Guest guest Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 " HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch HSI e-Alert - Heat Treatment Mon, 28 Mar 2005 06:59:00 -0500 HSI e-Alert - Heat Treatment Health Sciences Institute e-Alert **************************************************** Dear Reader, " A woman is like a tea bag. " I remember hearing Nancy Reagan say that years ago. The simile goes on: " You don't know how strong she is until she gets into hot water. " I thought of that last week when I read a new study about lycopene, the antioxidant carotenoid that gives tomatoes, watermelons and pink grapefruit their red color. Although most of us eat our watermelon and grapefruit raw, when tomatoes are heated, the benefits of lycopene are enhanced because it's more easily absorbed by the body. This is a useful nutrition tip because your body puts lycopene to work in a number of valuable ways. In previous e-Alerts I've told you about studies that have shown lycopene to offer protection against breast cancer, prostate cancer and heart disease. Now a new study shows that another type of cancer might be added to that list. ----------- What's on the plate? ----------- Pancreatic cancer is sometimes referred to as a silent disease because the symptoms are subtle and it's difficult to treat unless caught in the early stages. That's why efforts to prevent this cancer are all the more important. A team of researchers from two Canadian universities and the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control at Health Canada designed a study to examine a possible link between pancreatic cancer risk and dietary carotenoid intake. Subjects included 462 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and more than 4,700 healthy people selected from eight Canadian provinces. Dietary intake for all subjects was assessed with food frequency questionnaires over a period of four years. As reported in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that beta-carotene and total carotenoid intake was associated with a significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer among non-smoking subjects. Smoking is believed to be one of the primary causes of pancreatic cancer. The most striking result concerned lycopene. When those who had the least lycopene intake were compared with those who had the greatest intake, subjects in the latter group were found to have a 31 percent reduced risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The Canadian team noted that lycopene intake was provided mainly by tomatoes or tomato products. ----------- Bring the fromage ----------- As I've mentioned in previous e-Alerts, the richest dietary source of lycopene is tomatoes. But there are a couple of tricks that may enhance the way your body puts lycopene to work. In the e-Alert " Defensive Star of the Year " (1/14/04), I told you about a Cornell University study that showed how cooking tomatoes does two things: it boosts the antioxidant activity of lycopene while improving absorption in the digestive tract. And in the e-Alert " Icing The Pizza " (7/30/03), I examined studies suggesting that eating cooked tomatoes along with a source of fat - such as cheese or meat - may improve lycopene absorption as well. But if you're not a big fan of tomatoes, watermelon is an excellent alternative because it's one of the few foods that deliver both lycopene and beta-carotene. A 2003 study from the USDA revealed that the juice from three cups of diced watermelon, taken daily, may result in blood serum lycopene and beta-carotene concentrations that are five times higher than in people who don't get a good intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. ----------- Keeping it whole ----------- One final note about lycopene: You'll probably get higher antioxidant protection from the lycopene in tomatoes and watermelon than from a lycopene supplement. An Ohio State University study revealed that lycopene was most effective (in this case, against prostate cancer in rats) when tomatoes were the source, compared to using a supplement of lycopene. This trial implies that the benefits of lycopene may be more pronounced when the phytochemical is accompanied by other natural chemicals in the tomato. The test doesn't dismiss the usefulness of lycopene supplements. But if you really want the full benefit of lycopene, the best choice would be a whole-food source. **************************************************** ....and another thing Because of things that have happened in my own family, I had a living will before I had a standard one. But I'm an exception. I imagine, however, that the events of this past month have changed all that. When you're in relatively good health and only 26 years old (as Terri Schiavo was when she first lost consciousness in 1990), the idea of planning ahead for the remote possibility of being in a coma or a persistent vegetative state is not exactly a priority. Mrs. Schiavo's case is a sobering reminder that life can turn on a dime, transforming the least expected into a daily reality. Beyond the initial tragedy 15 years ago, the other tragedy of this case is that no one really knows what Terri would want. So one way to honor her struggle is to take a moment and think about what you would want in this situation, then prepare the appropriate paperwork to leave specific and clear instructions. Fortunately, these days it's fairly easy to prepare a living will so your family will be aware of your wishes in the event you can't communicate. If you have a lawyer or someone who helps you with legal matters, they can advise you on how to proceed and may even suggest appointing a close friend or family member to be your health care power of attorney. It's also a good idea to stipulate someone as a backup decision-maker in case the person who's your first choice becomes incapacitated. You can go online where you'll find several web sites that offer instructions and necessary forms. Different states have their own individual laws concerning " advance directive, " so the web site for the attorney general's office in your home state may offer useful information. Many doctors and hospitals also keep the necessary forms on hand. And in most cases, a notary public is not required, just the signature of a witness. Please take a few moments today to get your advance directive or living will in order. It's really the only way to ensure your family can carry out your wishes if tragedy should strike. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute **************************************************** Sources: " Dietary Intake of Lycopene is Associated With Reduced Pancreatic Cancer Risk " Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 135, No. 3, March 2005, nutrition.org " Lycopene Intake Linked to Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk " NutraIngredients.com, 3/10/05, nutraingredients.com " Consumption of Watermelon Juice Increases Plasma Concentrations of Lycopene and Beta-Carotene in Humans " Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 133, No. 4, April 2003, nutrition.org ***************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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