D.
Fri, Aug-17-07, 17:16
Scientists are still uncovering evidence about how healthy the
natural biochemicals are that are found in fruit and
vegetables. Every day you find more in the press about one
plant or biochemical, and about how eating that fruit may
prevent cancer or aid in fighting off disease, etc.
Recently, attention as gone to a category of natural
biochemicals called "Salvestrols." These are a class of
natural molecules with dozens of different names. Resveratrol
was the first to be identified, from grape skins (scientists
are still looking at this one to determine its true value and
how it works). Other more recently identified salvestrols have
turned out to offer what looks like even higher levels of
potency than this one.
The problem is, as pointed out in a fascinating article on
this topic appearing in the "British Naturopathic Journal"
(Volume 23, Issue 1), that modern agricultural methods prevent
plants from producing salvestrols since they are not
challenged by fungal infection. Salvestrols are anti-fungal
compounds produced by the plant when fungal attack is likely.
Modern plants (non-organic) are usually low in salvestrols
because they are sprayed with fungicides and so do not need to
mount their own defence against attacks by fungus.
Also, most processed foods, such as many fruit juices, may
have salvestrols removed during processing, to 'improve' the
flavor of the product. Sometimes the biochemicals that are
most good for you have a somewhat bitter taste. They are found
heavily in the skins, pulp and stones of the fruit - and
commercial juicers, even for healthy plants like the
pomegranate, purposely remove these valuable components of the
fruit for their juices.
Work continues all over the world, summarized nicely in the
British article, on the anti-cancer benefits of salvestrols.
Much more powerful plant biochemicals may be identified in the
near future which will make for some very interesting future
news stories on this topic.
By the way, one method of getting as many salvestrols as
possible into your diet is to use organic produce, and to use
a device like a Vitamix for making smoothies and juices
instead of a typical juicer which leaves the salvestrols
behind. The Vitamix basically dissolves anything and
everything, and when my family uses ours, the seeds and skin
get thrown into the mix with no ill effect on the taste!
Dave
Full text article above extracted from
http://shamvswham.blogspot.com/
natural biochemicals are that are found in fruit and
vegetables. Every day you find more in the press about one
plant or biochemical, and about how eating that fruit may
prevent cancer or aid in fighting off disease, etc.
Recently, attention as gone to a category of natural
biochemicals called "Salvestrols." These are a class of
natural molecules with dozens of different names. Resveratrol
was the first to be identified, from grape skins (scientists
are still looking at this one to determine its true value and
how it works). Other more recently identified salvestrols have
turned out to offer what looks like even higher levels of
potency than this one.
The problem is, as pointed out in a fascinating article on
this topic appearing in the "British Naturopathic Journal"
(Volume 23, Issue 1), that modern agricultural methods prevent
plants from producing salvestrols since they are not
challenged by fungal infection. Salvestrols are anti-fungal
compounds produced by the plant when fungal attack is likely.
Modern plants (non-organic) are usually low in salvestrols
because they are sprayed with fungicides and so do not need to
mount their own defence against attacks by fungus.
Also, most processed foods, such as many fruit juices, may
have salvestrols removed during processing, to 'improve' the
flavor of the product. Sometimes the biochemicals that are
most good for you have a somewhat bitter taste. They are found
heavily in the skins, pulp and stones of the fruit - and
commercial juicers, even for healthy plants like the
pomegranate, purposely remove these valuable components of the
fruit for their juices.
Work continues all over the world, summarized nicely in the
British article, on the anti-cancer benefits of salvestrols.
Much more powerful plant biochemicals may be identified in the
near future which will make for some very interesting future
news stories on this topic.
By the way, one method of getting as many salvestrols as
possible into your diet is to use organic produce, and to use
a device like a Vitamix for making smoothies and juices
instead of a typical juicer which leaves the salvestrols
behind. The Vitamix basically dissolves anything and
everything, and when my family uses ours, the seeds and skin
get thrown into the mix with no ill effect on the taste!
Dave
Full text article above extracted from
http://shamvswham.blogspot.com/