea vegetables: These are rich in minerals and are great at detoxifying heavy metals and pesticides. They are also very alkalizing and can help offset the acid load from the Standard American Diet of grains, meats, and dairy. These might seem a little scary at first, but they are great to sprinkle on a salad, soup, or veggie dish, or you can always visit a Japanese restaurant a few times a week for some nori-wrapped delicacies.

9. Organic eggs: A great source of complete protein, and yes, eat the yolk—it’s rich in vitamin E, vitamin A, and choline, a nutrient that is important for the brain and nervous system. Just be sure to eat your eggs soft-boiled or poached to avoid oxidizing the cholesterol in the yolk.

10. Turkey: Boost your mood with turkey! Think of turkey as nature’s Prozac—it is rich in tryptophan, which your body uses to make serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter that helps boost mood and lower sugar cravings.

CHAPTER 12

Herbs, Spices, and Condiments

You know the old saying “variety is the spice of life”? Well, it should be the other way around. Spice is the variety of life.

Consider this: There are 25,000 phytochemicals, living plant compounds that continue to amaze with their résumé of significant health benefits. Spices are teeming with these compounds. They’re awash with healing properties that are constantly being uncovered. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar; nutmeg relieves nausea; cloves are anti-inflammatory; ginger relieves morning sickness; peppermint inhibits the growth of bacteria; cumin is great for digestion; cayenne pepper increases metabolism; chili powder eases pain; curry powder safeguards your brain; cinnamon stimulates circulation; cardamom soothes indigestion; turmeric is good for practically everything—the list is endless. Spices are truly the variety of life, nature in all its pungent and aromatic glory.

Spices and Herbs Are a Natural Source of Preventive Health Care

Historically, herbs and spices have been used for adding flavors and tastes to foods. They provide unique flavors and/or enhancing tastes to human diets. But most herbs and spices used in culinary purposes have a long list of potential biological effects on human health. The very spices that make food so delicious and appealing come from plants whose traditional use have included acting as medicinal remedies for preventing and/or treating human disease for many years. The phytochemicals isolated from plants have been a great resource for discovering a large proportion of commercially available medications for the treatment of a wide range of human diseases, such as pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and cancers. Spices and herbs are a natural means of preventive health care; just consider the health effects on human diseases that could be accomplished through daily diets rich in their medicinal phytochemicals. Spices are a great way to get a virtual phytopharmacy into our kitchens.

And these guys seem to work synergistically in ways that are only now beginning to be understood. In a recent animal study, when curcumin (found in turmeric) was mixed with phenethyl isothiocyanate (a compound found in cruciferous vegetables) the combo had significant protective effects on implanted prostate tumors—though neither compound used alone showed any effect. (Curried cabbage, anyone?) Recently in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association, a spice blend of turmeric, ensian root, hot paprika, and vanillin was tested for its effect on cholesterol and was found to have “a beneficial and clinically relevant long-tem effect,” decreasing non-HDL cholesterol by 16 percent. Which spice was “responsible”? Who knows? Who even cares? Use ’em all!

Plants and spices are literally teeming with health-giving phytochemicals that act and interact in a myriad of mysteries ways, and scientists will probably still be decoding their health secrets decades after everyone reading this book is gone. I think the best take-home point is to use as many of them as possible, use them often, and use them in every combination you can think of.

Cardamom

If you’ve ever eaten at an Indian restaurant, you’ve probably encountered cardamom. Cardamom is actually the dried, unripened fruit of a perennial member of the ginger family. The pods contain highly aromatic citruslike, floral-flavored seeds with menthol undertones. Most Indian restaurants have a little dish of these seeds at the entranceway, or at the cash register, much like we have after-dinner mints. That’s because when the seeds are chewed, they’re a terrific breath freshener.

As a spice or seasoning, cardamom seeds can be used whole or ground. Cardamom is actually one of the world’s most ancient spices. It’s mentioned all over the place in The Arabian Nights. It became very popular early in the twentieth century, when about 250,000 pounds were shipped each year to Britain alone. Today, cardamom is used in cooking, as a health remedy, as a coffee flavoring in Egypt, and as an aromatic agent in perfume—especially in France and the United States. And of course, as a parting gift in the above-mentioned Indian restaurants!

But cardamom does a lot more than make your mouth taste good after eating. It stimulates bile flow for liver health and fat metabolism. Health benefits of this delicious spice are legion: It’s been used as a digestive aid since ancient times, and is known for easing stomach cramps, stimulating digestion, and cutting mucus. Because it’s a carminative—an agent that induces the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestines—it’s a terrific remedy for flatulence.

A wonderful way to consume it is as a tea, which you can easily make by simply pouring boiling water over about 2 teaspoons of the seeds. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then drain, discard the seeds, and enjoy! (Many ancients believed a cardamom tea to be an aphrodisiac. Feel free to experiment and let me know the results.)

Real cardamom is expensive, second only to saffron in price, and there are lots of inferior substitutes from cardamom-related plants masquerading as the real thing. Only Elettaria cardamomum—its botanical name—is the real deal. Indian cardamom comes in two “flavors”—Malabar and Mysore. The Mysore variety contains higher levels of limonene, a valuable phytochemical that boosts the body’s synthesis of an enzyme that has antioxidant properties and helps detoxify chemicals. (Limonene is also found in citrus fruit peels, cherries, celery, and fennel.)

WORTH KNOWING

Health professionals often recommend not using cardamom in the presence of gallstones, as it could precipitate an attack.

Cinnamon

C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D., is, quite simply, on the short list of the smartest people I know. She’s a research scientist at the USDA, and one of my “go-to” sources for the final word on any nutritional controversy. So when Broadhurst told me about some exciting stuff her team was working on over at the USDA that involved ordinary cinnamon, believe me, my ears pricked up and I started taking notes.

Though cinnamon has a formidable reputation as a health-giving compound (more on that in a moment), the newest, hottest buzz about it has to do with its uncanny ability to moderate blood sugar. And in these days, with a growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes, that sort of stuff gets people’s attention. According to Broadhurst, plenty of plants and individual phytochemicals can lower blood sugar, but many of them accomplish this by imposing toxic costs on the body. Not this one. Broadhurst and her team identified new phytochemicals in cinnamon called chalcone polymers that increase glucose metabolism in the cells twentyfold or more.

Cinnamon also contains anthocyanins, which improve capillary function. And a compound that has a very similar molecular composition to the ones found by Broadhurst’s team has been shown to inhibit the formation of ulcers and increase blood flow to the stomach in rats. The chalcone polymers that Broadhurst was so excited about are also powerful antioxidants.

Cinnamon Can Help with Pain and Stiffness in Muscles and Joints

Before I get to the practical use of cinnamon for modifying blood sugar, let me tell you about some other things this wonder spice can do for you. Cinnamon contains the phytochemicals eugenol and geraniol, which, according to registered dietitian and author Laurie Deutsch Mozian can help combat candida (the overgrowth of yeast in the system that can cause so many problems), probably because these compounds have antimicrobial activity that can help stop the growth of bacteria and fungi (including candida). Cinnamon also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may be helpful in affecting the pain and stiffness of muscles, joints, and menstrual discomfort.

Cinnamon is really good for digestive function. Both in test-tube and in animal studies, cinnamon functions as what’s called a carminative, which, should anyone ask you during a game of Trivial Pursuit, means “gas reliever.” So if you have abdominal discomfort caused by excess gas, cinnamon would be a great thing to try. In addition, compounds in cinnamon called catechins help relieve nausea. And for whatever reason—we’re not really sure why—cinnamon is known for boosting flagging appetite. Maybe it’s the delicious smell or the evoked memory of Mom’s apple pie. Who knows? What we do know is that it’s very “digestive-friendly.”

Cinnamon Extract Can Reduce Blood Sugar and “Bad” Cholesterol

Now let’s get back to C. Leigh Broadhurst and the team over at the USDA. These guys basically tested the effects on glucose metabolism of forty-nine different herbs, spices, and medicinal plants. As Broadhurst told me, cinnamon was the star of the show. The active ingredient—methylhydroxychalcone polymer, or MHCP—seems to mimic insulin function, increasing glucose uptake by cells and signaling certain kinds of cells to turn glucose into glycogen (the storage form of sugar). The study demonstrating that this active ingredient functioned as an “insulin mimic” was published in the prestigious Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2001, under the authorship of the lead researchers K.Y. Jarvill-Taylor, R.A. Anderson, and D.J. Graves. Not long after, another study was published in Diabetic Care showing that cinnamon reduced not only blood sugar, but also triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes. The research hardly escaped the notice of the natural medicine community: The legendary integrative medicine guru Dr. Jonathan Wright uses cinnamon extract as a component in vitamin supplements he designed for modulating blood sugar.

According to Broadhurst, one of the best parts of the whole cinnamon story is that you can get the best results with the cheapest stuff. In fact, she told me that you’re better off getting the really cheap stuff from the supermarket instead of any of the esoteric and expensive oil extracts, which may have some components that could be toxic if taken internally. Cinnamon powder has already had much of the essential oils removed during processing, so it’s a nonissue. “Buying cinnamon in bulk is cost-effective and highly recommended,” she told me.

Homemade Treatment for Blood Sugar

According to Broadhurst’s excellent book on diabetes, the best way to use cinnamon to help lower blood sugar and improve type 2 diabetes is to put 3 rounded tablespoons of ground cinnamon and ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking soda (less if sodium is a problem for you) in a 32-ounce (quart) canning jar. Fill the jar with boiling water and let it steep at room temperature till it’s cool. Strain or decant the liquid, discard the grounds, put a lid on the jar, and stick it in the fridge. Drink one 8-ounce cup of the tea four times per day. After one to three weeks you can drop down to one or two cups a day. Type 1 diabetics can use it too, but should start with only one or two cups per day and increase by one cup per week, monitoring blood sugar closely.

And even if you’re not diabetic, this little spice does so many great things that it really deserves the label “superfood.”

WORTH KNOWING

Just as the manuscript for this book was being submitted, a new animal study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in which dietary cinnamon reduced blood pressure. The researchers suggested that cinnamon may have a role in glucose metabolism and blood pressure regulation; they concluded that adding beneficial substances like cinnamon to the diet may have a positive influence on blood pressure.

Cloves

If anyone remembers seeing the terrific movie Marathon Man back in the 1970s, you’ve undoubtedly shuddered at the frightening scene where Dustin Hoffman was subjected to various unpleasantries in a dentist chair at the hands of Laurence Olivier. But you might also recall that the “antidote” that brought immediate pain relief was an oil made from cloves. The medicinal properties of cloves reside in the volatile oil, the same one that brought pain relief to Hoffman’s character in the movie. Cloves have long been used as an effective toothache remedy.

A clove is actually the dried, unopened flower bud of a type of tree that originated in the Spice Islands (Indonesia). Cloves look like tiny little nails, which is actually what their name comes from (clavus, which in Latin means “nail”). In Asian medicine, cloves are thought to be among the spices that promote energy circulation and increase the metabolic rate. The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians recommends one Red Delicious apple pierced with four cloves and boiled as the ultimate energy-enhancing winter dessert (throw away the cloves before eating). They also recommend clove, boiled with milk, to warm you up in winter. Sounds pretty good, actually.

Clove Component Kills Bacteria and Viruses

The highly respected panel German Commission E has approved the use of clove as an antiseptic and as an anesthetic. “The clove herb keeps food fresh because the main active component of cloves is eugenol, which has long been known to help kill bacteria and viruses,” says Gary Elmer, Ph.D., associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle. Interestingly, a recent study investigated the chemoprotective effect of a water solution of cloves on skin cancer and found that the clove solution had an anticarcinogenic effect.

One tablespoon of cloves contains the full amount of the recommended dietary intake of manganese for women (and just a smidgen less than the recommended amount for men). Manganese is an important nutrient for bone formation, as well as for protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism. A tablespoon of cloves also contains 43 mg of calcium, 73 mg of potassium, and 17 mg of phytosterols. And 1 tablespoon of cloves contains a little more than 2 g of fiber.

Cumin

There’s a lot of confusion about the difference between cumin seeds and caraway seeds; they’re actually not the same thing, though they do belong to the same plant family. The seeds look almost identical; in curry recipes, you can pretty much assume that “caraway” means “cumin.” You can use cumin interchangeably in the seed or the powdered form.

There are some interesting Trivial Pursuit–type factoids about cumin, some of them having to do with romance: A paste of cumin, black pepper, and honey is considered to be an aphrodisiac in some parts of the Middle East. In Europe during the Middle Ages, cumin was believed to keep lovers from being unfaithful. Soldiers were sent off to war with cumin bread baked by their wives. (Not unrelatedly, cumin was also believed to keep chickens from leaving their yard.) And cumin is said to symbolize greed, maybe because its strong flavor can overwhelm a dish.

Almost all the cumin we use in the United States comes from India, but cumin is found in the cuisines of Indonesia, Thailand, and Mexico as well. For the best quality, you should look for it in a specialty market, such as one that specializes in the cuisine of these cultures. The whole cumin blends nicely into dishes like sautéed vegetables, or legumes and beans. Toasting the whole seeds in a skillet really enhances the flavor.

Cumin Decreases Allergy Symptoms

Cumin—also known as black seed or Nigella sativa—is an important medicinal herb. In many Arabian, Asian, and African countries, black seed oil is used as a natural remedy for a whole range of diseases, especially allergies. In four different studies using the oil from black cumin seeds, patients reported significantly fewer allergic symptoms. And one study found that it was effective in inactivating certain kinds of breast cancer cells, at least in a test tube. According to Laura Pensiero, R.D., cumin contains limonene, a phytochemical being studied for its role in blocking cancers.

In Indian medicine, cumin is considered to be a cooling herb. And according to Deepak Chopra, M.D., it helps reduce heartburn and improve digestion. You can make a great cup of tea by boiling the seeds and letting them steep—it’s frequently used that way to aid digestion. The essential oil of the seeds is antimicrobial. Plus cumin is a good source of iron—1 tablespoon has almost 4 mg. It also contains 22 mg of magnesium, 107 mg of potassium, and 56 mg of calcium.

Garlic

Garlic is a global remedy. It’s one of the oldest medicinal foods on the planet. (The world’s oldest medical text, the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, mentions garlic repeatedly.) Garlic was fed to slaves and soldiers in the ancient world to keep them healthy. It’s been used to fuel the fighting spirit (ancient Greeks); fight leprosy, toothache, and chest pain (Hippocrates); and ward off vampires (almost any Dracula movie you can think of).

Okay, so maybe it doesn’t ward off vampires. Or fight leprosy. But garlic is hardly just a folk remedy. Consider this: Garlic is lipid-lowering, antithrombotic, anti–blood coagulation, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic. Impressive enough for you? All of those benefits have been documented in the well over 1,200 (and counting) pharmacological studies done on garlic.

Garlic Lowers Cholesterol and Prevents Blood Clots

Garlic is accepted even by conventional, traditional medicine as an agent for lowering cholesterol. In a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians, garlic supplements lowered total serum cholesterol levels by 12 percent after only four weeks of treatment. Not only that, they lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) by 4 to 15 percent without lowering HDL (“good”, protective) cholesterol; in fact, garlic has actually raised HDL in some studies by up to 22 percent. Want more? Garlic also lowers triglyceride levels by up to 17 percent.

Garlic can also reduce plaque, making it a powerful agent for cardiovascular health. In one study, subjects receiving 900 mg of garlic powder for four years in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study had a regression in their plaque volume of 2.6 percent; a matched group of subjects given a placebo (an inert substance) saw their plaque increase over the same period of time by 15.6 percent. One of the active ingredients from garlic—allicin—also has significant antiplatelet activity. That means that it helps prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together. To understand how important that is, consider that many heart attacks and strokes are believed to be caused by spontaneous clots in the blood vessels. The anticoagulant effect of garlic is an important health benefit.

The Anticancer Properties of Fresh Garlic Extracts, Aged Garlic, and Garlic Oil

Then there’s cancer. Compounds in garlic have been shown in many laboratory studies to be chemoprotective. Epidemiological evidence shows a decreased risk of stomach and colon cancer in areas where the consumption of garlic (and other vegetables in the allium family) is high. A recent article in the prestigious Journal of Nutrition stated that “evidence continues to point to the anticancer properties of fresh garlic extracts, aged garlic, garlic oil and a number of . . . compounds generated by processing garlic.” One recent research article demonstrated the ability of aged garlic extract to inhibit the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. And yet another study demonstrated the ability of another compound from garlic—diallyl disulfide—to inhibit leukemia cells in a test tube.

Garlic can even help fight the common cold. In one study published in Advances in Natural Therapy, a group of seventy patients was given a high-quality standardized garlic supplement for twelve weeks while another group of seventy-two patients was given a placebo. The garlic group had only twenty-four colds over the course of the study, compared to sixty-five for the placebo group. What’s more, the average duration of symptoms was less than half for those taking the garlic. A number of studies have shown that garlic exerts antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The antibacterial properties of allicin were written about as far back as 1944 in a paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Garlic also has a positive effect on blood pressure. The effect is not enormous, but it is significant. A number of analyses have concluded that garlic can modestly reduce blood pressure by 2 to 7 percent after four weeks of treatment. An article in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension in May 2004 called garlic “an agent with some evidence of benefit” in reducing hypertension (others were coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, fish oil, and arginine). And the protocols of the Hypertension Institute of Nashville at St. Thomas Hospital include a particularly high-quality, stable form of garlic called Allicidin by Designs for Health as part of their dietary and supplement regimen for both hypertension and high triglycerides. (More on garlic supplements in a moment.)

Add Garlic to Your Weight Control Toolbox

And get this: New research shows that garlic might hold some promise for weight control. In this research, rats were fed a high-fructose diet designed to make them fat and hypertensive. It worked. Fat and hypertensive they were, with high triglycerides to boot. Then, one of the groups was given allicin (the active ingredient in garlic), while the bad diet continued. The allicin group lowered its blood pressure, insulin, and triglycerides. What’s more, even though they were consuming the same amount of food, the rats given allicin stopped gaining weight. Even more impressive, a third group, given allicin from the beginning of the study, gained very little weight despite eating the exact same bad diet. Even though it’s a rat study, that’s pretty impressive, don’t you think? (And no, the take-home message from that isn’t to add garlic to your fast-food diet!) Meanwhile, another recent study found that diabetic rats fed garlic oil had increased insulin sensitivity. Garlic may well turn out to be a useful addition to the weight control toolbox.

Crushing or Chopping Garlic Releases Its Full Potential

The key to the astonishingly wide range of health benefits in garlic seems to lie in a compound called allicin. The thing of it is, allicin isn’t actually in garlic. Garlic cloves contain an amino acid called alliin. When the garlic is crushed or damaged, the alliin reacts with an enzyme found naturally in garlic called allinase. Nature designed it so that the alliin and the enzyme allinase live in different compartments of the garlic plant, and they’re meant to react only when necessary to protect the plant from attack or when it’s crushed. The action of the enzyme allinase on the amino acid alliin produces, presto: allicin, probably the most important of the medicinal compounds unique to garlic and responsible for many of its marvelous health benefits. Why is this important to understand? Because the preparation of garlic is critical for it to release its health-providing benefits. If you were, for example, to swallow a garlic clove whole—not that you’d want to—not much would happen. The garlic clove has to be crushed, or chopped, the more finely the better, for the compounds to interact.

Allicin starts to degrade after it’s produced, so the fresher it is when you use it, the better. Microwaving appears to destroy it completely—sorry. Garlic experts advise crushing a little raw garlic and combining it with the cooked food shortly before serving. Eating it raw isn’t recommended because it can be irritating to the stomach.

Now here’s the deal with garlic supplements: In a laboratory, dried garlic powder gets added to water so that the alliin and allinase can quickly react to make allicin. The amount of allicin produced is the measure of “allicin potential.” But when such garlic supplements are swallowed, the enzyme is destroyed by stomach acid. That’s why some garlic products are enteric coated—to protect them against stomach acid. Unfortunately, many supplements still don’t work as advertised and don’t release their “allicin potential” as promised. It is entirely possible that the variable results sometimes obtained in studies on garlic supplementation happen because of variation in the quality of the garlic supplements and lack of standardization of the allicin content. This is not to say don’t use garlic supplements—absolutely do!—just use very high-quality ones that are standardized for allicin content, not allicin “potential.” Two of the best are Kyolic Aged Garlic, widely available in better health food stores, and Allicidin by Designs for Health, available on my Web site (www.jonnybowden.com).

Ginger

In Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine, ginger is known as the “universal remedy.” No wonder. This little plant contains a whole pharmacy of ingredients with multiple health benefits.

Many people are already aware of ginger’s awesome ability to soothe an upset stomach and end nausea.

By stimulating saliva, it may also help digestion. And ginger ale has long been a favorite for upset stomach for a very good reason: It works. In one study, ginger performed better than Dramamine in warding off seasickness. And gingerol—which is the ingredient responsible for the pungent and delicious taste—is listed in the USDA database of phytochemicals as an antiemetic, meaning it has the property of preventing nausea and vomiting.

Ginger Battles Morning Sickness

Studies from Denmark found that almost 75 percent of pregnant women who used ginger experienced relief from their morning nausea without limiting side effects. Since many drugs are avoided during pregnancy because of risks to the fetus, this makes ginger an excellent herb to have around while you’re pregnant.

The active ingredients in ginger are gingerols, shogaols, gingerdiones, and zingerone, all of which are antioxidants. The zingerone and the shogaol in ginger also have anti-inflammatory properties and might be useful in a nutritional program for arthritis and/or fibromyalgia. And at the Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference, research was presented that suggested that gingerols may inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer cells. In mice, ginger extract lowered cholesterol, inhibited the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, and slowed the development of atherosclerosis. Not exactly a bad résumé.

Animal studies on ginger also show that it has antitumorigenic effects and helps boost the immune system; it’s an effective antimicrobial and antiviral agent. Studies also demonstrate positive effects on the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system, pain, and fever. No wonder that a nice hot ginger tea with lemon is a home remedy for all sorts of variations of “feeling under the weather.”

One benefit that has been noted for thousands of years is ginger’s ability to improve circulation. At the Deepak Chopra Center, they routinely give ginger as a remedy for people with cold hands and feet, something that Chinese and Indian physicians have done for eons.

WORTH MENTIONING

Ginger has very few side effects, but there are a couple of precautions to be aware of. It’s possible that ginger increases the absorption of other drugs, but we don’t really know for sure. If you give ginger to an animal at the same time as you give him a barbiturate, he sleeps longer (no, I never tried this at home, but it’s in the literature!). The explanation is that the ginger probably increases absorption of the drug.

Ginger has a nice blood-thinning effect (like an aspirin in a way), but because of that you should be careful taking it with medications that prevent clotting, such as Coumadin, or even aspirin. According to Joe and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., authors of The People’s Pharmacy, the combination of an anticlotting medication and ginger could conceivably result in unexpected bleeding. It’s also said to increase bile acid secretion, which is why people with gallstones or gallbladder disease are advised to avoid the herb unless supervised by a health professional.

Mustard Seeds

Mustard seeds are, believe it or not, members of the brassica family, giving them a distinguished pedigree and putting them in the company of several nutritional superstars. Other members of the brassica family include cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale, and all are loaded with cancer-fighting substances like indoles, isothiocyanates, and sulforaphane. One of the key dietary recommendations of the American Cancer Society is to include these cruciferous vegetables in your diet on a regular basis.

So mustard seeds come from veggie royalty. Other members of the same plant family include horse-radish (see page 43) and cress. Mustard seeds, like their relatives, are able to produce isothiocyanates, which are aggressive substances that have the function of a chemical weapon against the plant’s predators. Since these isothiocyanates are dangerous to the plants as well, they are stored in the plant organism as glucosinolates, which are harmless. By an enzymatic reaction that happens whenever the plant tissue gets damaged—like, for example, if it’s chewed—the isothiocyanates are quickly formed. Many of these isothiocyanates have been found to have significant roles in human health, as protectors against carcinogens. Mustard seeds are a source of one particular compound, allyl isothiocyanate, which is believed to play a role in the prevention of tumors and the suppression of tumor growth.

Mustard Seed Is Rooted in History

In fact, the use of mustard (and mustard seeds) as a medicinal plant predates all the science on phytochemicals. From its beginnings, mustard was considered a medicinal plant rather than a food; Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used mustard in all sorts of medicines and poultices. The ancient Chinese considered mustard an aphrodisiac. And the mustard seed figures prominently as a symbol in the Christian faith, used to signify something small and insignificant that, when nourished, can grow into something of great strength and power.

Mustard itself is only as good as the seeds it was made from. There are many really delicious gourmet mustards loaded with phytochemicals. Seek them out! Good mustard can stimulate the appetite and circulation and help neutralize toxins. Or if you’re adventurous, use the seed in cooking. Mustard seeds as a culinary ingredient is popular in Western and Asian cuisines.

Oregano

Every so often, a doctor or healer gets so excited about one herb, food, nutrient, or ingredient that he or she writes a whole book singing its praises. That’s exactly what happened to Dr. Cass Ingram, and the result was a little book called The Cure Is in the Cupboard. The herb that got Ingram so excited that he decided to write a book about it? Oregano.

Read the research on this herb and it all becomes clear. Oregano is rich in a host of nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin A, and niacin. Oregano also seems to be the herb with the highest antioxidant activity. According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, oregano has forty-two times more antioxidant activity than apples, thirty times more than potatoes, twelve times more than oranges, and—maybe most surprising of all—four times more than the amazing blueberries! But that’s only the beginning.

Oregano Oil Has Medicinal Benefits

The medicinal parts of this wondrous plant are contained in the oil extracted from the leaves, or from the herb itself picked during the flowering season and eaten fresh or dried. The essential oil contains thymol (see Thyme on page 291) and carvacrol, both compounds that have antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties. In one study, 77 percent of patients treated for enteric parasites were parasite free after taking oil of oregano in tablet form for six weeks. At this writing, it has inhibited the growth of at least ten different microbes, including Candida albicans (yeast).

To top it off, oregano—like its relative rosemary—contains the powerful compound rosmarinic acid (see Rosemary, page 289), which has been found to have antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties.

Traditionally, this herb’s oil has also been used as a digestive aid and, because of its anti-inflammatory properties, to support joint function. Plenty of health benefits come from using the herb regularly, but for some special conditions—like candida or inflammation—a health professional may suggest oil of oregano supplements.

WORTH KNOWING

In homeopathy, oregano is used to increase sexual excitability. It’s also really, really good on pizza.

Parsley

If you’ve ever chewed on a sprig of parsley after a meal (and before kissing your date), you’ve experienced its ability to freshen the breath firsthand. What you might not know is that it has the same ability to “freshen” the whole system.

Parsley is known primarily for its detoxification (and deodorizing) properties. It’s the world’s most popular herb. The Greeks wore parsley crowns at their banquets to stimulate their appetite. Peter Rabbit went looking for some parsley when he overate Mr. McGregor’s vegetables. And the Romans believed that nibbling on parsley sprigs would allow them to drink more wine without becoming drunk. From ancient times to the modern dinner table, people have known intuitively of parsley’s ability to detoxify. And modern science has begun to confirm what the ancients suspected.

Use Parsley to Purify

Its ability to freshen the breath—and to detoxify the system—comes from the same substance that makes it green: chlorophyll. Dozens of studies have confirmed the ability of chlorophyll to purify and rejuvenate—and it has been shown to stop bacterial growth in wounds, it deodorizes, and it counters toxins, it deactivates many carcinogens, and it builds blood, renews tissues, and counteracts inflammations. In Asian traditions, chlorophyll benefits anemic conditions; it also helps kidney function, probably because it has mild diuretic properties.

Parsley is used by diabetics in Turkey to reduce blood glucose; in one recently published study, an extract from parsley significantly reduced the blood glucose of rats and reduced their weight!

A second study demonstrated parsley’s ability to protect the livers of diabetic rats as well. Wouldn’t it be interesting if parsley turned out to be another plant weapon in the armamentarium against blood sugar challenges, obesity, and diabetes?

Parsley Part of a Select Group of Cancer Fighters

There’s also some suggestion that the volatile oils in parsley—especially one called myristicin—may inhibit tumors. The National Cancer Institute, which has invested millions and millions of dollars researching the anticancer potential of plant foods, found that umbelliferous vegetables (which include parsley) are among a select group of about a dozen foods with the highest anticancer activity.

Ten sprigs of parsley contain 556 mcg of the eye-protective carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as 505 mcg of beta-carotene, 164 mcg of bone-building vitamin K, and 842 IUs of vitamin A. Oh, and if you’re lucky, while you’re shopping you might occasionally come across parsley root, a special variety of parsley grown for its root. It looks like a baby parsnip and usually has the parsley greens attached. I’ve never tried it, but it’s supposed to be delicious in soup as well as having medicinal properties for the stomach.

Rosemary

Rosemary has a poetic and romantic past. It flourishes in the Mediterranean, the south of France, and Portugal. It bears beautiful little blue flowers that are the stuff of legend. Its fragrant properties have been used in aromatherapy since the fourteenth century. And its medicinal properties, known and appreciated by herbalists for hundreds of years, are now being confirmed by research.

Some of the health-promoting benefits of rosemary come from two of its constituents, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, plus plant compounds like diterpenes and monoterpenes, and antioxidants like vitamin E and assorted flavonoids. The acids are anti-inflammatory, and may be helpful in reducing the inflammation that contributes to asthma, liver disease, and heart disease. Exciting research has been done on rosemary’s potential for inhibiting cancers such as breast, colon, and skin cancers; animal studies have confirmed that the oil is liver protective, antimutagenic, and tumor inhibiting. The oil is also mildly antibiotic and antiviral, probably because of the diterpenes.

And evidentially, Shakespeare was on to something when he associated rosemary with memory (“There’s rosemary, that for remembrance: pray you, love, remember”). Herbalists have treated rosemary as helpful for the brain as far back as the seventeenth century, when the English physician Nicholas Culpeper wrote that rosemary helps “weak memory, and quickens the senses” as well as “diseases of the head and brain, as the giddiness and swimmings therein. . ..”

Rosemary Works Like an Alzheimer’s Drug

As it turns out in the light of modern science, rosemary contains several compounds that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter in the brain and one that is needed for memory and healthy brain function. (In fact, one drug used for Alzheimer’s—Aricept—works similarly, by interfering with acetylcholine breakdown.)

Besides being used widely as a culinary herb, rosemary frequently lends its distinctive fragrance to soaps and cosmetics. Aromatherapists use rosemary oil in baths and massage lotions and consider it to have an enlivening quality that promotes healing and happiness.

WORTH KNOWING

No health hazards or side effects are known with proper use. On rare occasion, a contact allergy has been observed. Though rosemary is perfectly safe in amounts normally consumed in foods, in medicinal dosages it should not be used during pregnancy due to concerns that it might have uterine and menstrual flow–stimulant effects.

Sage

Sage is a great little herb, which has been valued for more than 2,000 years, both for its medicinal properties and for its ability to spice up foods. In Ayurvedic medicine, sage is considered a purifying herb. Deepak Chopra recommends it for “excessive accumulation of toxic, morbid emotions.” On top of that, it also smells great!

Sage probably got its reputation as a purifying herb because, along with its sisters in the mint family, it has antimicrobial and antiviral activities. Why? Because of its volatile oil. Oil of sage contains a compound called thujone, an effective agent against both salmonella and candida. Sage also contains the phenolic acid rosmarinic acid, which is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. For this reason, sage has been found to be beneficial for fighting such inflammatory conditions as gingivitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In animal research, sage was found to be anti-hypertensive (it lowers blood pressure). And in one study—yet to be confirmed in humans—it had an antidiabetic effect. Recent research has confirmed something that herbalists have long known: Sage works as a memory enhancer.

It’s also used for combating indigestion, excessive perspiration, and sore throats. And if that weren’t enough, it’s also been found to be helpful with menopausal night sweats.

WORTH KNOWING

Sage is completely safe, and no health hazards or side effects are known. However, sage may decrease breast milk supply and is considered by some experts to be a uterine stimulant—virtually all pregnancy experts advise that sage and sage preparations should not be taken during pregnancy.

Thyme

Although a generation of baby boomers probably first heard the name of this herb through the immortal Simon and Garfunkel song, it’s actually been around since the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who valued it as an aphrodisiac. In fact, Euell Gibbons, in Stalking the Healthful Herbs, said, “According to ancient tradition, if a girl wears a corsage of wild thyme flowers, it means that she is looking for a sweetheart; and according to another tradition, if a bashful boy drinks enough wild thyme tea, it will give him courage to take her up on it!” I don’t know about that, but I sure get warm and fuzzy when I hear the Simon and Garfunkel song.

The primary fragrant oil of thyme is thymol, a powerful antiseptic. You’ve probably felt its medicinal effects if you’ve ever gargled with Listerine. Thymol is also a wonderful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. And it’s a terrific aid to digestion: Thyme can help dislodge the mucus coating of the intestinal tract and has a long history in relieving chest and respiratory problems such as coughs and bronchitis—probably why it’s used in any number of over-the-counter vapor rubs or cough drops. Because it is antiseptic, thymol often shows up as an ingredient in natural toothpastes.

The herb itself is typically used for flavoring any kind of slow cooked-dish (soups and stews) and is a nice addition to a bouquet garni. Rebecca Wood, a noted author and authority on whole foods, suggests adding 3 tablespoons of dried thyme to boiling water and honey for a homemade cough syrup she swears is more effective than any of the ready-made kinds.

Turmeric

If there were ever a contest for a spice that deserved a whole book written about it, turmeric would be the clear winner. It’s pretty much my favorite spice, not only for the almost encyclopedic list of health benefits (about which more in a moment) but also for the incredible taste. Turmeric is a staple in India, where 94 percent of the turmeric in the world originates. It’s the spice that gives Indian food its distinctive flavor. It’s an important part of curry, so every time you’re eating anything with a curry sauce, you’re eating some turmeric. I use it on just about everything, but my latest discovery is how great it tastes on scrambled eggs and veggie omelettes.

Turmeric is actually a member of the ginger family, and the plant’s healing properties reside in its fingerlike stalk. The part of the plant that is actually used is called the rhizome. Turmeric itself contains a bunch of compounds, but the family of compounds thought to be most responsible for turmeric’s medicinal effects are the curcuminoids, which are also responsible for giving turmeric its bright yellow color. The most important—and the most studied of the curcuminoids—is curcumin. Some of the studies mentioned below were done on curcumin, but the benefits apply equally to the turmeric plant that contains it. In fact, although curcumin is available as a supplement, some herbal experts suggest that eating turmeric itself is even more beneficial since you not only get the curcumin, but all the other potentially beneficial components of the spice as well.

Turmeric Known for Alleviating Arthritis and Joint Inflammation

Turmeric is part of the healing systems of India, China, and the Polynesian Islands, and occupies a place of distinction in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. One reason is its phenomenal anti-inflammatory properties, which are believed to be due to the presence of the aforementioned curcuminoids. One of turmeric’s many traditional uses has been for the treatment of arthritis, because of its ability to lower inflammation. In one study, curcumin was found to be virtually as effective as the anti-inflammatory medication phenylbutazone. It’s used in India to relieve arthritis, and can be useful for muscle pains as well as joint inflammation and even carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re interested in why it works so well, one school of thought is that it exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by lowering histamine levels; other experts are not sure of the exact mechanism. In the long run, who cares? It works as an anti-inflammatory, and does it without any toxic side effects. That’s what matters.

And then there’s cancer. There are at least thirty published studies indicating that curcumin has an antitumor effect (either reducing the number or size of tumors or the percentage of animals who developed them). Of course these are mostly animal studies, but still, that’s pretty promising. And not all the studies are on animals: One study, published in 2006 in the medical journal Oncogene, showed that curcumin inhibited the growth of human colon cancer cells. While no one is claiming that turmeric cures cancer, there is plenty of reason to believe that it is a really useful adjunct to the diet of everyone concerned with staying healthy.

Curcumin also has a positive effect on cholesterol, both in rats and in humans, making it a great adjunct to a heart-healthy diet. And it has powerful antioxidant properties as well. In one rat study, for example, curcumin provided significant protection from cataract development induced by a powerful oxidizing chemical. The group of rats treated with curcumin not only had protection against the damage done by this chemical, but the transparency of the lenses in their little eyes was improved as well. Many other studies have demonstrated curcumin’s antioxidant capabilities. In science jargon, curcumin “inhibits lipid peroxidation,” which means it fights damage from oxidating substances that age the body and contribute to disease. In other words, it’s good stuff.

Why Your Liver Loves Turmeric

This ability to fight inflammation and also to serve as an antioxidant makes curcumin a very liver-friendly food. I like to recommend it for people with various liver ailments, including hepatitis. Though it’s not the only thing I would use for serious liver problems, it’s definitely part of the arsenal. One study, in the journal Toxicology, demonstrated curcumin’s significant liver protection in male rats largely through its aforementioned antioxidant properties. Dr. Mark Stengler, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies, also recommends it for hepatitis and says that it is frequently used to lower elevated liver enzymes.

Turmeric is also one of the easiest spices to use. It has a really pleasing taste and a beautiful color, and it tastes good on almost any food you can think of. Deepak Chopra says that “its traditional purifying effect makes it a useful spice for people participating in a detoxification program.” In addition to cooking with it, you can also mix it into a paste with water and apply it directly to irritated skin (including pimples) before bedtime. Chopra also suggests mixing turmeric powder with a little honey and using the mixture to coat your throat at the first sign of a sore throat.

So we already know the strong science behind the pharmacy that lives in the turmeric plant. What does traditional Eastern medicine say about it? According to The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, coauthored by Dr. David Frawley and the highly respected Indian doctor and herbal authority Dr. Vasant Lad, “Turmeric gives the energy of the Divine Mother and grants prosperity. It is effective for cleansing the charkas and purifying the channels of the subtle body.”

When modern Western science and traditional forms of healing like Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine both agree on the healthful properties of the same compound, it’s time to go to the store.

Vinegar

(apple cider vinegar)

Vinegar was discovered by chance more than 10,000 years ago. It gets its name from the French, vin aigre—meaning “sour wine.” Vinegar is made when fresh, naturally sweet cider is fermented into an alcoholic beverage (hard cider). Then it’s fermented once again. The result is vinegar. You could say that wine is to grapes what vinegar is to wine.

Vinegar can be made from any fruit, or from any material containing sugar that can be fermented to less than 18 percent ethyl alcohol (including such things as honey, maple syrup, beets, potatoes, and coconut). When it’s made from apples, it’s called apple cider vinegar (about which there’s plenty to say in a moment). The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that any product called “vinegar” contain at least 4 percent acidity. This requirement ensures the minimum strength of the vinegar sold at the retail level. According to whole-foods expert and author Rebecca Wood, you shouldn’t use aluminum, copper, or cast-iron when cooking with vinegar, because that 4 to 6 percent acidity is corrosive. And if you want to retain the acid flavor of vinegar, stir it in after removing the dish from the heat.

So why is vinegar listed in the world’s healthiest foods? Simple. It’s a virtual infusion of healthy minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. In fact, unpasteurized vinegar can contain as many as fifty different nutrients, including those that come from the original “starting” material the vinegar is made from (such as apples). But note well the term “unpasteurized.” Remember that pasteurization is basically a process that subjects foods to tremendous amounts of heat. That has the “benefit” of destroying microorganisms, but it’s a dubious benefit when it also destroys the heat-sensitive vitamins and enzymes that made it a good food to begin with. To get the health benefits of vinegar, you should look on the label for key terms like “unpasteurized,” “unfiltered,” “traditionally brewed,” “traditionally fermented,” or “aged in wood.”

Real Organic Vinegar Beats Common Supermarket Vinegar

Traditionally fermented foods are among the healthiest on the planet, and vinegar is no exception. According to Dr. Patricia Bragg, whose company makes one of the best-known and respected apple cider vinegars on the market, the “clean white” vinegar you get at the supermarket is a food chemist’s invention made from coal tar and has none of the health properties of real, fermented, organic vinegar. Distilled vinegar is no better. Distilling turns the vinegar into steam and in the process destroys the natural malic and tartaric acids, which are important in fighting body toxins and inhibiting unfriendly bacteria. To get the health benefits of vinegar, get the real thing.

The best known of the vinegars in natural health circles is the kind made from apples. Apple cider vinegar is cheap and easy to use, and it really benefits our health in numerous ways. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, thought of it as a powerful elixir and a naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic that fights germs. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks used it. And apple cider vinegar is mentioned in the Bible as an antiseptic and healing agent. Even Columbus had barrels of vinegar on his ships for the prevention of scurvy. Indeed, apple cider vinegar has been used for thousands of years, as both a health and a cleansing agent.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Really a Cure-All?

Books have been written touting apple cider vinegar’s benefits for everything from weight loss to osteoporosis to arthritis. Whether it does all the things its proponents claim it does is another matter. Recently, I found a humorous “poem” by Patricia Carrol, R.N., M.S., extolling vinegar’s many benefits but also offering the following caution: Beware of claims too good to be true—For research backs up but a few.

There’s no doubt in my mind that apple cider vinegar is good for you. I’m just suspicious of whether it’s a cure-all. That said, there are a lot of terrific things to be said about real, unpasteurized vinegar made from apples. It’s nutrient rich, containing minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, natural organic fluorine, silicon, trace minerals, and pectin as well as many other powerful nutrients and enzymes. Over the centuries, oxymel—a combination of apple cider vinegar and honey—has been widely used to dissolve painful calcium deposits in the body, and for other health problems such as hay fever. And while I’ve had my suspicions about apple cider vinegar’s effectiveness as a weight loss product, some people swear by it—and a recent study in Diabetes Care does indicate that it may have some impact on blood sugar and insulin that can only be seen as beneficial.

Studies Examine the Use of Vinegar in Treating Diabetes

In the above-mentioned study published in Diabetes Care, apple cider vinegar significantly improved insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant subjects. (The vinegar also improved insulin sensitivity somewhat in diabetics, but the results didn’t quite reach statistical significance.) The authors stated that “vinegar may possess physiological effects similar to . . . metformin.” (Metformin, the generic name for Glucophage, is a drug typically given to diabetics and prediabetics to increase insulin sensitivity.) Since insulin resistance is a feature of metabolic syndrome and often precedes diabetes, anything that makes the cells more sensitive to insulin and helps control blood sugar bears looking into. The authors concluded that “further investigations to examine the efficacy of vinegar as an antidiabetic therapy are warranted.” Nutritionist and researcher Jeff Volek, Ph.D., R.D., whose top ten list of healthy foods is featured on page 312, suggests a salad with vinegar at the beginning of every meal for its potential help with managing blood sugar.

Herbs, Spices, and Condiments Runner-Up

Black Pepper

Black pepper is to spices what lettuce is to vegetables—probably the most widely used spice in the country. It also has a nice pedigree of medical uses.

Black pepper stimulates the taste buds, which increases production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, improving digestion. Why would you want more acid, especially if you have heartburn? Because many leaders in the field of complementary medicine—such as Dr. Jonathan Wright—argue that heartburn comes from too little stomach acid, not from too much. Pepper’s also long been recognized for its ability to stimulate the appetite as well as its ability to produce relief from nausea. And black pepper is considered a carminative—an herbal medicine or digestive tonic that can help dispel gas from the intestine. A carminative’s main job is to soothe the gut wall and aid digestion.

A famous Philippine folk remedy is to take an equal amount of anise and black pepper and combine it in a cup of warmed brandy. You’re supposed to sip the mixture while still warm and retain it in your mouth before swallowing. It’s believed to help bring down fever.

In ancient times, black pepper was used as currency and offered as a gift to the gods. Now your waitperson brings it to the table and offers to grind it fresh over your food. We’ve come a long way, baby.

CHAPTER 13

Oils

As I’ve mentioned countless times in this book and elsewhere, one of the great problems with the Westernized diet is an imbalance in our fat intake. We’ve been oversold on both the “dangers” of saturated fat as well as on the unqualified “goodness” of polyunsaturated fats. The true picture is more complex and nuanced. All saturated fat is not bad for you (see Coconut Oil, page 300, for example), and “polyunsaturated fat” is a large class of fatty acids with many members, including both the inflammatory omega-6s and the anti-inflammatory omega-3s. The balance between the omega-6s and the omega-3s is essential to human health. It’s as simple as that.

Omega-6s (linoleic acid) and one of the several omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid) are considered essential fats (meaning our body can’t make them and we must get them from the diet). The other two omega-3s, which I consider to be the most important of all (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), can theoretically be made in the body from the first omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), but the body does a lousy job of it—only about 20 percent of alpha-linolenic acid gets converted to DHA and EPA. That’s why fish and fish oil are so great—they give you ready-made DHA and EPA so your body doesn’t have to make them. But I digress.

What’s Wrong with Omega-6?

The problem in the Western diet is that we get far too little omega-3 (of any variety) and far too much omega-6. The problem is compounded by the fact that most of the omega-6 we get is crappy. Omega-6s are like foods at the typical Vegas buffet—the wrong kind of food, and there’s so darn much of it! Most of us get our omega-6s (plenty of them, I might add) from highly refined and processed vegetable oils—safflower, sunflower, soybean, corn—which are loaded with a refined omega-6 devoid of any of the natural health-promoting antioxidants that are normally found in these oils but are processed out because they shorten shelf life. Commercial, processed, refined vegetable oils are among the worst foods on the planet, and we’ve been told they’re “healthy” because they are “polyunsaturated.” Don’t believe it for a minute.

It’s not that omega-6s don’t do any good. They do. A comprehensive review paper on the relationship of fats to coronary heart disease by Frank Hu, JoAnn Manson, and Walter Willett from Harvard—the folks who ran the Nurses’ Health Study—points out that omega-6s do lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and also improve insulin sensitivity. But even that team, gently conservative in their phrasing, point out that “the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 (fats) is less than optimal and should be improved.” The argument is over whether to improve that ratio by increasing omega-3s, reducing omega-6s, or both. Personally, I think it’s both. No one—save theoretically the Eskimos, who eat a ton of omega-3s—is in any danger of getting too much omega-3 and not enough omega-6. In fact, it’s the opposite.

BALANCING FATTY ACIDS IS KEY TO HEALTHY BLOOD FLOW

Why is the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 so important? Because these fatty acids are the building blocks of hormones and “minihormones” called eicosanoids (also called prostaglandins), which literally control dozens of metabolic processes in the body that need to be in balance in order for us to stay healthy. For example, some of these prostaglandins control inflammation, some are anti-inflammatory. Some control clotting, some control flow. It’s not that they are “good” or “bad”—but that they need to be in balance. For example, if you’re injured, you want some inflammation and clotting—it’s part of the body’s healing response to send water and blood to the site of injury and then to allow it to clot. But if you clot too much, you get a stroke. On the other hand, if you don’t clot at all, you hemorrhage. Get it? In real estate, it’s location, location, location. In fatty acids, it’s balance, balance, balance.

Our Paleolithic ancestors—and all known hunter-gatherer societies that have been studied—got somewhere between a 1:1 and a 4:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. Most nutritionists consider that the ideal intake ratio, and the ones I know lean more toward 1:1. Would you like to know what the average person consuming a Western diet gets? It’s between 20:1 and 25:1. (I’ve heard some estimates as high as 65:1, but even at the lower number it’s completely unhealthy.)

Think I’m being a nervous Nelly about nothing? Consider this: High ratios of omega-6s to omega-3s are associated with increased prostate and breast cancer risk; increased risk of heart disease; and aggravated inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

In addition, most of our restaurants, in response to the fear of “bad” saturated fat, now cook with “healthy” vegetable oils. And cook. And cook. And recook. New research shows that high amounts of a toxin called HNE (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal), with connections to heart disease and neurological disorders, accumulate in vegetable-based cooking oils that are heated or reheated for hours at a time (fast-food restaurant, anyone?). HNE forms in especially high amounts in polyunsaturated oils—including canola, corn, soybean, and sunflower. (It does not arise in saturated fats.) “There’s a tremendous literature in biochemistry on HNE, a library of studies going back twenty years. It’s a very toxic compound,” says lead researcher on the most recent study, A. Saari Csallany, a professor of food chemistry and nutritional biochemistry at the University of Minnesota.

Eating the Right Oils Can Help You Avoid Deadly Diseases

Remember Vioxx and Celebrex? They were COX-2 inhibitors. COX-2 enzymes create inflammation in the body. When our intake of omega-6 fats greatly exceeds our omega-3 fats, guess what happens? COX-2 enzymes increase. High intakes of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (coupled with low intakes of omega-3s) equal higher levels of inflammation. If you don’t think that’s anything to worry about, consider that inflammation was recently the subject of a cover story in Time magazine that called it “The Secret Killer.” The subtitle: “The surprising link between inflammation and heart attacks, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases.” That secret killer if you haven’t guessed by now, was inflammation.

So consider all this when you look at the section on fats and oils. Here are the take-home points about fats and oils:

• Some saturated fat is good for us.

• Omega-3s are very, very good for us.

• Monounsaturated fats are good for us.

• Omega-6s are good for us in balanced (usually small) amounts and from sources that haven’t been processed and refined to death.

• Reused (reheated) vegetable oils are really, really bad.

• Trans fats are metabolic poison. The acceptable level in the diet is zero.

Keep these points in mind when you read through the fats and oils that have been selected for inclusion in the “world’s healthiest foods.” And remember as well that in all cases, unrefined, cold-pressed oils beat the pants off the refined kind, even when it’s a “good” oil like olive oil.

Almond Oil

Along with sesame oil, almond oil is probably one of the most popular massage oils, primarily because it smells so darn good. But besides its nonfood uses, almond oil is a really good, healthful oil to use for cooking.

Almond oil is very high in monounsaturated fats—61 to 65 percent of the fat in almond oil is from oleic acid, the same omega-9 monounsaturated fat that makes olive and macadamia nut oils so healthy. Monounsaturated fats (omega-9s) are central to the Mediterranean diet that has been shown in virtually every single research study to be associated with lower rates of heart disease.

Almond Oil Underappreciated for Its Healthy Monounsaturated Fats

Through admirable lobbying on behalf of the olive oil industry, the FDA took a look at the massive evidence for the health benefits of monounsaturated fats and allowed a health claim to be made for olive oil as a result. Understand that the health benefit comes from monounsaturated fat in general, but because it was the Olive Oil Association who petitioned the FDA, the FDA limited its investigation of the research to “monounsaturated fat in olive oil,” while recognizing that other oils provide this same fat. It’s all political. Monounsaturated fat is monounsaturated fat, and it does good things for you whether you get it from olive oil or almond oil. True, almond oil doesn’t have quite as much as olive or macadamia nut oil, but it’s still a good source of this healthy fat.

There are dozens of studies on the potential role of almonds in a healthy diet and on the antioxidant properties of various phytochemicals found in the nut itself. (For more on this, see Almonds, page 147.) How many of these compounds get into the oil is anyone’s guess, but it stands to reason that the less high heat, chemicals, and processing used in extracting the oil, the better. (That’s why I recommend buying cold-pressed, organic oils whenever possible.)

Though no cooking oils are strong sources of vitamins and minerals, almond oil does have a little bit of vitamin E and vitamin K. It’s also got a high smoke point, so it can be used for all kinds of cooking.

And if you use it for the massage I suggested earlier, almond oil can be a terrific stress reliever. Try keeping it at bedside for relaxing times with your loved one.

Coconut Oil

Much of the great stuff I have to say about coconut oil should be cross-referenced with the section on coconut itself (see page 107). But the oil of this fabulous nut deserves an entry of its own. It’s one of my three favorite cooking oils (the other two are extra virgin olive and macadamia nut oil).

It’s particularly great to cook with because it has a high smoke point (450° F) and a low degree of “oxidation” (which is what happens when good fats turn bad and become unhealthy!). Plus it’s delicious. And it supports your immune system.

Here’s how it works: Ninety-two percent of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated, but they are in a particularly healthy class of fatty acids called medium-chain triglycerides (M.C.T.s). The predominant medium-chain triglyceride in coconut oil is lauric acid, which has been shown in countless studies to be antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral. The fatty acids in coconut oil are powerful antibiotics. According to well-known naturopath Bruce Fife, N.D., who devoted a book to the subject, bacteria known to be killed by the medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil include streptococcus (throat infections, pneumonia, sinusitis), staphylococcus (food poisoning, urinary tract infections), neisseria (meningitis, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease), Chlamydia (genital infections, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, periodontitis), and Helicobacter pylori (stomach ulcers). In addition, there are at least a dozen pathogenic viruses that have been reported to be inactivated by lauric acid. Fife points out that another great thing about lauric acid is that it kills the “bad” bacteria but doesn’t harm the friendly intestinal bacteria that we need for healthy digestion. Medium-chain triglycerides also kill candida and other fungi in the intestinal tract, further supporting healthy gut ecology.

Coconut Oil Is a Natural Remedy with Antioxidant Powers

In his seminal book Medicinal Plants of the World, the dean of American herbalists, James Duke, wrote that coconut and coconut oil are used as folk remedies to treat more than thirty-five ailments, from abscesses to wounds. And it’s well known that the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and also amino acids has been found to increase when infants are fed a diet using coconut oil. Coconut oil also has substantial antioxidant power. And populations that consume coconuts as a major part of their diets are rarely troubled by osteoporosis.

So do you need to worry about the natural, healthy saturated fat in coconut oil? I don’t think so, and neither do many experts. “Coconut oil has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol, even in situations where coconut oil is the sole source of fat,” said Dr. George Blackburn, a Harvard Medical School researcher testifying at a congressional hearing about tropical oils back in 1988. “These (tropical) oils have been consumed as a substantial part of the diet of many groups for thousands of years with absolutely no evidence of any harmful effects to the populations consuming them,” says Mary Enig, Ph.D., one of the premier lipid biochemists in the United States and a former research associate at the University of Maryland. Even Dr. C. Everett Koop, former surgeon general of the United States, called the tropical-oil scare “foolishness.”

Remember—the saturated fats in fast-food French fries and the saturated fats in healthy, natural foods like coconut and coconut oil are two completely different animals. Avoid the first like the plague, and enjoy the second to your heart’s content.

WORTH KNOWING

Some of the original bad press on coconut oil came from studies in which they used a hydrogenated, inferior product (loaded with trans fats) that behaves very differently in the body than the real thing. When buying coconut oil, go for the best: virgin or extra virgin coconut oil. It’s never hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, and it’s processed without high heat and chemicals.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Ever wonder why Greeks seem so happy and full of life?

Tempting though it may be to attribute robust good health to any one factor, the truth is that it’s always a combination of things. Unlike lab rats and college sophomores, “free-living” humans always do a bunch of things together, making “cause and effect” statements much more difficult. Greeks spend a lot of time outdoors, they eat their big meal in the daytime, they laugh and dance and break plates at weddings, and they eat lots of good foods.

And that gorgeous sunny climate can’t hurt, either. That said, virtually every nutritional researcher also attributes at least some of the legendary health of those in the Mediterranean to the copious consumption of olive oil.

Olive Oil Joins Omega-3 Fats and Walnuts in an Elite FDA Category

Now don’t go running out and start pouring olive oil on your cheeseburgers thinking you’re going to get the same results as the Greeks. Obviously, there’s a lot of other factors at play here, like what else besides olive oil is on the menu (the Mediterranean diet is notoriously high in fish, vegetables, and fruits and a lot lower in saturated fats). But all things being equal, a ton of research supports the statement that olive oil has some serious health benefits.

In fact, all that research was compelling enough to cause the very conservative FDA to permit olive oil membership in a very select group: foods or food substances whose label may contain a health claim benefit. (At this writing, that select group has only three members: olive oil, omega-3 fats, and walnuts.)

So what exactly is in olive oil, and what the heck does it do for you? Well, to start with, olive oil is very high in compounds called phenols, which are potent antioxidants. Olive oil is also mainly made up of monounsaturated fat, the most important of which is called oleic acid, shown in research to be extremely heart healthy. Compared with carbohydrates, for example, monounsaturated fat lowers LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) and raises the protective HDL cholesterol. Research in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that greater adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet (including plenty of monounsaturated fat) was associated with significant reduction in mortality among people diagnosed with heart disease. And another study in the same journal compared two groups of people with high blood pressure. One group was given sunflower oil, a typical oil used in Western diets, and one group was given the good stuff: extra virgin olive oil (about which more in a moment). The olive oil decreased the second group’s blood pressure by a significant amount; it also decreased their need for blood pressure meds by a whopping 48 percent. As the English might say, “not too shabby.”

Olive Oil Decreases Risk of Colon and Bowel Cancer

Dr. Michael Goldacre—who researched diet and disease at the Institute of Health Sciences and published his results in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health—says that olive oil may have a protective effect on the development of colon cancer. And researchers at Oxford found that a diet rich in olive oil was associated with a decreased risk of bowel cancer.

Dr. Mark Houston, director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital, and my favorite “go-to” guy for all things related to hypertension, says that among other things, monounsaturated fats “make nitric oxide more bioavailable, which makes it better able to keep the arteries dilated,” plus they “help combat the ill effects of oxidation and improve endothelial function.” Translated from the scientific jargon: The stuff is really, really good for you. Houston recommends 4 tablespoons a day for his patients.

What Does “Extra Virgin” Really Mean?

But now the bad news. All olive oil is not created equal. Unfortunately, commercial manufacturers, trying to ride the health hype on olive oil, have rushed to market all kinds of imitation and inferior products that say “olive oil” on them but have questionable benefits. Here’s where being an educated consumer really makes a difference. You may have been wondering what this “extra virgin” designation is all about. Well, here’s the deal. Olive oil is almost unique among the oils in that you can consume it in its crude form without any processing. If you had the chance, you could walk around barefoot in barrels of it, and take the resultant oil and use it directly on your salad (something you can’t do with other vegetable oils). Not refining the oil has the benefit of conserving the vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and other nutrients. On the best family-owned farms, the oil is produced in ways similar to those of the ancient Greeks and Romans: Organic olives are picked by hand so as not to damage the skin or pulp; the oil is separated without the use of heat, hot water, or solvents; and it is left unfiltered. The first pressing produces the best stuff, known as “extra virgin” olive oil.

And that’s the stuff you want. That’s the oil that makes the list of the world’s healthiest foods. Once you begin machine harvesting and processing with heat, you start damaging the delicate compounds in olive oil responsible for all those great health benefits. The antioxidant polyphenols are water soluble—they’re washed away with factory processing. In fact, that’s one reason that factory-produced olive oil has a shorter shelf life—no antioxidants to protect it. Real olive oil—the extra virgin kind, made with care and love and the absence of heat and harsh chemicals—lasts for years.

So don’t fall for the idea that just because an oil in a restaurant says “olive,” it’s necessarily the good stuff. Seek out the extra virgin stuff. It’s worth the extra money and effort to find it.

Your heart will thank you.

Flaxseed Oil (flaxseeds)

“Wherever flaxseed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health,” said Mahatma Gandhi. He was right. The true nature of flaxseed as a health food has been known for centuries. In the eighth century, Charlemagne considered flaxseed so essential for health that he actually passed laws requiring its use. Flaxseed was one of the original medicines, used by Hippocrates himself.

It’s hard to talk about flaxseed and flaxseed oil without discussing essential fatty acids, particularly the omega-3s. You can read about this in a little more detail on page 10, but briefly, here’s what you need to know: Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are one of the best sources on the planet for the important omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid. Alpha-linolenic acid is considered an essential fatty acid because the body can’t make it—it has to be obtained from the diet. The research on the benefits of omega-3 fats is so overwhelming that it would take a book to review them (and many good ones have been written: see, for example, The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew Stoll, M.D., of Harvard Medical School). Flaxseed oil can help protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other degenerative diseases. And though it’s primarily a source of omega-3, the oil has the virtue of containing some other fatty acids as well, notably some omega-6s and some heart-healthy omega-9s, providing a nice fatty acid balance.

Lignans in Flaxseed Oil Protect against Hormone-Sensitive Cancers

But the benefits of flax are not limited to the omega-3 content. The oil, and especially the seeds, are a great source of something called lignans, which have a whole host of health benefits of their own, for both men and women. Lignans have a protective effect against cancer, especially those that are hormone-sensitive like breast, uterine, and prostate cancers. Lignans increase sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which binds to estrogen and helps get it out of the body. The lignans break down in the gut into two compounds—enterolactone and enterodiol—which interfere with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen. (Lignans are probably one of the reasons vegetarian women have lower rates of breast cancer.) Researchers have also found that lignans inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cells in a test tube. Research at Duke University published in the journal Urology showed that men with prostate cancer who were given 3 tablespoons of flaxseed per day and a low-fat diet had decreased cancer cell growth. And lignans interfere with the production of a nasty testosterone metabolite (DHT, dihydrotestosterone), which is partly responsible for hair loss and benign prostate hyperplasia (the condition that makes men over forty have to go to the bathroom a lot at night).

The flaxseeds—but not, obviously, the oil—also contain soluble fiber. You get all the benefits of the oil, plus the fiber when you eat the seeds. They’re ideal for baking, for sprinkling on salads, and for adding to cereals and smoothies—but you need to break the hard outer coating because the whole seeds can’t be digested. Best way: Grind them in a coffee grinder for a few seconds. It’s really worth the effort. (You can buy flax meal, which is ground seeds, but I always think fresher is better when you have the time. That said, 4 tablespoons of flaxseed meal will give you 6 g of protein and 8 g of fiber.) And in addition to all the other good stuff, flaxseeds are also anti-inflammatory and have antioxidant properties as well.

Flax promotes cardiovascular and colon health, can boost immunity, promotes healthy skin, and helps stabilize blood sugar. Because the lignans in flax are actually phytoestrogens (weak estrogenic compounds from plants), they may help relieve menopausal symptoms. In fact, in one study, flaxseed was as effective as hormone replacement therapy in reducing mild menopausal symptoms in menopausal women.

WORTH NOTING

Some high-quality flaxseed oils have been specially designed to have a high lignan content. Look for those. And remember, never cook with the oil, just keep it in the fridge and either take it as a supplement or use it on salads or already-cooked vegetables. Cooking damages the delicate omega-3 fats, which don’t stand up to heat at all.

One other thing: There has been much discussion in the nutritional community about the pros and cons of flaxseed oil vs. fish oil. I’ve been one of those who has come down squarely on the side of fish oil for those who are only going to take one. That’s because I believe that the two omega-3s found in fish oil (EPA and DHA) are even more important than the one that’s found in flax (ALA). I still believe that—but the omega-3 fatty acid in flaxseeds and flaxseed oil does have health benefits of its own, and the lignans add enough value to make it worth recommending that you take both.

Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil (hemp oil) is another of the lesser-known oils that deserves a closer look.

First things first: Don’t confuse this nutritious, amazing oil with marijuana. It’s not “pot.” True, they come from the same plant originally, but so do linens, fiber, rope, and tablecloths. In fact, the word “canvas” is derived from cannabis, which is the Latin name for hemp.

So you won’t get “high” from hemp seed oil. You will, however, get some significant health benefits. And it’s perfectly legal.

Hemp seed oil is probably the best balanced of all the oils on the market. What does that mean? Well, remember that every oil is a combination of fatty acids from different families—some are saturated, some monounsaturated, some polyunsaturated. The oils—or fats—tend to get known by their “primary” fatty acid—for example, olive oil is known as a “monounsaturated” fat because that’s the predominant (but not only) fat it contains. Most oils contain a blend.

Hemp seed oil contains both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Both omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid) and omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid) are considered essential fats since the body can’t make them and they have to be obtained from the diet. One of the problems in our diet is too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3, compounded by the fact that most of the omega-6 we get is highly refined and not of good quality. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in hemp seed is the best of all oils. It’s balanced in a ratio of 3:1, which is pretty darn good. In addition, since this oil hasn’t become a commercial favorite, it’s still relatively easy to find the unrefined, cold-pressed, organic oil. Stores and Internet sites that carry it tend to have this nutrient-rich version.

Best of all, some of the omega-6 in hemp seed oil is GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an important omega-6 that we don’t get nearly enough of. GLA, the primary ingredient in evening primrose and borage oils, is very helpful for PMS and is a “good” omega-6; the body can make it, but doesn’t always do so efficiently. Hemp seed oil is about 2 percent GLA—as far as I know, hemp is the only edible seed containing GLA.

Hemp Oil Lowers “Bad” Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

So yes, hemp is more dominant in the polyunsaturated omega-6 series of fatty acids, but it is highly beneficial in maintaining cardiovascular health. A comprehensive review paper on the relationship of fats to coronary heart disease by Frank Hu, JoAnn Manson, and Walter Willett from Harvard—the folks who ran the Nurses’ Health Study—points out that omega-6s do lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and also improve insulin sensitivity. As for the omega-3s, hundreds of studies have shown that they lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels. The omega-3 fatty acids in hemp are effective in decreasing blood pressure, platelet stickiness, and in fibrinogen levels, a key marker in atherosclerosis. Research has found that for every 1 percent increase in alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) content there was a decrease of 5 mm Hg in the systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure. Omega-3s are also anti-inflammatory and are being studied at Harvard and elsewhere for their effect on mood and depression.

Hemp oil should be stored in the refrigerator, used quickly, and never heated. (There are experts who argue that you can use it at low heat for a short time, but I’d be on the safe side. Omega-3s—like those in flaxseed, fish oil, and hemp seed oil—are highly unstable and form toxic by-products when they’re heated to high temperatures.) Use the nutty-tasting oil on salads and cooked vegetables, or put a tablespoon in your smoothie. You can also mix half-and-half with organic butter for a terrific “essential fatty acid butter.”

WORTH KNOWING

The hemp seeds themselves are increasingly becoming available at health food stores, and I can tell you they’re delicious. Hemp seeds contain all the essential fats we’ve been talking about, plus they’re about 25 percent protein and 10 to 15 percent fiber and contain a rich array of minerals, particularly phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and calcium. I love sprinkling them on stuff, or eating them out of the bag.

Macadamia Nut Oil

Macadamia nut oil probably owes its growing popularity—at least in this country—to the fact that the noted nutritionist and health author Dr. Fred Pescatore championed it in his excellent book The Hamptons Diet. Pescatore has been a friend of mine for years, and I can tell you this: He’s very smart, and he knows his stuff. His program is basically the Mediterranean diet, updated to include macadamia nut oil as the main source of fat instead of the more traditional extra virgin olive oil. Pescatore, who has become something of an expert on the oils and their manufacturing, worries that there are many highly processed olive oils flooding the market that do not have the health properties of real, extra virgin, estate-bottled olive oil.

He’s a big fan of 100 percent macadamia nut oil, unrefined, of course. Two excellent sources of macadamia nut oil are organic macadamia nut oil from Kenya by Vital Sources, which can be found in the shopping section of my Web site (www.jonnybowden.com), and MacNut Oil from Australia (www.mac-nut-oil.com).

Macadamia Nut Oil Is Rich in Heart-Healthy Oleic Acid

Macadamia nut oil is even richer in monounsaturated fat than olive oil. The fat in macadamia nut oil is 85 percent monounsaturated, with a predominance of the heart-healthy oleic acid. Oleic acid increases the incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into the cell membrane, which has all kinds of health benefits. Oleic acid (monounsaturated fats) and omega-3s lower triglyceride levels and raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels, a very protective combination. (The ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol is even more predictive of coronary heart disease than cholesterol is; anything that lowers triglycerides and raises HDL improves that ratio.) Monounsaturated fats (omega-9s) are central to the Mediterranean diet that has been shown in virtually every single research study to be associated with lower rates of heart disease. The monounsaturated fat in macadamia nut oil, together with a nice intake of omega-3s from fish and fish oil, is a very winning combination guaranteed to provide good health. Through admirable lobbying on behalf of the olive oil industry, the FDA took a look at the massive evidence for the health benefits of monounsaturated fats and allow a health claim to be made for olive oil as a result. Understand that the health benefit comes from monounsaturated fat in general, but because it was the Olive Oil Association who petitioned the FDA, the FDA limited its investigation of the research to “monounsaturated fat in olive oil” while recognizing that other oils provide this same fat. It’s all political. Monounsaturated fat is monounsaturated fat, and it does good things for you whether you get it from olive oil or macadamia nut oil. Macadamia nut oil is even more monounsaturated-rich than olive oil, so it stands to reason that the cardiac and anticancer benefits would accrue to it as well.

WORTH KNOWING

There may be health benefits to olive oil besides the ones that come from the monounsaturated fat. Olive oil also contains healthful polyphenols (see Extra Virgin Olive Oil, page 302). It’s entirely possible that macadamia nut oil does also, but it hasn’t been as well studied.

Red Palm Oil

Palm oil is to tropical African cooking what olive oil is to Mediterranean cooking. Although it’s hardly used in the United States, palm oil is the most heavily consumed dietary oil in the world after soybean oil. It is shelf stable and has a high melting point.

Do not confuse real, red palm oil with the “hydrogenated palm oil” that shows up as an ingredient in processed foods and should be completely avoided. Nonhydrogenated, in its natural, “virgin” state, palm oil contains absolutely no trans fats. Though palm oil is about half saturated fat—not necessarily a bad thing in this case—it is also about 40 percent monounsaturated fat. Palm oil comes from the flesh of the palm fruit of a tree native to the tropical areas of Africa, where it grows wild. The reason it’s red is that it contains a high concentration of carotenes. (In nontropical climates where the weather is cooler, the oil tends to be orange.)

Palm Oil Contains Potent Antioxidants and Heart-Healthy Nutrients

Palm oil contains natural antioxidants, specifically members of the vitamin E family. Vitamin E is actually a family of eight compounds—four of them are tocopherols (alpha, gamma, beta, and delta) and four of them are tocotrienols (alpha, gamma, beta, and delta). (Most common vitamin E supplements are just alpha-tocopherol, and that’s a whole different discussion.) What’s important here is that the tocotrienols are potent antioxidants and heart-healthy nutrients, and they are abundantly found in palm oil extracted from palm fruits.

Palm oil is believed to have a very high concentration of carotenoids, which is what gives it the distinctive red coloring. Though I can’t absolutely document this, responsible sources tell me that virgin palm oil is one of the richest natural plant sources of carotenoids, with fifteen times more than carrots and 300 times more than tomatoes. In any case, no other vegetable oil contains carotenoids in such significant quantities.

Palm oil has a distinct, amazingly rich flavor, and is popping up at more and more natural food stores. One company I really trust that makes a great product is Tropical Traditions (www.tropical-traditions.com). Tropical Traditions Palm Oil is made in West Africa and is certified organic.

WORTH KNOWING

Even though virgin palm oil has a high smoke point (about 450° F.), the longer you use it at high heat the more you will destroy the natural antioxidants. If you’re frying with it, definitely don’t reuse it.

Sesame Oil

(unrefined, cold pressed, organic)

The introduction to this section on page 297 was a result of my internal debate over whether or not to include sesame oil in this book. Sesame oil has a lot to recommend it—but it’s very high in omega-6s.

Ultimately, I figured by explaining what you need to be aware of regarding omega-6s, I could include sesame oil with a clear conscience; despite being a high-omega-6 oil, it has a lot of potential health benefits. The thing about sesame oil is that it contains a fully developed antioxidant system of its own. Sesame oil and toasted sesame oil contain a powerful antioxidant called sesamol, as well as two related compounds, sesamin and sesamolin. This natural antioxidant system is one reason why unrefined sesame oil doesn’t go rancid for a long time. Besides containing antioxidants, these compounds have other benefits. Sesamin inhibits the manufacture of inflammatory compounds in the body. In animal studies, it lowers cholesterol and increases the ability of the liver to “burn” (oxidize) fat.

Sesame Oil May Lower Blood Pressure

There’s also evidence that sesame oil can lower blood pressure. In a report to the American Heart Association’s Inter-American Society of Hypertension, Dr. Devarajan Sankar presented evidence that patients with high blood pressure who were taking blood pressure medicationss (but still had high blood pressure) were able to drop their blood pressure into the normal range by simply switching to sesame oil as their only cooking oil. Sampath Parthasarathy, Ph.D., a biochemist at Atlanta’s Emory University and an expert in antioxidants and metabolism, suspects that the lower blood pressure may be an indirect effect of the sesamin or sesamol or both.

Though the lion’s share of fat in sesame oil (45 percent) is omega-6 fat, sesame oil also is 40 percent monounsaturated fat, the heart-healthy type of fat that makes extra virgin olive oil so good for us. Annemarie Colbin, Ph.D., author of Food and Healing, says that in her experience, “the best-quality fats to use are extra virgin olive oil (see page 302), unrefined sesame oil, and ghee (see page 177).” I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get cold-processed unrefined oils no matter which oil you’re using.

Sesame oil is a popular choice for stir-fries. According to Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of the excellent The Hamptons Diet, sesame oil has a medium smoke point, which makes it good for light sautéing, low-heat baking, and pressure cooking where the temperature stays below 320° F. Pescatore puts it on his “use rarely” list only because of the high omega-6 content, but we’ve already covered that issue.

WORTH KNOWING

Sesame oil is called “the most esteemed seed oil in Ayurvedic medicine” and is one of the most popular oils for massage. According to Ann McIntyre, a fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the author of six books, its chemical structure gives it a unique ability to penetrate the skin easily, nourishing and detoxifying even the deepest tissue layers.

What about Canola Oil?

No, it’s not a mistake, nor an omission. Canola oil is not on the list of the world’s healthiest foods. It’s not even close.

Nutritionists can be divided into two camps on certain controversial issues, soy being one of them, canola oil being another. Conventional “wisdom” is that canola oil is a wonderfully healthy oil that should be used as much as possible. Minority opinion is that it is an overhyped, unhealthy oil whose success is completely due to brilliant marketing on the part of the oil industry.

I am firmly in the camp of the second group.

This book is not the place to go into the extremely dense details of the debate on canola oil. If you’re interested, a great place to start is with the writings of the esteemed lipid biochemist Dr. Mary Enig (for starters, Search for “The Great Con-ola,” at www.mercola.com) and Dr. Fred Pescatore’s article “The Real Story on Canola Oil (Can-ugly Oil)” at www.diabetesincontrol.com/).

Let me give you my own personal conclusions. You’re perfectly free to ignore them—God knows there are a lot of people who feel differently—but I hope you’ll give them a fair hearing.

HIGH-TEMPERATURE PROCESSING INCREASES TRANS FATS IN CANOLA OIL

Canola oil was born out of the need for the oil industry to produce an oil high in healthy monounsaturated fats that was more plentiful and less expensive than olive oil. They turned to rapeseed oil, an oil high in monounsaturated fats that has been used extensively in China, India, and Japan and contains a whopping 60 percent monounsaturated fat. Unfortunately, about two-thirds of that fat is from erucic acid, a kind of fatty acid that has been associated with Keshan’s disease (fibrotic lesions of the heart). By genetically modifying the rapeseed oil, they were able to produce an oil—called LEAR (for low erucic acid rapeseed). To avoid the ugly connotations of the name “rapeseed,” the industry settled on canola for “Canadian oil,” since most of the new rapeseed came from Canada.

The rapeseed oil used in China, India, and Japan was quite a different oil from the canola oil produced today—Chinese and Indians used oil that was entirely unrefined. Today, the oil is removed from the rapeseed plant by high-temperature mechanical pressing and solvent extraction, and traces of the solvent remain in the oil. As Enig points out, “Like all modern vegetable oils, canola oil goes through the process of caustic refining, bleaching, and degumming—all of which involve high temperatures of questionable safety.”

But what about the highly touted omega-3s in canola oil, you ask? Omega-3s are great—I’ve been singing their praises throughout this book—but they easily become rancid and foul-smelling when subjected to the high temperatures needed to extract the canola oil. Therefore, they have to be deodorized. The deodorizing process turns a large number of the omega-3 fatty acids into trans fats. (The University of Florida at Gainesville found trans fat levels as high as 4.6 percent in commercial canola oil, even more than in margarine.) And canola oil used in foods (whose manufacturers usually proclaim “made with canola oil!” as loudly as the label will allow) is even worse. Canola oil hydrogenates beautifully, making it ideal for shelf life but not for your life—the hydrogenation just increases the trans fat content.

Pescatore knows a lot about oils, and in fact, the section on cooking oils alone is an excellent reason to buy The Hamptons Diet. In his list of available oils, here’s what he says about canola oil: “This oil is included so that you can compare the profiles more easily. I would never use this oil.”

I agree.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Jeff Volek, R.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.N.

Jeff Volek is an assistant professor in the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Connecticut. He’s one of the few nutritionists I know who is also a terrific athlete. He holds numerous degrees, including a master’s and a Ph.D. in kinesiology, and serves on the editorial board of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. He’s published more than sixty scientific articles and also writes a popular column for Men’s Health.

1. Whole eggs: One of the most nutrient-dense foods, meaning it provides a relatively high proportion of essential nutrients per calorie. Egg yolks also contain choline, an important substance necessary for fat breakdown, the membranes of nearly every cell in the body, and production of neurotransmitters.

2. Salmon: Salmon is a high-quality source of protein and an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Yogurt: An excellent source of high-quality, easily absorbed protein. Has all the nutritional value of milk but with several advantages for individuals with lactose intolerance. Yogurt also boosts the immune system, maintains a healthy gut, and has anticancer effects. Try to find those with the least amount of sugar.

4. Nuts: Increasing nut consumption has been associated with reduced risk for heart disease. Nuts also contain about 2 to 3 g of dietary fiber per ounce and several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E.

5. Beef: Beef is an excellent source of biologically available protein and also contains significant amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, include niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, and vitamin B12. lt’s also an excellent source of heme iron and zinc.

6. Olive oil: Olive oil contains primarily monounsaturated fat and is a staple in the diet of individuals living in the Mediterranean region who demonstrate very low rates of chronic disease. When olive oil is the predominant source of lipids, fat intakes greater than 40 percent of total energy are compatible with good health and are associated with no adverse effects.

7. Water: Water is second to oxygen in maintaining life. Even minimal changes in body water can impair performance.

8. Sweet potatoes: One baked sweet potato provides more than 8,800 IUs of vitamin A, yet it contains only 141 calories. This nutritious vegetable also provides about half your requirement for vitamin C, in addition to smaller amounts of calcium, iron, and thiamine. It is low in sodium and is a good source of fiber and other important vitamins and minerals.

9. Grapes: Perhaps the greatest value of grapes is their abundant content of various antioxidants that can help fight free radicals. Grapes are a good source of several natural antioxidants, including vitamin C, as well as phytochemicals and flavonoids, which also offer protection against heart disease and various cancers.

10. Coffee: Coffee is full of health-promoting phytonutrients. Despite popular opinion, overwhelming research suggests that moderate coffee and caffeine consumption causes no adverse health effects.

CHAPTER 14

Sweeteners

For centuries, psychologists and philosophers have debated a central question of human existence: How much of who we are is “fixed”—(“nature”)—and how much is the result of learning and socialization (“nurture”)? Last time I looked, the debate was still alive and well and raging in the fields of psychology, genetics, behaviorism, and sociology. But one particular taste that seems to be clearly human, one that is hardwired and arrives full-blown and ready to go from the time we’re born, is the taste for sweetness.

Watch any infant when you put a sweet-tasting substance on his tongue, and it’s hard to debate that his reaction is “learned” behavior. They love it. They come out of the box loving it. Current thinking is that the ability to distinguish sweet and bitter is deeply wired in our DNA as a survival trait, allowing us to distinguish poisonous substances in the wild (usually bitter) from ones that are edible. (Though the relationship between bitter and dangerous isn’t perfect, it’s pretty reliable.) Another theory is that we humans are one of the few creatures on earth unable to make our own vitamin C; we must obtain it from our diet, and it’s found most abundantly in sweet things like fruits. Nature, so the theory goes, gave us a sweet tooth so we would actually desire food without which we wouldn’t survive.

No matter. We humans love sweet things, probably way too much for our own good. In Paleolithic times, a sweet tooth wasn’t much of a problem. (There were no twenty-four-hour supermarkets in the caveman era.) The only “sweet” thing available was the occasional bees’ nest of honey, which, if you were lucky enough to come upon it, required you to shimmy up a tree to procure its rewards. The fruits and vegetables of the cavemen era were bitter little things, much different from the specially bred enormous lush fruits of modern time. And the only sugar our ancestors knew was unrefined sugar that came in the original package—the “package” being fruits, vegetables, plants, beets, and even, later, sugarcane. Processed sugar came much later. Processed foods loaded with unspeakable amounts of sugar later still. And high-fructose corn syrup, arguably one of the worst inventions of the food science industry, is even more recent.

ARE THERE HEALTHY WAYS TO FEED A SWEETNESS CRAVING?

So let’s recognize that we are sweet-loving folks. The question then becomes how to appease that taste so it doesn’t destroy us. Or, put differently, how to feed and mollify the craving while doing damage control.

Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we should never have anything with sugar in it (though we’d all probably be a lot more healthy if we did that, even though life wouldn’t be as much fun). I love ice cream as much as anyone on the planet, and life would not be the same without Grandma’s brownies, or Mom’s key lime pie, or just about anyone’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. But unfortunately, few of the ingredients in those delicious concoctions—at least few of the sweetening ingredients—have any place on the list of the healthiest foods in the world.

Two sweeteners, however, do belong on the list: Blackstrap molasses and raw, unfiltered honey.

HEALTHY, BUT HARD TO FIND, SWEETENERS

First, it’s worth mentioning that there are other great ways to sweeten and also do damage control besides using those two foods. Stevia, for example, is an herb that many people love as a sweetener, but it’s just not widely enough available to be included, and it doesn’t have real strong positive benefits—it’s just not bad for you! My favorite sweetener in the world is Xylitol, and it does actually have health benefits—but it’s a sugar alcohol, and only technically a “food.” Hence, it’s not on the list.

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t eat sugar, at least not any kind of processed sugar. But this is not a perfect world. The two sweeteners on this list are actual foods, and in my opinion are the best options those who would like additional sweetness in their food.

And I do realize that’s most of the world—me included.

Blackstrap Molasses

I’m often asked if there are any sweeteners that are actually good for you. The two that always come to mind are blackstrap molasses and raw, cold-pressed honey (see page 315). (I also use Xylitol, a sugar alcohol that can be purchased in granulated form, has some health benefits, has a very low glycemic impact, and tastes just like sugar. But it’s not technically considered a “food,” so it’s not on the list.) Blackstrap molasses, on the other hand, is very much a food. And a nutritional powerhouse to boot.

Molasses is the by-product of sugar refining that contains all the nutrients from the raw sugarcane plant. Since the roots of sugarcane grow very deep, they are able to receive a pretty broad range of minerals and trace elements usually lacking in the topsoil. During the refining of sugarcane, the plants are boiled to a syrup from which the crystals are extracted. Then they’re boiled two more times, both of which produce molasses. Blackstrap molasses, however, comes from the third and final boiling and is essentially the “dregs” of the barrel. One Web site innocently described blackstrap molasses as only having commercial value in the manufacture of cattle feed, precisely because it has the least amount of sugar of the three boils; the Web site, needless to say, received some strong e-mail corrections that they were decent enough to print.

Blackstrap molasses is very dark and has a robust, somewhat bitter-tart flavor. It’s used in a variety of baked goods, particularly meat and vegetable dishes, as a sweetener and coloring agent. It is also widely accepted as a “health food.” It can be used in any number of recipes and is particularly suitable for gingersnaps, soy-based sauces, licorice, canned baked beans, and fermentation systems.

BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES IS LOW IN SUGAR AND HIGH IN NUTRIENTS

One of the very reasons I like it so much is precisely because it has a low amount of sugar and a high amount of nutrients. As the only product from the third and final boil, blackstrap molasses contains the lowest sugar content of the molasseses, but many more of the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements found naturally in the sugarcane plant, making it more nutritious than most other sweeteners.

Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium and an excellent source of manganese and copper. It also contains a small amount of the cancer-fighting mineral selenium. There are all sorts of claims for the health benefits of taking blackstrap molasses as a nutritional supplement to the tune of a couple of tablespoons a day. Some of the claims are probably far-fetched, but where there’s that much smoke there’s probably a fire somewhere. To my taste buds, blackstrap molasses is completely delicious, and a nutrient-dense sweetener that I wholeheartedly recommend. Best bet: Look for unsulfured blackstrap molasses from organic sugar.

WORTH KNOWING

Blackstrap molasses has a long and storied tradition as a health food and a remedy for all sorts of ailments. One of the most popular legends is that it can reverse gray hair. While I’ve never seen any scientific proof of this, it’s an interesting claim, since a copper deficiency may lead to prematurely gray hair, and blackstrap molasses is very high in copper.

Of the varieties of molasses, blackstrap molasses is richest in nutrients, such as iron, B vitamins, calcium, and potassium.

Raw, Unfiltered Honey

Honey is pure alchemy. And it’s precious stuff. One little bee, foraging for nectar over an entire bee-lifetime only produces about one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey. They collect the nectar from flowers; the nectar mixes with enzymes in the bees’ saliva; then they carry it back to the hive, and voilà, they make a deposit. Multiply that process by a few hundred bees and before you know it you’ve got a honeycomb.

Now here’s the rub. The stuff you’d find in that hive, if you put your finger in and tasted it, is not the same food you find in a little squeezy bear in the supermarket. Not even close. The honey I’m talking about here is very similar—if not identical—to the real, raw, unprocessed, unheated, unfiltered kind you’d get if you took that honey-comb home and ate the contents with a spoon. That’s a real food.

PASTEURIZED AND PROCESSED HONEY HAS FEWER NUTRIENTS

This is a very important distinction. Many of the phytonutrients and enzymes that are found in honey are destroyed by pasteurization and high-heat processing. According to some natural foods experts, the best honey has not been heated to temperatures over 105°F, and according to many others, the best honey has not been heated at all. The process of heating and straining the honey, while making it look clearer, also removes a lot of the nutrients and the bee pollen. Some companies—for example, Really Raw Honey—sell unprocessed honey with the bee pollen and part of the comb right in the jar.

THE HARDER THE HONEY, THE BETTER

The type of plants bees forage on determines the color of the honey, the level of nutrients, the fragrance, and the taste. Honey from extremely cold regions is lighter in color than honey from the tropics. According to the Web site of Tropical Traditions, one very reliable company that I particularly like, the strength of crystallization (hardness) determines the level of live-state nutrients and heat-sensitive enzymes. The harder the honey, the better.

Honey contains several members of a class of plant polyphenols called flavonoids, which are mentioned throughout this book and are frequently found in fruits and vegetables. (If you’re interested, the specific flavonoids found in honey are flavanones, flavones, and flavonols.) Flavonoids are known for their antioxidant activity and are important for human health. And at least one study supports the folk wisdom of having some honey in a hot drink when you’re sick: A study in the Journal of Medicinal Food suggested that honey may stimulate antibody production during primary and secondary immune responses.

EVEN RAW HONEY DEMANDS PRECAUTION

Now remember this—honey is still sugar. If you’ve got blood sugar issues, proceed with caution. However, because it’s a real food and does contain nutrients, it’s one of the best sweeteners to use, provided you use it judiciously. And for the record, one study did show that natural honey actually lowered plasma glucose (blood sugar) as well as C-reactive protein (a measure of inflammation) and homocysteine (a risk factor for heart disease) in both healthy and diabetic subjects.

Raw honey doesn’t spoil. The nectar that the bees bring to the hive is about 60 percent water, and the bees “cure” it to about 18 to 19 percent water. At this level of water and with a pH of 3 or 4, the honey is very stable and can last for centuries (it was found in Egyptian tombs). Of course, if it is left exposed to air, it will eventually ferment and develop an unpalatable taste. The bees prevent the fermentation by sealing the honey in the honeycomb. Pretty cool, huh?

WORTH KNOWING

Raw, unfiltered honey is worth seeking out, and many local farms may sell it. You can also find it in natural foods supermarkets and on the Internet. Two companies I’m particularly fond of that market a superb product are the aforementioned Really Raw Honey (www.reallyrawhoney.com) and one of my favorite companies, Tropical Traditions (www.tropicaltraditions.com), which also happens to make a terrific high-quality coconut oil (see page 300).

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., C.N.S., F.A.C.N.

Shari Lieberman is the author of more than seven best-selling books, including one of my favorite reference works, The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book, now in its third edition. She is a contributing editor to the American Medical Association’s fifth edition of Drug Evaluations, a fellow of the American College of Nutrition (F.A.C.N.), a member of the New York Academy of Science, and a published researcher and presenter at numerous scientific conferences. She appears frequently on television and radio as an expert on nutrition and health and has been in private practice as a clinical nutritionist for more than twenty years.

1. Yams and sweet potatoes: Loaded with antioxidants, especially carotenoids. Sweet and delicious but with a low glycemic index. Full of fiber and minerals.

2, 3, 4. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries: Loaded with antioxidants and with powerful healthful plant compounds called proantho-cyanidins—protective against all degenerative diseases, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Plus they have a low glycemic index.

5. Raw almond butter: Loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which lower blood lipids (e.g., cholesterol). Also loaded with fiber and vitamins and minerals, in particular magnesium and vitamin B6 (two nutrients that many are people deficient in). Also an excellent source of vitamin E.

6. Salmon: Superb source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your skin and protective against heart disease and cancer. They’re also great for your brain, eyes, cells, and circulation, and for normalizing triglycerides. Omega-3s reduce chronic inflammation of any kind and are therapeutic for conditions such as asthma, heart palpitations, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, and allergies.

7, 8. Beans, lentils: They have a low glycemic load, act as time-released energy, normalize blood sugar and blood lipids, and are a rich source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Also loaded with lignans, which help naturally balance hormones.

9. Arugula: Loaded with minerals and antioxidants. Delicious cruciferous vegetable that helps protect us against toxins, especially xenohormones (hormone disruptors in pesticides, plastics, pollution, etc.), and helps us detoxify. Protects us against cancer. Loaded with indole-3-carbinol. Tastes great raw or cooked.

10. Buckwheat: Delicious, versatile seed that can be used instead of wheat or other gluten-containing grains. Great as a side dish, or for use in making waffles, pancakes, or pasta. Has a low glycemic index and is a rich source of magnesium and manganese.

EXPERTS’ TOP TEN

Mark Stengler, N.D.

Mark Stengler is associate clinical professor at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Stengler served on the medical advisory committee for the Yale University Complementary Medicine Outcomes Research Project and has been involved in two PBS documentaries on natural medicine. He is the founder of the La Jolla Whole Health clinic in California (www.lajollawholehealth.com) and author of Prescription for Natural Cures and The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies.

1. Beans: Beans have tremendous healing power. They’re high in protein, low in fat and calories, and rich in phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Especially rich in antioxidants are red, black, kidney, and pinto beans. Studies are suggesting that beans have potent anticancer properties.

2. Broccoli: Contains two classes of anticancer phytonutrients: isothiocyanates and glucosinolates. The sulforaphane in broccoli activates detoxifying enzymes in the body, preventing the formation of cancer-forming substances. Eat it raw or lightly steam it. Boiling causes it to lose vitamin C and other nutrients. The sprouts contain thirty to fifty times the concentration of nutrients found in the mature broccoli plant.

3. Blueberries: One of nature’s antiaging superstars. They contain a mega supply of antioxidants known as anthocyanins, as well as fiber and vitamins. They also contain pterostilbene, a powerful antioxidant which is known to fight cancer. And studies with rats show that blueberries improve memory.

4. Eggs: I’m always surprised when books on super-foods omit the incredible egg. What a shame! The egg is the standard for all other foods for protein content. lt’s a great source of vitamin K, selenium, vitamin B12, and choline—a nutrient required by all cell membranes. Also, eggs contain lutein, a nutrient that protects the eyes. And in one Chinese study, six eggs a week lowered the risk of breast cancer by 44 percent. I have seen eggs worsen the symptoms of gallbladder disease, though; eggs should be avoided in those patients.

5. Oatmeal: One of the healthiest carbohydrates. It contains manganese, selenium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, and protein and is an excellent source of soluble fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar and is an excellent choice for those with diabetes. And one bowl of oatmeal consumed daily can reduce cholesterol 8 to 23 percent. Even healthier with a tablespoon of ground flaxseed or sprinkled with cinnamon.

6. Walnuts: Rich in omega-3 fats as well as manganese and copper. They contain gamma-tocopherol, a component of vitamin E that provides unique antioxidant protection, as well as ellagic acid, which helps detoxify cancer-causing substances. Consumption of walnuts reduces the risk of coronary artery disease.

7. Yogurt: Get the kind with health-sustaining “friendly bacteria” like Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. bulgaricus. It’ll say “contains live active cultures” on the label. They improve immune function. Yogurt’s also a good source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, zinc, and other nutrients. Choose organic whenever possible to avoid hormone and antibiotic residues. Try to find those with the least amount of sugar.

8. Pomegranate: I like pomegranate for its antioxidant effects and its ability to reduce plaque in the arteries. Either the fruit or the juice is a good choice.

9. Spinach: Offers cardiovascular prevention. The lutein helps protect against macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults.

10. Wild salmon: For all the obvious reasons! Great source of protective omega-3s and protein.

GLOSSARY

17 beta-estradiol—most potent mammalian estrogenic hormone; can be carcinogenic in hormone-related cancers

ACE inhibitors—found in whey protein; reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health

acetylcholine—major neurotransmitter in the body; needed for memory and healthy brain function

acetylenics—component of celery that stops the growth of cancer cells

aldosterone—adrenal hormone that can raise blood pressure

allicin—active ingredient in garlic; produced from interaction between alliin and allinase

alliin—amino acid found in garlic

allinase—enzyme found in garlic; its action on the amino acid alliin produces allicin

allyl isothiocyanate—breakdown product of sinigrin believed to play a role in the prevention of tumors and suppression of tumor growth

alpha-carotene—carotenoid that converts in the body to vitamin A

alpha-lactalbumin—protein fraction with important disease-fighting effects; found in whey protein

alpha linolenic acid—omega-3 fatty acid that helps reduce inflammation

amino acids—molecules that link together to form proteins

anethole—compound that gives fennel its licorice flavor

anthocyanins—pigment molecules that make blueberries blue, red cabbage and cherries red; improve vision and brain function; guard against macular degeneration; help the body relieve inflammation

anthraquinone—compound in the noni fruit that stimulates the synthesis of collagen and may be an antiwrinkle agent

antiemetic—having the property of preventing nausea and vomiting

antimutagen—substance that blocks cell-changing agents from starting cancer

antioxidants—compounds in food that help fight the process of oxidation, or oxidative stress, a factor in virtually every degenerative disease

antiplatelet activity—helps prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together, thus warding off heart attack or stroke

apoptosis—natural death of cancer cells

arginine—amino acid touted for its role in protecting the inner lining of the arterial walls, making them more pliable and less susceptible to atherogenesis

astaxanthin—natural carotenoid that prevents lipid peroxidation and assists in mending DNA breakdown products; found in salmon

atherosclerosis—thickening of the arteries

avenanthramides—polyphenol antioxidants unique to oats; believed to have anti-inflammatory and heart-healthy properties

beta-carotene—carotenoid that converts in the body to vitamin A

beta-cryptoxanthin—orange-yellow carotenoid that may lower the risk of lung cancer

betacyanin—compound that gives red color to beets

beta-glucans—polysaccharides that stimulate the immune system; e.g., beta-1,6 glucan and beta-1,3 glucan

betaine—metabolite that works synergistically with folate to reduce potentially toxic levels of homocysteine; also known as trimethylglycine (TMG)

beta-lactoglobulin—protein fraction with important disease-fighting effects; found in whey protein

beta-sitosterol—plant compound shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol as well as protect the prostate

boron—mineral that may be important for bone and joint health, particularly in women

bran—the main source of fiber in whole grains; can also contain nutrients

bromelain—proteolytic enzyme that breaks down amino acids; relieves indigestion; often extracted from pineapple

butyric acid—fatty acid with antiviral and anticancer properties; raises the level of interferon in the body

caffeic acid—strong antioxidant found in coffee and rosemary; anti-inflammatory

caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)—active compound in bee propolis known to have anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties

capric acid—medium-chain triglyceride formed into monocaprin in the human body; found in coconut

capsaicin—active ingredient in hot peppers; frequently an ingredient in pain-relieving creams; vasodilator

carminative—agent that induces the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestines

carotenoid—antioxidant compound found in plants; associated with a wide range of health benefits

carvacrol—compound with antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties; found in oregano and thyme

catechins—very powerful group of polyphenols; found in green tea and cinnamon

chalcone polymers—phytochemicals in cinnamon that increase glucose metabolism in the cells

charantin—compound found in bitter melon that may have antidiabetic properties

chlorogenic acid—antioxidant particularly effective against a very destructive free radical called the superoxide anion radical; found in sweet potatoes, apples, and coffee

chlorophyll—substance that makes plants appear green; natural blood purifier

choline—nutrient found in eggs, needed for healthy brain and liver function and fat breakdown; forms betaine in the body

chromium—trace mineral that helps insulin function

citrate—compound that may help fight kidney stones

conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)—trans fat found naturally in grass-fed dairy and meat

cortisol—adrenal hormone with anti-inflammatory properties

COX-2 inhibitors—drugs that block pain and inflammation messages in the body

C-reactive protein—protein in the blood used as a measure of inflammation

crustacean—only group of arthropods that is primarily marine

cucurbitacins—chemicals in pumpkin seeds that may interfere with production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a metabolic by-product of testosterone

curcumin—antioxidant and curcuminoid; has anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects; has positive effect on cholesterol

curcuminoids—family of compounds thought to be most responsible for turmeric’s medicinal effects and bright yellow color

cyclooxygenase—a compound produced in the body in two or more forms, called COX-1 and COX-2

diallyl disulfide—compound in garlic found to inhibit leukemia cells in a test tube

diallyl sulfide—compound in onions that increases the body’s production of an important cancer-fighting enzyme

dihydrotestosterone—testosterone metabolite partly responsible for hair loss and benign prostate hyperplasia

diosgenin—phytochemical in beans that appears to inhibit cancer cells from multiplying

diterpene—health-promoting plant compound found in rosemary

dithiolethiones—anticancer phytochemicals found in cabbage

dopamine—“feel-good” neurotransmitter in the brain

eicosanoids—minihormones that control metabolic processes in the body; also called prostaglandins

ellagic acid—a naturally occurring phenolic known to be both anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic; found in cherries and red raspberries; shown to inhibit tumor growth

enterodiol—breakdown product of lignan in the gut that interferes with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen

enterolactone—breakdown product of lignan in the gut that interferes with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen

epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—cate-chin believed to be responsible for the anticancer effects of green tea

eritadenine—active compound in shiitake mushrooms that lowers blood cholesterol

erucic acid—a fatty acid that has been associated with Keshan’s disease

essential fatty acids—“good fats” that must be obtained through diet; support many healthy body functions

eugenol—phytochemical with antimicrobial activity that can help stop the growth of bacteria and fungi

fiber—indigestible component of food; associated with lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer

fibrin—sticky, weblike fibers that the body produces to form a structure that stops excess bleeding

fibrinogen—substance in the body that can cause blood clots and strokes

flavonoids—plant compounds with antioxidant, anticancer, and antiallergy properties; more than 4,000 have been identified

flavanols—flavonoids found in cocoa; prevent fatlike substances in the bloodstream from clogging the arteries and modulate nitric acid

folate—B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube defects and helps bring down homocysteine levels

free radicals—destructive molecules in the body; can damage cells and DNA

French paradox—fact that the French have less heart disease than Americans, despite eating far more high-fat foods

fructooligosaccharides—food for good gut bacteria; help maintain healthy gut ecology; also called prebiotics

fucoidan—polysaccharide believed to have anticancer activity; found in kombu and wakame

furocoumarins—compounds found in grapefruit; inhibit a key enzyme that metabolizes and regulates certain drugs; reason to avoid taking drugs with grapefruit juice

gamma-linolenic acid—important “good” omega-6 found in hemp seed, primrose, and borage oils; also called GLA

gamma tocopherol—component of vitamin E that neutralizes the perioxynitrite radical, which destroys cellular endothelial membranes

ganodermic acid—component of reishi mushrooms; benefits blood pressure and liver and adrenal function

geraniol—phytochemical with antimicrobial activity that can help stop the growth of bacteria and fungi

germ—the smallest portion of a grain, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber

gingerdiones—antioxidant and active ingredient in ginger

gingerol—phytochemical responsible for the pungent taste of ginger

glucose tolerance factor (GTF)—helps regulate blood sugar levels; found in brewer’s yeast

glucosinolates—phytonutrients that are parent molecules of substances that increase human resistance to cancer

glutathione—one of the body’s premier antioxidants; required for replication of the lymphocyte immune cells

glutathione-S-transferase—important cancer-fighting enzyme

glycemic index—measure of how much a given food (like fruit) raises blood sugar

glycemic load—measure of a food’s effect on blood sugar that accounts for portion size

glycolipids—substances found in butter, with anti-infective properties

glycyrrhizin—member of the saponin family and the active ingredient in licorice

goitrogens—naturally occurring substances that suppress thyroid function

haemagglutinin—clot-promoting substance that causes red blood cells to clump together; found in soybeans

hesperidin—predominant flavonoid in oranges; strengthens capillaries and has anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, vasoprotective, and anticarcinogenic actions

homocysteine—naturally occurring amino acid that can be harmful to blood vessels, thereby contributing to the development of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease

host defenses potentiators (HDPs)—compounds used as adjunctive cancer treatments throughout Asia; also found in cell structures of mushrooms

husk—inedible outer layer of a grain kernel; also called chaff

hydroxyl radicals—dangerous free radicals

immunoglobulin—protein fraction with important disease-fighting effects; found in whey

indoles—phytochemicals indole-3-carbinole and DIM; protective against prostate, gastric, skin, and breast cancers

inflammation—critical component of virtually all degenerative diseases

insoluble fiber—indigestible part of foods that moves bulk through intestines

insulin—fat-storing hormone that, if raised high enough, long enough, and frequently enough, contributes to diabetes, heart disease, and aging

inulin—naturally occurring soluble fiber that feeds the good bacteria in the gut and helps support gastrointestinal health

isoflavones—phytochemicals in soy foods that may help ease menopause symptoms

isothiocyanates—phytonutrients that neutralize carcinogens, reduce their poisonous effect, and stimulate the release of other substances that help combat them

lauric acid—fat that is antiviral, antimicrobial, and important for immune function; found in coconut oil

lecithin—nutritional supplement that is 10 to 20 percent phosphatidylcholine

lectins—substances contained in legumes and grains that originally evolved to fight off insect predators; a portion of lectins can bind with body tissues and create problems

L-ergothioneine—powerful antioxidant in mushrooms that neutralizes free radicals and increases enzymes with antioxidant activity

lignans—plant compounds with protective effect against cancers, especially those that are hormone-sensitive like breast, uterine, and prostate cancers

limonene—phytochemical that boosts the body’s synthesis of an enzyme that has antioxidant properties and helps detoxify chemicals; found in citrus fruit peels

limonin—limonoid in lemon that seems to be able to lower cholesterol

limonoids—phytochemicals abundant in citrus fruit that account for the scent of fresh lemon or orange peel

linoleic acid—essential fatty acid with anticancer properties; also called omega-6 fatty acid

lipid peroxidation—process by which fats turn rancid

lutein—carotenoid that is a natural antioxidant and maintains eye and skin health

luteolin—flavonoid found in artichokes that prevents LDL oxidation

lycopene—carotenoid associated with lower risk of prostate cancer; found in tomatoes

lysine—amino acid found in quinoa; scarce in the vegetable kingdom

macrophages—white blood cells that devour foreign invaders like fungi and bacteria

magnesium—mineral that helps lower high blood pressure

malic acid—substance in vinegar important for fighting body toxins and inhibiting unfriendly bacteria

manganese—trace mineral essential for growth; reproduction; wound healing; brain function; and metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol

medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)—healthy class of fatty acids; e.g., lauric acid

metabolite—by-product of the body’s metabolic processes

methylhydroxychalcone polymer—active ingredient in cinnamon; seems to mimic insulin function, increasing glucose uptake by cells and signaling certain kinds of cells to turn glucose into glycogen

molybdenum—enzyme-enhancing mineral found in red kidney beans

monocaprin—by-product of capric acid shown to have antiviral effects

monoterpine—plant compound found in rosemary

monounsaturated fats—fats central to the Mediterranean diet, associated with lower rates of heart disease; found in nuts and olive oil; also called omega-9s

mucopolysaccharides—complex sugars mixed with amino acids, simple sugars, and sometimes protein; make up the cell walls of spirulina

myricetin—common flavonoid that may have anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant properties; found in raisins

myristicin—volatile oil in parsley that may inhibit tumors

nacre—combination of calcium and protein with which oysters coat any irritating sand or grit that gets trapped within their shell

nasunin—anthocyanin that is a powerful antioxidant; found in eggplant

nattokinase—fibrinolytic enzyme that can help reduce and prevent clots; found in natto

neochlorogenic acid—phytonutrient found in plums and prunes that is particularly effective against a very destructive free radical called the superoxide anion radical

neopterin—substance found in humans that appears to play an important role in the immune system; isolated from royal jelly

neoxanthin—carotenoid found in spinach that causes prostate cancer cells to self-destruct

nitric oxide—compound in the body that helps relax constricted blood vessels and ease blood flow; synthesized from arginine

nobiletin—citrus flavonoid that may prevent atherosclerosis

octacosanol—compound in wheat germ oil that might help with exercise performance

oleic acid—omega-9 fat that is found in high amounts in olive oil and macadamia nut oil and many nuts; increases the incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into the cell membrane

omega-3 fats—ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), found in flaxseed; DHA (docosahexanoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentanoic acid), found in fish like wild salmon; keep cell membranes fluid

ORAC value—oxygen radical absorbance capacity; rating system for antioxidant power

organosulfur compounds—anticancer substances found in kale

oryzanol—component of brown rice that aids in its cholesterol-lowering effect

osteocalcin—compound that anchors calcium molecules inside the bone; activated by vitamin K

oxalate—substance that inhibits calcium absorption

oxidize—damage with free radicals

oxymel—combination of apple cider vinegar and honey widely used to dissolve painful calcium deposits in the body

palmitic acid—fat found in chocolate; shouldn’t be eaten in large amounts

pantothenic acid—vitamin B5; found in peanuts; stress reliever

papain—one of a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes that help break down or digest protein; extracted from papaya and used in digestive enzyme supplements as well as in enzyme supplements used for pain

PCB—polychlorinated biphenyl, a toxin sometimes found in farm-raised salmon

p-coumaric acid—polyphenol studied for its antioxidant abilities and its potential as an anticancer agent

pectin—type of fiber that helps relieve constipation, reduce cholesterol, and regulate blood sugar; found in apples and quince

perillyl alcohol—compound that may inhibit tumor growth; found in cherries

phase-2 enzymes—substances that can “disarm” damaging free radicals and help fight cancer-causing carcinogens

phenethyl isothiocyanate—compound found in cruciferous vegetables that may have anticancer effects

phenolic compounds—natural antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body that are thought to be linked to most chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; most belong to the flavonoid group

phenols—plant chemicals that are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents; also known as phenolic acids

phenylbutazone—anti-inflammatory medicine with effects similar to those of curcumin

phloridzin—phytochemical found in apples that contributes to antioxidant power

phosphatidylcholine—phospholipid with choline as a component; found in eggs; helps keep fat and cholesterol from accumulating in the liver

phthalides—phytochemicals found in celery that increase blood flow and reduce level of stress hormones

phycocyanin—pigment found in spirulina with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; may inhibit cancer-colony formation

phytates—substances that block the absorption of minerals; found in grains and soy foods

phytic acid—phytochemical in beans that can protect cells from genetic damage that leads to cancer

phytoalexins—chemical substances produced by plants as a defense against pathogenic microorganisms

phytoene—antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes; along with zera-carotene and phytofluene believed to have strong disease-fighting potential

phytoestrogens—weak estrogenic compounds from plants

phytofluene—antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes; along with phytoene and zera-carotene believed to have strong disease-fighting potential

phytonutrients—nutrients from plants

phytosterols—plant chemicals with numerous health benefits, including lowering cholesterol; also called plant sterols

plant sterols—plant chemicals with numerous health benefits, including lowering cholesterol; also called phytosterols

plasmin—enzyme in the body that dissolves and breaks down fibrin to help prevent blood clots

polyacetylenes—plant compounds that help protect against carcinogens; found in parsnips

polyglutamic acid—compound that makes natto sticky and increases the natural moisturizing factor in skin

polyphenols—powerful antioxidants, many of which have anticancer activity; include flavonoids, anthocyanins, and isoflavones; help protect cells from oxidative stress

polysaccharide—long string of glucose molecules

polyunsaturated fats—large class of fatty acids with many members, including both the omega-3s and the omega-6s; found in vegetable oils, nuts, and fish

proanthocyanidins—plant compounds helpful in preventing degenerative disease; powerful antioxidants that are several times more potent than vitamins C and E; help protect against the effects of internal and environmental stresses (cigarette smoking, pollution)

probiotics—good bacteria with positive effects in the digestive system; found in yogurt and naturally fermented foods

prostaglandins—minihormones that control metabolic processes in the body; also called eicosanoids

protease inhibitor—phytochemical in beans that slows the division of cancer cells

proteolytic enzymes—enzymes that break down the amino acid bonds in protein

pterostilbene—powerful antioxidant that is known to lower cholesterol and fight cancer

purines—substances that break down to uric acid in the body; found in cauliflower

quercetin—flavonoid that is a natural anti-inflammatory and has anticancer effects

resveratrol—phytoalexin compound found in grapes and blueberries; associated with antiaging effects, reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, and reduced risk for cancer

rhizome—component of turmeric that is eaten

rhodopsin—purple pigment in the eye; needed for vision in dim light

rosmarinic acid—phenolic acid found in oregano and rosemary; has antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties

rutin—bioflavonoid found in asparagus; helps protect blood vessels

saponin—health-promoting components of vegetables and legumes with strong biological activity, including acting as natural antibiotics; may have anticancer properties

saturated fats—good form found in coconut oil, bad form in fast-food, French fries

selenium—essential trace element with protective effect against cancer; found in Brazil nuts and chickpeas

serotonin—feel-good neurotransmitter; helps boost mood and lower sugar cravings

sesamin—member of the lignan family; found in sesame seeds; inhibits the manufacture of inflammatory compounds in the body

sesaminol—phenolic antioxidant; formed when sesame seeds are refined into oil

sesamol—powerful antioxidant found in sesame oil and toasted sesame oil

sesamolin—member of the lignan family; found in sesame seeds

sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG)—compound that binds to estrogen and helps get it out of the body

shogaols—antioxidant and active ingredient in ginger; have anti-inflammatory properties

silicon—important nutrient for bone health; found in celery

silymarin—plant compound that helps protect and nourish the liver; found in milk thistle and artichokes

sinigrin—chemical found in Brussels sprouts that suppresses the development of precancerous cells

sodium alginate—compound present in strong brown algae; may reduce uptake of radioactive particles into bone

solanine—compound found in eggplant and other nightshades; may aggravate osteoarthritis

soluble fiber—breaks down as it passes though the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps some substances related to high cholesterol; helps control blood sugar by delaying the emptying of the stomach and retarding the entry of sugar into the bloodstream

stearic acid—fat found in dark chocolate that has a neutral effect on the body

steroidal glycosides—compound found in asparagus root; affect hormone production and possibly influence emotions

sterols—fats that serve as the basic molecule for important hormones like the sex hormones

substance P—chemical that transmits pain messages to the brain

sulfides—smelly sulfur compounds found in onions; may help lower lipids and blood pressure

sulforaphane—member of the isothiocyanate family that protects against prostate, gastric, skin, and breast cancers; found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts

sulfoxides—sulfur compounds found in onions

superoxide dismutase (SOD)—important antioxidant enzyme found in cereal grasses

tannins—group of chemicals in red wine and tea that can cause astringent taste

taraxasterol—hormone-balancing constituent of dandelion

taraxerol—hormone-balancing constituent of dandelion

tartaric acid—found in vinegar; important in fighting body toxins and inhibiting unfriendly bacteria

telomerase—enzyme that “immortalizes” cancer cells by maintaining the end portions of the tumor cell chromosomes

terpenoids—component of licorice

theaflavin—antioxidant in black tea

theanine—substance in green tea that induces the release of a neurotransmitter, with a calming effect; triggers release of dopamine in the brain

thearubigen—antioxidant in black tea

thiosulfinates—smelly sulfur compound found in onions

thujone—compound found in oil of sage that is effective against both salmonella and candida

thymol—powerful antiseptic with anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties; found in oregano and thyme

tocopherols—beneficial plant compounds found in olives; part of the vitamin E family

tocotrienols—potent antioxidants and heart-healthy nutrients; found in palm oil extracted from palm fruits; part of the vitamin E family

trans fat—considered metabolic poison, with the exception of CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid; partially hydrogenated oil

triglyceride—blood fat that is a risk factor for heart disease

triterpenoids—beneficial component of reishi mushrooms

turmeric—anti-inflammatory spice

tyrosine—amino acid found in oysters that the brain converts to dopamine

umbelliferous—vegetable group that the National Cancer Institute has identified as possessing cancer-protective properties; includes parsnips and parsley

urushinol—toxic resin that can cause contact dermatitis; found in man-goes

xenohormones—toxins that cause hormone disruption

zeaxanthin—carotenoid important for eye health

zera-carotene—antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes; along with phytoene and phytofluene believed to have strong disease-fighting potential

zingerone—antioxidant and active ingredient in ginger; has anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful in a nutritional program for arthritis and/or fibromyalgia

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I love writing acknowledgments pages. They’re the most fun of all to write, and I look forward to it every time I have to do it.

Why, you ask?

Because acknowledging makes everyone feel good, including—or especially—the acknowledger. Everyone loves to be acknowledged, and it’s a gift (for me) to be able to actually thank the people in my life who continue to contribute to me and make such a difference in the quality of my existence on this planet.

Some of them helped a lot with this book. Some of them just increase my joy every day I’m alive. (Some did both.)

All of them—for better or worse—help make me who I am.

So.

I’d like to acknowledge: my dear brother Jeffrey, my sister-in-law Nancy, and my niece and nephew Pace and Cadence, who I am sure I will have an even better relationship with one day when the aliens who kidnapped them as teenagers return them to Planet Earth.

I’d like to acknowledge my “chosen” family who have sustained me for over twenty years: my “sexy” sisters Randy Graff and Lauree Dash; my dear brother Peter Breger; my dear friends Susan Wood and Christopher Duncan; my lifelong partner in crime Sky London; my dear Kimberly Wright; my friends Oz Garcia, Liz Neporent, Billy Stritch, Scott Ellis, Oliver Beaucamp, and Jennifer Schneider. To all my animal companions and friends that have brought me joy, Max, Tigerlily, Woodstock, Teesha, Allegra, Miss Emily Mae, and to my lifelong friend, Rev. Lee Bessinger.

My accountability partner, Christine Comaford, who brought me into the best Mastermind group in the world.

Werner Erhard, for starting the process for so very many people, including me.

Howard, Robin, Fred, Gary, and Artie, for putting a smile on my face each and every single day, and especially for staying on the air on September 11th. I wonder if you even know how much that meant to so many of us.

My teachers: Robert Crayhon, M.S.; Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D.; Alan Gaby, M.D.; Jonathan Wright, M.D.; Jack Canfield; Mark Victor Hansen; and especially Les Brown.

My editors at various publications who believe in me and keep me going with a constant string of interesting assignments that allow me both to follow my interests and to buy overpriced dog food: especially Sarah Hiner at Bottom Line, Kalia Donner at Remedy, Lyle Hurd at Total Health, Colette Heimowitz at Atkins Nutritionals, and Tanya Mancini at i-Village and beyond.

Holly Schmidt, my editor on this book, who did such a magnificent job of turning this into something we could all be proud of, and who, best of all, got the jokes.

A very special thanks to Dana Carpender. You think you’re my fan? Honey, it goes double back at you.

And I’m especially proud to call these people my professional friends—their combined intellectual firepower could light up the galaxy and continues to dazzle me on a daily basis, while their commitment to the health of the world continues to inspire me: C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D.; Dave Leonardi, M.D.; Robert Crayhon, M.S.; Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S.; Liz Neporent, M.S.; Stephen Sinatra, M.D.; Andy Rubman, N.D.; Barry Sears, Ph.D.; Mark Houston, M.D.; Elson Haas, M.D.; Mary Dan Eades, M.D.; Michael Eades, M.D.; J.J. Virgin, Ph.D., C.N.S.; Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., C.N.S.; Fred Pescatore, M.D.; Jeff Volek, R.D., Ph.D.; Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc.; Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.; Oz Garcia, Ph.D.; Sonja Pettersen, N.M.D.; Charles Poliquin, M.Sc.; and Mark Stengler, N.D.

And in case I haven’t said it enough (because I never could)—Anja, who gives new meaning to the phrase “the light of my life.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., M.A., C.N., C.N.S., is a board-certified nutritionist, member of the American College of Nutrition, and former personal trainer with a master’s degree in psychology. He is a nationally known expert on weight loss and nutrition and is the author of the best-selling Living The Low Carb Life: Choosing the Diet That’s Right for You from Atkins to Zone (winner of the Consumers Choice Award for Best Nutrition Book of 2004), as well as Jonny Bowden’s Shape-Up! The Eight Week Program to Transform Your Body, Your Health and Your Life. He is the host of a popular call-in health show heard on KLLI-Free FM, and is the popular Weight Loss Coach on iVillage.com, where his advice on health and life has been featured for ten years.

Jonny frequently appears on television as a health expert including appearances on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS, and is a popular speaker at media events and seminars. He has also been featured in The New York Times, The New York Post, Bottom Line Health, Marie Claire, Shape, W, Time Magazine, Fitness, The National Enquirer, and countless other publications. He lives in Los Angeles with his beloved life companion, Anja Christy, and as many dogs as possible.

His new CD set, Change Your Body, Change Your Life is available at www.jonnybowden.com.

INDEX

A

Abramson, John, 12, 13

acai berries, 92, 249

ACE inhibitors, 80

acemannan, 271, 273

acetylated polymannans, 271–72

acetylcholine, 192, 289

acetylenics, 34

acidity, 57, 227

acne, 174

addiction, 226, 227, 263

adrenal fatigue, 231

Adventist Health Study, 145, 147, 150

Agatston, Arthur, 33

aging

barley grass and, 227

blood sugar and, 11

blueberries and, 101–2

free radicals and, 119

fruit juice and, 255

garlic and, 246

grapes and, 117

memory, 101–2

noni juice and, 259

pineapple and, 172

pomegranate and, 246

resveratrol and, 117, 262, 263

royal jelly and, 223

vegetable juice and, 255

AIDS, 108

alcohol, 261–63, 263, 273

aldosterone, 231

alfalfa sprouts. see sprouts alginates, 186

alkalinity, 227

alkaloids, 56, 142

allergies to bee pollen, 224

to citrus fruits, 125

cumin and, 281

to dairy, 244

flavonoids and, 53

gluten, 74–75

grapes and, 117

licorice and, 231

oligomeric proanthocyandins (OPCs) and, 117

omega-3 fats and, 317

onions and, 53

pears and, 142

quercetin and, 105, 220

to rosemary, 289

seafood and, 206

vinegar and, 295

to wheat, 75

allicin, 282, 283

alliin, 283–84

allinase, 284

allium family. see garlic; garlic; leeks; onions

allyl isothiocyanate, 27, 43, 286

allyl sulfides, 48

almond butter, 147–48, 317

almond milk, 148

almond oil, 299–300

almonds, 16, 89, 147–48, 164, 186, 317

aloe vera juice, 271–73

aloeride, 272

alpha-carotene, 30

in butternut squash, 62

cancer and, 30

in carrots, 30, 31

in pumpkin, 58

in Swiss chard, 65

alpha-lactalbumin, 243

alpha-linolenic acid, 58, 164, 274, 297, 304

Alzheimer’s disease, 11

acetylcholine and, 289

antioxidants and, 267–68

blueberries and, 101

eggs and, 192

epigallocatechin galate (EGCG) and, 268

fruit juice and, 255

inflammation and, 13

myricetin and, 136

polyphenols and, 268

pomegranate and, 246

raisins and, 136

rosemary and, 289

seafood and, 204

tea and, 267–68

vegetable juice and, 255

American Cancer Society

on broccoli, 25

on Brussels sprouts, 27

on cabbage, 27

“The American Cancer Society’s Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods”, 105

American Chemical Society, 109

American Diabetes Association, 97, 112

American Gastroenterological Association, 83

American Institute of Cancer Research, 27, 29, 84

American Heart Association (AHA)

on fish, 204

on soy, 166

amino acids, 132

alliin, 283–84

in aloe vera juice, 271

arginine, 145–46, 162

asparagine, 22

in bee pollen, 222

in Brewer’s yeast, 244

in eggs, 191

in garlic, 283–84

in Goji berries, 114

in green beans, 41–42

homocysteine, 21, 22, 42

in licorice, 231

in lobster, 206

lysine, 78

in mushrooms, 50

in royal jelly, 224

in sea vegetables, 235

in shrimp, 205

in spirulina, 228

in sprouts, 238

in tuna, 213

tyrosine, 210

in vinegar, 294

in whey protein, 244

analgesia. see pain relief

Anderson, R.A., 279

anethole, 40

anthocyanins, 15, 38, 232, 264

in acai berries, 249

in blueberries, 72, 80, 101, 102, 220

in cabbage, 29, 234

cancer and, 106

cardiovascular health and, 106, 234

in cherries, 106

in cinnamon, 278

COX-2 inhibitors and, 106

in cranberry juice, 253

cyclooxygenase and, 139

in eggplant, 38

gout and, 106

inflammation and, 29, 106

nasunin, 38

pain and, 106

in raspberries, 106, 138

in sauerkraut, 234

in strawberries, 80, 139

stroke and, 106

toxins and, 234

vision and, 220

anthraquinone, 259

antibiotics, 15, 174

antiemetics, 285

antioxidants, 9, 12

in acai berries, 249

Alzheimer’s disease and, 267–68

anthocyanins. see anthocyanins

in apples, 93, 94

in apricots, 96

in arugula, 317

in asparagus, 22

avenanthramide. see avenanthramide

in avocados, 97–98

in beans, 81, 84, 318

in bee pollen, 222

in berries, 90, 274, 317

beta-carotene. see beta-carotene

beta-cryptoxanthin. see beta-cryptoxan-thin

biflavonols. see biflavonols

in blackberries, 111

in blueberries, 80, 89, 101, 102, 246, 318

in broccoli, 80

in brown rice, 246

in cabbage, 29, 234

cancer and, 12, 119, 264

in cantaloupe, 104

cardiovascular health and, 12, 262, 264

catechins. see catechins in cauliflower, 32

in cereal grasses, 227

chalcone polymers. see chalcone polymers

in cinnamon, 278

in coconut oil, 301

in coffee, 172, 251

in cranberries, 72, 109, 253

curcumin and, 293

in dates, 111

epicatechin. see epicatechin

eye disease and, 12

flavonoids. see flavonoids

in fruit juice, 255

in garbanzo beans, 86

in garlic, 246

in ginger, 285

gluthathione. see gluthathione glycyrrhizin. see glycyrrhizin

in Goji berries, 114

in grapefruit, 115

in grapes, 117, 312

in green foods and drinks, 227

in green tea, 164, 246

in greens, 172

in guava, 118

in honey, 316

immune system and, 52

indole-3-carbinol. see indoles

inflammation and, 267–68

isoflavones. see isoflavones

in kale, 46, 80

in kimchi, 230

in kiwifruit, 122

L-ergothioneine. see L-ergothioneine

in lemons, 124

in licorice, 231

lycopene. see lycopene memory and, 12

mushrooms and, 50, 51

in noni juice, 259

in okra, 52

in olive oil, 90, 302

in onions, 53

in oranges, 128

in oregano, 287

organic foods and, 15

p-coumaric acid. see p-coumaric acid

in palm oil, 309

in papaya, 130

in peaches, 131

in peanuts, 153–54

in peppers (sweet), 90, 273

in persimmons, 143

phenol-based. see phenolic compounds

in pineapple, 133

in plums, 111

in pomegranate, 185, 245, 318

in poultry, 194

protein and, 243

in prunes, 134, 135

in raisins, 136

in raspberries, 80

in red wine, 261–62, 263

resveratrol, 261–62

in rosemary, 289

in sage, 290

in sauerkraut, 234

selenium, 194

in sesame oil, 310

sesame seeds and, 160

in shrimp, 205

in spinach, 60

in star fruit, 144

in strawberries, 80, 139

in sunflower seeds, 161

superoxide dismutase (SOD), 266

in sweet potatoes, 64, 317

in tea, 264, 266, 267–68, 274

theaflavins, 265

thearubigens, 265

thymol, 291

in tomatoes, 66–67, 164

in vegetable juice, 255

vitamin A and, 31

in walnuts, 318

in whey, 72, 80

in whole grains, 246

in yams, 317

antiseptics, 291

antivirals

bee propolis, 223

garlic, 186, 246

in ghee, 178

anxiety, 266

apoptosis, 27, 70, 105, 137–38, 139

appetite, 279, 286

apple cider vinegar. see vinegar

apple quince, 144

apples, 16, 36, 89, 91, 93, 93–95, 93–95, 220, 274

apricots, 96

arabinose, 272

arame, 236

Archives of Internal Medicine, 97

arginine, 145–46

atherogenesis and, 162

cardiovascular health and, 162

in nuts, 145–46

in peanuts, 154

in sunflower seeds, 162

arthritis. see also osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis

alkaloids and, 56

blueberries and, 101

boron and, 94

COX-1 inhibitors and, 106

COX-2 inhibitors and, 106

flaxseed oil and, 304

ginger and, 285

green tea and, 246

green tomatoes and, 67

nightshade family and, 56, 67

raspberries and, 138

solanine and, 67

turmeric and, 292

artichokes, 19

arugula, 20, 317

Asian diet, 166

Asian medicine. see also Ayurvedic medicine; Chinese medicine; Indian medicine; traditional medicine

ginger in, 284, 285

green foods and drinks and, 227

parsley in, 288

root vegetables in, 71

umeboshi plums in, 241

asparagine, 22

asparagus, 21–22, 185

astaxanthin, 186, 205, 217

asthma

apples and, 93, 94

bee propolis and, 223

omega-3 fats and, 317

onions and, 53

quercetin and, 105

rosemary and, 289

atherogenesis, 145–46, 162

atherosclerosis, 67, 98, 129, 197, 306–7

athletics

bee pollen and, 224

dates and, 111

eggs and, 193

potassium and, 57

pumpkin and, 57

water and, 269

Atkins Diet, 114, 152

Atkins, Robert, 152

attention deficit disorder (ADD), 204

autism, 204

autoimmune diseases, 82, 285. see also specific conditions

avenanthramide, 76

Aviram, Michael, 260

avocados, 11, 16, 89, 97–98, 97–98, 185, 273

Ayurvedic medicine, 52

ghee in, 177, 178

ginger in, 284

okra and, 52

peppers (hot) in, 54

sesame oil in, 310

turmeric in, 292, 293

B

B vitamins. see also folic acid; niacin; riboflavin; thiamin

in almond butter, 317

in aloe vera juice, 273

in asparagus, 21

in beans, 273

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 197

in Brewer’s yeast, 220, 244

in brown rice, 246

in chicken, 194

in cod, 214

in eggs, 318

in green beans, 42

in kale, 89

in kimchi, 230

in lamb, 199

in legumes, 273

in liver, 199

in lobster, 206

in mackerel, 208

in molasses, 315

in peanuts, 154

in peppers (sweet), 273

in royal jelly, 224

in salmon, 217, 246

in sardines, 212

in sea vegetables, 237

in Swiss chard, 89

in tuna, 213

vitamin B complex, 67

vitamin B1, 222, 273

vitamin B2, 222, 273

vitamin B3, 273

vitamin B5, 72, 224

vitamin B6, 79, 222, 273, 317

vitamin B12, 51, 72, 212, 222, 237, 312, 318

in whole grains, 246

in wild game, 202

in yogurt, 184

bacteria, probiotic, 36

bananas and, 100

cancer and, 183, 233

candida and, 182

cardiovascular health and, 230

cholesterol and, 233–34

in dandelion, 36

digestion and, 182, 230, 233

fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and, 100

immune system and, 182, 229–30, 233, 246

inflammation and, 183, 230, 233

in Jerusalem artichokes, 44

in kimchi, 229–30

in milk, 180

in sauerkraut, 233

in yogurt, 175, 182–84, 246, 318

bananas, 99–100

barley, 90

barley grass, 227–28

bean sprouts, 172

beans, 11, 81–88, 273, 317, 318. see also garbanzo beans

adzuki, 83, 84

antioxidants in, 81, 84

autoimmune diseases and, 82

black, 90

black-eyed peas, 84

blood sugar and, 81, 84

cancer and, 81, 83, 84

cardiovascular health and, 81

cholesterol and, 81, 83–84

diabetes and, 81, 83, 84

diosgenin in, 84

fiber in, 81, 83, 84, 90

hyperglycemia and, 84

immune system and, 82

insulin and, 84

intestinal permeability and, 82

iron in, 84

kidney, 83

lectins in, 82

lentils, 84

metabolic syndrome, 84

minerals in, 84

molybdenum in, 84

obesity, 81, 83

phytic acid in, 84

phytochemicals in, 81, 84

pinto, 84

protease inhibitors in, 84

protein in, 81, 84

red, 84

red kidney, 84

rheumatoid arthritis and, 82

saponins in, 84

vitamins in, 81, 84

weight loss, 84

women and, 84

bee pollen, 222–23, 224

beef, 72, 312

conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in, 72

free-range, 16, 188

grass-fed, 16, 72, 188, 196

omega-3 fats in, 72

vitamin B12 in, 72

zinc in, 72

beet juice, 23

beets, 22–23

behavior, 10, 163

Belgian endive. see endive; endive

benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)

beta-sitosterol and, 157

DHT (dihydrotesterone) and, 158, 305

hazelnuts and, 151–52

benzaidehyde, 113

Bernstein, Richard, 23, 76

berries, 16, 90, 91, 245, 274. see also blueberries; eggplant

acai berries, 92, 249

antioxidants in, 90

bilberries, 102

blackberries, 80, 111

blueberries. see blueberries Chinese wolfberry, 114

cranberries. see cranberries Goji berries, 92, 113–14

Lycium berry, 113–14

noni berries, 92, 258–59

raspberries. see raspberries strawberries. see strawberries

beta-carotene, 25

in apricots, 96

in avocados, 98

in beef, 196

in bok choy, 24

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in Brussels sprouts, 28

in cabbage, 29

cancer and, 104

in cantaloupe, 104

cardiovascular health and, 104

in carrots, 31

in chlorella, 228

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in green beans, 42

in guava, 120

in jicama, 45

in kale, 46

in mangoes, 126

in meat, 188, 196

in microalgae, 228

in papaya, 130

in parsley, 288

in peaches, 131

in peppers (hot), 54

in peppers (sweet), 56

in pumpkin, 57, 58

in red grapefruit, 115

smokers and, 104

in snow peas, 71

in spinach, 60

in spirulina, 228

in squash, 62

in sweet potatoes, 64

in Swiss chard, 65

in turnips, 68

in watercress, 69

beta-cryptoxanthin, 56

in apricots, 96

in avocados, 98

bone strength and, 141

in butternut squash, 62

cancer and, 56, 130

in oranges, 128

in papaya, 130

in peaches, 131

in peppers (sweet), 56

in pumpkin, 58

rheumatoid arthritis and, 58, 130

in watermelon, 140

beta-estradiol, 266

beta-glucans, 49, 50. see also lentinan

cancer and, 76

cardiovascular health and, 50, 76

cholesterol and, 76

infection and, 50, 76

liver and, 50

macrophages and, 76

in mushrooms, 49, 50

in oats, 76

stroke and, 76

triglycerides and, 76

beta-lactoglobulin, 243

beta-sitosterol, 97, 157

in avocados, 97, 98

benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and, 151–52, 157

cholesterol and, 97, 98, 151–52, 157, 160, 161

in hazelnuts, 151

in macadamia nuts, 153

in pecans, 155

in pistachios, 157

prostate health and, 152, 157, 160, 161

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in sesame seeds, 160

betacyanin, 22

betaine, 22, 161–62, 191

beverages, 247–73. see also under juices

alcohol, 273

coffee, 250–52, 312

ginger ale, 285

green tea, 246

red wine, 261–63

tea, 16, 37, 40, 124, 164, 246, 264–68, 274

water, 268–71, 312

bilberries, 102

bile, 35–36, 72, 124, 277

bioflavonoids, 222, 265

bioflavonols, 265

biotin, 312

bitter melon, 142

black pepper, 296

black tea, 264–66. see also tea

blackberries, 80, 111

Blackburn, George, 301

blackstrap molasses, 314–15

bladder cancer, 30

blindness, 26, 318

blood clotting, 170, 282

blood fats, 143

blood pressure, 11

alcohol and, 263

allicin and, 283

allium family and, 53

apples and, 94

broccoli and, 80

celery and, 34

cinnamon and, 279

coffee and, 250–51

dandelion and, 37

fish and, 80

flavonoids and, 80

fruit juice and, 255

garlic and, 186, 283

guava and, 119–20

hemp seed oil and, 306–7

honeydew and, 121

leeks and, 48

licorice and, 231

lignans and, 159

lycopene and, 66

nitric oxide and, 225

olive oil and, 274, 302

omega-3

fats and, 211, 306–7

onions and, 220

potassium and, 57, 99, 103, 112, 121–22, 128

pumpkin and, 57

purslane and, 58

sage and, 290

sesame oil and, 310

sesame seeds and, 159

spinach and, 60, 80

tomatoes and, 66

vegetable juice and, 255

whey protein and, 80, 243

yogurt and, 246

blood sugar, 11. see also glucose metabolism;

glycemic index

aging and, 11

almonds and, 148

apples and, 94

avocados and, 98

banans and, 100

beans and, 81, 84, 317

Brewer’s yeast and, 220

cardiovascular health and, 11

carrot juice and, 31

charantin and, 142

cinnamon and, 275, 278, 279

coffee and, 251–52

dandelion and, 36

dates and, 111

diabetes and, 11, 64

fiber and, 85, 112

flaxseed oil and, 305

fruit and, 92

glycemic index and, 64, 75

grains and, 75

green tea and, 246

honey and, 316

Jerusalem artichokes and, 44

legumes and, 85

lentils and, 88, 274, 317

licorice and, 231

management of, 64

metabolic syndrome and, 64

methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP), 279

niacin and, 154

oatmeal and, 76, 172

omega-3 fats and, 216

parsley and, 288

peaches and, 131

pectin and, 144

pineapple and, 133

potatoes and, 64

rice and, 79

squash and, 63

sweet potatoes and, 63

tea and, 267, 268

vegetables and, 18, 92

vinegar and, 295

walnuts and, 163

weight loss and, 64

blueberries, 16, 101–2, 164, 185, 220, 246, 317

aging and, 101–2

Alzheimer’s disease, 101

anthocyanins in, 72, 80, 101, 102

antioxidants in, 80, 89, 101, 102

arthritis and, 101

bilberries and, 102

brain function, 80

cancer and, 102

cardiovascular health and, 80, 101

cholesterol, 80

degenerative diseases and, 72

flavonoids in, 102

glycemic load of, 89

inflammation and, 101, 102

macular degeneration and, 80, 102

memory and, 101–2

ORAC of, 102

oxidative stress and, 101

Parkinson’s disease and, 101

pesticides and, 72

phytochemicals in, 102

polyphenols in, 101

preparation of, 102

proanthocyanidins in, 72, 102

pterostilbene in, 80, 102

vision and, 80, 102

bok choy, 23–24

bone cancer, 80

bone health. see also osteoporosis

beta-cryptoxanthin and, 141

boron and, 136

broccoli rabe and, 26

Brussels sprouts and, 28

cloves and, 280

dandelion and, 37

endive and, 39

green beans and, 42

manganese and, 280

onions and, 53

potassium and, 57

pumpkin and, 57

spinach and, 59, 80

turnips and, 68

vitamin D and, 177

vitamin K and, 20, 28, 234

women and, 136

bone loss. see osteoporosis

boron, 94

in apples, 94

arthritis and, 94

in bee pollen, 222

bone health and, 136

joint health and, 136

as a possible stimulant, 94

in raisins, 136

women and, 136

Bragg, Patricia, 294

brain health and function. see also memory

acai berries and, 249

blueberries and, 80, 164, 185

choline and, 191, 220, 274

coffee and, 250

curry powder and, 275

eggs and, 192

fish and, 80, 220

flavonoids and, 185

manganese and, 158

mussels and, 209

nasunin and, 38

omega-3 fats and, 162–63, 204, 211, 216, 274, 317

oysters and, 210

rosemary and, 289

spinach and, 60, 80, 164

strawberries and, 80

walnuts and, 163

water and, 269

whey protein and, 243

Braly, James, 75

bran, 11, 241

brassica family, 23–24, 220

broccoli, 24–25, 90, 186, 220

broccoli rabe, 26

Brussels sprouts, 27–28, 220

cabbage, 28–29

cancer and, 24

carcinogens and, 24

cauliflower, 32–33, 90, 220

collard greens, 35

indoles and, 23–24

kale, 46–47

kohlrabi, 47

mustard seeds, 286

rutabagas, 68

sulforaphane in, 25

turnips, 68

watercress, 69–70

Brazil nuts, 149–50

breads, 18

breast cancer

alcohol and, 263

beans and, 84

broccoli and, 80

cabbage and, 28–29, 234

carrots and, 30

cranberries and, 109

cumin and, 281

eggs and, 192

flaxseed and, 72

folic acid and, 263

grapefruit and, 114

indoles and, 238

kale and, 46

lemons and, 124

lentils and, 84

limonoids and, 128

lycopene and, 66, 119, 141

menopause and, 30

olive oil and, 246

phenolic compounds and, 253

pineapple and, 132–33

prunes and, 134

resveratrol and, 262

rosemary and, 289

sauerkraut and, 234

sea vegetables andd, 236

selenium and, 149

spinach and, 60

strawberries and, 138

tomatoes and, 66

breastfeeding, 37

Brewer’s yeast, 220, 244–45

Brink, Will, 243

Broadhurst, C. Leigh, 18, 63, 119, 278

broccoli, 16, 24–25, 80, 90, 164, 186, 220, 245, 318

broccoli rabe, 26

broccoli sprouts. see sprouts

bromelain, 132, 133

bronchitis, 291

brown rice, 79, 89, 246

Brussels sprouts, 27–28, 220

buckwheat, 317

buffalo, 185. see also wild game

Bulgarian yogurt, 184

Burros, Marian, 207

butter, 175, 176–77

butyric acid, 178

Byrne, David, 131

Byrnes, Stephen, 176

C

C-reactive protein, 316

cabbage, 24, 27, 28–29, 32–33, 35, 43, 46–47, 68, 69–70, 234. see also bok choy; brassica family; Brussels sprouts; kimchi

cadmium, 236

caffeic acid

in coffee, 251

in rosemary, 289

caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), 223

caffeine, 250–52

calcium, 9

absorption of, 20, 36

in almonds, 148

in aloe vera juice, 273

in arame, 236

in arugula, 20

in avocados, 98

in bee pollen, 222

in beet leaves, 23

in bok choy, 24

in Brazil nuts, 150

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in cabbage, 29

in cantaloupe, 103

in carrots, 31

in cashews, 151

in cheese, 179

in cloves, 280

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 36, 37

in dates, 110, 111

in edamame, 168

in eggplant, 38

in endive, 39

in figs, 112

in garbanzo beans, 86

in goat’s milk, 181

in grapefruit, 115

in grapes, 117

in green beans, 42

in guava, 120

in hemp seeds, 307

in hijiki, 236

in jicama, 45

in kale, 46, 80, 273

in kimchi, 230

in kombu, 237

in lamb, 198

in leeks, 48

in macadamia nuts, 153

in mangoes, 126

in melons, 122

in milk, 180

in miso, 169

in molasses, 315

in mushrooms, 51

in nori, 237

in okra, 52

in oranges, 128

in oregano, 287

oxalates and, 20

in parsnips, 70

in peaches, 131

in pears, 142

in poultry, 194

prostate cancer and, 175

protein and, 195

in pumpkin, 58

in purslane, 59

in quinoa, 78

in raspberries, 137

in rutabagas, 71

salmon and, 246

in sea vegetables, 235, 236, 237

in sesame seeds, 160

in snow peas, 71

in spinach, 59–60, 185

in strawberries, 139

in sweet potatoes, 64, 312

in Swiss chard, 65

in turnips, 68

vitamin K and, 59–60

in wakame, 237

in walnuts, 163

in watercress, 69

in yogurt, 184, 246, 318

cancer, 20, 138–39. see also carcinogens; specific cancers

17 beta-estradiol and, 266

acai berries and, 249

alcohol and, 263, 273

alpha-carotene and, 30

anthocyanins and, 106

antioxidants and, 12, 264

apoptosis and, 27

apples and, 93, 94

apricots and, 96

asparagus and, 21–22

bacteria, probiotic and, 233

bananas and, 99

beans and, 81, 83, 84, 318

bee propolis and, 223

beets and, 22

berries and, 274

beta-carotene and, 104

beta-cryptoxanthin and, 56, 130

beta-glucans and, 76

betacyanin and, 22

blueberries and, 80, 102, 246, 318

bok choy and, 24

brassica family and, 24

broccoli and, 24, 164, 186

broccoli rabe and, 26

cabbage and, 27, 234

carotenoids and, 30

carrots and, 30

catechins and, 267

cauliflower and, 32

celery and, 34

cherries and, 105

cholesterol and, 238–39

citrus fruits and, 128

cloves and, 280

coconut and, 107

collard greens and, 35

conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and, 179, 189

cranberries and, 109

cumin and, 281

curcumin and, 276, 293

dairy foods and, 174–75

diallyl sulfide and, 283

eggs and, 192

ellagic acid and, 105, 137–38

enzymes and, 234

epigallocatechin galate (EGCG) and, 265, 267

fats and, 97

fennel, 40

fiber and, 79, 83

fish and, 80

flavonoids and, 94, 102, 105

flaxseed and, 72, 220

flaxseed oil and, 304, 304–5

folic acid and, 263

garlic and, 282–83

gastric, 80

ginger and, 285

glucosinolates and, 43

grapes and, 117, 312

green tea and, 164, 246

guava and, 119, 120

hesperidin and, 128

homocysteine and, 60

horseradish and, 43

indole-3-carbinol and, 238

indoles and, 24, 234, 238

isothiocyanates and, 24, 69, 234, 238

kale and, 46, 80

kidney cancer, 99

kiwifruit and, 122

laryngeal, 30

leeks and, 48

lemons and, 124

lentils and, 84

lentinan and, 50

licorice and, 231

lignans and, 72, 304

limonene and, 281

limonoids and, 128

lycopene and, 56, 119, 140–41

medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and, 108

milk and, 174–75

monounsaturated fat and, 97

mushrooms and, 49, 50

mustard seeds and, 286

myristicin and, 288

neoxanthin and, 60

noni juice and, 258–59

oatmeal and, 172

olive oil and, 246, 303

omega-3 fats and, 317

onions and, 52

oranges and, 128

oregano and, 287

p-coumaric acid and, 154

papaya and, 130

parsley and, 288

peaches and, 131

in peppers (sweet), 56

perillyl alcohol and, 105

persimmons and, 143

phase-2 enzymes and, 25, 29, 32, 238, 258

phenethyl isothiocyanate and, 276

phenolic compounds and, 94, 253

phytic acid and, 84

phytochemicals and, 69, 84, 276

polysaccharides and, 236

pomegranate and, 246

pomegranate juice and, 260

probiotic bacteria and, 183

protease inhibitors and, 84

prunes and, 134

pumpkin and, 58

quercetin and, 21

raspberries and, 80

resveratrol and, 117, 262, 263

rice (brown) and, 79

rosemary and, 289

rosmarinic acid and, 287

rutabagas and, 68

saponins and, 84, 169, 238–39

sea vegetables and, 236

seafood and, 204

selenium and, 149, 161, 194, 212

spinach and, 60

sprouts and, 238

sulforaphane and, 25, 234, 238, 258

sweet potatoes and, 64

tea and, 265, 266–67, 268

telomerase and, 267

tempeh and, 169

tomatoes and, 66

turmeric and, 293

turnips and, 68

vitamin D and, 177

walnuts and, 318

watercress and, 69, 69–70

watermelon and, 141

whey protein and, 243

yogurt and, 312

Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and

Prevention, 27, 29, 56, 62

candida

Brewer’s yeast and, 245

oregano and, 287

probiotic bacteria and, 182

sage and, 290

yogurt and, 182

canola oil, 311

cantaloupe, 103–4

capric acid, 108

capsaicin, 54

capsicum, 172

capsicum family, 54–56

carbohydrates, 9, 18. see also sugar

in avocados, 98

in bananas, 100

carbohydrate addiction, 75

carrots and, 31

in cashews, 150, 151

grains and, 75

in grapes, 117

in lentils, 274

niacin and, 154

processed, 11

in raspberries, 137

in spinach, 90

in squash, 62

carcinogens, 15, 70. see also cancer

bee propolis and, 223

brassica family and, 24

broccoli and, 24

cabbage and, 29

chlorella and, 228

conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and, 177

ellagic acid and, 105

glucosinonlates and, 68

gluthathione and, 243

grapefruit and, 114

isothiocyanates and, 24, 27, 69

kimchi and, 230

leeks and, 48

mustard seeds and, 286

nutrients with anticancer properties, 20

parsley and, 288

pesticides, 25

phase-2 enzymes and, 32

prostaglandins, 34

selenium and, 149

sprouts and, 238

sulforaphane and, 27, 234

sunflower seeds and, 161

turnips and, 68

vitamin A deficiency and, 56, 62

water and, 270–71

cardamom, 277

cardiovascular disease. see cardiovascular health

cardiovascular events. see cardiovascular health

cardiovascular health, 11, 251. see also cholesterol; circulatory system

acai berries and, 249

alcohol and, 273

almonds and, 147–48

anthocyanins and, 106, 234

anti-inflammatories and, 102

antioxidants and, 12, 102, 262, 264

apples and, 93

arginine and, 145–46, 162

artichokes and, 19

beans and, 81

beets and, 22–23

beta-carotene and, 104

beta-glucans and, 50, 76

blood sugar and, 11

blueberries and, 80, 101, 102

broccoli and, 80

cabbage and, 29

carotenoids and, 30. see also specific carotenoids

carrots and, 30

cashews and, 150

chocolate and, 224–25

cholesterol and, 12, 13

choline and, 191

coconut and, 107, 108

coffee and, 250

conventional advice and, 13

cranberry juice and, 72

curcumin and, 293

dehydration and, 269

eggs and, 12, 191

fats and, 98

fiber and, 112

fish and, 80, 220

flavonoids and, 80, 225

flaxseed oil and, 304, 305

free radicals and, 119

fruit juice and, 255

garlic and, 282

ginger and, 285

grapes and, 117, 312

green beans and, 42

green tea and, 246

guava and, 119, 120

hemp seed oil and, 306–7

hesperidin and, 128

HNE (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal) and, 298–99

homocysteine and, 42, 199, 252

honeydew and, 121

kale and, 80, 164

kiwifruit and, 122, 123

leeks and, 48

legumes and, 85

licorice and, 231

lycopene and, 66, 119

macadamia nuts and, 273

magnesium and, 225

monounsaturated fat and, 98, 155, 232

mushrooms and, 50

nitric oxide and, 225

nuts and, 145, 150, 220, 246, 312

oatmeal and, 76

oleic acid and, 308

oligomeric proanthocyandins (OPCs) and, 117

olive oil and, 246, 302

olives and, 232

omega-3 fats and, 162, 196, 211, 216, 246, 274, 306–7, 317

onions and, 53, 220

peanuts and, 154

pecans and, 155

phenolic compounds and, 253

phytochemicals and, 276

pineapple and, 132

pistachios and, 156

pomegranate and, 246

pomegranate juice and, 185, 260

potassium and, 57, 103

probiotic bacteria and, 230

prunes and, 134

purslane and, 58

raspberries and, 80

red palm oil and, 309

red wine and, 262

resveratrol and, 117, 262

rice (brown) and, 79

saturated fat and, 13, 98

seafood and, 204

selenium and, 149

spinach and, 60, 164, 185, 318

sunflower seeds and, 161–62

tea and, 265–66, 267, 268

tempeh and, 169

tomatoes and, 66

vegetable juice and, 255

vitamin B12 and, 199

walnuts and, 318

water and, 269

whey, 80

wild game and, 202

women and, 94, 98

caribou, 80

carminatives

black pepper, 296

cardamom, 277

carotenoids, 19

alpha-carotene. see alpha-carotene

in apricots, 96

in artichokes, 19

in arugula, 20

astaxanthin. see astaxanthin

in avocados, 97–98

in beef, 196

beta-carotene. see beta-carotene

beta-cryptoxanthin. see beta-cryptoxan-thin

in broccoli, 25

in cabbage, 29

cancer and, 30

in cantaloupe, 104

in carrots, 30, 31

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in edamame, 168

in eggs, 192, 318

fat and, 58

in fruit juice, 255

in Goji berries, 114

in grapefruit, 114

in green beans, 42

in guava, 118–19, 120

in jicama, 45

in kale, 46, 80

in leeks, 48

lutein. see lutein lycopene. see lycopene

macular degeneration and, 62

in mangoes, 89, 126

in microalgae, 228

in oranges, 128

in papaya, 130

in parsley, 288

in peaches, 131

in pears, 142

in peppers (hot), 54

in peppers (sweet), 56

in persimmons, 143

in pumpkin, 58

in red grapefruit, 115

in red palm oil, 309

in salmon, 186, 246

in snow peas, 71

in spinach, 60, 61

in spirulina, 228

in squash, 62

in sweet potatoes, 64, 317

in Swiss chard, 65

in tomatoes, 66

in turnips, 68

in vegetable juice, 255

vision and, 35, 58, 61, 62, 67, 98, 318

vitamin A and, 31

in watercress, 69

in watermelon, 140–41

in yams, 317

zeaxanthin. see zeaxanthin

zera-carotene. see zera-carotene

carpal tunnel syndrome, 292

Carpender, Dana, 33

Carrol, Patricia, 295

carrots, 30–31

carvacrol, 287

casaba melons, 122

cashews, 150–51

Castelli, William, 204

cataracts

carrots and, 31

curcumin and, 293

kale and, 80

catechins, 265

in apples, 93

cancer and, 267

in cinnamon, 278–79

in cranberry juice, 253

in tea, 265, 267

cauliflower, 32–33, 90, 220

cayenne peppers. see peppers (hot) Celebrex, 106, 138, 139

celery, 33–34

celery juice, 33, 34

celery root, 245

celiac disease, 74–75, 77

cells, 10, 12, 99

cereal grasses, 226–27

cereals. see grains; grains

cervical cancer

carrots and, 30

cranberries and, 109

kale and, 46

lycopene and, 66, 141

resveratrol and, 262

strawberries and, 138–39

tomatoes and, 66

chaff, 241

chalcone polymers, 278

charantin, 142

chard. see Swiss chard cheese, 178–79

chemotherapy

mushrooms and, 49, 50

vitamin A and, 104

cherries, 105–6

chicken, 90. see also poultry

niacin in, 194

protein in, 90

chickpeas. see garbanzo beans

Childers, Norman, 39, 56

chile peppers. see peppers (hot)

chinese cabbage, 229–30. see also bok choy

Chinese chard. see bok choy

Chinese medicine, traditional, 34

green foods and drinks and, 227

mushrooms in, 50

sea vegetables and, 235

turmeric in, 292, 293

Chinese wolfberry, 114

chlamydia, 108

chlorella, 228

chlorogenic acid, 64

in apples, 93

in coffee, 251, 252

homocysteine and, 252

in prunes, 134

in sweet potatoes, 64

chlorophyll

in chlorella, 228

in green foods and drinks, 227

immune system and, 227

in microalgae, 228

in parsley, 288

in seaweed, 186

in spirulina, 228

chocolate, 224–26. see also cocoa

cholesterol, 12–13, 19, 94, 97, 102, 117, 120, 128. see also cardiovascular health;

HDL cholesterol; LDL cholesterol

almonds and, 147–48

apples and, 94

artichokes and, 19

avocados and, 97, 98

bacteria, probiotic, 233–34

“bad”, 13, 19

beans and, 81, 83–84

beta-glucans and, 76

beta-sitosterol and, 97, 98, 157, 160, 161

blueberries and, 80, 246

butter and, 176

cardiovascular health and, 12

cell membranes and, 12

cinnamon and, 279

in crustacea, 206

curcumin and, 293

dandelion and, 36

in eggs, 220, 245

eggs and, 12–13, 172, 191, 193

fats and, 12–13

fiber and, 11, 85

and free radicals, 135

garlic and, 186, 282

ghee and, 178

“good”, 13

guava and, 120

hazelnuts and, 151–52

hemp seed oil and, 306

herbs and spices and, 276

hesperidin and, 128

hormones and, 12

Jerusalem artichokes and, 44

lentils and, 88, 274

lifestyle changes and, 13

lignans and, 159

limonin and, 125

the liver and, 12

lowering, 13

macadamia nuts and, 153

men and, 13

methylhydroxychalcone polymer

(MHCP), 279

mushrooms and, 50

mussels and, 209

noni juice and, 259

Nurses’ Health Study, 13

nuts and, 220

oatmeal and, 76, 318

olive oil and, 274, 302

in olives, 232

omega-6 fats and, 306

onions and, 220

oxidation of, 135, 220

pecans and, 155

pectin and, 144

peppers (hot) and, 54

persimmons and, 143

phytosterols and, 158, 160, 161

pistachios and, 156

pomegranate juice and, 260

red wine and, 262

resources about, 13

rice (brown) and, 79

royal jelly and, 223

saturated fat and, 12, 176

serum, 12

sesame seeds and, 159

shrimp and, 206

soy and, 166

spinach and, 60

statin drugs and, 13

sunflower seeds and, 161

tea and, 265, 266, 267, 268

vitamin C and, 128

vitamin D and, 12

walnuts and, 163

wild game and, 202

women and, 13

WOSCOP study, 13

choline, 318

in aloe vera juice, 273

in bee pollen, 222

brain function and, 191

brain health and, 220, 274

cardiovascular health and, 191

in eggs, 191, 220, 274, 312, 318

liver health and, 220

nervous system and, 274

Chopra, Deepak, 281, 290, 293

chromium, 244, 245

chronic fatigue syndrom, 231

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 262

cinnamon, 278–79

Ciprofibrate, 102

circulation. see circulatory system

circulatory system. see also cardiovascular

health

acai berries and, 249

cinnamon and, 275, 278

fibrin and, 170

ginger and, 285

homocysteine and, 21, 22

horseradish and, 42

mustard and, 286

natto and, 170–71

omega-3 fats and, 11, 211, 216, 317

onions and, 220

parsley and, 288

water and, 269

cirrhosis, 231, 250. see also liver health

citrate, 124

citrus fruits

cancer and, 128

flavonoids and, 129

grapefruit, 114–16

lemons, 124–25

limes, 125

oranges, 127–29

tangerines, 129

clams, 209

clover sprouts. see sprouts cloves, 280

cocoa. see chocolate coconut, 107–9

coconut oil, 16, 107–9, 245, 246, 300–301

cod, 80, 214

coenzymes, 222

coffee, 16, 250–52, 312

Colbin, Annemarie, 178, 240, 310

colds

garlic and, 246, 283

peppers (hot) and, 54

vitamin A and, 104

colic, 40

collard greens, 35

colorectal cancer

anthocyanins and, 106

apples and, 94

apricots and, 96

beta-cryptoxanthin and, 130

Brussels sprouts and, 27

carrots and, 30

curcumin and, 293

epigallocatechin galate (EGCG) and, 267

fiber and, 85

fruit and, 94

garlic and, 283

ginger and, 285

grapefruit and, 114

kale and, 46

leeks and, 48

limonoids and, 128

lycopene and, 66, 141

oatmeal and, 172

olive oil and, 303

papaya and, 130

phase-2 enzymes and, 238

pineapple and, 132–33

prunes and, 134

pumpkin and, 58

resveratrol and, 262

rosemary and, 289

saponins and, 169

selenium and, 149, 194

spinach and, 60, 80

strawberries and, 80

sulforaphane and, 238

tea and, 267

tomatoes and, 66

complementary medicine, 16

condiments, 275–96

conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), 10

in beef, 196–97

in butter, 177

cancer and, 179, 189

carcinogens and, 177

in cheese, 179

in grass-fed beef, 72

in meat, 188–89, 273

in milk, 180

organic cream and, 72

constipation

aloe vera juice and, 272

apples and, 274

dandelion and, 35–36

flaxseed and, 220

copper

in aloe vera juice, 273

in cashews, 151

graying hair and, 315

in liver, 199

in molasses, 315

in mollusks, 209

in mushrooms, 51

in nuts, 246

in oatmeal, 318

in peanuts, 154

in quinoa, 78

in sardines, 211

in sesame seeds, 160

in sunflower seeds, 161

in walnuts, 318

Wilson’s disease and, 160

Cordain, Loren, 73–74, 82, 189, 201

corn, 17

Cornell University, 93

coronary artherosclerosis. see atherosclerosis

cortisone, 231

coughs

peppers (hot) and, 54

thyme and, 291

COX-1 inhibitors, 106, 138, 139

COX-2 inhibitors, 80, 106, 138, 139, 299

cranberries, 109–10

cranberry juice, 72, 252–54

crayfish, 205

Crayhon, Robert, 16

cream, organic, 72

crenshaw melons, 122

crookneck squash. see squash

cruciferous vegetables. see brassica family

crustacea, 204–6

Csallany, A. Saari, 299

cucurbitacins, 158

cumin, 281

curcumin, 276

cancer and, 293

phenethyl isothiocyanate and, 276

prostate cancer and, 276

in turmeric, 292

curcuminoids, 292

cyclooxygenase, 106, 139. see also COX-1 inhibitors; COX-2 inhibitors

CYP3A4, 115

CYPIA2, 114

D

dairy foods, 82, 318. see also whey protein

autoimmune diseases and, 82

cancer and, 174–75

factory farms and, 174

goat’s milk, 181

homogenization of, 174

milk, 9, 16, 180–81. see also goat’s milk

organic cream, 72

pasteurization of, 174, 180

rheumatoid arthritis and, 82

yogurt, 246, 312

dandelion, 35–37, 35–37

Daniel, Kayla, 167

date milk, 111

dates, 110–11

degenerative diseases. see also specific conditions

blueberries and, 72

coconut and, 107

oxidative stress and, 12

dehydration, 269

dementia

beets and, 22–23

eggs and, 192

fruit juice and, 255

green beans and, 42

homocysteine and, 60

olive oil and, 246

spinach and, 60

vegetable juice and, 255

dental health, 110, 290

depression

noni juice and, 259

omega-3 fats and, 10

purslane and, 58

tea and, 266

DesMaisons, Kathleen, 167

detoxification

aloe vera juice and, 272

apples and, 274

artichokes and, 19

arugula and, 317

broccoli and, 186

carrot juice and, 31

cauliflower and, 32

dandelions and, 35

garlic and, 186

gluthathione and, 52, 243

indole-3-carbinol, 25

kale and, 46, 80

lemons and, 124

licorice and, 231

mushrooms and, 50

okra and, 52

parsley and, 288

root vegetables, 71

rutabagas, 71

sea vegetables and, 89, 236, 274

turnips and, 68

water and, 269

watermelon and, 141

DHT (dihydrotesterone), 158, 305

diabetes, 11

allicin and, 283

almonds and, 148

apples and, 93, 94

beans and, 81, 83, 84

beets and, 23

bitter melon and, 142

blood sugar and, 11, 64

cinnamon and, 279

coffee and, 250, 251–52

dandelion and, 36

dandelion root and, 36

dates and, 111

fats and, 97

fiber and, 83, 85

fruit and, 92

fruit juice and, 255

grains and, 75

honey and, 316

inflammation and, 13

juice and, 256

lentils and, 88

methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP), 279

monounsaturated fat and, 97

oatmeal and, 76, 318

parsley and, 288

pecans and, 155

phenolic compounds and, 253

phytochemicals and, 276

prunes and, 134

purslane and, 58

quercetin and, 220

rice and, 79

sage and, 290

seafood and, 204

type 2, 11, 58, 85, 94, 155, 251–52, 279

vegetable juice and, 255

vegetables and, 18

vinegar and, 295

diallyl disulfide, 283

diallyl sulfide, 53, 283

diarrhea, 144

diets, 63, 64, 114

Asian diet, 166

Atkins Diet, 114, 152

“grapefruit diet”, 114

high-fiber diets, 11, 62, 83, 85–86, 88, 112

high-protein diets, 195, 243

low-carb diets, 18, 31, 63, 64, 79, 97, 127

low-glycemic diets, 84

low-protein diets, 195

Mayo Clinic Diet, 114

Mediterranean-type diets, 13, 97, 146, 150, 152–53, 154, 232, 262, 302, 307, 308, 312

National Cholesterol Education Program diet, 97

Paleolithic diet, 201–2, 221

U.S. Dietary Guidelines, 83

digestion, 62

aloe vera juice and, 272

apples and, 274

artichokes and, 19

black pepper and, 296

cardamom and, 275, 277

carminatives andd, 296

cinnamon and, 278–79

cumin and, 275, 281

dandelion and, 35–36

fennel and, 40

garlic and, 284

ghee and, 178

ginger and, 284–85

green tea and, 246

horseradish and, 42

hydrochloric acid and, 296

kimchi and, 172

in kombu, 237

lemons, 72

lemons and, 124

licorice and, 231

niacin and, 154

oregano and, 287

papaya and, 129

peppers (hot) and, 54

pineapple and, 132

probiotic bacteria and, 182, 230, 233

prunes and, 134

sage and, 290

in sea vegetables, 237

squash and, 62

thyme and, 291

turnips and, 68

yogurt and, 182

DIM, 80

diosgenin, 84

diterpenes, 289

dithiolethiones, 29

diuretics, 36

diverticular disease, 134

DNA, 25, 222, 228. see also nucleic acids

docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 58, 164, 274, 297

dopamine, 10, 267

Dorje, Jigme, 114

Duke, James, 301

Duttaroy, Asim, 123

dyslexia, 204

E

Eades, Mary Dan, 16, 245

Eades, Mike, 16, 245

edamame, 167–68

edema, 37, 132

eggplant, 38–39

eggs, 12–13, 16, 90, 172, 187–90, 191–93, 220, 245, 274, 312, 318

added to fruit juice, 256

cancer and, 192

cardiovascular health and, 12

cholesterol and, 12, 12–13

protein in, 90

scrambling, 220

whites, 12, 90

yolks, 12

eicosanoids, 298

eicosapentaeonoic acid (EPA), 58, 164, 274, 297

electrolyte balance, 99

elk. see wild game

ellagic acid, 105

antiviral and antibacterial properties of, 105

apoptosis and, 105

in berries, 274

in blueberries, 80

cancer and, 105

carcinogens and, 105

in cherries, 105

phenolics, 105

in raspberries, 80, 105, 137–38

in strawberries, 139

tumors and, 105

in walnuts, 318

ellagitannins, 80

Elmer, Gary, 280

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 35

emotional imbalances, 35

endive, 39

endorphins, 54

endosperm, 241

energy

barley grass and, 227

beans and, 317

lentils and, 317

vegetables and, 246

water and, 269

Enig, Mary, 108, 167, 177, 301, 311

enterolactone, 304

enterolodiol, 304

environmental contaminants. see also carcinogens; toxins

in fish, 215

in mackerel, 208

in salmon, 217, 218–19

in sardines, 212

sea vegetables and, 236

sprouts and, 239

in tuna, 213

water and, 270–71

Environmental Working Group, 22, 25, 34, 53, 56, 61, 94, 106, 123, 127, 130, 132, 133

enzymes, 20

allinase, 284

in aloe vera juice, 273

in bee pollen, 222

bromelain, 132

cancer and, 234

in cereal grasses, 227

CYP3A4, 115

CYPIA2, 114

detoxifying, 25, 32

enzyme inhibitors, 166

gluthathione, 53, 273

in grapefruit, 114, 115

in green foods and drinks, 227

juicing and, 255

in mangoes, 126

in milk, 180

in mushrooms, 50

myrosinase, 20

nattokinase, 170

papain, 129

in papaya, 129

phase-2, 25, 27, 29, 32, 238, 258

plasmin, 170

proteolytic, 129, 132

raw foods and, 255

in royal jelly, 224

in sprouts, 172, 238

superoxide dismutase (SOD), 227

in vinegar, 295

in wheatgrass juice, 228

in yogurt, 184

epicatechin, 144

epigallocatechin galate (EGCG), 265, 267, 268

erectile dysfunction, 261. see also sexual arousal

eritadenine, 50

erucic acid, 311

escarole. see endive; endive

esophageal cancer

carrots and, 30

lycopene and, 66, 141

onions and, 52

tea and, 266, 267

tomatoes and, 66

watercress and, 69

essential fatty acids. see fatty acids

estrogen. see also hormones

cabbage and, 28–29

“good”, 25

indoles and, 234

lignans and, 304

metabolites, 25, 28–29

eugenol, 278

European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), 85

evening primrose, 306

experts’ top ten lists, 16, 72

Eades, Mary Dan, 245

Eades, Mike, 245

Gaby, Alan R., 220

Garcia, Oz, 246

Gittleman, Ann Louise, 72

Lieberman, Shari, 317

Pescatore, Fred, 273

Virgin, J.J., 274

Volek, Jeff, 312

eye disease, 12

F

factory farms, 174, 177, 179, 188, 195

fake mashed potatoes, 32–33

Fallon, Sally, 176

farmer’s markets, 15

fatigue

licorice and, 231

umeboshi plums and, 241

water and, 269

fats, 9–10

in almonds, 164

antimicrobial, 177

in avocados, 97, 98

in beef, 245

blood fats, 143

butter, 175, 176

cancer and, 97

cardiovascular health and, 13, 98

in chocolate, 225

cholesterol and, 12–13

in coconut, 107–8

coconut oil, 16

conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), 10, 177, 179

coronary artherosclerosis and, 98

diabetes and, 97

eggs and, 12

fatty acids. see fatty acids in fish, 203

ghee, 175

green tea and, 246

in herring, 208

hormones and, 108

in lamb, 198, 245

lauric acid, 108, 177

lignans and, 159–60

lipid peroxidation and, 38

in lobster, 206

lycopene and, 66

in meat, 245

in mollusks, 209

monounsaturated. see monounsaturated fat

nasunin and, 38

need for, 108

in nuts, 146, 156, 246

oleic acid, 97, 225, 232

olive oil, 90

omega-3. see omega-3 fats

omega-6. see omega-6 fats

omega-9. see omega-9 fats

palmitic acid, 225

partially hydrogenated oil, 10, 155

persimmons and, 143

pistachios and, 156

polyunsaturated. see polyunsaturated fat in pork, 245

in poultry, 194

prostaglandins and, 108

royal jelly and, 223

saturated. see saturated fat sesame seeds and, 159–60

in shrimp, 206

sterols, 108

sunflower oil, 162

tomatoes and, 66

trans fat, 10

trans fats, 107, 155

triglycerides. see triglycerides

in vegetables, 246

vitamin A and, 108

vitamin D and, 108

in wheat germ, 242

in white-fleshed fish, 214

women and, 98

in yogurt, 184

fatty acids, 10, 108

butyric acid, 178

capric acid, 108

in chlorella, 228

in coconut, 108

in flaxseed, 220

in ghee, 178

linoleic acid, 50

long-chain, 108

medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), 108

metabolism of, 102

in mushrooms, 50

in nuts, 220

omega-3 fats. see omega-3 fats

omega-6 fats. see omega-6 fats

omega-9 fats. see omega-9 fats

short-chain, 108

fennel, 40–41

fermented foods, 229–30

fermented soy, 168–69

kimchi, 172, 229–30

olives, 232

sauerkraut, 233

soy, 166

umeboshi plums, 240

vinegar, 294

yogurt, 183

fermented soy, 168–69

fertility

selenium and, 149

zinc and, 209–10

fever

black pepper and, 296

ginger and, 285

green tea and, 246

fiber, 11

in almond butter, 317

in almonds, 148, 164

in apples, 94, 220, 274

in apricots, 96

in artichokes, 19

in asparagus, 21, 22

in avocados, 98

in bananas, 99

in barley, 90

in beans, 81, 83, 84, 90, 317

in berries, 245

blood sugar and, 85, 112

in blueberries, 318

in bok choy, 23

in Brazil nuts, 150

in broccoli, 25, 90

in broccoli rabe, 26

in brown rice, 246

in cabbage, 29

calories and, 11

cancer and, 79, 83, 85

in cantaloupe, 103

cardiovascular health and, 112

in carrots, 31

in cashews, 151

in cauliflower, 32, 90

cholesterol and, 11, 85

in cloves, 280

in coconut, 107

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in dates, 111

diabetes and, 83, 85

in edamame, 168

in eggplant, 38

in figs, 112

in flaxseed, 274

in flaxseed oil, 305

in garbanzo beans, 85

in Goji berries, 114

in grains, 74

in grapefruit, 115

in green beans, 42

in guava, 120

in hazelnuts, 152

in honeydew, 121

in Jerusalem artichokes, 44

in jicama, 45

juicing and, 256

in kale, 46, 80

in kimchi, 230

in kiwifruit, 122–23

in kohlrabi, 47

in leeks, 48

in lentils, 88, 274, 317

in macadamia nuts, 153

in mangoes, 126

metabolic syndrome and, 85

in nuts, 220, 246, 312

in oatmeal, 76, 77, 90

obesity and, 83

in okra, 52

in oranges, 128

overeating and, 11

in papaya, 129–30

in parsnips, 70

in peaches, 131

in pears, 142

in peas, 87

in pecans, 155

in peppers (hot), 54

in peppers (sweet), 90

in persimmons, 143

in pineapple, 133

in prunes, 134

in pumpkin, 58

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in quince, 144

in quinoa, 78

in raspberries, 137

in rice (brown), 79, 89

in rutabagas, 71

in sauerkraut, 234

in sesame seeds, 160

in snow peas, 71

soluble, 11, 85, 88, 90, 94

in squash, 62

in star fruit, 144

in strawberries, 139

in sunflower seeds, 161

in sweet potatoes, 64

in turnips, 68

in vegetables, 18, 246

in walnuts, 163

and weight loss, 112

weight loss and, 11, 85–86

in wheat germ, 241, 242

in whole grains, 246

fibrin, 170

fibromyalgia, 285

figs, 112–13

filberts. see hazelnuts

fish, 10, 80, 203–19, 220.

see also omega-3 fats; specific kinds

blood pressure and, 80

brain function and, 10, 80

cancer and, 80

cod, 80, 214

cold-water, 80

flounder, 214–15

halibut, 215

herring, 80

inflammation and, 80

kidney function and, 80

mackerel, 80, 207–8

memory and, 80

ocean perch, 215

omega-3 fats in, 10, 80

orange roughy, 215

pollack, 215

rockfish, 215

salmon. see salmon sardines, 211–12, 245, 274

skin health and, 80

stroke and, 80

triglycerides and, 80

tuna, 80, 212–13

white-fleshed, 214–15

fish oil, 10, 255, 256

flatulence, 278

cardamom and, 277

Jerusalem artichokes and, 44

flavanols, 225

in cocoa, 225

nitric oxide and, 225

flavonoids, 13, 19, 26, 232, 264

allergies and, 53

anthocyanins, 29, 234, 249

in apples, 93, 94, 274

in bee pollen, 222, 223

blood pressure and, 80

in blueberries, 102, 185

brain function and, 185

in broccoli, 80

in broccoli rabe, 26

in cabbage, 29, 234

cancer and, 94, 102, 105

cardiovascular health and, 80, 225

in cherries, 105

in cocoa, 225

in fennel, 40

in grapes, 117, 312

hesperidin, 128

in honey, 316

in licorice, 231

luteolin, 19

myricetin, 136

nobiletin, 129

obesity and, 231

oligomeric proanthocyandins (OPCs), 117

in onions, 53, 185, 220

in oranges, 128

in peppers (sweet), 273

in pomegranate juice, 260

quercetin, 13, 21, 40, 53, 80, 94, 105, 185, 220, 223, 274

in raisins, 136

in raspberries, 80

in rosemary, 289

in sauerkraut, 234

in spinach, 60, 80

stroke and, 225

vision and, 185

women and, 94

flaxseed, 72, 274

cancer and, 220

flaxseed oil, 304–5

flounder, 214–15

fluid balance, 99

fluorine

in sea vegetables, 236

in vinegar, 295

folate. see folic acid folic acid, 12, 19

in artichokes, 19

in arugula, 20

in asparagus, 21, 185

in avocados, 98

in beans, 84

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 312

in beets, 22

breast cancer and, 263

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in Brussels sprouts, 28

cancer and, 263

in cauliflower, 32

in cheese, 179

in edamame, 168

in eggplant, 38

eggs and, 12

in garbanzo beans, 86

in green beans, 41–42

homocysteine and, 60

in lentils, 88

in mushrooms, 51

neural tube defect and, 42

in nuts, 246

in okra, 52

in oranges, 128

in papaya, 130

in parsnips, 70

in peanuts, 154

in peppers (hot), 54

in spinach, 60, 164, 245

in wheat germ, 242

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, 78

food collectives, 15

food industry, 14

food pyramid, 75

Forbes magazine, 13

Framingham Heart Study, 20, 204

Framingham Osteoporosis Study, 195

Frawley, David, 293

free radicals, 27, 29, 38, 46, 51, 117, 119, 128, 135, 143, 186, 234, 243, 253, 261, 264, 312

“free range” meat and dairy, 187–88

“free range” poultry and eggs, 189, 190

French beans. see green beans; green beans

French endive. see endive; endive

“French Paradox,” the, 185, 261

frozen yogurt, 184

fructooligosaccharides (FOS)

bacteria, probiotic and, 100

bananas and, 100

in Jerusalem artichokes, 44

fructose, 271. see also sugars

fruit, 92, 94. see also juice

acai berries, 249

apples, 89, 93–95, 220, 274

apricots, 96

avocados, 89, 97–98

bananas, 99–100

berries, 80, 90, 109–10, 245, 249, 258–59, 274, 317

bilberries, 102

blood sugar and, 92

blueberries, 80, 89, 101–2, 185, 246, 318

cantaloupe, 103–4

casaba melons, 122

cherries, 105–6

Chinese wolfberry, 114

citrus fruits, 114–16, 124–25, 127–29

coconut, 107–9

colorectal adenomas and, 94

cranberries, 109–10

crenshaw melons, 122

dates, 110–11

diabetes and, 92

figs, 112–13

glycemic load of, 92

Goji berries, 113–14

grapefruit, 114–16

grapes, 312

guava, 118–20

high blood sugar and, 92

honeydew, 121–22

insulin and, 92

kiwifruit, 122–23

Lycium berry, 113–14

mangoes, 89, 126–27

melons, 103–4, 121–22

metabolic syndrome and, 92

noni berries, 258–59

papaya, 129–30

peaches, 131–32

pineapple, 132–33

pomegranate, 245, 246, 318

prunes, 134–35

raspberries, 80

strawberries, 80

tangerines, 129

umeboshi plums, 240

weight loss and, 92

fruit juice

eggs added to, 256

fruits, 91–144

fucoidan, 236

Fulton, James, 272

functional foods, defined, 161

furocoumarins, 115

Fuyu, 143

G

GABA, 267

Gaby, Alan R., 16, 220

galactose, 271, 272

gallbladder

dandelion and, 35

eggs and, 318

ginger and, 285

gallstones

cardamom and, 277

coffee and, 250

dandelion and, 37

ginger and, 285

game. see wild game

gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), 228

in hemp seed oil, 306

in spirulina, 228

gamma-tocopherol, 186

in almonds, 186

in walnuts, 318

ganodermic acids, 50

garbanzo beans, 85–86

Garcia, Oz, 16, 142, 211, 246

garlic, 186, 246, 282–84. see also onions; onions

gastroesophageal reflux disase (GERD), 67

gastrointestinal cancer, 69, 80. see also colorectal cancer

gastrointestinal health

aloe vera juice and, 272

artichokes and, 19

asparagus and, 22

beans and, 82

cardamom and, 275

cinnamon and, 278–79

flaxseed oil and, 305

ginger and, 284–85

inflammatory bowel disease, 272

lectins and, 82

niacin and, 194

yogurt and, 246

Geiger, Michael, 192

genetically modified plants (GMOs), 15

geraniol, 278

ghee, 175, 177–78

ghrelin, 274

Gibbons, Euell, 291

ginger, 284–85

ginger ale, 285

gingerdiones, 285

gingerol, 285

gingivitis, 290

Gittleman, Ann Louise, 16, 45, 72, 124, 252–53

glucose, 271, 272. see also blood sugar

glucose metabolism, 11, 84

cinnamon and, 278, 279

omega-3 fats and, 211

glucose tolerance factor (GTF), 220

glucosinolates, 20, 43

in arugula, 20

in broccoli, 318

cancer and, 43

carcinogens and, 68

in cauliflower, 32

in horseradish, 43

in mustard seeds, 286

in sprouts, 238

in turnips, 68

glutathione, 22

gluten, 74–75

gluthathione

in aloe vera juice, 273

in asparagus, 185

in avocados, 185

carcinogens and, 243

detoxification and, 52, 243

free radicals and, 243

immune system and, 52

liver and, 52

in okra, 52

in onions, 53

in whey, 72, 80

whey protein and, 243

glycemic control, 84

glycemic impact, 11

glycemic index, 9, 11–12

almond butter, 317

bananas, 100

beans, 317

berries, 317

blood sugar and, 64, 75

blueberries, 89

buckwheat, 317

carrots and, 31

fruit, 92

grains and, 75

lentils, 88, 317

mangoes, 126

oatmeal and, 76

onions and, 172

peaches and, 131

pineapple and, 133

portion size and, 11

resources about, 12

rice and, 75, 79

squash and, 63

sweet potatoes and, 64, 317

vegetables and, 18

watermelon, 141

yams, 317

glycemic load, 12

glycogen, 111

glycolipids, 177

glyconutrients, 271–72

glycyrrhizin, 231

goat’s milk, 181

goat’s milk yogurt, 184

goitrogens, 29, 166

Goji berries, 92, 113–14

Goldacre, Michael, 303

goosefoot family, 65

Gorinstein, Sheila, 115, 143

gout, 33, 106

grains, 73–79, 82

“antinutrients” in, 74

autoimmune diseases and, 82

barley, 90

blood sugar and, 75

carbohydrates and, 75

diabetes and, 75

fiber in, 74

glycemic index and, 75

insulin and, 75

lectins in, 82

oatmeal, 75–77, 90, 318

obesity and, 75

phytates in, 74

quinoa, 78

rheumatoid arthritis and, 82

rice, 75

whole, 74, 75

grape juice, 117

grape seed oil, 118

grapefruit, 94, 114–16

“grapefruit diet”, 114

grapes, 116–18, 312

“grass fed” meat and dairy, 187–88, 190

beef, 196–97

versus grain fed, 188, 196

Graves, D.J., 279

Graydon, Joe, 19, 41, 285

Graydon, Teresa, 19, 41, 285

graying hair, 315

Greek yogurt, 184

green beans, 41–42

green foods and drinks, 16, 226–28

barley grass, 227–28

cereal grasses, 226–27

chlorella, 228

microalgae, 226, 228

spirulina, 228

wheatgrass juice, 228

wild blue-green alga, 228

green peas. see peas

green tea, 16, 164, 246, 264–65, 267–68, 274. see also tea

greens. see also arugula

growth

manganese and, 158

mussels and, 209

walnuts and, 163

guava, 16, 118–20

H

Haas, Elson, 16, 89, 124

Hachiya, 143

haemagglutinin, 166

hair

DHT (dihydrotesterone) and, 158, 305

eggs and, 192

lignans and, 305

halibut, 215

hangovers, 241

Hawaii, 94

hay fever, 295. see also allergies

hazelnuts, 151–52

HDL cholesterol

avocados and, 97

garlic and, 282

grapes and, 117

guava and, 120

hesperidin and, 128

monounsaturated fat and, 150

olive oil and, 302

in olives, 232

pistachios and, 156

red wine and, 262

shrimp and, 206

vitamin C and, 128

healing

aloe vera and, 272

beans and, 318

manganese and, 158

mussels and, 209

pineapple and, 132

Health Professionals Follow-up Study, 94

heart disease. see cardiovascular health

heartburn

cumin and, 281

dandelion and, 36

heavy metals, 236, 274. see also toxic metals

heicosapentaeonoic acid (EPA) titis

dandelion and, 35

licorice and, 231

turmeric and, 293

Helicobacter infections, 172

hemp seed oil, 306–7

hemp seeds, 307

Herber, David, 97–98

herbs, 275–96

dandelion, 35

garlic, 246, 282–84

ginger, 284–85

milk thistle, 19, 35

oregano, 287

parsley, 288

rosemary, 289

sage, 290

thyme, 291

Hernandez, John, 94

herpes, 108

herring, 80. see also mackerel

hesperidin, 128

high blood pressure. see blood pressure

high blood sugar, 92. see blood sugar

high-fiber diets, 11, 62, 83, 85–86, 88, 112

high-protein diets, 195, 243

high-volume foods, 62, 140

calories and, 62

cantaloupe, 103–4

honeydew, 121

mangoes, 126

melons, 103–4

water in, 103

weight loss, 103

hijiki, 236

histamines

grapes and, 117

oligomeric proanthocyandins (OPCs) and, 117

quercetin, 274

turmeric, 292

turmeric and, 292

HNE (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal), 298

Hobbs, Christopher, 36

homocysteine, 21, 22, 128, 162, 191, 252

cancer and, 60

cardiovascular health and, 42, 199

dementia and, 60

folic acid and, 60

green beans and, 42

memory and, 199

spinach and, 60

vitamin B12 and, 199

homogenization, 174

honey, 8, 315–16

honeydew, 121–22

Hormel Foods, 12

hormones. see also estrogen; insulin

asparagus and, 21

beans and, 317

in dairy products, 174

dandelion and, 37

fats and, 108

ghrelin, 274

growth, 15

insulin, 11

lentils and, 317

in royal jelly, 224

sex, 12, 108, 160

sterols and, 108

stress, 34

taraxasterol and, 37

taraxerol and, 37

horseradish, 42–43

host defenses potentiators (HDPs), 49

hot peppers. see peppers (hot) Houston, Mark, 16, 34, 80, 303

Howell, Amy, 253

Hu, Frank, 298, 306

husk, 241

hydrochloric acid, 296

hyperactivity, 204

hyperglycemia, 84

hyperoxaluria, 65

hypertension. see blood pressure

hyponatremia, 269

hypothyroidism, 29

I

immune system

antioxidants and, 52

astaxanthin and, 205

beans and, 82

bee propolis and, 223

broccoli and, 80

cantaloupe and, 104

carvacrol and, 287

chlorophyll and, 227

cinnamon and, 278

cloves and, 280

coconut and, 108

coconut oil and, 246, 301

cumin and, 281

diterpenes and, 289

garlic and, 186, 246, 283

ginger and, 285

gluthathione and, 52

glycyrrhizin and, 231

Goji berries and, 114

green foods and drinks and, 227

green tea and, 164

honey and, 316

lauric acid and, 245

lectins and, 82

lentinan and, 50

licorice and, 231

lymphocyte immune cells, 52

mushrooms and, 49, 50, 172

okra and, 52

olives and, 232

onions and, 185

oregano and, 287

papaya and, 130

peppermint and, 275

peppers (sweet) and, 56

pineapple and, 172

pistachios and, 157

pomegranate juice and, 260

probiotic bacteria and, 182, 229–30, 233, 246

protein and, 243

quercetin and, 185

rosemary and, 289

royal jelly and, 223, 224

saponins and, 239

selenium and, 149

squash and, 62

thymol and, 287

vitamin A and, 31, 56, 62, 104, 130

vitamin C and, 130

wheatgrass juice and, 228

whey protein and, 80, 242, 243

yogurt and, 182, 183, 312

zinc and, 199, 209

immunoglobins, 243

Indian medicine. see also Ayurvedic medicine

cumin in, 281

ghee in, 177

indigestion. see digestion

indoles, 26, 29

brassica family and, 23–24

breast cancer and, 238

in broccoli, 24, 25, 80

in broccoli rabe, 26

in cabbage, 28, 234

cancer and, 24, 234, 238

in cauliflower, 32

DIM, 80

estrogen metabolism and, 234

indole-3-carbinol, 25, 29, 80, 186, 220, 238, 317

in kale, 46

in kohlrabi, 47

in mustard seeds, 286

in rutabagas, 68

in sauerkraut, 234

in sprouts, 238

in turnips, 68

infants

fennel and, 40

fish and, 204

soy and, 166

infection

beta-glucans and, 50, 76

garlic and, 246

hesperidin and, 128

horseradish and, 42

mushrooms and, 50

oatmeal and, 76

vitamin A deficiency and, 104

inflammation, 11, 13

acai berries and, 249

aloe vera and, 272

Alzheimer’s disease and, 13

anthocyanins and, 106, 234

antioxidants and, 267–68, 310

avenanthramide, 76

bee propolis, 223

blueberries and, 101, 102

broccoli and, 80

cabbage and, 29

cardiovascular health and, 13

cherries and, 105, 106

coffee and, 251

COX-2 inhibitors and, 106, 299

diabetes and, 13

fish and, 80

fruit juice and, 255

ginger and, 285

glycyrrhizin, 231

hesperidin and, 128

honey and, 316

horseradish and, 43

lemons and, 124

licorice and, 230, 231

noni juice and, 259

oatmeal and, 76

obesity and, 13

oils and, 299

olive oil, 246

olives, 232

omega-3 fats and, 11, 196, 216, 246, 274, 307, 317

onions, 53

oregano and, 287

papain, 129

parsley and, 288

pineapple and, 132, 172

probiotic bacteria and, 183, 230, 233

purslane, 58

quercetin, 105, 223

in raisins, 136

rosemary and, 289

sage and, 290

seafood and, 204

sesame oil and, 310

spinach and, 60, 80

statin drugs and, 13

strawberries and, 80

tea and, 267–68

“The Silent Killer”, 11

thymol and, 291

turmeric and, 292

vegetable juice and, 255

vitamin C and, 128

inflammatory bowel disease, 272

Ingram, Cass, 287

inositol, 222

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 97

insulin, 11

allicin and, 283

beans and, 84

chromium and, 244

coffee and, 251

fruit and, 92

grains and, 75

grapefruit and, 114

lentils and, 88

manganese and, 158

mussels and, 209

omega-3 fats and, 211

peppers (hot) and, 55

potatoes and, 64

vinegar and, 295

walnuts and, 163

International Journal of Cancer, 99

International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics, 13

inulin, 22

in asparagus, 22

in dandelion, 36

in Jerusalem artichokes, 44

iodine

in arame, 236

in kelp, 236

in kombu, 237

in sea vegetables, 235, 236, 237, 273

in seaweed, 186

Iowa Women’s Health Study, 145, 150

iron. see also iron deficiency

in arame, 236

in bee pollen, 222

in beets, 22, 23

in brown rice, 246

in clams, 209

in endive, 39

in hijiki, 236

in kelp, 236

in kimchi, 230

in leeks, 48

in lentils, 88

in liver, 200

menstruation and, 61

in mushrooms, 51

nasunin and, 38

in nori, 237

in oatmeal, 77

in peppers (hot), 54

in persimmons, 143

in poultry, 194

in prunes, 134

in pumpkin, 58

in quinoa, 78

in sardines, 211

in sauerkraut, 234

in sea vegetables, 235, 236, 237

in sesame seeds, 160

in spinach, 60, 61, 80

in sunflower seeds, 161

in sweet potatoes, 312

in wakame, 237

in wheat germ, 242

in whole grains, 246

in wild game, 202

in winter squash, 62

women and, 61

iron deficiency, 61

isoflavones, 166, 167, 168, 169, 264. see also phytoestrogens

isothiocyanates, 27

in arugula, 20

in brassicas, 24

in broccoli, 318

in Brussels sprouts, 27

in cabbage, 29, 234

cancer and, 24, 27, 69, 234, 238

in cauliflower, 32

in horseradish, 43

in kohlrabi, 47

in mustard seeds, 286

phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), 69–70

in rutabagas, 68

sulforaphane, 234, 238

in turnips, 68

in watercress, 69

Israeli persimmons, 143

Italian beans. see green beans

J

jalapeño peppers. see peppers (hot) Japanese persimmons, 143

Jarvill-Taylor, R.A., 279

Jerusalem artichokes, 44

jicama, 45, 72

joint health boron and, 136

free radicals and, 119

licorice and, 231

oregano and, 287

turmeric and, 292

water and, 269

women and, 136

Joseph, James, 101

juice. see also juicing acai berry, 249

aloe vera, 271–73

apple, 94

beet, 23

cantaloupe, 104

carrot, 31

celery, 33, 34

celery in, 33

cherry, 106

cranberry, 72, 253–54

fish oil added to, 256

fruit, 254–57

of Goji berries, 114

homemade, 94

honeydew, 122

juicing, 255–57

lemon, 124

noni, 258–59

orange, 128–29

orange juice, 127–28

pomegranate, 92, 185, 259–61

red grape, 117

vegetable, 16, 254–57

wheatgrass, 228

juicing, 255–57

K

kale, 16, 46–47, 80, 89, 164, 273

Kefir, 184

kelp, 236

Khalsa, Dharma Singh, 16, 22, 33, 49, 93, 99, 122, 141, 164, 177, 178

kidney cancer, 99

kidney function, 80, 288

kidney stones

grapefruit and, 115

lemon juice and, 124

oxalates and, 65

Swiss chard and, 65

kimchi, 172, 221, 229–30

kiwifruit, 122–23, 164

Kloss, Jethro, 124

kohlrabi, 24, 47

kombu, 237

Koop, C. Everett, 301

krill, 8

Kushad, Mosbah, 43

L

L-ergothioneine, 51

labeling of food, 13–14, 15, 187–89

lactose

in whey protein, 244

yogurt and, 184, 312

Lad, Vasant, 293

lamb, 245

Lands, William E.M., 219

language, 8–9. see also labeling of food

laryngeal cancer, 30

Lassi, 184

lauric acid, 108

antiviral and antimicrobial properties of, 108

in butter, 177

in coconut oil, 245

immune system and, 245

medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and, 108

monolaurin, 108

LDL cholesterol

apples and, 94

avocados and, 97

cinnamon and, 279

eggs and, 172

garlic and, 282

grapes and, 117

hemp seed oil and, 306

hesperidin and, 128

Jerusalem artichokes and, 44

methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP), 279

monounsaturated fat and, 150

noni juice and, 259

olive oil and, 274, 302

omega-3 fats and, 306

p-coumaric acid and, 154

persimmons and, 143

pistachios and, 156

pomegranate juice and, 260

red grapefruit and, 115

sesame seeds and, 160

shrimp and, 206

tea and, 265, 266

vitamin C and, 128

lecithin, 191

lectins, 82

leeks, 48

legumes, 81–88. see also beans

autoimmune diseases and, 82

blood sugar and, 85

cardiovascular health and, 85

garbanzo beans, 85–86

lectins in, 82

lentils, 87–88, 89, 273, 274, 317

peas, 86–87

rheumatoid arthritis and, 82

lemons, 72, 124–25

lentils, 84, 87–88, 273, 274, 317

lentinan, 50. see also beta-glucans

leukemia

acai berries and, 249

asparagus and, 22

cranberries and, 109

diallyl sulfide and, 283

epigallocatechin galate (EGCG) and, 267

phenolic compounds and, 253

licorice, 230–31

Lieberman, Shari, 16, 268, 317

lignans

in beans, 317

blood pressure and, 159

cancer and, 72, 304

cholesterol and, 159

DHT (dihydrotesterone) and, 305

enterolactone and, 304

enterolodiol and, 304

estrogen and, 304

fats and, 159–60

in flaxseed, 72, 220

in flaxseed oil, 304

hair loss and, 305

in lentils, 317

in licorice, 231

lipid profiles and, 159

in sesame seeds, 159

sesamin, 159

sesamolin, 159

sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and, 304

vitamin E and, 159

limes, 125

limonene, 40, 72, 124, 281

limonin, 124

limonoids, 114, 124, 128

Lind, James, 125

linoleic acid, 50, 297. see also omega-6 fats

lipid peroxidation, 38

Lipitor, 13

“Live and Active Cultures” (LAC) seal, 183–84

liver cancer, 94, 124

liver (food), 199–201, 231

liver health, 12, 199–201

artichokes and, 19

beets and the, 22

beta-glucans and, 50

cardamom and, 277

cholesterol and the, 12

choline and, 220

cirrhosis, 231, 250

coffee and, 250

dandelion and, 35–36

eggs and, 191

gluthathione and, 52

lemons and, 124

licorice and, 231

mushrooms and, 50

okra and, 52

parsley and, 288

phosphatidylcholine and, 191–92

root vegetables, 71

rosemary and, 289

rutabagas, 71

turmeric and, 293

Lobb, Richard, 189

lobster, 206

longevity

red wine and, 262

resveratrol and, 262

sea vegetables and, 235

Lotito, Silvina, 94

low-carb diets, 18, 31, 63, 64, 79, 97, 127

low-glycemic diets, 84

low-protein diets, 195

lung cancer

apples and, 93, 94

apricots and, 96

beta-carotene and, 104

beta-cryptoxanthin and, 56, 130

butternut squash and, 62

carrots and, 30

lemons and, 124

limonoids and, 128

lycopene and, 66, 141

olive oil and, 246

papaya and, 130

phenolic acids and, 67

pineapple and, 132–33

pumpkin and, 58

selenium and, 149, 194

tomatoes and, 66, 67

watercress and, 69

lutein, 25

atherosclerosis and, 67

in avocados, 97–98

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in cabbage, 29

in carrots, 30

in collard greens, 35

in cranberry juice, 253

in dandelion, 37

in eggs, 192, 318

fat and, 61

in kale, 46, 80

in leeks, 48

macular degeneration and, 67

in papaya, 130

in parsley, 288

in peaches, 131

in pears, 142

in peppers (hot), 54

in pumpkin, 58

in snow peas, 71

in spinach, 61

in Spinach, 185

in summer squash, 62

in Swiss chard, 65

in tomatoes, 67

in turnips, 68

vision and, 58, 61, 67, 98, 192, 318

in watercress, 69

luteolin, 19

Lutz, Howard, 227

Lycium berry, 113–14

lycopene, 56, 66

cancer and, 119, 140–41

and cardiovascular health, 119

free radicals and, 119

in grapefruit, 114

in guava, 118–19

prostate cancer and, 119

prostate-specific antigens (PSA) and, 141

in tomatoes, 245

in watermelon, 140–41

lymph system, 228

lymphoid cancer, 262

Lyon Diet Heart Study, 13, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154

lysine, 78

M

macadamia nut oil, 273, 307–8

macadamia nuts, 152–53

mackerel, 80, 207–8

macrophages, 50, 76

macular degeneration

blueberries and, 80, 102

broccoli rabe and, 26

carotenoids and, 62

carrots and, 31

fruit juice and, 255

kale and, 46

leeks and, 48

lutein and, 67

spinach and, 185, 318

squash and, 62

strawberries and, 80

tomatoes and, 67

turnips and, 68

vegetable juice and, 255

vision and, 98

magnesium, 19, 120

absorption of, 36

in almond butter, 317

in almonds, 148

in artichokes, 19

in bee pollen, 222

in beets, 23

in broccoli, 25

in brown rice, 246

in buckwheat, 317

in cantaloupe, 103

cardiovascular health and, 225

in carrots, 31

in cashews, 151

in cheese, 179

in cocoa, 225

in coconut, 107

in collard greens, 35

dandelion and, 36

in dates, 110, 111

in edamame, 168

in eggplant, 38

in garbanzo beans, 86

in goat’s milk, 181

in grapefruit, 115

in grapes, 117

in hazelnuts, 152

in hemp seeds, 307

in jicama, 45

in lamb, 198

in leeks, 48

in mangoes, 126

in melons, 122

in miso, 169

in molasses, 315

in mushrooms, 51

in nuts, 220

in oatmeal, 318

in okra, 52

in oregano, 287

in parsnips, 70

in peaches, 131

in peanuts, 154

in pears, 142

in persimmons, 143

in pistachios, 157

in poultry, 194

in pumpkin, 58

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in quinoa, 78

in raspberries, 137

in rice (brown), 79

in rutabagas, 71

in sardines, 211

in sauerkraut, 234

in seaweed, 186

in sesame seeds, 160

in spinach, 60

in strawberries, 139

in sunflower seeds, 161

in walnuts, 163

in watercress, 69

in whole grains, 246

in yogurt, 246

malic acid, 295

manganese

in aloe vera juice, 273

brain function and, 158

in buckwheat, 317

in cloves, 280

in green beans, 42

growth and, 158

insulin and, 158

in lentils, 88

in molasses, 315

in mushrooms, 51

in mussels, 209

in oatmeal, 77, 318

in persimmons, 143

in pineapple, 133

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in quinoa, 78

reproduction and, 158

in rice (brown), 79

in sardines, 211

in sesame seeds, 160

in spinach, 60

in sunflower seeds, 161

in walnuts, 318

in wheat germ, 242

wound healing and, 158

mangoes, 89, 126–27

mannose, 271, 272

Manson, JoAnn, 298, 306

Markoulakis, Sophie, 26

Mattes, Richard, 154

Mayo Clinic, 93

Mayo Clinic Diet, 114

McDaniel, H.R., 271

McIntyre, Ann, 310

meat, 187–90, 273, 312

beef, 16, 188, 245

buffalo, free-range, 185

caribou, 80

free-range, 16

grass-fed, 16

lamb, 198–99, 245

liver, 199–201

organic, 14

pemmican, 197

pork, 245

venison, 80

wild game, 80, 201–2

meat eaters, 9

Mediterranean-type diets, 13, 97, 146, 147–48, 150, 152–53, 154, 232, 262, 302, 307, 308, 312

medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), 108, 301

melon

casaba, 122

crenshaw, 122

honeydew, 121–22

in water, 103

watermelon, 140–41

memory. see also brain health and function

age-related declines in, 12

antioxidants and, 12

blueberries and, 101, 246, 318

eggs and, 192

fish and, 80

homocysteine and, 199

omega-3 fats and, 216

rosemary and, 289

sage and, 290

short-term, 139

strawberries and, 139

vitamin B12 and, 199

men

beans and, 84

cabbage and, 29

prostate cancer and, 84

prostate health and, 157

tomatoes and, 66

zinc and, 209–10

menopause, 169, 231, 305

flaxseed oil and, 305

licorice and, 231

sage and, 290

tempeh and, 169

menstruation. see also PMS

asparagus and, 21

beets and, 22

coffee and, 250

iron and, 61

licorice and, 231

Mercola, Joe, 174, 180, 193

mercury

fish and, 204

in salmon, 217, 218–19, 273

selenium and, 219

in tuna, 213

metabolic syndrome, 11

beans and, 84

blood sugar and, 64

dates and, 111

fiber and, 85

fruit and, 92

grapefruit and, 114

metabolism

cayenne pepper and, 275

mushrooms and, 51

peppers (hot) and, 54

protein and, 242

tea and, 267, 274

whole foods and, 273

metabolites, 28–29

2-hydroxyestrone, 25, 28–29

4-hydroxyestrone, 25, 28–29

16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, 25, 28–29

DIM, 25

in sprouts, 238

Metchnikoff, Élie, 182

methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP), 279

Meyerowitz, Steve, 273

microalgae, 226, 228

milk, 9, 16, 180–81. see also goat’s milk

cancer and, 174–75

homogenized, pasteurized, 9

raw certified organic, 16

raw, organic, 9

milk thistle, 19, 35

Miller, Harold, 111, 136

mindful eating, 15

minerals, 9, 192. see also specific minerals

in almond butter, 317

in aloe vera juice, 271, 273

in arugula, 317

in avocados, 98

in beans, 317

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 197

boron, 94, 136

in Brewer’s yeast, 220, 244

in broccoli, 90

in cauliflower, 90

in cheese, 179

in dates, 111

in fish, 203

in Goji berries, 114

in hemp seeds, 307

in horseradish, 43

in kale, 89

in lamb, 198

in lentils, 88, 317

in liver, 199–200

in milk, 180

in miso, 169

in mollusks, 209

in poultry, 194–95

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in scallops, 209

in sea vegetables, 89, 164, 186, 235, 237, 274

in seaweed, 186

in sesame seeds, 160

in spinach, 90

in sunflower seeds, 161

in Swiss chard, 89

thiamin, 51

in vegetables, 246

in vinegar, 294, 295

in wakame, 237

in walnuts, 163

in wheat germ, 241

in wheatgrass juice, 228

in yogurt, 184

miscarriage, 250

miso, 168–69

molasses, 314–15

mollusks, 209–10

molybdenum

in beans, 84

in bee pollen, 222

Mondoa, Emil, 272

monocaprin, 108

monolaurin, 108

monoterpenes, 289

monounsaturated fat, 10, 98, 299

in almond butter, 317

in almond oil, 300

in almonds, 186

in avocados, 97, 185, 273

in beef, 197

in Brazil nuts, 150

in butter, 177

cancer and, 97

cardiovascular health and, 98, 232

in cashews, 150

coronary artherosclerosis and, 98

diabetes and, 97

HDL cholesterol and, 150

in lamb, 199

LDL cholesterol and, 150

low-carb diets and, 97

in macadamia nut oil, 308

in macadamia nuts, 152–53

in mackerel, 208

Mediterranean-type diets and, 147–48, 150, 152–53

in nuts, 146, 147–48, 149, 150

in olive oil, 302, 312

in olives, 232

in peanuts, 154

in pecans, 155

in poultry, 194

weight loss and, 97

women and, 98

mood

omega-3 fats and, 162–63, 211

tea and, 267

Turkey and, 274

morning sickness, 275, 285

Morningstar, Amanda, 177–78

motor coordination, 102

Mozian, Laurie Deutsch, 28, 278

mucopolysaccharides (MPs), 227, 228

muesli. see oatmeal; oatmeal

Mulroy, Ashley, 270

mung bean sprouts. see sprouts

mung beans, 164

Murakoshi, Michiaki, 30

Murray, Michael, 30, 142, 257

muscle cramps

potassium and, 57, 99

water and, 269

mushrooms, 49–51, 172

mussels, 209

mustard. see mustard seeds

mustard family, 42–43

mustard seed, 286

myeloid cancer, 262

Mynott, Tracey, 132–33

myricetin, 136, 288

myrosinase, 20

N

N-acetylgalactosamine, 271

N-acetylglucosamine, 271

N-acetylneuraminic acid, 271

nacre, 210

nails, 192

nasunin, 38

National Academy of Sciences, 112

National Cancer Institute, 83, 93

National Cholesterol Education Program diet, 97

National Yogurt Association (NYA), 183–84

natto, 170–71

nattokinase, 170

natural killer (NK) cells, 50, 183, 233

nausea

black pepper and, 296

cinnamon and, 278–79

ginger and, 284–85

nutmeg and, 275

NCI Cancer Weekly, 30

neochlorogenic acid, 134

neopterin, 223

neoxanthin, 60

nervous system, 10. see also brain health and function

acai berries and, 249

choline and, 274

folic acid and, 42

free radicals and, 119

niacin and, 154, 194

Nestle, Marion, 219

Neto, Catherine, 109, 253

Newnham, Rex E., 94

niacin, 51, 154, 194, 222, 287, 312. see also

B vitamins

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 312

in chicken, 194

digestion and, 154

in eggplant, 38

gastrointestinal health and, 194

in liver, 200

in mushrooms, 51

nervous system and, 154, 194

in oregano, 287

in peanuts, 154

in rice (brown), 79

in salmon, 217

skin and, 154, 194

in tuna, 213

Nichols, Trent, 123

Nick, Gina, 117

night sweats, 290

nightshade family, 38–39, 56, 66–67. see also eggplant; peppers (hot); peppers (sweet); tomatoes

nitric oxide, 146

argenine and, 162

blood pressure and, 225

cardiovascular health and, 225

flavanols and, 225

nitrosamines, 67

nobiletin, 129

noni berries, 92, 258–59

noni juice, 258–59, 258–59

nori, 237

nucleic acids, 228

Nurses’ Health Study, 94, 128, 145, 147, 150, 250, 298

Nurses’ Health Study II, 84

nut butters, 145–64

nutritionists, 16

nuts, 16, 145–64, 220, 246, 312

almonds, 16, 89, 146, 186

hazelnuts, 146

macadamia nuts, 146

pistachios, 146

walnuts, 318

O

oatmeal, 11, 16, 76–77, 90, 318

oats, 172. see also oatmeal

obesity, 11

beans and, 81, 83

fiber and, 83

flavonoids and, 231

grains and, 75

guava and, 120

inflammation and, 13

parsley and, 288

phytochemicals and, 276

vegetables and, 18

ocean perch, 215

Oceans Alive, 203, 215

octacosanol, 242

oils, 297–312. see also trans fats

almond oil, 299–300

canola oil, 311

coconut oil, 16, 107–9, 245, 246, 300–301

fish oil, 255

flaxseed oil, 304–5

hemp seed, 306–7

macadamia nut oil, 273, 307–8

in octacosanol, 242

octacosanol, 242

olive oil, 90, 246, 274, 302–3, 308, 312

rapeseed oil, 311

red palm oil, 308–9

sesame oil, 309–10

sunflower oil, 162

vegetable oils, 299

walnut oil, 164

in wheat germ, 242

ojas, 177

okra, 51–52

oleic acid, 97

in avocados, 97

cardiovascular health and, 308

in chocolate, 225

in macadamia nut oil, 308

in olives, 232

in peanuts, 154

oligomeric proanthocyandins (OPCs), 117, 118

olive oil, 90, 246, 274, 302–3, 308, 312

olives, 232

omega-3 fats, 8, 9–11, 299. see also fish

allergies and, 317

alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 10, 58, 164, 274, 297, 304

anti-inflammatory properties of, 11, 58

asthma and, 317

atherosclerosis and, 306–7

attention deficit disorder (ADD) and, 204

autism and, 204

in beef, 196

behavior and, 10

blood pressure and, 58, 211, 306–7

blood sugar and, 216

brain health and, 162–63, 204, 211, 216, 274, 317

in buffalo, 185

in butter, 177

cancer and, 317

cardiovascular health and, 58, 196, 211, 216, 246, 274, 306–7, 317

cell membranes and, 10

in cheese, 179

in chlorella, 228

circulation and, 11, 211, 216, 317

in cod, 80

depression and, 10, 58

diabetes and, 58

docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 10, 58, 164, 274, 297

dyslexia and, 204

in eggs, 193

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 58, 80, 164, 274, 297

enzymes, 10

fetuses and, 10–11

in fish, 80, 89, 164, 172, 203, 204, 216, 220, 246, 273, 312, 317, 318

in flaxseed oil, 304

glucose metabolism and, 211

in grass-fed beef, 72

in hemp seed oil, 306

in herring, 80

hyperactivity and, 204

inflammation and, 196, 216, 246, 274, 307, 317

insulin metabolism and, 211

in lamb, 198

LDL cholesterol and, 306

in mackerel, 80, 208

in meat, 188

memory and, 216

in milk, 180

mood and, 211

neurotransmitters and, 10

in nuts, 146

in oils, 297–98

in olive oil, 302

in purslane, 59

in salmon, 80, 89, 90, 172, 216, 246, 273, 312, 317, 318

in sardines, 211, 245, 274

skin and, 317

triglycerides and, 306, 317

in tuna, 80, 212–13

vision and, 317

in walnuts, 162–63, 164, 318

in wild game, 202

omega-6 fats, 10, 196, 299

cholesterol and, 306

in fish, 203

in flaxseed oil, 304

gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), 306

in hemp seed oil, 306

in meat, 188

in milk, 180

in oils, 297–98

in sesame oil, 309

sunflower oil, 162

in wild game, 202

omega-9 fats, 97

in avocados, 97

in flaxseed oil, 304

in macadamia nut oil, 308

onions, 52–53, 52–53, 172, 185, 220. see also leeks

ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) rating, 46, 118, 245

oral cancer, 66, 125, 141

orange juice, 128–29

orange roughy, 215

oranges, 127–29

oregano, 287

organic foods, 8, 9, 13–15

anthocyanins and, 15

antioxidants and, 15

“cage free”, 13, 14

defining, 13–14

eggs, 187

farmer’s markets, 15

food collectives, 15

the food industry and, 14

food quality and, 14

“free range”, 13, 14

“grass fed”, 13, 14

labeling of, 13–14, 15, 187–89

meat, 14, 187–88, 190, 197

“natural” farming, 14–15

“organic”, 13

poultry, 14, 187, 190

organosulfur compounds, 80

orzyanol, 79

osteoarthritis, 39. see also arthritis

osteocalcin, 59–60

osteoporosis. see also bone health

apples and, 94

protein and, 195

spinach and, 80

yogurt and, 246

ovarian cancer dairy foods and, 174–75

milk and, 174–75

pineapple and, 132–33

resveratrol and, 262

oxalates, 20, 160

kidney stones, 65

in Swiss chard, 65

oxalic acid, 160

oxidation, 12

oxidative stress, 12, 264

blueberries and, 101

degenerative diseases and, 12

kiwifruit and, 123

oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC)

of blueberries, 102

of prunes, 135

oxymel, 295

oysters, 209–10

Oz, Mehmet, 152

P

p-coumaric acid, 154

in peanuts, 154

Page, Linda, 235

pain relief, 241

anthocyanins and, 106

chili powder and, 275

cloves and, 280

COX-2 inhibitors and, 106

ginger and, 285

papain and, 129

peppers (hot) and, 54

umeboshi plums and, 241

pak-choi. see bok choy

Paleolithic diet, 201–2, 221

palmitic acid, 225

pancreatic cancer carotenoids and, 30

carrots and, 30

lycopene and, 66, 141

resveratrol and, 262

tea and, 267

tomatoes and, 66

pantothenic acid, 51

in bee pollen, 222

in mushrooms, 51

in peanut butter, 72

papain, 129

papaya, 129–30

Parkinson’s disease

blueberries and, 101

coffee and, 250

epigallocatechin galate (EGCG) and, 268

polyphenols and, 268

tea and, 268

parsley, 288

parsnips, 70

Parthasarathy, Sampath, 310

partially hydrogenated oil, 10, 155

passé-crassane, 144

pasteurization, 174

of milk, 180

of vinegar, 294

pattypan squash. see squash

peaches, 131–32

peanut butter, 72, 153–55

peanuts, 153–55

pear quince, 144

pears, 142–43

peas, 86–87. see also snow peas

pecans, 155–56

pectin, 94

in apples, 36, 94, 274

blood sugar and, 144

cholesterol and, 144

in dandelion, 36

in oranges, 128

in quince, 144

in vinegar, 295

pemmican, 143, 197

Pensiero, Laura, 281

peppers (hot), 54–55

peppers (sweet), 55–56, 90, 273

peptides, 142

perillyl alcohol, 105–6

peripheral vascular disease, 22–23, 42

Perricone, Nicholas, 249

persimmons, 143–44

Pescatore, Fred, 16, 273, 307, 310, 311

pesticides, 14, 15. see also carcinogens

apples and, 94

asparagus and, 22

blueberries and, 72

broccoli and, 25

celery and, 34

chlorella and, 228

grapes and, 118

indole-3-carbinol and, 29

in kiwifruit, 123

mangoes and, 127

onions, 53

papaya and, 130

peaches and, 132

pears and, 143

peppers (sweet) and, 56

pineapple and, 133

raisins and, 135–36

raspberries and, 138

spinach and, 61

strawberries and, 139

Pettersen, Sonja, 183, 227, 233, 238, 239

phase-2 enzymes, 27, 234

in broccoli, 25

in Brussels sprouts, 27

in cabbage, 29

cancer and, 25, 29, 32, 238, 258

in cauliflower, 32

colon cancer and, 238

prostate cancer and, 234, 238

sulforaphane and, 234

phenethyl isothiocyanate, 276

phenolic compounds, 34, 90, 93–94, 109, 110, 128, 232. see also polyphenols

in acai berries, 249

Alzheimer’s disease and, 268

antioxidants, 72, 265

in apples, 93–94

in bee propolis, 223

biflavonols, 265

in blueberries, 101

breast cancer and, 253

cancer and, 34, 94, 253

cardiovascular health and, 253

catechins, 265

in celery, 34

in cranberries, 109, 110

in cranberry juice, 253

diabetes and, 253

ellagic acid, 105

in honey, 316

leukemia and, 253

lung cancer, 67

in macadamia nut oil, 308

in olive oil, 308

in oranges, 128

p-coumaric acid, 154

Parkinson’s disease and, 268

in peanuts, 154

in persimmons, 143

in pomegranate juice, 260

prostate cancer and, 253

in prunes, 134

in raisins, 136

in red wine, 262, 263

resveratrol, 261–62

in sage, 290

in sesame seeds, 159

in strawberries, 80, 139

in tea, 264, 265, 268

theaflavins, 265

thearubigens, 265

in tomatoes, 67

phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), 69–70

Phillips, Katherine, 161

phosphatidylcholine, 191–92

phospholipids, 191

phosphorous

in almonds, 148

in avocados, 98

in carrots, 31

in cashews, 151

in collard greens, 35

in eggplant, 38

in goat’s milk, 181

in hazelnuts, 152

in hemp seeds, 307

in lamb, 198

in leeks, 48

in macadamia nuts, 153

in mangoes, 126

in miso, 169

in mushrooms, 51

in oatmeal, 77

in peaches, 131

in pears, 142

in pistachios, 157

in pumpkin, 58

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in quinoa, 78

in raspberries, 137

in rice (brown), 79

in sardines, 211

in sauerkraut, 234

in sesame seeds, 160

in strawberries, 139

in sunflower seeds, 161

in tomatoes, 67

in vinegar, 295

in walnuts, 163

in wild game, 202

phthalides, 34, 70

phycocyanin, 228

Physicians’ Desk Reference, 108, 117

Physicians’ Follow-up Study, 147

phytates, 74, 166, 167

phytic acid, 84

phytoalexins, 117

phytochemicals, 20, 275

in aloe vera juice, 273

in apples, 93

in beans, 81, 84

in blueberries, 102

in broccoli, 24

in brown rice, 246

in Brussels sprouts, 27

in cabbage, 28–29, 234

cancer and, 69, 84, 276

cardiovascular health and, 276

catechin, 93

in celery, 34

chlorogenic acid, 93

chrysophanic, 273

in cinnamon, 278

in collard greens, 35

diabetes and, 276

diosgenin, 84

dithiolethiones, 29

eugenol, 278

flavonoids, 234

in fruit juice, 255

geraniol, 278

gingerol, 285

in grapes, 312

in greens, 172

indoles, 28–29, 46

isothiocyanates, 20, 24, 29, 68

in kale, 46

in kohlrabi, 47

limonene, 281

limonoids, 125, 128

obesity and, 276

in oranges, 128

in peaches, 131

in peppers (sweet), 90

phthalides, 70

phytic acid, 84

preventive health care and, 276

protease inhibitors, 84

pulmonary diseases and, 276

quercetin, 64, 93

in rosemary, 289

in rutabagas, 68

salicylic, 273

saponins, 84

in sauerkraut, 234

in sprouts, 238

in strawberries, 139

succinic, 273

sulforaphane, 25, 27, 29, 258

in sweet potatoes, 64

in tempeh, 169

in tomatoes, 66

in turnips, 68

uric, 273

in vegetable juice, 255

in vegetables, 18, 246

in watercress, 69

in whole grains, 246

phytoene, 66

phytoestrogens, 166, 305

phytofluene, 66

phytonutrients, 122. see also specific nutrients

anthocyanins, 253

catechins, 253

in cranberry juice, 72, 253

in kiwifruit, 122

lutein, 253

in nuts, 146

in prunes, 134

quercetin, 253

in rice (brown), 79

in sprouts, 238

phytosterols, 115, 151. see also sterols;

sterols

in apricots, 96

beta-sitosterol, 152, 153, 157, 160, 161

cholesterol and, 158, 160, 161

in cloves, 280

in eggplant, 38

in grapefruit, 115

in hazelnuts, 151

in licorice, 231

in macadamia nuts, 152, 153

in pears, 142

in pecans, 155

in pistachios, 157

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in sesame seeds, 160

in sunflower seeds, 161

pineapple, 132–33, 172

pistachio nuts, 156–57

Pitchford, Paul, 22, 228, 235, 237

plant sterols. see phytosterols plasmin, 170

plums, 111, 134. see also prunes PMS. see also menstruation coffee and, 250

dandelion and, 36

evening primrose and, 306

hemp seed oil and, 306

pollack, 215

Pollan, Michael, 174, 189, 197, 270–71

polyacetylenes, 70

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 217

polyglutamic acid, 171

“Polymeal,” the, 224, 262

polyphenols, phenolic compounds polysaccharides, 49

acemannan, 273

in aloe vera juice, 271–72, 273

beta-glucans, 49, 76

cancer and, 236

in Goji berries, 114

in mushrooms, 49, 50

in oats, 76

in sea vegetables, 236

polyunsaturated fat, 10

in lamb, 199

in nuts, 146

in walnuts, 146

pomegranate, 16, 92, 185, 245, 246, 259–61, 318

pomegranate juice, 92, 185, 259–61

pork, 245

portion size, 11, 18

potassium, 19

in aloe vera juice, 273

in apples, 220

in apricots, 96

in asparagus, 21

athletes and, 57

in avocados, 98

in bananas, 99

beets and, 23

blood pressure and, 57, 99, 103, 121–22, 128

blood sugar and, 112

in bok choy, 24

bone strength and, 57

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in Brussels sprouts, 28

in cabbage, 29

in cantaloupe, 103

cardiovascular health and, 57, 103, 112

in carrots, 31

in cashews, 151

in cauliflower, 32

cell integrity, 99

in cherries, 105

in cloves, 280

in coconut, 107

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in dates, 110, 111

in edamame, 168

in eggplant, 38

electrolyte balance, 99

in endive, 39

in figs, 112

fluid balance, 99

in garbanzo beans, 86

in goat’s milk, 181

in grapefruit, 115

in grapes, 117

in green beans, 42

in guava, 119

in hazelnuts, 152

in hemp seeds, 307

in honeydew, 121

in horseradish, 43

in jicama, 45

in kimchi, 230

in kiwifruit, 123

in kohlrabi, 47

in kombu, 237

in lamb, 198

in leeks, 48

in macadamia nuts, 153

in mangoes, 126

in melons, 122

in miso, 169

in molasses, 315

muscle cramps and, 57, 99

in nori, 237

in nuts, 246

in oatmeal, 77, 318

in okra, 52

in oranges, 128

in papaya, 129–30

in parsnips, 70

in pears, 142

in pecans, 155

in persimmons, 143

in pineapple, 133

in pistachios, 157

in pomegranate, 246

potassium-to-sodium ratio, 21, 23, 57, 157

in poultry, 194

in prunes, 134

in pumpkin, 57

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in purslane, 59

in quince, 144

in quinoa, 78

in raspberries, 137

in rutabagas, 71

in salmon, 217

in sardines, 211

in sauerkraut, 234

in sea vegetables, 237

in sesame seeds, 160

in snow peas, 71

sodium and, 57

in squash, 62

in star fruit, 144

in strawberries, 139

stroke and, 57, 103–4, 112, 122

in summer squash, 62

in sunflower seeds, 161

in sweet potatoes, 64

in Swiss chard, 65

in tomatoes, 67, 245

in turnips, 68

in vinegar, 295

in walnuts, 163

in wild game, 202

in yogurt, 184, 246

potatoes, 11, 17, 64

poultry, 187–90

cage-free, 245

chicken, 90

free-range, 189, 194–95

organic, 14

turkey, 274

prawns, 205

pregnancy, 10–11, 10–11

alcohol and, 263

bitter melon and, 142

coffee and, 250

dandelion and, 37

fennel and, 41

fish and, 204

ginger and, 275, 285

kombu and, 237

liver and, 200–201

okra and, 52

omega-3 fats and, 10–11

rosemary and, 289

sage and, 290

sea vegetables and, 237

vitamin A and, 200–201

preventive health care, 276

Price, Weston A., 176

proanthocyanidins, 72, 102, 144, 317

processed foods, 15

propolis, 222–23

prostaglandins, 34, 108

prostate cancer

beans and, 84

broccoli and, 80

cabbage and, 29

calcium and, 175

carotenoids, 114

carrots and, 30

cranberries and, 109

curcumin and, 276

dairy foods and, 174–75

flaxseed and, 72

flaxseed oil and, 304–5

grapefruit and, 114

indole-3-carbinol and, 238

indoles and, 238

leeks and, 48

lycopene, 56

lycopene and, 66, 119, 140–41

milk and, 174–75

neoxanthin and, 60

onions and, 52

peppers (sweet), 56

phase-2 enzymes and, 234, 238

phenethyl isothiocyanate and, 276

phenolic compounds and, 253

pomegranate juice and, 260

resveratrol and, 262

selenium and, 149, 194

spinach and, 60, 80

tomatoes and, 66

prostate health avocados and, 97

beta-sitosterol and, 157, 160, 161

macadamia nuts and, 153

men and, 157

onions and, 185

pumpkin seeds and, 157

quercetin and, 185

prostate specific antigens (PSAs), 141, 260

protease inhibitors, 84, 167

protein, 9

in almonds, 148, 164

antioxidants and, 243

in beans, 81, 84, 273, 318

in beef, 197, 245, 312

in Brazil nuts, 150

in Brewer’s yeast, 220

in broccoli, 25

in buffalo, 185

calcium and, 195

in cashews, 151

in chicken, 90

in chlorella, 228

in edamame, 168

in eggs, 12, 90, 191, 220, 245, 274, 318

in fish, 203, 220

in garbanzo beans, 86

in goat’s milk, 181

in hemp seeds, 307

in herring, 208

immune system and, 243

in kale, 46

in lamb, 198, 245

in legumes, 273

in lentils, 88

in lobster, 206

in mackerel, 208

in meat, 245

metabolism and, 242

in microalgae, 228

in milk, 180

in miso, 169

in mollusks, 209

in mung beans, 164

in nori, 237

in nuts, 246

in oatmeal, 77, 318

in okra, 52

in orange roughy, 214

osteoporosis and, 195

in oysters, 210

peas, 86

in peas, 87

in pork, 245

in poultry, 194

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in quinoa, 78

in salmon, 89, 186, 217, 312, 318

in scallops, 209

in sea vegetables, 237, 273

in sesame seeds, 160

in shrimp, 205

in soy, 166, 167

in spirulina, 228

in sunflower seeds, 161

in tuna, 213

in wakame, 237

in walnuts, 163

in wheat germ, 242

in whey protein, 242, 244

in white-fleshed fish, 214

in wild game, 202

in yogurt, 184, 246, 312, 318

proteolytic enzymes, 132

prunes, 11, 134–35

psoriasis, 317

pterostilbene, 80, 102

pumpkin, 57–58. see also squash; squash

pumpkin seeds, 157–58

purines, 33

purslane, 58–59, 58–59

pyridoxine, 312

Q

quality of food, 9, 14

quercetin, 13

allergies and, 105, 220

as an anihistamine, 274

in apples, 93, 220, 274

in asparagus, 21

asthma and, 105

cancer and, 105

in cherries, 105

in cranberry juice, 253

diabetes and, 220

in fennel, 40

flavonoids, 40

the “French Paradox” and, 185

in onions, 53, 185, 220

in raspberries, 80

in spinach, 60

in sweet potatoes, 64

quince, 144

quinoa, 78

R

radiation

mushrooms and, 49

sea vegetables and, 236

vitamin A and, 104

raisins, 11, 135–36

antioxidants in, 136

and pesticides, 135–36

phenols in, 136

in trail mix, 136

rapeseed oil, 311

raspberries, 11, 80, 105, 106, 137–38, 317

“rating” foods, 9

Ravnskov, Uffe, 13

raw foods, 8, 9

eggs, 193

enzymes and, 255

juicing, 255

mollusks, 210

recipes almond milk, 148

cardamom tea, 277

celery juice, 34

date milk, 111

fake mashed potatoes, 32–33

ghee, 178

kale salad, 47

sauteéd broccoli rabe, 26

trail mix, 136

red lentil sprouts, 89

red palm oil, 308–9

red wine, 117, 261–63

Reed, Jess, 253

Reference Daily Intake, 41

reproduction. see also fertility

astaxanthin and, 205

manganese and, 158

mussels and, 209

walnuts and, 163

resins, 273

respiratory health. see also lung cancer

licorice and, 230

phytochemicals and, 276

spinach and, 185

resveratrol, 102, 262

aging and, 117, 262, 263

cancer and, 117, 262, 263. see also skin cancer

cardiovascular health and, 117, 262

in grapes, 117

longevity and, 262

lymphoid cancer and, 262

in red wine, 117, 261–62

stroke and, 262

rheumatoid arthritis. see also arthritis; autoimmune diseases

beans and, 82

beta-cryptoxanthin and, 58, 130

dairy foods and, 82

grains and, 82

green tea and, 246

legumes and, 82

sage and, 290

seafood and, 204

strawberries and, 80

yeast and, 82

rhizome, 292

rhodopsin, 31

riboflavin. see also vitamin B12

in beef, 312

in eggs, 192

in liver, 199

in mushrooms, 51

rice, 75, 79, 89, 246

RNA, 222, 228. see also nucleic acids

rockfish, 215

Rolls, Barbara, 11, 62, 86, 103, 121, 140

root vegetables, 71

in Asian medicine, 71

detoxification and, 71

jicama, 45

liver and, 71

rutabagas, 70–71, 70–71

turnips, 68

rosemary, 289

rosmarinic acid, 287, 289, 290

Roundtree, Robert, 49, 50

“Roundup Ready”, 15

royal jelly, 223–24

Rubman, Andrew L., 16, 124, 172

runner beans. see green beans rutabagas, 68, 70–71

rutin, 21

in asparagus, 21

in bee pollen, 222

S

Sabate, Joan, 163

saccharides, 271

Saccharomyces cervisiae, 244

sage, 290

Sahelian, Ray, 222

salmon, 8, 10, 16, 80, 89, 90, 172, 186, 215–19, 246, 273, 312, 317, 318

salmonellla, 193, 290

Sankar, Devarajan, 310

saponins, 22

in asparagus, 22

in beans, 84

cancer and, 84, 169

cholesterol and, 238–39

immune system and, 239

in licorice, 231

in sprouts, 238–39

in tempeh, 169

sardines, 16, 33, 211–12, 245, 274

saturated fat, 10, 12–13, 299

in avocados, 97

in buffalo, 185

in butter, 176

cardiovascular health and, 13, 98

cholesterol and, 176

in coconut, 107–8

in coconut oil, 301

coronary artherosclerosis and, 98

fats, 98

in lamb, 198

in poultry, 194

in wild game, 202

women and, 98

sauerkraut, 221, 233–35. see also cabbage

sauteéd broccoli rabe, 26

scallops, 209

Schaffer, Amanda, 218

Schechter, Steven, 236

Schmid, Ron, 180, 181

sea vegetables, 16, 89, 164, 235–37, 273, 274. see also seaweed

arame, 236

detoxification and, 89

hijiki, 236

kelp, 236

kombu, 237

minerals in, 89

nori, 237

seaweed, 186

wakame, 237

seafood, 203–19. see also under fish

crustacea, 204–6

mollusks, 209–10

Sears, Barry, 16, 90

seaweed, 186, 235–37. see also sea vegetables

seed sprouts, 172, 173–75

seeds, 145–64, 307, 317

selenium, 51

in Brazil nuts, 149, 150

cancer and, 149, 161, 194–95, 212

carcinogens and, 149

cardiovascular health and, 149

in cashews, 151

in cheese, 179

in clams, 209

in cod, 214

in eggs, 192, 318

fertility and, 149

in flounder, 214

in garbanzo beans, 86

immune system and, 149

in lamb, 198

in liver, 199

in lobster, 206

in macadamia nuts, 153

in mackerel, 208

mercury and, 219

in miso, 169

in molasses, 315

in mushrooms, 51

in mussels, 209

in oatmeal, 77, 318

in orange roughy, 214

in poultry, 194–95

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in rice (brown), 79

in salmon, 217

in sardines, 212

in sea vegetables, 236

in shrimp, 205

in sole, 214

in sunflower seeds, 161

thyroid and, 149–50

toxic metals and, 149

in tuna, 213

in wheat germ, 242

in wild game, 202

in yogurt, 184

serotonin, 10, 274

sesame, 310

sesame butter, 159–60

sesame oil, 309–10

sesame seeds, 159–60

sesamin, 310

sesamol, 310

sesamolin, 310

sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), 304

sexual arousal, 21, 227, 287

sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), 108

shallots. see onions; onions

Sharon fruit, 143

sheep’s milk yogurt, 184

shellfish. see crustacea shogaols, 285

shrimp, 205

silicon, 34, 222, 273, 295

silymarin, 19

Simopoulos, Artemis, 59

Sinatra, Stephen T., 16, 185–86, 226

Sinatra, Steve, 16

Sinclair, David, 117, 262

Singletary, Keith, 169

sinigrin, 27

sinuses, 42

skin cancer black tea and, 124

broccoli and, 80

lemons and, 124

limonoids and, 128

pineapple and, 132–33

resveratrol and, 262

rosemary and, 289

selenium and, 194

spinach and, 80

skin health

astaxanthin and, 205

cloves and, 280

fish and, 80

flaxseed oil and, 305

natto and, 171

niacin and, 154, 194

omega-3 fats and, 317

water and, 269

smokers, 104, 114

snap beans. see green beans snow peas, 71

sodium

in asparagus, 21

in beets, 23

intake in Western cultures, 57

in kiwifruit, 123

in miso, 169

potassium and, 57

in quinoa, 78

in sauerkraut, 235

in sea vegetables, 237

in wakame, 237

sodium alginate, 236

soil, 14

soil, food quality and, 14

solanine, 39, 56, 67

sore throat, 290

soul food, 35, 51–52

Southern cooking. see soul food

soy foods, 16, 165–72

edamame, 167–68

miso, 169

natto, 170–71

tempeh, 169

soybeans. see edamame

spices, 275–96

black pepper, 296

cardamom, 277

cinnamon, 278–79

cloves, 280

cumin, 281

mustard seed, 286

turmeric, 13, 276, 292–93

spinach, 16, 33, 59–61, 80, 90, 164, 185, 220, 245

spirulina, 228

sprouts, 237–39

squamous cell carcinoma, 262

squash, 61–63. see also pumpkin

acorn, 62

blood sugar and, 63

butternut, 62

calories in, 62

carbohydrates in, 62

carotenoids in, 62

crookneck, 61

digestive disorders and, 62

fiber in, 62

glycemic load of, 63

immune system and, 62

in low-carb diets, 63

macular degeneration and, 62

minerals in, 62

pattypan, 61

preparation of, 62

spaghetti, 62, 72

summer, 61–62, 63

types of, 61–62

vision and, 62

vitamins in, 62

water content of, 62

weight loss and, 62

winter, 61–62, 63

zucchini, 61

stamina. see energy

Stanciu, Catrinel, 112

Stanford University of Urology, 27, 29

star fruit, 91, 144

statin drugs, 13

stearic acid, 225

Stengler, Mark, 16, 35, 37, 222–23, 293, 318

steroidal glycosides, 21

steroids, 15, 174

sterols, 108, 232. see also phytosterols

Stevens, Melissa, 146

Stoll, Andrew, 11, 163, 304

stomach cancer

garlic and, 283

horseradish and, 43

limonoids and, 128

lycopene and, 66, 141

onions and, 52–53

resveratrol and, 262

spinach and, 60

tea and, 267

tomatoes and, 66

stomach cramps, 277

strawberries, 80, 138–39, 317

stress, 50, 274

string beans. see green beans

stroke, 11

alcohol and, 273

anthocyanins, 106

beets and, 22–23

beta-glucans and, 76

fish and, 80

flavonoids and, 225

fruit juice and, 255

green beans and, 42

guava and, 119–20

hesperidin and, 128

honeydew and, 121

kale and, 164

leeks and, 48

nattokinase and, 171

oatmeal and, 76

oranges and, 128

pomegranate and, 246

potassium and, 57, 103, 122

pumpkin and, 57

resveratrol and, 262

seafood and, 204

spinach and, 60, 80

tea and, 265–66

vegetable juice and, 255

vitamin C and, 128

substance P, 54

sugars absorption of, 11

in aloe vera juice, 271–72

in apples, 94

in bananas, 100

in beets, 23

in coconut, 107

in cranberries, 109

in dried apricots, 96

fructose, 271

glycemic index and, 11–12

in grapes, 117

juicing and, 256

in mangoes, 126

mussels and, 209

in peas, 87

in spirulina, 228

in yogurt, 184

sulfides, 48, 53

sulforaphane, 25

in brassicas, 25, 220

in broccoli, 25, 80, 186, 220, 318

in broccoli rabe, 26

in Brussels sprouts, 27

in cabbage, 29

cancer and, 25, 234, 238, 258

carcinogens and, 27, 234

in cauliflower, 32

in kale, 46

in kohlrabi, 47

in mustard seeds, 286

in noni juice, 258

phase-2 enzymes and, 234

in sprouts, 238, 245

in watercress, 69–70

sulfoxides, 48, 53

sulfur, 48, 53, 186, 222, 307

summer squash. see squash

sun-dried foods, 135

sunchokes. see Jerusalem artichokes

sunflower family, 44

sunflower seeds, 161–62

superoxide dismutase (SOD), 133, 227, 266

sweet potatoes, 63–64, 312

sweeteners, 313–16

blackstrap molasses, 314–15

honey, 315–16

swelling. see edema

Swinnerton, Robbie, 241

Swiss chard, 24, 65, 89

Synthroid, 150

T

T-cells, 50

T3 (triiodothyronine), 150, 236

T4 (thyroxine), 149–50, 236

tahini, 159–60

Talcott, Steve, 153–54

tangerines, 129

tannins, 143, 144

taraxacin, 35

taraxasterol, 37

taraxerol, 37

tartaric acid, 295

tea, 16, 264–67

black, 124, 264–66

dandelion, 37

fennel, 40

green, 16, 164, 246, 264–65, 267–68, 274

white, 264–65

telomerase, 267

tempeh, 168–69

terpenoids, 231

theaflavins, 265

theanine, 267, 274

thearubigens, 265

thiamin, 51, 200, 242, 312

thiosulfinates, 48, 53

Thoreau, Henry, 58

thujone, 290

thyme, 291

thymol, 287, 291

thyroid cancer, 262

thyroid function

goitrogens and, 166

seaweed and, 186

selenium and, 149–50

soy and, 166

tocopherols, 232

tocotrienols, 309

Tolbutamide, 142

tomatoes, 66–67, 66–67, 164, 245

toxic metals, 149, 186, 228. see also heavy metals

toxins, 166, 228, 234, 269, 286, 288, 317. see also carcinogens; environmental contaminants

trace minerals. see minerals; specific minerals

traditional medicine, 35, 258. see also Asian medicine

trail mix, 136

trans fats, 107, 155, 299

triglycerides

alcohol and, 263

allicin and, 283

artichokes and, 19

avocados and, 97

beta-glucans and, 76

cinnamon and, 279

fish and, 80

garlic and, 282, 283

guava and, 120

hemp seed oil and, 306

Jerusalem artichokes and, 44

methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP), 279

omega-3 fats and, 162, 306, 317

peanuts and, 154

persimmons and, 143

red grapefruit and, 114–15

shrimp and, 206

tea and, 266

trimethylglycine (TMG), 161–62

triterpenoids, 50

Trolox equivalents (TEs), 111, 136

trypsin inhibitors, 167

tryptophan, 195, 274

tumors

ellagic acid, 105

perillyl alcohol and, 105–6

tuna, 80, 212–13

turkey, 274. see also poultry

turmeric, 13, 16, 276, 292–93

turnips, 68

tyrosine, 210

U

ulcers, 54, 278

umbelliferous vegetables, 70

umeboshi plums, 240–41

University of California–Davis, 106

University of Illinois, 102

uric acid, 33, 77, 106

urinary health, 102, 152, 157. see also prostate cancer; urinary tract infections

urinary tract infections

cranberries and, 109, 110

cranberry juice and, 72, 253

licorice and, 231

urushinol, 127

U.S. Dietary Guidelines, 83

UV-radiation damage, 51

V

Vanrenen, Louis, 35, 37, 231

veganism, 195

vegetable juice, 16, 254–57. see also under juice

vegetables, 17–71, 18, 92. see also brassica family; peas; sea vegetables

artichokes, 19

arugula, 20, 317

asparagus, 21–22, 185

avocados, 185, 273

beets, 22–23

blood sugar and, 18, 92

bok choy, 23–24

brassica family, 23–24, 90

broccoli, 24–25, 80, 90, 186, 220, 318

broccoli rabe, 26

broccoli sprouts, 245

Brussels sprouts, 27–28, 220

cabbage, 28–29

carrots, 30–31

cauliflower, 32, 90, 220

celery, 33–34, 245

celery root, 245

collard greens, 35

cruciferous. see brassica family

dandelion, 35

diabetes and, 18

eggplant, 38–39

endive, 39

fattening, 18

fennel, 40–41

fiber in, 18

green, 11

green beans, 41–42

high blood sugar and, 92

horseradish, 42–43

Jerusalem artichokes, 44

jicama, 45

kale, 80, 89, 273

leeks, 48

mixed, 246

mushrooms, 49–51

nutrients in, 18

obesity and, 18

okra, 51–52

onions, 185, 220

parsnips, 70

peppers (hot), 54–55

peppers (sweet), 55–56, 90, 273

phytochemicals in, 18

pumpkin, 57–58

purslane, 58

root, 45

rutabagas, 68, 70–71

sea vegetables, 16, 89

snow peas, 71

spinach, 59–61, 80, 90, 185, 220, 245, 318

starchy, 18

sweet potatoes, 312, 317

Swiss chard, 89

tomatoes, 66–67, 245

turnips, 68

umbelliferous, 70

vegetable juice, 254–57

yams, 317

vegetarianism, 9, 195, 199, 244, 273, 304

venison, 80. see also wild game

vinegar, 294–95

Vioxx, 106, 138, 139

Virgin, J.J., 16, 274

vision

anthocyanins and, 220

avocados and, 98

bilberries and, 102

blindness, 26, 48, 67, 69, 318

blueberries and, 80, 102, 185

broccoli and, 80

broccoli rabe and, 26

carotenoids and, 35, 58, 61, 62, 67, 98, 318

carrots and, 30–31

cataracts, 80, 102, 293

collard greens and, 35

curcumin and, 293

eggs and, 192, 318

eyestrain, 102

flavonoids and, 185

fruit juice and, 255

glaucoma, 102

green beans and, 42

kale and, 46, 80, 164

lutein and, 58, 61, 67, 98, 192, 318

macular degeneration, 26, 31, 48, 67, 68, 80, 98, 255, 318

night blindness, 31, 102

omega-3 fats and, 317

peaches and, 131

peppers (hot) and, 54

pumpkin and, 58

raspberries and, 80

rhodopsin and, 31

spinach and, 61, 80, 185, 318

squash and, 62

strawberries and, 80

tomatoes and, 67

turnips and, 68

vegetable juice and, 255

watercress and, 69

zeaxanthin and, 58, 98, 192

Vita, Joseph, 266

vitamin A, 120

as an antioxidant, 31

in apricots, 96

in arame, 236

in arugula, 20

in avocados, 98

in bee pollen, 222

in beet leaves, 23

in broccoli rabe, 26

in butter, 176

in cantaloupe, 103, 104

carcinogens and, 62

carotenoids and, 31

carrots and, 31

in cheese, 179

chemotherapy and, 104

in cherries, 105

colds and, 104

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in dates, 110

deficiency in, 56

in edamame, 168

in eggs, 274

in endive, 39

fats and, 108

in goat’s milk, 181

in grapes, 117

in green beans, 42

in hijiki, 236

in honeydew, 121

immune system and, 31, 56, 62, 104, 130

in jicama, 45

in kale, 46

in kombu, 237

in leeks, 48

in limes, 125

in liver, 199

in mangoes, 126

in milk, 180

in nori, 237

in okra, 52

in oregano, 287

in papaya, 130

in parsley, 288

in peaches, 131

in peas, 87

in peppers (hot), 54

in peppers (sweet), 56

pregnancy and, 200–201

in prunes, 134

in pumpkin, 57, 58

in purslane, 59

radiation and, 104

in red grapefruit, 115

rhodopsin and, 31

in royal jelly, 224

in salmon, 246

in sea vegetables, 236, 237

in snow peas, 71

in summer squash, 62

in sweet potatoes, 64, 312

in turnips, 68

vitamin A deficiency, 104

in watercress, 69

in watermelon, 140, 141

vitamin B. see B vitamins

vitamin B1

in aloe vera juice, 273

in bee pollen, 222

vitamin B2

in aloe vera juice, 273

in bee pollen, 222

vitamin B3, 273

vitamin B5, 224

vitamin B6

in almond butter, 317

in aloe vera juice, 273

in bee pollen, 222

in liver, 200

in tuna, 213

in wheat germ, 242

vitamin B12. see also riboflavin

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 197, 312

cardiovascular health and, 199

in clams, 209

in eggs, 192, 318

in herring, 208

homocysteine and, 199

in lamb, 199

in liver, 199

in lobster, 206

in mackerel, 208

memory and, 199

in salmon, 217

in sardines, 212

in sea vegetables, 237

in tuna, 213

vitamin C

in aloe vera juice, 273

in asparagus, 185

in bee pollen, 222

in beet leaves, 23

in beets, 23

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in cabbage, 29

in carrots, 31

in cauliflower, 32

and cholesterol, 128

in collard greens, 35

in edamame, 168

in Goji berries, 114

in grapefruit, 115

in grapes, 117, 312

in guava, 120

HDL cholesterol and, 128

in honeydew, 121

immune system and, 130

and inflammation, 128

in jicama, 45

in kale, 46

in kimchi, 230

in kiwifruit, 122, 123, 164

in kohlrabi, 47

in kombu, 237

LDL cholesterol and, 128

in lemons, 124

in limes, 125

in liver, 200

in mangoes, 126

in melons, 122

in oranges, 128

in oregano, 287

in papaya, 130

in peaches, 131

in peppers (hot), 54

in peppers (sweet), 56

in pineapple, 133

in pomegranate, 246

in prunes, 134

in quince, 144

in raspberries, 137

in royal jelly, 224

in rutabagas, 71

in sauerkraut, 234

in sea vegetables, 237

in snow peas, 71

in star fruit, 144

in strawberries, 139

stroke and, 128

in sweet potatoes, 312

in Swiss chard, 65

in tomatoes, 67

in turnips, 68

in watercress, 69

vitamin D

in bee pollen, 222

in butter, 176–77

in cheese, 179

fats and, 108

in milk, 180

in royal jelly, 224

in salmon, 246

in shrimp, 205

spinach and, 59

vitamin D deficiency, 176–77

vitamin E, 157

in almond butter, 317

in almond oil, 300

in almonds, 148

in avocados, 185

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 196

beta-tocopherol form of, 157

in brown rice, 246

in butter, 176

in cheese, 179

in eggs, 274

gamma-tocopherol form of, 157

in hazelnuts, 152

in kiwifruit, 164

lignans and, 159

in meat, 188

in nuts, 246, 312

in peanuts, 154

in pecans, 155

in red palm oil, 309

in rice (brown), 79

in rosemary, 289

in royal jelly, 224

sesame seeds and, 159

in sunflower seeds, 161

in walnuts, 318

in wheat germ, 242

in whole grains, 246

vitamin K

in almond oil, 300

in arugula, 20

in asparagus, 21

in bee pollen, 222

bone health and, 234

in broccoli rabe, 26

in Brussels sprouts, 28

in butter, 176

in cabbage, 29

calcium and, 59–60

in cheese, 179

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in eggs, 318

in endive, 39

in grapes, 117

in green beans, 42

in Kale, 273

in leeks, 48i in natto, 171

in okra, 52

in parsley, 288

in peaches, 131

in peas, 87

in peppers (sweet), 56

in raspberries, 137

in sauerkraut, 234

in spinach, 80

spinach and, 59

in turnips, 68

in watercress, 69

vitamins. see also specific vitamins

in almond butter, 317

in aloe vera juice, 271, 273

B vitamins, 154, 197, 199–200, 202, 206, 208, 212, 213

in beans, 317

in blueberries, 318

in bok choy, 24

in broccoli, 25

in eggs, 191, 192

in fish, 203

in lentils, 317

in liver, 199–200

in milk, 180

niacin, 154, 200

in prunes, 134

in scallops, 209

in sea vegetables, 235, 237

in sprouts, 238

in vegetables, 246

in vinegar, 294

in wakame, 237

in wheat germ, 241

in wheatgrass juice, 228

Volek, Jeff, 16, 295, 312

vomiting. see morning sickness; nausea

W

wakame, 237

walnuts, 162–64, 318

wasabi, 43

water, 247, 268–71, 312

in cantaloupe, 103

in high-volume foods, 103

in honeydew, 121

in mangoes, 126

in melon, 103

water content, 62

watercress, 69–70

watermelon, 140–41

wax beans. see green beans; green beans

weight control/loss, 246

alcohol and, 263

allicin and, 283

almonds and, 147

apples and, 94

avocados and, 97

beans and, 84

blood sugar and, 64

blueberries and, 246

cardamom and, 277

celery as appetite suppressant, 33

dates and, 111

fiber and, 11, 85–86, 112

fruit and, 92

fruit juice and, 255

garbanzo beans and, 85

garlic and, 283

grapefruit and, 114

green tea and, 246

high-volume foods and, 103

lentils and, 274

monounsaturated fat and, 97

mushrooms and, 51

peppers (hot) and, 54

rice and, 79

squash and, 62

tea and, 267

vegetable juice and, 255

vegetables and, 246

vinegar and, 295

walnuts and, 163

water and, 269, 271

whey protein and, 242, 243

whole foods and, 273

Weil, Andrew, 132, 235, 239

Weil, Patti Bazel, 83

Weston A. Price Foundation, 181, 190, 197

wheat, 11, 75

wheat germ, 241–42

wheatgrass juice, 228

whey, 16, 72, 80, 242–44

ACE inhibitors in, 80

antioxidants in, 72, 80

blood pressure and, 80

cardiovascular health and, 80

gluthathione in, 72, 80

immune system and, 80

white-fleshed fish, 214–15

white tea, 264–65

whole foods, 273

whole grains, 75, 241, 246

wild blue-green alga, 228

wild game, 80, 201–2

caribou, 80

venison, 80

Willett, Walter, 12, 30, 145, 263, 298, 306

Wilshire, Regina, 41, 51, 75, 179

Wilson’s disease, 160

wine, red, 261–63

winter squash. see squash; squash

women. see also pregnancy

alcohol and, 263

bananas and, 99

beans and, 84

bone health and, 136

boron and, 136

broccoli and, 25

cabbage and, 28–29

cancer and, 99

cardiovascular health and, 94, 98

coronary artherosclerosis and, 98

dandelion and, 37

fats and, 98

flavonoids and, 94

iron and, 61

joint health and, 136

kidney cancer and, 99

menopause and, 169, 231, 305

monounsaturated fat and, 98

okra and, 52

omega-3 fats and, 10

postmenopausal, 98, 136, 160

saturated fat and, 98

spinach and, 60

Women’s Health Study, 94

Wood, Rebecca, 25, 37, 48, 65, 68, 70, 78, 86, 118, 127, 135, 160, 163, 291, 294

Wright, Jonathan, 279

wrinkles, 259. see also aging

X

xenohormones, 317

xylose, 271

Y

yams, 64

yeast, 82

Yemen Mokha Mattari coffee, 172

yoga nutritional therapy

bananas and, 100

beets and, 22

kiwifruit and, 122

yogurt, 175, 182–85, 246, 312, 318

Z

zeaxanthin, 25, 26

in avocados, 98

in broccoli, 25

in broccoli rabe, 26

in cabbage, 29

in carrots, 30

in collard greens, 35

in dandelion, 37

in eggs, 192

in kale, 46, 80

in leeks, 48

in papaya, 130

in parsley, 288

in peaches, 131

in pears, 142

in peppers (hot), 54

in pumpkin, 58

in snow peas, 71

in summer squash, 62

in Swiss chard, 65

in turnips, 68

vision and, 58, 98, 192

in watercress, 69

zera-carotene, 66

zinc

in bee pollen, 222

in beef, 197

in cheese, 179

fertility and, 209–10

in grass-fed beef, 72

immune system and, 199

in lamb, 199

in liver, 199

in lobster, 206

men and, 209–10

in mollusks, 209

in mushrooms, 51

in oatmeal, 318

in oregano, 287

oysters, 209–10

in poultry, 194, 195

in pumpkin seeds, 158

in quinoa, 78

in sardines, 211

in sunflower seeds, 161

in wild game, 202

in yogurt, 318

zingerone, 285

Zocor, 13

zucchini. see squash; squash

Zuo, Yuegang, 253

Text © 2007 Jonny Bowden

First published in the USA in 2007 by

Fair Winds Press, a member of

Quayside Publishing Group

33 Commercial Street

Gloucester, MA 01930

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

11 10 09 08 07 1 2 3 4 5

Digital edition: 978-1-61673-416-9

Hardcover edition: 978-1-59233-228-1

ISBN-10: 1-59233-228-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bowden, Jonny.

The 150 healthiest foods on earth: the surprising, unbiased truth about what you should eat and why / Jonny Bowden.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59233-228-1

ISBN-10: 1-59233-228-5

1. Nutrition--Popular works. 2. Food--Composition--Popular works. I. Title.II. Title: One hundred fifty healthiest foods on earth.

RA784.B64 2007

613.2--dc22

2006030412

Cover design by Dutton and Sherman Design

Book production by Leslie Haimes

Printed and bound in China

The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or medical practitioner. Please see your health care provider before beginning any new health program.