One of the questions I get on a regular basis from patients and readers is why I recommend the fruits I do. It comes down to two things: The first is what health benefits the fruit has. And the second is how much sugar it contains.
For instance, I have yet to see a good study come out about the health benefits of bananas. In fact, bananas are pretty much a metabolic nightmare because they are so high in sugar. Yet they are America’s favorite fruit. And before I get outraged emails about “needing” bananas for the potassium they contain, the fact is, you’re better off eating an avocado. A single avocado has more than twice the amount of potassium a banana does. Plus, unlike bananas, avocadoes are low in sugar — and they contain healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.
My other favorite low-sugar fruits are berries.
Berries pack a huge amount of nutrition compared to their relatively small size.
We know from previous studies that berries are invaluable sources of antioxidants and phytochemicals that fight free radicals and help prevent chronic diseases. In fact, in this month’s issue of my Logical Health Alternatives newsletter, I shared some new research showing how a few specific types of berries can protect you against Alzheimer’s, cancer, fatty liver, and more. (To find out which kinds of berries offer these impressive benefits, check out the article “New research reveals huge healing benefits from tiny fruit,” in the March Logical Health Alternatives issue. Subscribers can view this article for free by logging in to my website, www.drpescatore.com with your username and password. If you’re not already a subscriber, now is the perfect time to get started.)
And last week I also told you about recent research showing that berries can even help you lose weight.
But the latest study on berries, published in the prestigious journal Nutrition, goes one step further…
After analyzing data from a dozen different studies, researchers found that anthocyanins (the specific flavonoid that gives berries their characteristic color) can also help promote healthy blood pressure and prevent plaque buildup in arteries.
The researchers also found that there seems to be a dose-response relationship with anthocyanins. The more an individual consumes, the better the effect on cardiovascular outcomes.
These finding are especially significant considering heart disease is already the No. 1 cause of death worldwide. And things are only getting worse. Experts predict that by 2030, 28 million people will die of it each year. But this research provides a simple, natural way to help curb this growing trend.
So I can’t help but wonder why the USDA doesn’t pick up on this new research and revise their dietary guidelines to include more berries? Oh, that’s right, government-subsidized crops like wheat, corn, soy, and sugar take precedence over the foods that might actually benefit the health of the public.
Not to mention the government’s ties to Big Pharma.
Think about it. If the powers that be started recommending berries as a simple, healthy, effective alternative to statin drugs, it would be a huge blow to Big Pharma’s bottom line. But the FDA is basically bankrolled by Big Pharma. So it’s in the government’s best interest to keep the pharmaceutical industry happy. Even if it means keeping you sick.
It’s a sad state of affairs. But once you know the truth about the safe, effective alternatives, you can opt out of the twisted system.
So let’s get back to berries — and a few cautions…
Food manufacturers have attempted to cash in on anthocyanins’ growing popularity by adding berries to their products. But be wary of processed foods that contain berries (like cereals or so-called “protein” bars). The fact is, when berries are processed, it all but destroys their anthocyanins.
Fresh, organic, in-season berries are the best way to go. But you can get the benefits of berries year-round by looking for supplements that contain flavonoids (like anthocyanins). As I mentioned last week, purples blends are a great option. The offer a hefty serving of these healthy phytochemicals — and they taste great too.
For more tips on how to keep your heart healthy without Big Pharma’s “help,” check out my special report The World’s Easiest Heart Disease Cure. This comprehensive guide gives you all the information you need to make sure you don’t become a part of the staggering statistic I mentioned above.
Resources:
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/1/32/htm
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/28/berries-reduce-heart-attack-risk.aspx
http://newsroom.heart.org/news/strawberries-blueberries-may-cut-heart-attack-risk-in-women
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf060300l?journalCode=jafcau&
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