Snack Foods Association

Fight Breast Cancer With Calcium D-glucarate And Other Nutritional Supplements

Most likely, there is nothing more frightening for a woman than the discovery of a lump in her breast. Her mind is quickly flooded with cancer and all of its consequences. Most women have a friend, a sister, or a coworker who has been diagnosed with the disease and know how difficult dealing with it can be. Fortunately, 80% of all breast lumps are not cancer, as most are cysts or a benign clump of tissue. From puberty on, a womans breasts undergo many changes. Because of these continual changes, breast tissue requires adequate nutrition. Although everyone benefits from a healthy diet, there are additional nutrients which can specifically benefit women including B vitamins, calcium D-glucarate, broccoli extract, green tea, maitake mushrooms, and iodine.

Because scientists can learn a lot about diseases from simply observing it, they have learned that certain cultures have a very low incidence of breast cancer, among these being China and Japan. As compared to women in America, Canada, and parts of Europe, the Asian cultures have a much lower breast cancer rate and it seems likely that something in their diet could be protecting these women from the disease. As Asian women adopt a western diet their breast cancer rates climb. It has also been recognized that certain types of vegetables play a large role in the prevention of all types of disease, including cancer. Based on this, scientists have carried out many studies to determine what it is about these nutrients that can prevent breast cancer.

Deficiencies in vitamin B12 can result in a serious type of anemia, as well as nerve damage, and is now being researched to see if these deficiencies can also, in part, cause breast cancer. A scientific study proved that women who had the lowest levels of B12 in their blood had the highest rates of breast cancer. Another study discovered that when B12 was applied directly to cancer cells, it actually stopped cancer cells from growing. The researchers conducting this experiment believe that giving B12 to women with breast cancer as a part of a chemotherapy regime might help to keep cancer in check.

Similarly, low folic acid intake is linked to the development of all cancers because folic acid is crucial to the making and continual repair of DNA. A recent study discovered that high intakes of folic cancer may actually reduce the risk of breast cancer, as women who eat lots of foods that contain folic acid have much lower rates of breast cancer. Although there is no clear-cut, single cause of breast cancer, many factors are required for the disease to appear, including estrogen. Studies have shown that women who have higher levels of estrogen tend to develop breast cancer more often. This means that women who got the periods before age eleven or entered menopause after the age of fifty-five have a higher risk of breast cancer. Another factor affecting breast cancer is the consumption of alcohol. Since alcohol raises estrogen levels, a woman who consumes even moderate amounts of alcohol increases her risk of breast cancer. However a recent study has shown that folic acid can overtake this link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer as those women who drink one alcoholic drink a day and have high levels of folic acid have the same rate of breast cancer as those women with high folic acid intakes who did not drink.

While women need estrogen to soften skin, thicken hair, and fill out hips and breasts, estrogen can also nourish breast tumors and help them to grow bigger, stronger, and more deadly. Thanks to good nutrition, American women get their periods early and go through menopause later in life. Today, women also have fewer pregnancies, with the average number of children being one or two. Each of these factors increases the time in which womens bodies are exposed to estrogen, meaning increased opportunities for estrogen to cause trouble. We are also continuously exposed to cancer-causing chemicals and toxins, coming from contaminants in the food we eat and pollutants in the air we breathe. Although the body does have a system that eliminates some of the excess estrogen and toxic chemicals before they cause harm, an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase can interrupt the excretion process, allowing the hormone or toxin to continue to cause harm. Fortunately, scientists have discovered a natural substance found in foods, calcium d-glucarate (CDG), which can stop the activity of beta-glucuronidase. CDG, which is found in fruits and vegetables, has been shown in experimental studies to significantly slow breast cancer growth. There are also many other trials currently underway studying its ability to decrease the breast cancer risk in women at high risk for the disease.

Iodine, which is the trace element in a hormone found in the thyroid gland and is involved in several metabolic functions, functions as a protection of breast tissue from cancerous cells. A study exposing breast cancer cells and breast tissue without any cancer to a type of seaweed containing high amounts of iodine concluded that the seaweed killed all of the cancerous cells and did not harm the normal breast cells. Researchers believe that it is because many Japanese women eat this kind of seaweed, containing great amounts of iodine, that they have very low rates of breast cancer.

For a great deal of time, cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, have been observed by scientists for their ability to reduce the risk of diseases including cancer. It appears that the phytochemical sulforaphane, found in broccoli, is one of the chemicals responsible for this beneficial ability. Sulforaphane increases certain enzymes in the body called phase 2 enzymes, which deactivate cancer-causing chemicals. When breast cancer cells were exposed to sulforaphane in a lab experiment, the compound inhibited the growth of the cancer cells up to eighty percent.

There is a good amount of research that has concluded that green tea beverage consumption is associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer. Researchers have long noted the low rates of breast cancer in Japan, where green tea is consumed at great amounts. The active compound found in green tea that is responsible for breast cancer inhibition is EGCG, which stops the cells from growing, causes them to lose their ability to replicate, and die.

For many years, maitake mushrooms have been linked to good health in all that eat them, partly because they contain an important compound called D-fraction. D-fraction not only stops the growth of cancerous tumors, but it also alerts and stimulates immune cells to fight the disease. Due to its success, maitake is now being used in clinical trials of women with breast cancer, improving many symptoms including reduction of the tumor.

These nutrients should not be used in place of traditional treatment for breast cancer, as none of these nutrients can cure breast cancer. However, they can be a part of plan of treatment. If you have breast cancer, talk to your healthcare practitioner about these nutrients and remember that nutritional supplements are supplements to your food, medication, and treatment, to enhance and prevent, not a replacement. Supplements like B vitamins, calcium D-glucarate, broccoli extract, green tea, maitake mushrooms, and iodine can be found at your local or internet health food store.

Acupuncture Weight Loss More Than Just Needles

Sometimes it’s it can be difficult for people of another culture to understand the workings of ancient Chinese traditional and alternative health treatments.

Acupuncture weight loss is such a treatment, that is often misunderstood as it’s often hard to understand how the process of sticking needles into the body can help or even cause weight loss.

Scepticism very often comes from the fact that we’re not well informed or not aware of all the elements involved in these ancient treatments – like the acupuncture weight loss treatment.

Acupuncture weight loss comes from the old Chinese practice of acupuncture. While acupuncture weight loss has been around for almost as long as acupuncture itself, the treatment became popular around 2003.

Staggering reports of acupuncture weight loss statistics in China were conveyed through the media. In a world where weight loss is a major issue for so many people, the news was greeted with a great deal of interest and scepticism.

At that time it was reported by the Chinese that acupuncture weight loss was helping a large number of people lose on average between twenty and thirty pounds. There have been cases where people have lost huge amounts of weight – although this is an exception.

The success rate percentage was nothing less than fantastic. Acupuncture weight loss specialists in China claimed that four out of five people that had gone through the treatment were losing weight.

It wasn’t long before acupuncture weight loss centers began picking up on this success and clinics specifically for this process began opening in major cities around the world.

The main goal of the acupuncture weight loss treatment is to stimulate the patient’s digestive system. While acupuncture weight loss uses acupuncture as the main foundation of this process, it always combined with a herb process as well.

The herbs used in an acupuncture weight loss process, balance the digestive system, reducing the appetite and improving the patient’s metabolism. All of these processes are vitally important in a successful acupuncture weight loss plan.

It is also important to note that most reputable clinics using herbs as a part of their acupuncture weight loss process are using pharmaceutical herbs.

Acupuncture weight loss clinics also use methods such as light exercise, Shaitsu massage, breathing lessons and information on body balance and flexibility as essential elements of a fully rounded acupuncture weight loss process.

Acupuncture weight loss is not an instant weight loss solution, it is however, more of a gradual approach that is focused on turning the body and mind into a healthy and balanced whole.

The acupuncture weight loss process is one of discomfort, on the contrary, while some of the acupuncture weight loss methods are active, others such as Aroma wraps and Shiatsu massage are considered more on the wellness and wellbeing side of the acupuncture weight loss methodology.

So now you hopefully have a different picture of what’s involved in an acupuncture weight loss process. You may even be tempted to try an acupuncture weight loss process yourself.

Day Diet Pills – Are They Safe and Do They Work

Firstly, let me state that the 2 Day Diet Japan Lingzhi diet pills, along with many other Chinese and so-called “Japanese diet pills” have been tested by the FDA and found to contain prescription medicine and undeclared drugs. While you’re still able to purchase them via the internet, the FDA is actively shutting down each operation.

The 2 Day Diet pills are not the only Chinese/Japanese diet pills found to contain undeclared drugs. The complete list of these tainted diet pills is available on the FDA website under recalls and consumer warnings. As they continue to find and test products they update the list and the list is long. These unethical Chinese manufacturers continue to manufacture the 2 Day Diet and create other similar pills for American companies or for anyone who is willing to buy them. They simply change the packaging for their customers and release a new product that the FDA has not yet had a chance to test. According to the FDA, they are having a tough time monitoring incoming diet pills from China and the websites that sell them.

Are the 2 Day Diet pills safe to take?

Answer: According to the ingredient label it contains all natural ingredients. What it really contains is a schedule 4 diet drug, available (legally) only by prescription. Check the FDA website for a complete list of the prescription drugs they have found in these Chinese/Japanese diet pills. Okay, so you need a prescription. But are they safe to take? As with any chemical drug, they will have side-effects. According to the FDA website, no deaths have been reported. The FDA has found these products to contain two and three times the amount of drugs in a normally prescribed dose. And at about 1/20th of the cost of the prescription drug here in the USA…. but that’s a subject for another article! Check with your doctor to see if he can prescribe a diet pill that is safe for YOU.

Do they work?

Answer: Absolutely! There’s a popular Topix forum thread on the 2 Day Diet pill subject.

For clarification, I’m not saying all diet products from China are loaded with prescription drugs or that all Chinese manufacturers are unethical. I sure hope not because everything comes from China! What about Japanese diet pills? There are no such things! Japan has a highly regulated diet industry. The Chinese slap “made in Japan” on the box to give their product some legitimacy! Also note when you read the box, there is not a manufacturer listed. Although there is some writing in Japanese or Chinese, translators tell us it doesn’t list a manufacturer.

Some people will also argue that the FDA did not test the ORIGINAL 2 Day Diet. There’s lots of controversy on the subject of real and fake. You’ll read a lot about it on the Topix forum. Since no manufacturer will actually claim the product you can consider them all original or all fake. Take your pick! In reality there are many Chinese manufacturers producing the 2 Day Diet. They’ll change the packaging slightly and that will spark a whole new debate on fake vs original.

Bottom line.. proceed with caution. Talk to your doctor. And if you do decide to purchase the 2 Day Diet, monitor yourself closely. Read the Topix forum to see how others are doing and the side effects you need to be aware of because they’re certainly not written on the label. You’ll see that internet advertising is rampant for the 2 Day Diet. They are sold by many legitimate companies. Before taking diet pills, do a little research, monitor yourself carefully and check the forums for complaints.

Rice Nutrition

One of the most widely eaten food crop in the world, rice provides nourishment to more than half the world’s population. Being a staple food, it is cultivated during winters and summers, both. Being grown in 4000 varieties every year, it supplied more than one fifth of the calories that are consumed by humans.

Rice is one of the most grown cash crops in developing countries and is also the oldest of the cereal crops that humans cultivated. The first form of rice was grown in China about 5000 years ago and since it was a major food supplement, it got commercially cultivated as a cash crop in half the world.

Rice contains nutrients that are vital to the body and give it energy. Nutrients such as carbohydrates are found in rice which is also an important source for storing energy inside the body so that it grows properly. Because rice nutrition is low on salt, cholesterol and fat, it keeps the heart healthy.

Rice being of two types; brown and white rice, has a high quantity of carbohydrates in it and mixing these 2 rice can be beneficial. The only major difference between the two types is that white rice goes through a milling process whereas, the brown rice does not. However, it is believed that the milling process is not favorable for white rice nutrition as it removes nutrients such as B3, B1, B6, dietary fiber, the essential fatty acids, and half quantity of iron, phosphorus and manganese. It is known that brown rice has more nutrition and fiber as the white rice has its outer coating removed.

White Rice Nutrition contains carbohydrate (89%), some protein (8%) and little fat (1%). It also consists of some dietary fiber, calcium, and potassium.

On the other hand, brown rice nutrition is rich in quantity of 83% carbohydrate, 9% of protein and 7% of fat. It also has dietary fiber (6x more than white rice), calcium and potassium (about double amount as in white rice)

Rice nutrition also has a low content of sodium and contains favorable amounts of potassium, thiamin, B vitamins and niacin. Usually, people who are trying to reduce cholesterol and fat intake seek rice as the solution since it only has a slight trace of salt and absolutely no cholesterol. It is also gluten free so is easily digested. It is suitable for vegans and brown rice is particularly popularly used in vegetarian dishes.

It is known that an average portion of rice nutrition is capable of providing about 11% of the expected average daily necessity of protein and on share it only has 245 kcal.”

World Food Prices Sharply Rise Which May Cause Inflation

For some time, many parts of the world food prices have risen considerably. In Hungary, the food prices have 13% higher than a year ago; in China, food prices rose 6% compare with last year; while Germany, Italy and the UK the food prices have also been risen; in the United States, food prices index in February rose 4.6% than last month, food prices rose 3.1% than previous year.

Worldwide food prices rise so dramatically, what is the reason? Whether this rising trend will continue? What impact will have on the economy?

U.S. food expert said that the food prices rise caused by the production of biological fuel ethanol. Production of bio-fuels takes too much of the land. In the United States, an acre of land planted corn produce fuel is equivalent to 50 gallons of gasoline. While Americans burn 134 billion gallons per year of gasoline; Europeans are close to this number. U.S. needs 800 million acres of land to grow corn can meet ethanol to replace 10% of gasoline requirements.

Another expert, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service agricultural economist Annette pointed out that corn are used extensively for feeding livestock, food prices rise will lead to other food prices rising, whether it is beef or chicken, of course, cattle, they all eat the best feed, the price will surely rise, like milk and cheese products.

Annette believes that unless the United States and Europe to stop using bio-fuel ethanol to replace gasoline, or food prices will continue to rise. Nevertheless, some economists believe that the price of food has always been volatile; the range of rising and falling is relatively large. If like Brazil with large land can dramatically increase corn cultivation, food prices may fall.

As the food prices rising will lead to generally inflation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural economist Annette pointed out that inflation often not a kind of commodity prices rise cause, but also triggered by different situations arise.

However, some developing countries are facing food prices lead to inflation risk. In the Philippines, food products in the consumer price index accounted for 50%; in Thailand, this proportion was 35%. In China, Shanghai, people said the price of green vegetables has doubled a year ago, meat and vegetable oil prices also have risen.

International analysts have estimated that China’s corn reserves now are about 30 million tons, while in the late 90s of last century; China’s maize reserves up to 100 million tons, this means that China’s reserves are only enough 2 or 3 months supply. However, China is still corn-exporting countries, but after a few years it will be a corn importer. Therefore, some economists pointed out that China must take bold measures to prevent future food problems.

Tea the Real Story

Everyone knows what tea is, right? Tea, technically, comes from the leaves of one plant, camellia sinensis. Anything other than the leaves from this plant is not actually tea, although tea is often used as a catchall word to include all the different herbal beverages used these days.

Legend has it that tea was discovered long ago in China quite by accident. Some leaves from a nearby plant blew into a cup of hot water; a nice brown colored beverage resulted, was found to have a refreshing taste, and tea was born. However it was discovered, tea is very refreshing, whether it is black, green, oolong or white. Tea has been proven in more recent times to have wonderful health benefits. We have all heard of antioxidants in tea, helping to fight free radicals that can cause harm to the body. Tea is far lower in caffeine than coffee. It is refreshing, whether used hot or cold.

There are various types of tea, all beginning with the same leaves. Black tea is created by bruising or crushing the green leaves to expose them to oxidation and allowing them to ferment, then rolling the leaves and drying. This produces a beautifully colored beverage and has the strongest flavor of all the varieties of tea. Oolong tea (pronounced OH-long) is oxidized and fermented the same as black tea, but only for about half the amount of time and the resulting product is a lighter, more reddish beverage with a flavor all its own, somewhere in strength between black tea and green tea. For green tea, the leaves are heated immediately, stopping the fermentation process entirely, then dried and rolled. It produces a lovely light colored beverage, and is said to have the most health benefits. The processing of white tea is similar to that of green tea, but only the unopened buds of the leaves are used. It has the same health properties as green tea, but the flavor is the lightest and most delicate.

Good quality tea is a wonderful beverage. Whole rolled or twisted leaves are the best quality; the smaller the leaf, the higher the quality of the tea. The top grades are called Flowery, Golden Flowery or Tippy. Seconds, termed Choppy, are the leaves that have broken into smaller pieces. They brew a great tea, and are usually less expensive. The smallest particles leftover from the tea process, called Fannings, are what is used in tea bags. It brews tea of course, but once tasting a tea brewed from a wonderful full leaf Darjeeling Black Tea, for example, it is hard to return to a tea bag for optimal flavor.

Orange Pekoe (rhymes with gecko) is a western terminology applied to a grade of black tea; the word orange in the name has nothing to do with flavor, but could be a reference to the Dutch House of Orange using the name Orange as an implied sea” of some sort. Pekoe may be a westernized interpretation for a Chinese word meaning white hairs, referring to the fine white down on the tea leaves.

So, what are herbal beverages called? Herbal beverages are called tisanes, and may be prepared by different methods, usually infusion or decoction. It is incorrect to apply the term tea to anything infused or decocted, although tea is actually infused. Infusion is the preparation method of choice for leaves, flowers or buds; plant matter that will release its properties easily into a drinkable beverage. Placed into heated or boiled water and allowed to steep, the herbs release their goodness into the water, and then are strained out. Decoction is the method used for harder or denser plant materials, such as roots or barks that take longer to release their flavors or health benefits. With a decoction, the plant materials are brought to a boil, simmered gently for 15 minutes or more allowing the liquid to reduce, and then straining.

No matter which you prefer, tea or tisane, for pure enjoyment or for health benefits, look for the best quality. Discover your favorites among the different types of loose teas. Taste the different herbal tisanes and discover new flavors. Above all, enjoy.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope it was informative and helped you along your own culinary journey. You will find many more recipes and helpful tips on my web site. I am on Facebook at A Harmony of Flavors and share a recipe or tip each day to the fans that have liked my site. I hope to see you there soon.

Goji Juice Or Noni Juice

The Goji juice berry and the Noni juice fruit are both rising in popularity with the health food craze. However, just as the fruits are different, so too are their juices. Goji juice berry, also known as Wolfberry, is a highly nutritious berry that is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. The noni juice fruit, known as the cheese fruit, is low on vitamins but extremely high on protein and carbohydrates. The juices of the two, the noni fruit and the goji juice fruit, illustrate the differences between the two.

Goji juice berry is considered one of the super fruits of the health food world. This fruit is a tasty addition to many diets as it is loaded with the proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals that the human body needs. This Goji juice fruit is appealing to look at and delectable to eat and make juice out of. It has been used in China for generations as a good for you food and for commercial sale. This trend has recently made its way to the States and the world.

Noni juice fruit is considered the starvation fruit because of its ability to keep you alive during a famine. It is considered an acquired taste as the Noni juice fruit is known to have a pungent odor akin to cheese when rip. It is very high in carbohydrates, fats, and protein, making it an ideal meal replacement fruit. The white, bumpy texture of this Noni juice fruit makes it unappealing to many people and the Noni juice is difficult to get from the fruit as it is a meaty fruit, rather than a wet fruit.

When juice is made from the Goji juice berry, the vitamins and minerals often remain intact because the pasteurization methods do not destroy them. Because the Noni juice fruit is more prone to bacteria that the Goji juice berry, the pasteurization process is longer and at a higher temperature, which causes a break down in the few vitamins and minerals in it. Because the proteins and fats are stored in the pulp of the Noni juice fruit, there is little nutritional value to the noni juice as opposed to the high values of the Goji juice berry.

Caja China Style vs. Open Fire Pit Cooking

When talking about a spit, most people are talking about rotisserie style cooking. Cooking a whole hog rotisserie style is something that can take between 8-10 hours or more. A pig rotisserie also usually requires someone to turn the spit regularly to make sure that the whole pig is cooking evenly. Neither of these is true when using a caja china style roasting box (or cajun microwave for our friends in Louisiana.) One of the biggest advantages of using La Caja Asadora pig roasters is that you will save 25-40% of the time you would spend cooking a hog rotisserie style. For example, a 50 lb. whole pig roast will take about 4 hours rather than 6-8. Cooking in a La Caja Asadora or La Caja China box is also more efficient, using just 2-3 bags of charcoal rather than chord of wood for in-ground rotisserie spit methods. Also, caja chinas (Cajun microwaves) are compact, self-contained units that can be used in the city, the suburbs, or out in the country just like any other barbecue pit. There is no need to dig a hole, buy bricks, or anything else required for a whole pig rotisserie.

One of the most underrated advantages of the caja china style la caja asadora roasters that there is no need to worry about bad weather! Caja china grills come with wheels and long handles for easy portability, and can easily be moved into a covered area. Now as important as all those things are, here’s the one that matters the mostthe taste. Because these pig roasters function in many respects like a huge pressure cooker, the pork (or other meat) comes out incredibly moist, juicy, and savory. The open spit rotisserie method often leaves the meat dry and tough.

In addition to the flavor of the meat inside the box, a caja china pig roaster also has accessories that will allow you to grill on top of the box while roasting inside it. The top grill accessory can be used to prepare burgers, hot dogs, chicken, skewers, or just about any other item you can fit on the grill. In my experience, the china box itself is a guaranteed conversation piece at every party and event. A group will inevitably gather around the hog cooker, usually marveling at the smell of what’s coming out of the box!

For details and information on how to order your roaster, recipe book, or any of the other accessories visit www.shoplatintouch.com. Join the grill master community at

Exotic And Rich Indian Food Recipes

Food is one of the most basic requirements for survival since time immemorial. As world developed, it brought about a change in the pattern of food consumption. Globalization was majorly responsible to overcome the geographical boundaries of food. In earlier times food was associated with its land, the soil but now its associated with people who make it. Now nobody needs to run to China to eat Chinese food; its available at disposal almost in every part of the world.

The case is very similar with other regions as well. For example Indian recipes were previously confined to the Indian mainland. But as people fled to distant lands they brought their own recipes with them. Slowly and gradually the smell rose above the rest and Indian Food Recipes became a favorite of many all over the world. Not only has this provided recognition to the food but has been the tool for spreading the talent of the people.

If you ever enquire about the views of people from foreign land (not Indians) about Indian Food Recipes, there is a probability of 90% that you will receive the answer as, variety. Indian food has begged the credit of having the largest variety on the menu. From extremely spicy north Indian taste to plain but healthy south Indian delicacies and the sweet Gujarati cuisine; you will easily be able to find precisely the one your taste bud is luring for.

In fact North and South India are two very major classifications. Instead you will be able to find a change in taste if you move from one street to another. India has always been famous for its food and culture. The tradition continues still as the experience, knowledge and expertise behind the Indian food meets the Technology. One will easily be able to find out Indo-US food fusion very easily, one of its kinds and one of the most famous food fusions ever.

Indian recipes date back to 18th century. They have not grown suddenly but evolved with time. Most of them have a solid scientific reason behind them. For example, the use of spices in Indian food is not only to render the food tasty but serve some more important causes. The spices are made from prominent tree leaves, skin and other parts and they increase the digestive, blood flow and heart retention capability of the body. The spices must be used in perfect proportion otherwise the result is very different from the expected. Just a little difference in the amount of spices and the positive effect gets shifted to the negative front.

The whole of India has always been the hub of food. And Indian food recipes continue to be a favorite throughout the world.

Scroll To Top