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I spoke with Trader Joes Management and this is what I was told about their

raw nuts~

 

They had to recall their almonds, then that led to pasteurizing their

almonds, (which I personally feel is absurd!!) now they are going to take

away all raw almond mixtures. So from now on (when the last of their stock

runs out) when you want to purchase mixed raw nuts or really raw trailmix,

it will have either pasteurized, chemically treated, or roasted almonds.

RIDICULOUS!! They told me if enough people get pissed off and demand their

raw almonds back they'll have to listen and bring them back. Let them know

please!!!! I love to get raw nuts from Trader Joes and I am bummed out. :(

They need to hear from al of their customers, that we demand that they carry

raw nuts.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

In regard to foods that contain tryptophan, I found the following info. No

mention of brazil nuts having tryptophan and I searched for 5 hours!!

Almonds have quite a bit. :) See, even more reason for us to make a stink at

Trader Joes. :)

 

Here's the info~

The highest quantities of melatonin are found in tart cherries, particularly

the Montmorency variety. However, other foods such as milk, peanuts, turkey,

chicken or almonds contain tryptophan, which raises brain serotonin that in

turn can be con- verted to melatonin. Other foods, such as bananas, also

contain melatonin but not in significant levels to be effective.

Does melatonin have any side effects?

Individuals who take melatonin supplements need to exercise caution, in that

an overabundance of melatonin in the blood can cause insomnia and nightmares

rather than peaceful sleep. Researchers point out that the maximal effective

sleep-inducing dose to be 0.1 to 0.3 milligrams (mg). The amount found in

tart cherries provides a significant amount to positively affect sleep.

However, dosages sold in over-the-counter supplements are a minimum of 2-3

mg and sometimes much higher. These levels are at least ten times the

maximal effective dosage.

[1] Maurizi CP. The therapeutic potential for tryptophan and melatonin:

possible roles in depression, sleep, Alzheimer's disease and abnormal aging.

Med Hypotheses 31(3): 233Ð42, March 1990.

Each person will respond differently to consuming cherry products. In

particular, the pain relief results will vary. Some people feel results

within a few days. Others do not have pain relief until they have used

cherry products for four weeks or more. Before changing prescribed

medications, consult a physician, taking this information with you. Consumer

and medical practitioners who have discovered beneficial health effects from

tart cherries are encouraged to send comments to the Cherry Marketing

Institute, P.O. Box 30285, Lansing, MI 48909-7785.

Fibromyalgia and Cherries

Some consumers have discovered that Montmorency tart cherries can help

relieve the pain of fibromyalgia, a debilitating muscle disorder. Here is

more information:

What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue

disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in

the muscles, ligaments and tendons - the fibrous tissues in the body. Most

patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. Their muscles may

feel like they have been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch

and at other times they burn. More women than men are afflicted with

fibromyalgia, but it shows up in people of all ages.

In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology, the official body of doctors

who treat arthritis and related conditions, developed criteria for

diagnosing fibromyalgia. It is diagnosed when the following symptoms are

displayed:

A history of widespread pain (pain on both sides of the body and above and

below the waist) that is present for at least three months

Pain in at least 11 of 18 tender- point sites.

Common Treatments

Traditional treatments are geared toward improving the quality of sleep as

well as reducing pain. Because deep level (stage 4) sleep is so crucial for

many body functions, such as tissue repair, antibody production, and perhaps

even the regulation of various neurotransmitters, hormones and immune system

chemicals, the sleep disorders that frequently occur in fibromyalgia and

chronic fatigue patients are thought to be a major contributing factor to

the symptoms of this condition. Medicines that boost the body's level of

serotonin and norepinephrine - neurotransmitters that modulate sleep, pain

and immune system function - are commonly prescribed. In addition,

nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may be

beneficial.

Can Cherries Help?

The consumption of cherries should never be considered a cure for

fibromyalgia. However, some patients with fibromyalgia have expressed to the

Cherry Marketing Institute that the consumption of Montmorency tart cherry

juice has helped alleviate some symptoms when combined with a prescribed

health regimen.

Why Would This Be?

It is certainly possible that tart cherries could play a role in alleviating

some of the pain and discomfort brought on by fibromyalgia. First, cherries

contain significant quantities of melatonin, which help regulate the sleep

cycle. One of the key treatment areas for patients with fibromyalgia is to

regulate the sleep cycle. Melatonin helps do that. Further, the anthocyanins

found in cherries contain some of the highest levels of COX-1 and COX-2

inhibitors of any known food. The anthocyanins found in cherries function in

the same manner as ibuprofen, and thus, may help relieve the pain of

fibromyalgia syndrome.

Research Reveals the Healing Fruit

Cherries have pleased the palates of food lovers for centuries. Now there

are new reasons to love cherries. As a recent Newsweek article said " The day

when doctors say--'Take 10 cherries and call me in the morning'--may not be

far off. "

According to ongoing research, cherries are a rich source of antioxidants

that can help fight cancer and heart disease. In addition, they contain

compounds that help relieve the pain of arthritis, gout and even headaches.

The secret is in the pigments that give cherries their rich red hue. They

belong to a class of natural dyes called anthocyanins. These compounds are

being called " Mother Nature's all-natural chemotherapy agents. "

In addition to the antioxidants, cherries are rich in two important

flavonoids --isoqueritrin and queritrin. According to leading researchers,

queritrin is one of the most potent anticancer agents ever discovered.

Consuming it in foods, such as cherries, is like unleashing inside your body

an entire army of James Bond-type agents who are adept at neutralizing

cancer-causing agents.

Anthocyanins

 

Anthocyanins are natural colorants belonging to a group of compounds called

the flavonoids. They are widely distributed among fruits, such as cherries,

vegetables and flowers. In addition to their colorful characteristics,

anthocyanins possess potent antioxidant properties. The antioxidant

activities of the anthocyanins may account for the beneficial effects

derived from the consumption of fruits and vegetables high in anthocyanins,

such as cherries, against cardiovascular and other diseases.

Researchers at Michigan State University were among the first to identify

the presence of three powerful anthocyanins in tart cherries with the

potential to inhibit the growth of colon cancer tumors. Tart cherries

contain anthocyanins and bioflavonoids which inhibit the enzymes

Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2, and prevent inflammation in the body. These

compounds have similar activity as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. Further

investigations revealed that daily consumption of tart cherries has the

potential to reduce the pain associated with inflammation, arthritis and

gout. Many middle-aged and elderly consumers are choosing to drink cherry

juice rather than take over-the-counter medications to stave off the pain of

arthritis and gout. iii

" Twenty cherries provide 25 milligrams of anthocyanins, which help to shut

down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation in the first place, so

cherries can prevent and treat many kinds of pain, " says Muraleedharan Nair,

the lead researcher on the cherry project at Michigan State University. The

anthocyanins also may protect artery walls from the damage that leads to

plaque build up and heart disease. In fact, the latest research shows that

anthocyanins do a better job of protecting arteries than vitamins C and E.

Amway Corporation (Grand Rapids, Mich.) recently licensed the patents from

the MSU research and is conducting clinical trials on the health benefits of

cherries. Eventually, Amway would like to develop an all-natural pill made

from cherries that would give consumers health benefits.

Cancer-Fighter Perillyl Alcohol Found in Tart Cherries

Research at the University of Iowa also is showing the amazing properties of

cherries. According to Raymond Hohl, M.D. at the University of Iowa, tart

cherries contain perillyl alcohol (POH), a natural compound that is

extremely powerful in reducing the incidence of all types of cancer.

Perillyl alcohol " shuts down the growth of cancer cells by depriving them of

the proteins they need to grow, " explains Dr. Hohl. " It works on every kind

of cancer we've tested it against. "

Perillyl alcohol (POH) has performed favorably in the treatment of advanced

carcinomas of the breast, prostate and ovary.iv POH also has exhibited

chemopreventive activity in pre-clinical breast cancer tests.v Perillyl

alcohol has been shown to induce the regression of 81percent of small breast

cancers and up to 75 percent of advanced breast cancers in animal studies.

Perillyl alcohol was up to five times more potent than the other known

cancer-reducing compounds at inducing tumor regression. vi

Independent Lab Verifies Cancer-Fighting Agents in Cherries

Researchers at Brunswick Laboratories (Wareham, Mass.) verified the natural

antioxidants present in Montmorency tart cherries, the leading U.S. tart

cherry variety, and in Balaton, a new tart cherry variety that will be

available for use in products soon. Lead researcher Dr. Boxin Ou also

confirmed the presence of substantial quantities of melatonin. He also

identified two important flavonoids -- isoqueritrin and queritrin -- and

documented the presence of ellagic acid in cherries.

Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring plant phenolic that is known as a

potent anti-carcinogenic/anti-mutagenic compound. Clinical tests conducted

at the Hollings Cancer Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina

(MUSC) show that ellagic acid may be the most potent way to prevent cancer.

It also may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and arrest the growth of

cancer in subjects with a genetic predisposition for the disease.

The flavonoids -- isqueritrin and queritrin -- act as antioxidants as do the

anthocyanins. They work to eliminate by-products of oxidative stress and

thereby slow the aging process.

 

Why Antioxidants and Other Natural Compounds are Important

Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals, and other compounds found in foods that

can help slow down or prevent the oxidation process. There are at least 17

compounds in tart cherries with antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants help prevent or repair damage done to the body's cells by free

radicals. Simply put, a free radical is a molecule with a missing electron.

An antioxidant, such as vitamin C, vitamin E or beta carotene, may donate

one of its electrons to the free radical. If no antioxidants are present, a

free radical takes an electron from vital cell structures, damaging the cell

and eventually leading to disease.vii Antioxidants have been shown to

increase immune function and possibly decrease risk of infection and cancer.

Based on the research at MSU, tart cherries are a rich source of naturally

occurring antioxidants, which could be effective replacements for synthetic

antioxidants.

Vitamin C and E

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and also helps make another

antioxidant--vitamin E--more effective. The current Recommended Dietary

Allowance of 60 milligrams of vitamin C could likely be set much higher, but

a healthy diet provides plentiful vitamin C.

High doses of vitamin E have been linked to the prevention of heart disease

because it helps prevent the oxidation of LDL, so-called " bad " cholesterol

inside the arteries. Oxidation of LDL can cause heart disease and stroke.

The 17 compounds in tart cherries that have antioxidant properties are

considered, in total, to be superior to the activity of vitamins E and C.

Information on the various research projects being conducted on cherries was

compiled by David Ropa, a consultant with Thomas J. Payne

When pain from arthritis and gout strikes the body, most people don't care

how their medicine works, as long as it does work. What many pain sufferers

take for granted is the complex chemical process that allows their pain

medication to work. It's the same chemistry that is making tart cherries the

preferred " medication " for a booming generation of pain sufferers.

 

Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are called non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They work by inhibiting two enzymes,

cyclooxygenase I and II (popularly known as COX 1 and COX 2), which are

produced by the body as a response to pain. NSAIDs prevent chemical messages

from binding to cyclooxygenase. The normal messages are not delivered, so

the body does not feel the pain and doesnÕt become inflamed.[1]

 

Unfortunately, many patients must take pain medication daily, which can

cause numerous side effects, including upset stomachs, vomiting, kidney

damage and, possibly, ulcers. This is because NSAIDs inhibit both COX 1 and

COX 2, but the COX 1 enzyme is also important for maintaining normal cell

function within several organs.[2]

 

Tart cherries contain flavonoid compounds that function in the same manner

as NSAIDs and can inhibit both COX enzymes. However, research also shows

that flavonoids can protect against stomach damage, unlike their NSAID

counterparts.[3] It is suspected that the high levels of antioxidants found

in cherries, particularly melatonin, provide a protective function and

prevent unwanted symptoms. This may make concentrated cherry products

superior to over-the-counter pain relief because cherries block pain in the

same manner and reduce potential side-effects.[4]

Information above provided by The Cherry Marketing Institute, located at www

usacherries.com

 

[1] H.M. Berman, J. Westbrook, Z. Feng, G. Gilliland, T.N. Bhat, H. Weissig,

I.N. Shindyalov, P.E. Bourne, ÒThe Protein Data Bank,Ó Nucleic Acids

Research, 28, 2000: 235-242.

[2] Perazella, Mark A., ÒCOX-2 Inhibitors and the Kidney,Ó Hospital Practice

September 15, 2001.

[3] Blank, M.A.; Ems, B.L.; OÕBrien, L.M.; Weisshaar, P.S.; Ares, J.J.; Abel

P.W.; McCafferty, D.M.; Wallace, J.l., ÒFlavonoid-induced gastroprotection

in rats: Role of blood flow and leukocyte adherence,Ó Digestion, 58 1997:

147-154.

[4] Wang, Haibo, ÒAntioxidant and Antiinflammatory Compounds in Tart

Cherries,Ó doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University, East Lansing,

MI, 1998.

 

Found this awesome info on raw walnuts~

http://www.diamondwalnut.com/health_omega.htm

 

more info on nuts and what's in them nutritionally

http://www.naturalhub.com/natural_food_guide_nuts_common.htm#BRAZIL%20NUT

 

http://www.henriquez.org/fruttivita/nutrition.htm

and more~

http://www.shea-butter.com/oils/brazil.shtml

http://www.rain-tree.com/bookchapter.htm

 

If anyone knows of any other sources of tryptophan, please post it. :)

 

 

Blessings,

Angela

 

 

 

 

 

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All this from my innocent little posting about Trader Joe's nuts.

 

Rich

 

rawfood , " angela elliott " <thegoddess@c...>

wrote:

> I spoke with Trader Joes Management and this is what I was told

about their

> raw nuts~

>

> They had to recall their almonds, then that led to pasteurizing

their

> almonds, (which I personally feel is absurd!!) now they are going

to take

> away all raw almond mixtures. So from now on (when the last of

their stock

> runs out) when you want to purchase mixed raw nuts or really raw

trailmix,

> it will have either pasteurized, chemically treated, or roasted

almonds.

> RIDICULOUS!! They told me if enough people get pissed off and

demand their

> raw almonds back they'll have to listen and bring them back. Let

them know

> please!!!! I love to get raw nuts from Trader Joes and I am bummed

out. :(

> They need to hear from al of their customers, that we demand that

they carry

> raw nuts.

>

> Thanks for your help!

>

> In regard to foods that contain tryptophan, I found the following

info. No

> mention of brazil nuts having tryptophan and I searched for 5

hours!!

> Almonds have quite a bit. :) See, even more reason for us to make a

stink at

> Trader Joes. :)

>

> Here's the info~

> The highest quantities of melatonin are found in tart cherries,

particularly

> the Montmorency variety.

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Share on other sites

Dear Angela,

 

What does " Digest Number XXXX " mean, is it different from a regular

post? Did you go back through all the posts and see what the

next " Digest Number " would be? Maybe this is a question for

orionsdad.

 

Rich

 

rawfood , " angela elliott " <thegoddess@c...>

wrote:

> I spoke with Trader Joes Management and this is what I was told

about their

> raw nuts~

>

> They had to recall their almonds,

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Share on other sites

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