Broccoli, the Wonder Food

If you wanted to make one small simple change that would have long-lasting health benefits, what would you do?

Would you drink more water? Or exercise more? Would you relax more?

All of those are great ideas. Here’s one more. Eat more broccoli.

Of course, you know that fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of healthy eating. But when it comes to fruits and vegetables, broccoli is special. It’s a powerhouse of healthy benefits.

For example, in a recent Japanese study, researchers discovered that broccoli protects your stomach from serious issues like ulcers and stomach cancer.

There’s a chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane that attacks the H. pylori virus that causes stomach ulcers. This same virus also increases your risk of developing stomach cancer.

Fortunately, you can stop this nasty little bug with just 2.5 ounces of broccoli a day. That’s just a single serving… anyone can do that. And, if you get sick of broccoli, it turns out that broccoli sprouts have the same affect. So you can have steamed or roasted broccoli one night and the next day you can sprinkle broccoli sprouts on your salad at lunch.

The same chemical, sulforaphane, also attacks other cancer-causing agents in your body. So while you’re fighting off stomach ulcers and gastric cancer, you’ll also be reducing your risks of bladder, skin, lung, and other cancers.

There is a special trick to making sure you get the full benefit from eating more broccoli and broccoli sprouts. You have to make sure you chew your food well. The chewing process is what releases the sulforaphane that gives you all these great benefits.

So chew well and stay well,
Heather Robwell

Yogurt That Prevents Ulcers

If you’ve got an ulcer, you know the pain and fear that go along with the condition. You never know when it will flare-up and make you miserable.

In 1982, researchers discovered the H. pylori bacteria, which causes stomach ulcers. Even after the discovery, it was some time before people—professional doctors included—began to accept that a bacteria and not stress was the source of ulcers.

Since then, doctors have been able to treat stomach ulcers with antibiotics. However, antibiotics themselves can have side effects. They put you at risk for other infections and can cause digestive issues.

Researchers in Japan decided it would be a good idea to fight bad bacteria with good. The result? A tasty yogurt that helps prevent and treat ulcers.

Yogurt already contains a number of healthy bacteria that can help with digestion and even support a strong immune system. The researchers thought to add an enzyme in addition to the naturally occurring bacteria. The enzyme, urease, attaches to your stomach lining and produces an antibody that fights the ulcer-causing H. pylori bacteria.

In clinical trials, this special yogurt successfully reduced the activity of H. pylori. It eased the symptoms of existing ulcers and helped to protect against new ulcers.

This yogurt isn’t yet available in the United States, but the successful clinical trials may pave the way. So watch for ulcer-fighting yogurt at a grocery store near you.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell

Eliminate Ulcer Pain

An ulcer is no laughing matter. If you've experience the pain and burning caused by an ulcer, you know how miserable it can be. The nighttime pain that disrupts your sleep—the anxiety that your next meal might be the source of hours of agony—the weeks of near-constant suffering.

But did you know an ulcer can be deadly? Six thousands people die every year in this country because of ulcer complications.

Treating an ulcer is important both to your health and to your quality of life. Fortunately, there are several safe ways you can begin to relieve your ulcer pain.

First, begin eating several small meals each day rather than one or two large meals. Often eating triggers ulcer pain. By reducing the amount you eat at any given time, you can help to reduce the number and severity of flare-ups.

Next, make sure you are getting enough vitamin E. Animal studies suggest that vitamin E can help protect your stomach lining from the affects of H. pylori, the bacteria associated with the development of ulcers. Choose a high quality vitamin E supplement that contains mixed tocopherols and mixed tocotrienols. You need at least 400 IU of vitamin E a day.

Finally, talk with your doctor. Most ulcers are caused by bacteria, which means you may be able to eliminate the problem with a course of antibiotics. I'm not a big fan of antibiotics, but this is one of those situations where they really can help.

Ulcers can make you miserable and put your health at risk. Take steps today to take control of your ulcer pain.

Stay healthy,
Danny Wallace