The Healing Power of Food

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The Healing Power of Food

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The Healing Power Of Food (Antioxidants)

• Back in 400 B.C., the Greek physician Hippocrates
  said, "Let food be your medicine and medicine be
  your food." Today, good nutrition is more
  important than ever. At least four of the 10
  leading causes of death in the U.S. (heart
  disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes) are
  directly related to way we eat.
• Recent research has shown a significant
  relationship between antioxidants and disease
  (mainly cancer) prevention.

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The Power of Antioxidants

• Antioxidants are substances that may protect
  cells from the damage caused by unstable
  molecules known as free radicals. Free radical
  damage may lead to cancer.
• In humans, the most common form of free radicals
  is oxygen. When an oxygen molecule (O2) becomes
  electronically charged or radicalized it tries
  to steal electrons from other molecules, causing
  damage to the DNA and other molecules. Over
  time, such damage may become irreversible and
  lead to disease including cancer.

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The Power of Antioxidants cont

• Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free
  radical molecules and may prevent some of the
  damage free radicals otherwise might cause.
  Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene,
  lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, and other
  substances.
• Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical,
  cell culture, and animal studies indicates that
  antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the
  development of cancer (the number 2 cause of
  death in the U.S.).

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Foods Rich in Antioxidants

• Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and
  vegetables, as well as in other foods including
  nuts, grains, some meats (livervitamin A),
  poultry and fish.
• Beta-carotene, an antioxidant, is found in many
  foods that are orange in color, including sweet
  potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, squash, apricots,
  pumpkin, and mangos. Some green leafy vegetables
  including collard greens, and spinach are also
  rich in beta-carotene.

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Foods Rich in Antioxidants cont

• Lutein, best known for its association with
  healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy
  vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, and
  kale.
• Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in
  tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots,
  pink grapefruit, and other foods. Estimates
  suggest 85 percent of American dietary intake of
  lycopene comes from tomatoes and tomato products.

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Foods Rich in Antioxidants cont

• Vitamin A
• Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, sweet
  potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks and mozzarella
  cheese.
•  Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid
• Can be found in many citrus fruits and
  vegetables. Also found in cereals, beef, poultry
  and fish.
•  Vitamin E
• Found in almonds, wheat germ, corn and soybean
  oils, and also found in mangos, nuts, broccoli
  and other foods.

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Review

• True or False. Antioxidants are substances that
  do not protect cells from damage.
• Name three foods that contain antioxidants.
• True or False. Research has not shown a
  significant relationship between antioxidants and
  disease prevention.
• Other than the foods mentioned in this
  PowerPoint, what are some foods that contain
  antioxidants?
• Green Tea
• Chocolate
• H_____________ said, let food be your medicine
  and medicine be your food?
• Hippocrates

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Review cont

• What did Hippocrates, the father of medicine
  mean when he said, let food be your medicine and
  medicine be your food?
• Which of the following foods are NOT rich in the
  antioxidant vitamin A
• Liver
• Milk
• Almonds
• Sweet potatoes
• (Almonds are rich in the antioxidant vitamin E,
  not vitamin A)

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Food Disease Prevention

• What do health professionals believe?