Don’t be immune to natural nutrition

As we face yet another new year, you probably can’t help wishing for more years to add to your life — or is it more life to add to your years?

One committed immunologist just might have stumbled on the best weapon against disease (your best bet for a healthy long life). The multi-awarded, Taiwan-born Dr. Jau-Fei Chen, Ph.D. believes that “only a properly nourished immune system can readily fight sickness and disease.”

With new diseases and mutating viruses plaguing the world today, Dr. Chen has dedicated herself to unraveling the mysteries of the immune system.  She declares, “I espouse the science of nutritional immunology, a study that focuses on the prevention of illness, rather than the cure. It is a discipline that favors strength and nourishment over prescription and treatment.”

But she is quick to add, “I wish to make clear that I do not consider our modern medical system hopelessly flawed. Quite to the contrary, medicine plays a vital role in human health, both today and in the future. However, the enormous power of the immune system is an extremely effective weapon against disease that we are only now beginning to understand and appreciate.”

Dr. Chen underscores the fact that research done in the last few years has “proven undeniably that proper nutrition plays an essential role in strengthening the immune system.”

For instance, Dr. Chen talks heartily about soybeans that are particularly useful in protecting the body against some heart diseases like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries, a leading cause of heart attacks).

She talks about the amazing cancer-blocking phytochemical called sulforaphane that’s found in broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, turnips, and kale. In an interview with Dr. Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Dr. Chen says that according to Dr. Talalay, shortly after broccoli enters the stomach, carcinogens are flushed out of the cells before they can cause damage.

She talks about eating whole plant foods to nourish our bodies with the “essential vitamins and nutrients in the correct proportions and combinations.”

Among these natural food sources that can prevent disease and, yes, add life to your years (as listed in Dr. Chen’s book Nutritional Immunology) are:

• Alfalfa. An excellent source of chloropyll and vitamins A, C, D, E, K, it can reduce blood cholesterol levels, neutralize carcinogens in the colon, detoxify the blood, soothe ulcers, relieve arthritis, among other health benefits.

• Asparagus. Loaded with B vitamins, protein, and fiber, asparagus helps maintain the kidneys and cleanses the digestive system.

• Banana. People are going bananas over the fact that this versatile Asian fruit that’s chock-full of minerals and vitamins can ease the discomfort of diarrhea and restore healthy bacteria in the intestines.

• Cabbage. You can find it on tables around the world — from the Korean kimchi to the German sauerkraut (I like mine simply boiled and dipped in a little fish sauce). But not too many know that aside from its vitamins and minerals, cabbage helps prevent cancer. In one study, for instance, patients who ate one serving of cabbage per week were found to reduce their risk of getting colon cancer by 66 percent.

• Ginger. More than adding spice to our lives, ginger has been widely used by the Chinese and Indians to treat arthritis and cleanse the blood. For their part, Westerners use it as a cold remedy. Research has also found ginger to be an excellent food for the maintenance of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Rich in vitamins A, C, and B complex, ginger also has a cleansing effect on the kidney.

• Ginseng. Back in 1985, Japanese pharmacologists confirmed ginseng’s “balance-promoting” properties. It has also been found to help in maintaining the blood pressure, blood sugar, and energy levels.

• Grape and grape seed. Whether drank as wine or eaten as jelly, grapes are a rich source of vitamins and phytochemicals. Eat them fresh — they’re “diuretic, laxative, and detoxicant.”

Grape-seed oil, which is now popularly used, is rich in vitamin E and polyunsaturated fats, making it ideal for lowering blood cholesterol levels.

• Honeydew. The US Department of Agriculture lists the honeydew as one of the top 10 health-promoting fruits because of its antioxidant content. Reason enough to love your honeydew.

• Jasmine. Used to add scent to desserts and fragrance to teas, jasmine has been used by many herbalists to calm the nerves. And here’s a hint of romance: Others use it as an aphrodisiac.

• Onion. This hardy bulb boasts a variety of medicinal uses throughout the ages. The story goes that US President George Washington ate hot roasted onions to fight a cold. It’s been prescribed as a cure for everything — from colds to worms, burns, blemishes, and low sperm count. Indeed, in onion, there is strength.

• Orange and citrus peels. D-limonene, a major component of the essential oil found in all peels of the citrus family, has been found to be useful in lowering the incidence of chemically-induced mammary tumors as well as the rate of progression of these cancers.

• Papaya. According to researchers in Gifu, Japan, the free radical scavengers found in papayas may account for their antibacterial properties. The seeds, in particular, contain high levels of antioxidants. Papaya’s ability to combat oxidative stress makes it useful in fighting gastrointestinal diseases.

More hearty papaya news: Research conducted at the Heart Research Laboratory and Centre of Nutrition Research in Moradabad, India indicates that a diet containing papaya may prevent the development of atherosclerosis and aortic plaque. The researchers experimented with four types of diets and found that the one consisting of guava, papaya, vegetables, and mustard oil protected against coronary thrombosis because of the antioxidant vitamins C, E, and carotene.

• Pea. Yes, give peas a chance — they contain essential vitamins and minerals. The pea is also rich in soluble fiber, making it useful in stimulating the body to reduce bad cholesterol.

And listen up, guys: Folklore — modern research agrees — names the pea as a potent contraceptive. Research indicates that men who take pea concentrates or eat an excess of peas (it didn’t say how much is too much) may cut their sperm count in half.

• Plum. Scientists say that plums have the highest antioxidant activity of all fruits on the market. Dehydrated plums (as in prunes) are an excelllent source of nutrition.

• Spinach. This green leafy veggie is touted for its high antioxidant activity due to its flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. Pureed spinach gives a greater yield of essential antioxidant vitamins than processed spinach. But however you eat it, spinach is full of healthful ingredients. Popeye was right afterall!

• Strawberry. Recent research proves the strawberry’s antioxidant properties. With their ellagic acid, strawberries may lower the risk of heart disease while their ferulic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer functions.

Berry delicious, strawberries are a great source of vitamins A, B, C, E, and K.  The strawberry is food for the skin, too, because of its astringent and revitalizing properties.

• Tomato. With its many varieties, tomatoes all have remarkable nutritive value. Most importantly, tomato has a unique phytochemical — lycopene — that inhibits cancer. Its cancer-preventing properties have never ceased to amaze scientists.

• Wheat. Called the staff of life, wheat has many potent protective properties. For instance, wheat bran helps prevent colon cancer.

Now, that’s a wheaty way to start a new year!