Tag Archives: Cardiovascular

Mediterranean Diet vs. Cancer Clinical Trials

Lower incidents of cancer and “arrest progression” of  Breast, Colon, and Prostate, as well as a slowed “Aging” process across all micro organisms, are being attributed to nutrients consumed from the Mediterranean Diet.  Organs effected by Alzheimer, Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Parkinson Disease once thought to be pre-dispositioned diseases, are now completely avoided due to the higher intake of a plant based-fish/poultry diet that includes a lifestyle change with exercise. In order to understand nutrition related disease we first have to address nutritional intake for the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) and understand what nutrients are common within the Mediterranean Diet that promote well-being.

Compare and Contrast the Standard American Diet (SAD) to the Mediterranean Diet on the following pie charts:

Standard American Diet: 2,594 cals/day

Caloric Sweeteners, Flour, and Cereal Products make up 41% of the S.A. D., Fruits and Vegetables are only 7% of the S.A.D.

Standard American Diet
Fruit/Vegetable 205 .08%
Fats 340 13%
Dairy 256 10%
Sweeteners 440 0.17%
Pork/Meat/Chxn 298 0.11%
Nuts 175 .07%
Pasta/Bread 619 23%
 Calories/day 2,594

Two critical points that Doctors raise as red flags. 1. Higher amounts of calories are  in the Standard American Diet. 2 Empty calories that promote aging is due to how the body is required to process calories that the body cannot use and have small to no amount of  vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants available.

Chemical Sweeteners and Refined Flour

  1. In contrasting the diets, note that 41% of the Standard American Diet is dedicated to the consumption of chemical sweeteners, refined flour, and cereal products.
  2. The Mediterranean Diet has no chemical sweeteners and only 17% of the dietary intake is in pasta and breads.
Calories Mediterranean Diet
Fruit/Vegetable 400 22%
Olive Oil 360 20%
Dairy 257 15%
Wine/Liquor 150 0.09%
Pork/Fish/Chxn 105 0.06%
Nuts 175 1%
Pasta/Bread 300 17%
 Calories/day 1747

Fats, Oil and Dairy products are almost an even draw in calories.

S.A.D 596 calories or 23% of dietary intake  vs Mediterranean Diet 617 or  35% of dietary intake.

  1. S.A.D. utilizes fats such as Margarine, Canola Oil, Butter, and processed cheese.
  2. Mediterranean Diet utilizes Olive Oil (3 Tbsp/day), daily fresh made or aged cheese.

So far the Standard American Diet in just two arguments has shown that 1,655 calories, or 64% of an average American’s diet is composed of sweeteners, refined flour, and processed saturated animal fat. The Mediterranean Diet demonstrates that 917 calories, or  52% of it’s nutritional intake comes from grains, refined flour, plant based oil, and freshly made or aged saturated animal fat.

S.A.D. Protein intake is 473 calories or 18% vs. Mediterranean Diet 235 calories or 13% of total intake.

  1. S.A.D. is heavily loaded with red meat some chicken / pork and low amounts of fish. It is important to note that red meat has 92 calories per ounce.
  2. Mediterranean Diet loads up on fish, poultry and some pork with red meat entering their dietary intake only once every 7-10 days. White meats and fish range from 32-37 calories per ounce are easy to digest and the amount of available oils high in omega 3 promotes healthy organs.

Protein intake is a critical part of everyone’s diet. Vitamins B12 & B16 are most prominent in meats and provide nutrition for the central nervous system.  However, balance is most important when consuming protein. Omega 3 and Protein are in all the meats, fish, and poultry, however the omega-3 is in higher amounts within certain fish (Anchovies, Sardines, Herring, Mackerel, Salmon) also easier to digest. Red meat can take 48-72 hours to digest, therefore a contributor to the aging process of the body as organs endure a work out to utilize and expel what is not needed. In many cases saturated fat is then deposited into the arteries and begin to engulf the organs.

Benefits of Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Spices, and Resveratrol

  1. S.A.D. shows that Americans consume only 205 calories or .08% of fruits and vegetables through out the day. (Eat the skin if not hard or bitter.)
  2. Those who follow the Mediterranean Diet are more likely to consume 400 calories or 22% of fruits and vegetables through out the day. Consuming wholesome nutrients found within natural wrappers provides the human body systems with vitamins and minerals that it needs to function daily.

    Free Radicals expedite the aging process by harming the cell membrane. Anti-oxidants neutralize the free radicals, and therefore protect all cell membranes. Eat a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices to keep your body loaded up on anti-oxidants.

Clinical trials are executing nutrition in plant extract form as a way of combatting disease and researching compounds that come from Mediterranean herbs and spices:

  • Basil / Bay Leaves:  Antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. New evidence suggests basil can decrease carcinogenesis, and help protect against the proliferation of cervical cancer (HeLa cells).
  • Cardamom: Is loaded with anti oxidants that purge the body from free radicals that help prevent multiple forms of cancer. Found to be anti-proliferatvie, anti-invasive, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic. Colon Cancer
  • Oregano: Has flavonoids and phenolic acids (antimicrobial properties) found to prevent colon cancer and restrict growth of malignant cancer cells
  • Rosemary: Aids in preventing oxidative stress which causes prostate and ovarian cancer

Studies have shown utilizing plant extracts from Mediterranean Spices that are linked to reduced incidents of cancer or arrested progression of cancer are:

  • Cinnamon / Cloves: Increased levels of iron and calcium are components that may be attributes of the anti carcinogenic, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative properties. Cervical Cancer, Colon Cancer.
  • Ginger: Has shown that it inhibits cancer cell growth in prostate cancer patients.
  • Sumac: Has both anti-oxidants and anti-microbial properties, preventing the on set of cancer.
  • Turmeric:  Contains anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-carcinogenic activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer and other chronic illnesses.  Plant based resveratrol is known to slow the aging process and is tested to see which cancers that it can prevent, arrest, and cure.  “Resveratrol (1 mg/kg orally) reduced the number and size of the esophageal tumors in rats treated with a carcinogen; and in several studies, small doses (0.02–8 mg/kg) of resveratrol, given prophylactically, reduced or prevented the development of intestinal and colon tumors in rats given different carcinogens. Similarly, topical application of resveratrol in mice, both before and after the UVB exposure, inhibited the skin damage and decreased skin cancer incidence.”

Add resveratrol to your meals, finding it within a variety of sources: purple grapes, cranberries, blueberries, peanuts, pomegranate and Italian Red Wine.

Making small dietary changes will promote overall health and reduce incidence of nutrition related disease and cancers, therefore leading to days of improved strength, stamina, and endurance.

By: Kimberly Crocker-Scardicchio

References

Heal what Ails you. The benefits of nutritional supplements!

The Need for Nutrition  “As sciences go, nutrition is a young one. To put it’s age in perspective, if the history of the human race were compressed into 24 hours, scientific discoveries began about 12 seconds ago, and nutrition, as an organized science, emerged only during the last three to six seconds.”

“While much has been discovered about nutrition in its short scientific history, the road ahead still holds many discoveries in our journey toward optimal health. Of the many vehicles on that road, USANA is the Mercedes Benz®, leading the way in quality and integrity.”

The following articles provide strong evidence of the need for nutritional supplementation:

Overworked and Undernourished
Your Health is Priceless

At USANA Health Sciences our mission is to develop and provide the highest quality, science-based health products, distributed internationally.”

 

For a period of time I rejected the notion of taking Vitamins.  Personally, I do count my 4 fruits and 5 vegetables intake, trying to make sure that I hit the magic number of 9 amd striving for 11.  One of the main reasons that sickness occurs is for the simple fact that our body is not prepared to head off the attack due to improper nutrition.   Lack of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants not ingested on a daily basis leads to  various types of disease.

 

What Ails an individual is due to several villianous aspects:

  1. 7 out of 10 people do not eat properly. 4 fruits, 5 vegetables, fish, meat, dairy, breads, unsaturated fats: Olive oil, Peanut oil, Canola oil.
  2. What  one inherits from parents and family members, Genetic’s and DNA.
  3. Pollution, Pesticides and Processing of foods all have aspects of depleting nutrition from whole foods.

An individual should never take too much of the fat soluble vitamins K, A, D, E, as they can create detrimental effects within your body damaging both the heart and liver. Stay with a quality manufacturer of vitamins that have multiple controls in place to assure that the product produced does no harm to the consumer.

Having studied the sciences for five years myself, I wanted to to better understand USANA’s approach to reasoning the nutritional supplements in combination with it’s breakdown in the metabolic pathway. I attended a meeting under the direction of Dr. Jouhn Cuomo, a Biochemist at USANA, and was very impressed with his approach to the development of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants produced in his lab, as well as, the MANY controls that were in place to ensure their product.   The seminar left a positive impression on me and I walked away convinced of USANA’s Good Manufacturing Practices and all or their national and international certifications.

It is important to check with your doctor to make sure there are no mal-interactions between any present medications and supplements that you may be taking.  Additionally, one should know that while supplements are not meant to treat, cure or prevent any disease evidence has shown that take in the right amounts they don’t harm the body and help the body to function better.

USANA Vitamins supplement chart

Supplements and Products that you can order on line.

 

Anti-Oxidants

AO Booster

• Boosts antioxidant protection

• Provides half the daily dose of the grape-seed extract found

in Proflavanol® 90

Mega Antioxidant

• Contains ingredients that are essential for good health

• Supplements vitamins that may be missing from diet

• Defends against oxidative stress

E-Prime™

• Provides powerful antioxidant defense

• Supports a healthy immune system

TenX Antioxidant Blast™

• Provides powerful antioxidant protection

• Supports heart health

• Promotes general well-being

 

 

Vitamins and Minerals

Chelated Mineral

• Contains ingredients that are essential for good health

• Delivers important minerals crucial to body

• Helps body effectively process key nutrients from our diet

Body Rox™ for Teen’s

• Provides essential vitamins and minerals for adolescents

• Helps compensate for irregular eating habits

• Supplies a comprehensive blend of antioxidants

BodyRox™ Active Calcium™ Chewable for TEEN’S

• Chewable calcium supplement specially formulated for teens

• Helps maintain healthy bones

• Supports many body functions

• Is important to cellular health

Usanimals™ for Children

• Provides essential nutrients for kids, ages 13 months to

12 years

• Helps support children’s rapid growth

• Supports healthy immune function

 

Vision and Eyes

Visionex®

• Supports eye health

• Defends against environmental stresses

 

Heart and Circulatory System

Proflavanol®

• Helps support a healthy heart and circulatory system

• Supports healthy immune function

• Offers superior antioxidant protection

Proflavanol® 90

• Offers three times the strength of regular Proflavanol in

one tablet

• Helps support a healthy heart and circulatory system

• Supports healthy immune function

• Offers superior antioxidant protection

BiOmega™

• Supports healthy joints

• Supports a healthy brain

• Supports a healthy heart

CoQuinone® 30

• Supports a healthy heart

• Provides strong defense against

oxidative stress

• Supports normal energy production within cells

Ginkgo-PS™

• Aids healthy blood circulation

• Supports mental acuity, memory,

and learning ability

Poly C®

• Supports collagen synthesis for healthy skin, bones,

and muscles

• Provides strong defense against oxidative stress

• Supports healthy immune, cardiovascular, and liver function

TenX Antioxidant Blast™

• Provides powerful antioxidant protection

• Supports heart health

• Promotes general well-being

 

 

Joints

Procosa® II

• Promotes optimal joint health

• Supports maintenance of healthy cartilage

BiOmega™

• Supports healthy joints

• Supports a healthy brain

• Supports a healthy heart

 

 

Liver

Hepasil DTX™

• Supports healthy liver function

• Supplies a unique blend of antioxidants.

Poly C®

• Supports collagen synthesis for healthy skin, bones,

and muscles

• Provides strong defense against oxidative stress

• Supports healthy immune, cardiovascular, and liver function

 

 

Vegetarian Diet

OptOmega®

• Supports cellular health

• Supports a healthy heart

• Organic, vegetarian source of a balanced ratio of EFAs

 

Men’s Health

Palmetto Plus™

• Supports men’s health

• Provides long-term support for prostate health

 

Women’s Health

PhytoEstrin™

• Supports women’s health

during natural aging changes

• Helps maintain bone mass

• Supports a healthy

cardiovascular system

CoQuinone® 30

• Supports a healthy heart

• Provides strong defense against

oxidative stress

• Supports normal energy production within cells

Ginkgo-PS™

• Aids healthy blood circulation

• Supports mental acuity, memory,

and learning ability

 

Bones, Muscles, Immune System, Heart and Liver

Poly C®

• Supports collagen synthesis for healthy skin, bones,

and muscles

• Provides strong defense against oxidative stress

• Supports healthy immune, cardiovascular, and liver function

Active Calcium™

• Helps maintain healthy bones

• Supports many body functions

• Is important to cellular health

TenX Antioxidant Blast™

• Provides powerful antioxidant protection

• Supports heart health

• Promotes general well-being

 

Please check with your doctor about the proper Nutritional Supplement that is right for you.  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. USANA’s and it’s product’s are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. essentials optimizers

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