Brief But Useful Information On Food And - Arthritis, Hypoxis, Prostate Cancer, Dioxins And The Reuse Of Plastic Bottles
Arthritis
Normally the cartilage covering the bone ends becomes worn in normal
use and the body produces enzymes called "proteinases" to remove the
debris as necessary. As we get older one of the problems is that the
mechanism that switches off the production of proteinases becomes
faulty, so the body produces these proteinases continuously and they
then attack and destroy the normal cartilage covering the bone joints
and the result is arthritis. It has been shown that gelatine
accumulated in the joints where it either acts as a sacrificial
protein for the proteinases to destroy in preference to healthy
cartilage, or it provides the raw materials needed by the cells to
produce new cartilage. This is the beginnings of an explanation of why
it is that some 70% of arthritis sufferers obtain relief of their pain
by consuming 7 grams or two heaped teaspoons full of gelatine daily.
(Two teaspoonfuls of powdered gelatine stirred into half a glass of
cold fruit juice and swallowed, is a reasonable way of taking gelatine).
The treatment has to be continuous and the results develop with time -
it takes time to regrow new cartilage to replace that destroyed by the
over-active proteinase production. Scientifically controlled studies
have also shown that gelatine consumption promotes nail and hair
growth. In the past, regular consumption of meat-based soups would
have given an adequate supply of gelatine in the diet.
Prostate Cancer
Lycopene is a powerful anti-oxidant, which research suggests is
potentially an anti-cancer agent. There is a growing body of evidence
to show that lycopene, the red substance related to vitamin A, which
is found at high levels in tomatoes, can significantly reduce the risk
of prostate cancer in men.
Other sources are: papaya, pink grapefruit, watermelon, guava's,
tomato based pasta sauces, tomato juice, tomato based pizza's, tomato
soup and tomato sauce. Cooked tomato products provide a more
accessible release of lycopene than raw tomatoes.
Hypoxis - African Potato & HIV / AIDs
Garlic, onions, African potato and virgin olive oil don't boost the
immune system of HIV-positive people. In fact excessive use of these
ingredients could be detrimental to health. Human studies on the
African potato had to be terminated because patients taking the
extract had shown severe bone-marrow suppression. Garlic interacts
with some anti-AIDs drugs and reduces their efficiency. Janicker
Visser, a dietician who presented a paper at the 2004 HIV/AIDs and
Nutrition Symposium said that there was no convincing scientific
evidence that these items could boost immunity or alter the course of
HIV/AIDs. Persons suffering from HIV / AIDs like anyone inflicted with
a disease or injury or who is convalescing, need to follow a sound
balanced diet which may be beyond the knowledge or means of most.
For more information on HIV & diet go to the article HIV AIDS
NUTRITION on this website.
Dioxins and the reuse of plastic bottles
The Internet has been flooded with email warnings to avoid the reuse
of plastic bottles so as not to be exposed to carcinogenic dioxins.
One hoax email has been erroneously attributed to Johns Hopkins
University. The University strongly denies having any association with
any statement that implies that the reuse of plastic food or drink
containers poses any health hazard to the user as long as proper
hygienic precautions are taken before reuse.
F.A.C.S. Scientific Director. 2009.
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