Spinach, cucumber, carrot

The three ingredients in this juice will help prevent our bodies from getting cancer.  They are anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and will improve blood pressure.

The beautiful orange color of carrots—thanks to the beta-carotene—has been known to reduce the risk of different types of cancer, lung cancer in particular. Two health benefits of carrots that should be of interest to anyone with excess body fat are a reduced risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels.

Another health benefit of carrots that your mom always told you about was that it is known to improve eyesight. The vitamin A in carrots is responsible for improving eyesight and lowers the risk of macular degeneration, a common affliction among older individuals.

The 195mg of potassium found in carrots can help keep workout-related muscle cramps at bay, so you can continue your fat burning efforts without injury.

Adding carrots to your diet can reduce the risk of other weight related illnesses that include stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Adding a few carrots to your diet will reduce your risk of these illnesses while also helping you burn more fat.

Because cucumbers like watermelons have so much water, they help keep you hydrated.  Also, the high water content, vitamins A, B & C and the presence of certain minerals like magnesium, potassium, and silica make cucumbers an essential part of skin care.  Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol – three lignans that have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types including breast cancer, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer.

Flavonoids — a phytonutrient with anti-cancer properties abundant in spinach — have been shown to slow down cell division in human stomach and skin cancer cells. Furthermore, spinach has shown significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.

Green apples, collard greens, kale, celery, cucumber, mint, ginger

This special mix has two powerful components, collard greens and kale.  Both play an important role on preventing cancer, lowering cholesterol and detoxifying the body.

The connection between collard greens and cancer prevention should not be surprising since collard greens provide special nutrient support for three body systems that are closely connected with cancer development as well as cancer prevention. These three systems are (1) the body’s detox system, (2) its antioxidant system, and (3) its inflammatory/anti-inflammatory system. Chronic imbalances in any of these three systems can increase risk of cancer, and when imbalances in all three systems occur simultaneously, the risk of cancer increases significantly. Among all types of cancer, prevention of the following cancer types is most closely associated with intake of collard greens: bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Romaine lettuce, bell pepper, red cabbage, escarole, endive, beet tops, watercress, chard, green apples.

We call this mix the Gerson Greens because these are the vegetables the Gerson Institute in San Diego uses in their therapy to cure cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension and many more illnesses and degenerative diseases.  A patient in the full Gerson therapy will drink 8 (8oz) glasses of carrot and apple juice and 4 (8oz) glasses of this green juice a day.  The main ingredient in this mix is romaine lettuce and here are a few facts about this amazing green leaf vegetable:

Believe it or not, romaine lettuce is 17% protein with 7.7 grams per head. It is also a complete protein! That means that it has all 8 essential amino acids, 9% RDA of some and up to 26% RDA of others.

One head of romaine has 206mg of calcium (about 21% RDA). Blend it with calcium rich fruits like papaya and oranges and you’ll get more calcium than a glass of milk!

One head of romaine lettuce contains 44% RDA of Omega-3 essential fats. Forget the tainted fish oils, reach for some leafy greens instead!

One head of romaine contains 167% RDA of vitamin C while an average sized orange contains only 92%.

One head of romaine contains 6mg of iron, which ads a significant source of iron to the diets of vegetarians and vegans.

Romaine Lettuce is rich in B-Vitamins:  Thiamine (B1) – 38% RDA, Riboflavin (B2) – 32% RDA, Niacin (B3) – 12% RDA, Pantothenic Acid (B5) – 18%, Pyridoxine (B6) – 36 %, Folate (B9) – 213%!

Don’t let the lighter color of romaine lettuce fool you. This not-so-dark leafy green is rich in minerals. One head contains copper (33% RDA), magnesium (22% RDA), manganese (42% RDA), phosphorus (27% RDA), potassium (33%), selenium (5% RDA) and zinc (13% RDA).  Article from the incredible smoothies.

For more information on the Gerson Institute, click here

Pineapple, lime, mint.

Simple, delicious, awesome!  Pineapple juice contains the enzyme bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory that encourages the healing of bruises and swelling in the body, according to the Feminist Women’s Health Center. Bromelain can reduce arthritis pain and postoperative swelling. This enzyme also promotes good digestion by helping the body break down proteins. According to pineapplejuice.com, an 8-oz. serving of fresh pineapple juice contains about 75% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C functions as a natural antioxidant. Vitamin C promotes a healthy immune system and can help you recover more quickly from a cold. Vitamin C also promotes cell growth, tissue repair and the body’s production of collagen, a protein that plays an important role in the healing of wounds. Vitamin C also helps the body to metabolize fats and absorb iron, according to the Feminist Women’s Health Center.

Limes protect against colds, their flavonoids help prevent cancer and stem the growth of bacteria.  Limes are used to prevent outbreaks of cholera.  They also help eliminate body odor, just apply some on your armpit.

Though it may be tempting to dismiss mint as nothing more than a garnish, it can offer you important health benefits.  Mint water brings nutrition and digestive health. It is a long-standing home remedy for digestive problems, but modern research has confirmed that this natural diuretic can help stop colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and B12 with traces of iron, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Parsley, Apple, Orange.

Many studies have shown that incorporating carrots in our diets, may help lower the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.  The high amounts of vitamin C in celery promote a healthy immune system.  Cucumber is always regarded as a healthy food because it is low in calories and fat.  It has 96% water content that is more nutritious than regular water, which helps in keeping the body hydrated and regulating body temperature.  Though traditionally overlooked as just as garnish, parsley is a giant amongst other herbs  in terms of health benefits, and in such small amounts, too.  Some of those benefits include anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and even promotes a healthy immune system.  Scientists have recently shown that important health benefits of apples may stem from their impact on bacteria in the digestive tract.  The many benefits of oranges are so numerous that we can only mention a few.  Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols protects against vital infections.  Also, purifies blood, protects against skin diseases, keeps bone and teeth strong, prevents kidney diseases and so on.

There are two effective marketing strategies employed by drug companies on a regular basis, and they include:

1. Convincing you that drugs you used to take only when you needed them are now everyday “prevention” necessities in the form of a prescription; and
2. Selling you the idea that just being at risk for a chronic disease makes you someone who should be taking a drug for the disease.

What makes these two strategies so successful is that by seeing the advertisement, YOU are the one who sells it to your doctor, by suggesting that you need a certain drug, or outright asking for it. According to a recent article by Martha Rosenberg

“Since direct-to-consumer drug advertising debuted in the late 1990s, the number of people on prescription drugs — especially prescription drugs for life — has ballooned. Between 2001 to 2007 the percentage of adults and children on one or more prescriptions for chronic conditions rose by more than 12 million, reports the Associated Press and 25 percent of US children now take a medication for a chronic condition. Seven percent of kids take two or more daily drugs.

Who says advertising doesn’t work? Of the top-selling drugs in 2011, led by Lipitor, Nexium, Plavix, Advair Diskus, Abilify, Seroquel, Singulair and Crestor, none is taken occasionally, or “as needed” and the treatment goal is never to get off the drug, like an antibiotic.”

She lists six types of drugs that are “marketed for perpetuity,” meaning they’re intended to be taken for life. Sadly most of these drugs come with potential side effects that can be far worse than your original symptom, and few of them have been definitively proven to actually provide any significant health benefits. In fact, some of these drugs have been found to worsen the very condition they’re meant to treat, and/or cause other serious diseases.

• ADHD Drugs and Drugs for Pediatric Psychopathologies, such as “pediatric bipolar disorder”.
• Antidepressants
• Statins
• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
• Asthma Control Medicines

Read complete article from Dr. Mercola here…

This Renegade Health article shows us 7 toxic food additives we should avoid.

Unfortunately, though generally regarded as safe, many food additives have not been tested for their effects on health over long-term ingestion. The FDA and USDA supervise and regulate the use of these additives, but people who have special diets, allergies, or food intolerance are on their own when it comes to watching out for potentially harmful ingredients in their foods.

Below are seven food additives that you may want to avoid, as they have been linked to certain health problems.

1. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
A salt of the amino acid “glutamic acid (glutamate),” MSG is a flavor enhancer used in a variety of processed foods including spicy corn chips, soups, Chinese foods, ranch dressing, sausages, hot dogs, barbequed meats, processed deli meats, and more. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public health published a study in 2009 showing that Chinese men and women that used MSG in their food (via commercially processed foods) were more likely to be overweight or obese than those who didn’t—even though they had the same amount of physical activity and calorie intake. MSG is also linked with headaches, asthma, dizziness, and tightness in the chest. Look for MSG, glutamate, glutamic acid, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast, autolyzed soy protein, textured vegetable protein, and sodium caseinate.

2. Sodium Nitrite
Used as a preservative in meat and fish products, sodium nitrite is an inorganic compound that helps meat look red and fresh. Unfortunately, nitrites can be converted to nitrosamines, which are known causes of cancer in animals. A University of Hawaii study of nearly 200,000 men and women found that people who consumed the most processed meats showed a 67 percent increased risk of pancreatic cancer over those who consumed little. American Cancer Society researchers reported that a high consumption of processed meat over 10 years was associated with a 50 percent increased risk in colon cancer.

3. BHA & BHT
Used to prevent oxidation and retard rancidity in oil-containing foods, these additives have been linked to cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, considers BHA to be possibly carcinogenic to humans, and the State of California has listed it as a carcinogen. Animal studies have shown BHA to cause growth retardation and cancer in the forestomach.

4. Aspertame
An artificial sweetener, aspertame is sold as Equal and NutraSweet, and has been linked with migraines, seizures, vision problems, itching and hives, and obesity. A study by the American Cancer Society found that those who used the “diet” sweetener actually gained more weight than those who didn’t. A 1996 study noted animal research that revealed a high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame-fed rats. An older animal study linked aspertame with seizures.

5. Potassium Bromate
A potassium salt, this preservative is used to improve flour, strengthening the dough and allowing for higher rising. Most of the time, it breaks down to form innocuous bromide, but if the baker uses too much, or doesn’t bake the product at the right temperature, there can be some potassium bromate left that may be potentially harmful. This additive has already been banned from use in food products in the E.U., Canada, and Brazil. It has not been banned in the U.S., but in 1991 the FDA urged bakers to stop using it. A 1990 animal study found that the agent is carcinogenic in rats and toxic to man and animals when given orally. It’s been shown to induce kidney cell tumors and tumors of the thyroid. Fast food restaurants may use this additive to make their buns appear bigger, light and fluffy. Contact the production company’s corporate office to see if they have gone bromate-free.

6. Artificial Colorings (Blue, Red, Green, Yellow)
Used in all sorts of food and beverages to make them look more appealing, food colorings have been linked with several health hazards. Research suggests that some of these dyes may cause cancer. (Watch out for blues #1, #2, and #3, green #3, red #3, and yellow #6.) Red #40 has also been linked with behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In 2011, an FDA expert panel voted against requiring warning labels on artificially colored foods, but the majority of the members stated that more research should be conducted on their safety. Look for the colorings in foods like cereals, Cheetos snacks, Pop-Tarts, fruit snacks, sports drinks, lemonade, cheese, and more.

7. Acesulfame-K
A newer sweetener used in soft drinks and some baked goods, this additive was approved by the FDA in 1998. Considered 200 times sweeter than sugar, acesulfame-K (for “potassium”) has little safety studies behind it. Known commercially as Sunette or Sweet One, it’s sold in packet or tablet form, in chewing gum, dry mixes for beverages, instant coffee and tea, gelatin desserts, and puddings. Long-term exposure is linked to headaches, depression, nausea, mental confusion, liver and kidney problems, visual disturbances, and potentially, to cancer. A report published in the AAOHN Journal (American Association of Occupational Health Nurses) noted that additional studies need to be done to determine the potential for damage at high doses.