Replace Your Pharmacy With A Backyard Garden!

***The following is a guest post for Natural Beauty by Barbara Fix*** These days there is a wealth of information available regarding the benefits of antioxidants. Do the words “Eat Your Vegetables!” ring any bells? In all fairness, most of us owe our parents and grandparents an apology for pushing our carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes around on our plates in the hopes they’d somehow go away. The luckiest of us had an accommodating family dog, and from what the studies tell us about antioxidants found in many fruits and garden vegetables, it’s likely our pet benefited with less heart disease, cancers, reduced blood pressure, and the aging process was kinder to them as well!

We can make amends by growing a healthy garden from heirloom, heritage seed for the “super foods” that make up the vegetables and berries listed below. Hopefully, we may still share with our pooch, but the majority will make it from the fork to our mouths. Happy eating!

Berries such as *Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and *blackberries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, mineral and vitamins.

*Blueberries can delay the effects of aging.

*Blackberries contain ellgic acid that combats cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts can prevent cancer and they help to protect us against heart disease. They also contain andole-3-carbinol that breaks down estrogen, reducing the risk of breast cancer, and ovarian and cervix cancer.

Broccoli is considered a “super food” and contains beta-carotene, which helps prevent cancer and heart disease.

Tomatoes are another “super food” that helps prevent macular degeneration and cataracts, and helps maintain mental function as we age. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a relatively rare member of the carotenoid family that are twice as powerful as beta—carotene.

Men benefit from tomatoes by lowering incidents of prostrate cancer and they reduce lung, colon, and breast cancers. They also contain the antioxidant glutathione that helps boost the immune system.

Red Grapes in the form of red wine improves heart function by breaking down platelets and keeping blood vessels open and healthy. The resveratrol they contain helps prevent cancer, inflammatory disease, stroke, ulcers, and osteoporosis.

Garlic contains large quantities of antioxidants that help ward off cancer, heart disease, and the effects of aging. It has also been attributed to improve blood clotting, and helps the effects of asthma, and yeast infection, and they contain anti-fungal properties.

Spinach contains lutin that improves eyesight and helps to avoid cataracts and macular degeneration. Studies reflect spinach may be helpful in fighting heart disease.

Tea has proven to help fight cancer, heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene and help to prevent cancers, heart disease, and can slow the progression of arthritis.

Soy (think heirloom seed instead of GMO) helps prevent cancers, will lower cholesterol, and slows the advancement of osteoporosis and menopause.

Whole Grains are a great source of phytochemicals and they contain vitamin E that is shown to prevent cancers, boosts the immunity system, and slows the advancement of Alzheimer’s and arthritis.

Be Sociable, Share!

•