Nutrition experts know that the best group of foods for preventing and fighting cancer is the cruciferous vegetables or cabbage family vegetables. They include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale and collard greens. Cancer is the second leading cause of death of Americans. The best food group for helping with cardiovascular health is berries. The botanical definition of a berry is a simple fruit produced from a single ovary, such as a grape or a tomato. However, in everyday English, a berry is a term for any small edible fruit. I will use the everyday English meaning. Heart attacks and strokes are the first and third leading cause of death among Americans. The first thing is the Doctrine of Signatures. This states that an herb, botanical or plant food sometimes gives a clue about what it is good for by its appearance like ginseng root looking like a human body or a walnut looking like a brain. Berries are the color of blood. Blood that is very oxygenated is red, but blood without oxygen can appear blueish or purple. Just look at the veins of someone with varicose veins. One newer red berry that is great for cardiovascular health is goji berries. Here is what webmd.com says about goji berries: "Research shows that eating berries -- like blueberries, acai berries, cranberries, strawberries, and cherries -- offers some definite health benefits. Berries like the goji berry are filled with powerful antioxidants and other compounds that may help prevent cancer and other illnesses, including heart disease." Strawberries are said to help lower high blood pressure (hypertension) Another good example of the Doctrine of Signatures is the strawberry. It is red and is shaped like a heart. Please note that berries have different anthocyans (a group of phytochemicals) that strengthens the inner lining of the arteries. Common problems with arteries include angina, congestive heart failure, intermittent claudication, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), strokes and heart attacks. Superfoods Rx (2008) by Steven Pratt, M.D. says (p 28) "The anthocyans also work synergistically with vitamin C and other key antioxidants. They strengthen the capillary (tiny blood vessel) system by promoting the production of quality collagen-- the building block of tissues. This important subclass of flavonoids also promotes vasodilation (widening of arteries) and has an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation-- an aspirin-like effect on blood clot formation." Please note that aspirin are drugs and berries are foods. If you look these things up, you will see that they are also effective for preventing cancer. A recent study from the University of Michigan reveals that new evidence links cherries (a red berry) to heart health benefits. The study found that a cherry enriched diet lowered total weight, body fat (especially the important belly fat), inflammation and cholesterol-- all risk factors associated with heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, being overweight or obese, in particular when the weight is concentrated in the middle, is a major risk factor for heart disease. There are other red berries like cranberries and then there are the other darker color berries. Some that have attracted a lot of attention for health benefits are acai berries, yumberries and aronia berries that are said to improve circulation and strengthen blood vessels. There is a red berry that is great for cardiovascular health. But I have not seen it sold as a berry. I have only seen it sold in capsules or as a tea. Herbalists know that it is the best herb for heart health or cardiovascular health. It is the red hawthorn berry. Berries are a good example of Natural Cures with foods. Prescription for Herbal Health (2002) by Phyllis Balch says " A large body of scientific research has shown that the fruit, leaves and flowers of various hawthorn species dilate the blood vessels, lower blood pressure and dissolve cholesterol. Hawthorn fights atherosclerosis, in which cholesterol forms plaques on blood-vessel walls. in two ways." It increases the rate that the liver converts bad LDL cholesterol into good HDL cholesterol. It "also fights atherosclerosis by providing antioxidants, which prevent plaque formation."
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