Peaches Contaminated With Pesticides
Tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found traces of more than 50 different pesticides on peaches destined for U.S. stores. Five of the compounds were found at levels higher than those considered safe by the Environmental Protection agency, and six of them were chemicals not approved for use in the United States.
The peaches were grown both domestically and overseas. These were not organic peaches.
Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health effects, particularly damage to the reproductive, endocrine and neurological systems. For this reason, Harvard scientist Alex Lu advises people to eat organic whenever possible.
Also see: Organic Apples Are Better
Sperm Count Fertility Higher If You Eat Organic Food
Danish researchers compared the sperm density of members of an organic farming association (OFA) with that of three different occupational groups and found that that the organic farmers had significantly higher sperm counts (1).
This research was reinforced in 1996 when members of another Danish OFA were compared with a control group of 797 healthy men.
It was found that “sperm concentration was higher among men eating organically produced food” (2).
The researchers suggested that man-made chemicals act as endocrine disrupters (EDC) resulting in altered development of the reproductive tract causing decreased sperm count and therefore less fertility.
Many pesticides regularly used in conventional agriculture are known to be EDCs.
Therefore, if the diet does not contain pesticide residues, sperm would be more healthy, sperm count would be normal.
Once again it was proven – organic food is indeed healthier.
References:
1. Abel A et al., (1994) High sperm density amongst members of organic farmers’ association, The Lancet, 343, p. 1498.
2. Jensen TK et al., (1996) Semen quality among members of organic food associations in Zealand, Denmark, The Lancet, 347, p. 1844.
Organic Hot Pepper Good Health Benefits
Hot pepper has many health benefits
By Gabor Timis
Organic hot pepper, though its compound Capsaicin, boosts the generation of heat in the body, leading to more calories burned – good news if you are on weight loss diet.
Spicy food is more satiating than bland food which means that you eat less to feel full. The heat of the hot pepper stimulates brain chemicals that signal fullness!
Scientists from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the University of California reported in the journal Cancer Research that capsaicin extract enhances apoptosis – cellular suicide – in prostate tumors.
The team injected prostate cancer cells into mice and treated one group with a dose of capsaicin that was the equivalent of giving 400 milligrams of capsaicin three times a week or about eight fresh habanero peppers, the hottest on the market.
After one to two months of treatment, the tumors in the treated mice were about 1/5th the size of the tumors in the non-treated rodents.
The consumption of chili pepper increases peripheral circulation and lowers blood pressure.
Hot pepper, high in vitamins A and C and bioflavinoids, help strengthen blood vessel walls. This makes the vessel walls more elastic and better able to adjust to differences in blood pressure.
Organic pepper is also excellent scavenger of free radicals.
The topical cream, Heet, has been used for many years to reduce muscle pain (caused by over-exertion in sports).
Applying a fresh, cut-up pepper to the source of the pain is also an effective treatment.
Hot pepper is ranked according to their pungency (heat) on a scale called the Scoville Scale.
Some examples of heat scores are:
- Red bell peppers 0 – 600
- Jalapeno peppers 2,500 – 10,000
- Serrano peppers 10,000 – 25,000
- Habanero peppers 80,000 – 150,000
Daily Apple Reduces Inflammation
Daily Apple Is Healthy
A new University of Illinois study shows the benefits of soluble fiber – found in food such as apples and nuts.
The soluble fiber of apple reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and fortifies your immune system.
Soluble fiber causes increased production of the anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-4.
In the experiment, laboratory mice consumed diets that were identical except that they contained either soluble or insoluble fiber. After six weeks on the diet, the animals had distinctly different responses when the scientists induced illness by introducing a substance (lipopolysaccharide) that causes the body to mimic a bacterial infection.
Two hours after lipopolysaccharide injection, the mice fed soluble fiber were only half as sick as the other group, and they recovered 50 percent sooner.
Apples, together with pears and grapes, are the fruits most affected by pesticides, so choose to buy organic apples instead.
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