Pineapple

The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit. The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today.

It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual flowerets that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.

Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked. No special way of storing them will help ripen them further. Colour is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness. Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit.

The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste.

After you cut off the top, you can plant it. It should grow much like a sweet potato will. This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits to our health.

Pineapple is a remarkable fruit. We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may also be one of the most healthful
foods available today. If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis.

The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms.

Let's look at how pineapple affects other conditions.

Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to development of strong bones and connective tissue.
A cup of fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount.

It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend to become brittle with age.

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, is the key to pineapple's value. Proteolytic means "breaks down protein", which is why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently. Bromelain is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory.

Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It also produces mild pain relief.

In Germany, bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because it is thoughtto reduce inflammation and swelling.

Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold because it is high in Vitamin C. Fresh pineapple is not only high in this vitamin, but because of the Bromelain, it has the ability to reduce mucous in the throat. 

If you have a cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet. It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations.

Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer sinus problems related to allergies.
In and of itself, pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.

Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development.
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice. It really works!
Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the morning often make a difference.

It's also good for a healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plaque growth.

Garlic Known To Protect Us Against A Multitude Of Cancers

Garlic, well-known as one of the most potent seasonings around. This pungent little bulb is more than just a flavor-enhancer: It's known to protect us against a multitude of cancers. How much protection does it offer? I think you're going to be surprised and delighted. . . studies on people with garlic-eating habits, show some kind of cancer-preventative effect. 

Eating one serving or more per week of fresh garlic, not powder or supplements can effectively reduce colon cancer.

But it's lung cancer that has recently shown the most impressive response to garlic, with a study from the journal Cancer Prevention Research concluding that even smokers who consume garlic twice every week will drop their cancer risk by 30 percent. Non-smokers who eat garlic twice a week cut their lung cancer risk by even more -- 44 percent

Garlic is a species classified in the onion genus, closely related to shallots, leeks, and chives. Native to central Asia, it's been used by humans for over 7,000 years—going back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, and probably much farther than that. This hardy plant is pretty easy to grow and does well year-round in mild climates.

 In terms of medicinal use, most people know that garlic offers tremendous detoxification benefits. One study published found that garlic is just as effective at removing lead from the body as the often-prescribed drug, d-penicillamine. But of course, garlic comes without the awful side effects.

It's not just lead that garlic can help with. The sometimes stinky, always flavourful food also helps remove a variety of other toxins we're often exposed to, including those found in air pollution, cleaning agents, passive smoking, and many of the foods we consume. 

 Garlic also boosts the immune system and is replete with anti-infection properties. Supposedly you can rub crushed raw garlic on the site of an infection and, following a slight burning sensation, it will draw the infection out. 

But it's the effect of crushing garlic and what happens after that which holds the clue to this root vegetable's effect on cancer. When you crush a clove of garlic and leave it out for ten minutes, it builds the maximum amount of a compound called allicin, which possesses terrific antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. 

The crushing action is necessary because allicin will not surface unless garlic's tissue is damaged. It's this same tissue damage that produces garlic's sharp flavour. That's why a whole, intact clove of garlic rarely smells. As a matter of fact, it's the allicin that gives garlic its pungent smell and serves as a defense-mechanism against pests.

Aside from the known cancer benefits of garlic, the cloves — when raw and crushed -- are also believed to help lower blood cholesterol levels, reduce the incidence of colds, and fight bacteria, viruses, yeast, and intestinal amoeba. Long considered a powerful health food, garlic is the most effective broad spectrum anti-microbial agent known. It offers 39 different anti-fungal, bacterial, parasitic, and viral agents.
Interestingly, this gives us another anti-cancer angle: Enemies of the body like amoebae and other infectious invaders use up your supply of vitamins and minerals, and especially B vitamins like folic acid, choline, and inositol. All of these are crucial to DNA replication and to the support of your immune system.

    Amoebae and other parasites produce cell-poisoning nitrates, but allicin—derived from crushed garlic—stops the enzymes necessary for the growth of these infectious organisms. It also boosts the effect of a liver enzyme, which increases your body's ability to detoxify itself.

The biggest complaint about garlic is that if you eat too much, your breath will stink. For some people, even their sweat will stink. The best known cure for bad breath is to eat fresh parsley, which explains why many garlic recipes, including garlic butter, include the green herb.

And take note that garlic is a natural blood thinner, so it shouldn't be taken before surgery or if you take prescription blood thinners. Many natural remedies, including digestive enzymes and fish oil, are natural blood thinners, so this is no big deal

Boost Your Brain With Blueberries

If you want to maintain good mental performance throughout the day, or if you find yourself getting forgetful as you get older, help is now at hand - and it's all thanks to a common fruit - blueberries. The benefits are really something else…

Blueberries are well known as a rich source of antioxidants and powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. Research has focused on their cardiovascular benefits, but now It appears blueberries can potentially improve learning, memory and recall, and reverse age-related mental decline.

They tested whether the efficiency of the sales team of a busy media agency could be improved by drinking a blueberry smoothie for a week compared to drinking a banana smoothie for a week. Their findings showed significant improvement in mental tasks and productivity only with blueberries.

Studies have shown that efficiency could be improved by drinking a blueberry sooothie for a week compared to drinking a banana smoothie for a week, their findings showed significant improvement in mental tasks and productivity only with blueberries.

In particular, blueberries contain a group of phytochemicals called anthocyanins that give the fruit its deep blue color. Researchers believe these are responsible for many of the reported benefits of blueberries. Anthocyanins are able to cross the blood-brain barrier into an area of the brain called the hippocampus - where learning and memory functions take place.

Regular consumption of blueberries can improve oxygen and blood flow to the brain, increasing its activity. It can reduce the build up of toxic compounds and keep the mind fresh. It can enhance connections between nerve cells, improving their ability to communicate and stimulate brain cell regeneration.

Picking the best berries can be expensive but their benefits outweigh the cost. Unfortunately berries grown the conventional way, tend to have high levels of pesticide residue, for this reason buying organic is your best option.

Blueberries come mainly from Chile and Argentina, including organic berries which those countries now seem to produce in great quantities. Winter berries grown in South America are plumper and tastier. The same varieties are now being grown in the United States.