Blisstree » brain-food

Grape Juice May Protect Against Breast Cancer

ruth — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:24:47 +0000

According to a new study published in the current issue of the Journal of Medicinal Foods, an anthocyanin-rich extract from Concord grapes (provided by Welch Foods Inc.) have breast cancer chemopreventive potential due in part to their capacity to block carcinogen–DNA adduct formation, modulate activities of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, and suppress ROS in these noncancerous human breast cells. Whew, what a mouthful! For the short version, just read the title of this post.

Emphasis, however, is placed on the type of grapes. Concord grapes are what’s inside Welch’s Grape Juice–the purple, not the white, variety. According to Welch’s website, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, made from Welch’s own Concord grapes, recently ranked #1 in antioxidant capacity per serving among all juices and beverages tested in an independent study of 1000+ common foods. Other health benefits of drinking grape juice include promoting cardiovascular health as well as protecting memory and brain health.

Post from: Blisstree

Grape Juice May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Top 5 Brain Foods

ruth — Sun, 06 May 2007 14:05:52 +0000

The Brain Ready Blog focuses on activities and other means to help keep you mentally fit as you age. Here’s an interesting post that I thought might interest you readers of Eating Fabulous: The Top 5 Brain Health Foods.

How did we pick? Our list is based a variety of factors, ranging from overall proven health benefits (through multiple peer-reviewed, valid scientific studies from around the world over many years), our own experience here at BrainReady using these foods regularly, general reports from consumers of these foods over the years, proven safety and lack of contraindications from these foods, and general availability/ease of incorporation of these foods by the most people in most countries.

And their Top 5 (not in order of priority):

1. Wild Salmon
2. Cacao Beans
3. Matcha (Tencha-grade green tea powder)
4. Acai berries & Blueberries (tie)
5. Coffee beans

Except for #3, I pretty much have covered the health benefits of these food items here at Eating Fabulous, although I have written a fair number of entries on green tea.

Go on, hope over to Brain Ready, and be sure to read until the last paragraphs. I can only agree when they mentioned that there is no such thing as anti-aging elixir. For functional foods to work, they have to be consumed regularly and consistently over a long period of time, and should be part of a healthy diet.

Post from: Blisstree

Top 5 Brain Foods

Chocolate is Good for the Brain, Too!

ruth — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:59:26 +0000

Yep, latest research indicate that chocolate are brain foods, for exactly the same reasons why flavonol-rich cocoa is good for the heart: by promoting better blood flow.

“Our study showed that acute consumption of this particular flavanol-rich cocoa beverage was associated with increased blood flow to grey matter for 2 to 3 hours,” Macdonald said. “This raises the possibility that certain food components like cocoa flavanols may be beneficial in increasing brain blood flow and enhancing brain function among older adults or for others in situations where they may be cognitively impaired, such as fatigue or sleep deprivation.”

It’s too early to tell, of course, but could chocolate be the new prophylactic for preventing cognitive decline and dementia? Hm, like I need another alibi to eat chocolates.

Post from: Blisstree

Chocolate is Good for the Brain, Too!