Tag Archives: Fruits and vegetables

Eating organic linked with longer life in fruit flies

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Proponents of eating organic now have the results of a new study to support the health benefits associated with their preference for chemical free produce. In the study of fruit flies, those fed extracts of organically grown vegetables were found to have longer lifespans and better fertility than those fed conventionally grown produce.

A few important comments about this study; first, this was a study using fruit flies. Keep in mind that because their life cycle is so short, the accumulated benefits are seen much sooner. So the subtle benefit of added nutrition or the lack of life-sapping chemicals occurs within the time frame of these types of experiments. I believe many of the same benefits occur in humans- but they are difficult to measure with so many other variables over a lifetime. (I should also add that if you frequently keep organic produce sitting on your counter- you might have a swarm of fruit flies in a few days!) – TGG.

Vegetable and plant oil rich diet protects against oxidative damage in diabetics

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Oxidative stress is a culprit in the development of many chronic diseases and may be one reason why those with diabetes are more vulnerable to developing cancer. A healthy diet rich in antioxidants has long been known to prevent cellular damage from oxidation and radiation and now a new study sheds some more light on its protective effects on health. According to a recent study, subjects who consumed 300 g of vegetables and 25 ml of plant oil for 8 weeks raised their serum antioxidants levels and reduced their levels of HgBA1C, a marker which indicates damage to DNA strands. Those who followed a healthy diet but did not consume the 300 g of vegetables reduced their glycated hemoglobin but did not get the important benefits of improved antioxidant status. Click to read more: http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/2/Diabetes/vegetables_pufa_diabetes_mellitus_1119120735.html