Wild blueberries called best aging antidote
http://www.50plus.com/
Frank Jones
Meet Canada's sturdy new champ in the exciting field of nutrition and health-wild blueberries. Packed with health-giving antioxidants, the peppy little blueberry stepped into the spotlight recently at The Antioxidant Initiative. This international food and health symposium in Squaw Valley, California described the wild blueberry as perhaps the best single antidote for aging, cancer and heart disease.
"Based on our tests, the wild blueberry has proved to be immensely potent," said Mary Ann Lila Smith, professor of natural resources and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois.
Dr. James Joseph, chief of the Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging at Tufts University in Massachusetts, described how older rats fed blueberry pellets improved their motor skills and actually recovered short-term memory, in effect, strengthening the brain.
Half a cup daily
Willy Kalt, an Agriculture Canada research scientist in Kentville, Nova Scotia, who eats blueberries daily, reported that half a cup a day would be enough to make a positive change in the health of Canadians.
However, she added, we eat on average only half a cup of wild blueberries a year, and 80 per cent of Canada's crop-the largest in the world-is being exported to Japan and Europe.
The finding that blueberries are the most effective fruit was not such a surprise. Tests were designed to measure the success of various foods in destroying free radicals, the terrorist molecules that disrupt the body. Blueberries came out ahead of even broccoli and Brussels sprouts as free radical fighters.
Newfoundland berries best
Wild versus cultivated berries? The low bush, wild type is 'definitely higher' in antioxidant strength, says Smith, likely because cultivated berries are bred for sweetness.
And, as for the best source, after looking at 150 wild varieties in Ontario, Quebec and on the East Coast, Kalt has no doubts. Newfoundland's abundant crop has the highest antioxidant count.
But blueberries are only one of the wonder foods that, according to the newest research, can make us feel better and live longer. The newest buzzword is PAX-shorthand for phytonutrients and antioxidants.
These are the minute compounds found in plant foods that, according to a recent report in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, can protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, cataracts, chronic obstructive lung disease, diverticulosis and high blood pressure.
Eat 'Daily Dozen'The Squaw Valley conference was organized by Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust. This Boston-based non-profit organization popularized the benefits of the health-giving Mediterranean diet. The purpose of the conference was to get people consuming 'the PAX Daily Dozen.' That's a minimum of a dozen servings of foods and drinks high in antioxidants.
Don't panic. No one's expecting you to eat mountains of broccoli or spinach. The message heard from world nutrition experts was that antioxidants can be found in any number of whole foods, including grains, nuts, legumes, juices, tea, wine and, of course, fruit.
Some examples:
And just to make the point, delegates of the conference enjoyed a tasty diet that had us eating way beyond our daily dozen without even trying.
Breakfast typically included whole grain cereals (with, naturally, a handful of blueberries), breads and a cornucopia of California fruits
Mid-morning snacks featured delicious dried cranberries (Craisins), dried plums (they don't call 'em prunes these days), blueberry muffins and green tea (especially high in antioxidants).
Lunch and dinner included thick carrot soup with fresh mint and walnuts, pork tenderloin with wild blueberry barbecue sauce and couscous, and poached leeks with tomato salsa.
Wild Blueberry and Apple Muesli
This version of the Swiss birchermüesli is terrific for breakfast or snack time. It's also chocked full of a variety of disease-fighting phytochemicals-from the oats, wild blueberries, apple and sliced almonds.
2/3 cup large flake oats 150 ml
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt 125 ml
1 apple, cored and coarsely grated
1 cup fresh or frozen wild blueberries... 250 ml
2 tbsp (approx) honey or equivalent low-calorie sweetener... 25 ml
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice... 15 ml
2 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted... 25 ml
In a medium bowl, combine oats, yogurt, apple, blueberries, honey, lemon juice and almonds. Stir to mix. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight. Adjust sweetening, if desired. Makes three servings.
Per-serving nutritional information: Calories: 213, Protein: 6 grams, Fat: 3 grams; Carbohydrates: 41 grams; Dietary fibre: 5 grams; Sodium: 35 mg.
(Recipe by Rosie Schwartz, RD)
© October 2001 CARPNews FiftyPlus
Return to previous page
http://www.50plus.com/
Frank Jones
Meet Canada's sturdy new champ in the exciting field of nutrition and health-wild blueberries. Packed with health-giving antioxidants, the peppy little blueberry stepped into the spotlight recently at The Antioxidant Initiative. This international food and health symposium in Squaw Valley, California described the wild blueberry as perhaps the best single antidote for aging, cancer and heart disease.
"Based on our tests, the wild blueberry has proved to be immensely potent," said Mary Ann Lila Smith, professor of natural resources and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois.
Dr. James Joseph, chief of the Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging at Tufts University in Massachusetts, described how older rats fed blueberry pellets improved their motor skills and actually recovered short-term memory, in effect, strengthening the brain.
Half a cup daily
Willy Kalt, an Agriculture Canada research scientist in Kentville, Nova Scotia, who eats blueberries daily, reported that half a cup a day would be enough to make a positive change in the health of Canadians.
However, she added, we eat on average only half a cup of wild blueberries a year, and 80 per cent of Canada's crop-the largest in the world-is being exported to Japan and Europe.
The finding that blueberries are the most effective fruit was not such a surprise. Tests were designed to measure the success of various foods in destroying free radicals, the terrorist molecules that disrupt the body. Blueberries came out ahead of even broccoli and Brussels sprouts as free radical fighters.
Newfoundland berries best
Wild versus cultivated berries? The low bush, wild type is 'definitely higher' in antioxidant strength, says Smith, likely because cultivated berries are bred for sweetness.
And, as for the best source, after looking at 150 wild varieties in Ontario, Quebec and on the East Coast, Kalt has no doubts. Newfoundland's abundant crop has the highest antioxidant count.
But blueberries are only one of the wonder foods that, according to the newest research, can make us feel better and live longer. The newest buzzword is PAX-shorthand for phytonutrients and antioxidants.
These are the minute compounds found in plant foods that, according to a recent report in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, can protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, cataracts, chronic obstructive lung disease, diverticulosis and high blood pressure.
Eat 'Daily Dozen'The Squaw Valley conference was organized by Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust. This Boston-based non-profit organization popularized the benefits of the health-giving Mediterranean diet. The purpose of the conference was to get people consuming 'the PAX Daily Dozen.' That's a minimum of a dozen servings of foods and drinks high in antioxidants.
Don't panic. No one's expecting you to eat mountains of broccoli or spinach. The message heard from world nutrition experts was that antioxidants can be found in any number of whole foods, including grains, nuts, legumes, juices, tea, wine and, of course, fruit.
Some examples:
And just to make the point, delegates of the conference enjoyed a tasty diet that had us eating way beyond our daily dozen without even trying.
Breakfast typically included whole grain cereals (with, naturally, a handful of blueberries), breads and a cornucopia of California fruits
Mid-morning snacks featured delicious dried cranberries (Craisins), dried plums (they don't call 'em prunes these days), blueberry muffins and green tea (especially high in antioxidants).
Lunch and dinner included thick carrot soup with fresh mint and walnuts, pork tenderloin with wild blueberry barbecue sauce and couscous, and poached leeks with tomato salsa.
Wild Blueberry and Apple Muesli
This version of the Swiss birchermüesli is terrific for breakfast or snack time. It's also chocked full of a variety of disease-fighting phytochemicals-from the oats, wild blueberries, apple and sliced almonds.
2/3 cup large flake oats 150 ml
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt 125 ml
1 apple, cored and coarsely grated
1 cup fresh or frozen wild blueberries... 250 ml
2 tbsp (approx) honey or equivalent low-calorie sweetener... 25 ml
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice... 15 ml
2 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted... 25 ml
In a medium bowl, combine oats, yogurt, apple, blueberries, honey, lemon juice and almonds. Stir to mix. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight. Adjust sweetening, if desired. Makes three servings.
Per-serving nutritional information: Calories: 213, Protein: 6 grams, Fat: 3 grams; Carbohydrates: 41 grams; Dietary fibre: 5 grams; Sodium: 35 mg.
(Recipe by Rosie Schwartz, RD)
© October 2001 CARPNews FiftyPlus
Return to previous page
http://www.50plus.com/
posted by iluvboss @ 8:47 a.m.
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