by Pamela A. Popper, Ph.D., N.D.
Here are some more reasons (as if we need any more) to continue to reduce animal food consumption and increase the consumption of plant foods.
According to research performed at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, lycopene, the phytochemical that gives tomatoes a red color, destroys oral cancer cells in a test tube. Researchers are hoping to duplicate the results in humans.
According to two studies conducted at Harvard and reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999, consuming fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of ischemic stroke, the kind caused by a blocked artery to the brain. The strongest benefits were seen with green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits and fruit juices. The actual risk reduction can be calculated by multiplying the number of daily servings by 3% in women and 5% in men. (In other words 4 servings cut risk by 12% in women and 20% in men). Risk was further reduced to the extent that fruits and vegetables were not simply added to the diet, but actually displaced meats and trans fats, emphasizing why it is so important to change the diet overall, rather than just add or subtract one element.
And, last but not least, if you’re interested in strong bones, consume more fruit and vegetables. According to researchers at the University of Surrey in England and reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2000, women who eat the most fruit and vegetables had higher bone density and less evidence of bone loss than those who eat the least. The study evaluated 62 healthy women age 45 to 55 who underwent bone mineral density screenings and completed detailed diet questionnaires about foods consumed during a 12-month period.
Lead investigator Dr. Susan New noted that although most studies on osteoporosis focus on calcium, intakes of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, particularly potassium, beta carotene, vitamin C and magnesium are also associated with bone health. Potassium tends to slow the excretion of calcium, while it and vitamin C increase the rate of bone density formation.
Audrey’s note: If you are having trouble getting more fruits and veggies into you or your family’s diet, let’s talk.