By: Meredith Fairbank for Fibroids1A recent study conducted by the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has confirmed what we already knew: truly, carrots and broccoli are good for you!
A flavonoid-rich diet was found to significantly decrease the risk for developing ovarian cancer, so get the word out. Carrots, peppers, and cabbages (foods containing flavonoid luteolin) reduced the risk of ovarian cancer by 34 percent. And what’s more, non-herbal tea and broccoli (containing flavonoid kaempferol) were found to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 40 percent.
| Take Action |
Flavonoid-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet:
Carrots
Peppers
Cabbages
Non-herbal tea
Broccoli
Beets
Natural beans
Kale
Onions
Caraway seeds
Create a salad combining several of these ingredients and top it with a homemade salad dressing. To create a simple dressing, combine 3 tablespoons of olive oil with the juice from half a lemon or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar plus a dash of salt. |
Other flavonoid-rich foods such as beets, beans, kale, caraway seeds and onions were not part of this study but likely have similar cancer-fighting qualities. A separate study by the same research group published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that men who take beta-carotene supplements equal to eating five large carrots every other day for 15 years or longer may decrease the chances of developing dementia and may increase their verbal memory. This is likely because of the effect the antioxidant qualities of beta-carotene have on the brain. The benefits, however, did not seem to hold true when the supplements were taken for only one year.
While high quality dietary supplements are useful for ensuring that the body gets every vitamin and mineral it needs, supplements are no substitute for eating a wide variety of brightly-colored fruits and vegetables. The body must obtain certain essential elements from food in order for the internal organs and systems to function properly. Keep in mind that each piece of fruit or vegetable contains more than 10,000 vitamins, many of which have not yet been identified and are not yet fully understood by science. There is no underestimating the importance of healthy food intake.
Take, for example carrots. The flavonoids and beta-carotene they contain may promote good health in other ways we don’t yet fully understand. The Nigerian nutritionist Dr. Bamidele Ogaga purports that women who eat carrots regularly may be protected against uterine fibroids. He considers carrots a “natural anti-fibroid drug.” He also recommended eating other natural anti-fibroid foods including beets and soybeans, along with the recommended variety of fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, fish as well as plenty of water.
In addition, carrots help guard against skin problem, keep the mucous membrane lining of the respiratory system healthy and soft, and assist the digestive tract, bladder, reproductive organs, and kidneys.
Drinking fresh carrot juice on a regular basis is a great way to obtain its benefits. Carrot juice is best when made fresh using a juicer. The remaining pulp left behind in the juicer can be added to all sorts of recipes and can be used as garnish.
Carrots and all vegetables provide maximum nutritional value when eaten raw or slightly cooked. It’s best not to cook vegetables until they are soft because that causes them to lose up to 80 percent of their nutritional value.
While further study is needed, it is clear that the regular consumption of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the best investments you can make in preventing disease.
