Here’s another reason to watch your intake of chips and crisps. Eating fried food every day isn’t just bad for your waist line and your heart – it can also increase your risk of ovarian or womb cancer.

Scientists from the Maastricht University in the Netherlands believe a chemical called acrylamide, found in chips, crisps, burnt toast and grilled or barbecued meat, could be the culprit. Women with the highest amounts of acrylamide in their bodies were found to be twice as likely to have one of these cancers. All processed foods, such as chips and crisps are best avoided, but if you do decide to indulge now and again it’s best to cook chips to a golden yellow rather than a golden brown

Meanwhile a new study by the Institute of Food research has suggested that an onion a day may be all that it takes to keep heart disease at bay. Research from the Institute of Food has shown that quercetin, a compound in onions helps prevent chronic inflammation that can lead to thickening of the arteries and an increased risk of heart disease. (Quercetin can also be taken in supplement form – see the Resources Page).

Many of us are aware of the importance of calcium for strong bones and osteoporosis prevention. However, we sometimes neglect an essential co-factor in bone health management – Vitamin D.

Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. It regulates how much calcium remains in your blood and how much is deposited in your bones and teeth. A deficiency of vitamin D also contributes to osteoporosis by reducing calcium absorption. According to the National Institutes of Health people with vitamin D insufficiency absorb less than 10% of available calcium. In other words, even if you have an adequate calcium intake, you may not absorb it effectively if you have low levels of vitamin D.

Indeed, researchers from the Harvard Medical School published results of a large-scale study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in February 2003 confirming this. The study concluded that there was a lower risk of hip fractures only in individuals with a higher intake of calcium coupled with a higher intake of vitamin D.

As well as helping to prevent osteoporosis the very latest research published in this year in the medical journal Circulation has shown that vitamin D may also protect against heart attacks and strokes. Researchers found that those with low blood levels were twice as likely to suffer heart failure or stroke as those who had higher levels.  

Research has also shown that vitamin D can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.  A study in 2006 stated that vitamin D can halve the risk of developing cancer and that ‘vitamin D supplementation could reduce cancer incidence and mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects’.

Celery is a thick, light-green stalked vegetable of the parsley family.

Celery contains phytochemical compounds called 3-n-Butyl (3nB) phthalides, which not only give it its flavour but have also been shown to lower blood pressure.

 

Studies with animals have also shown that 3nB can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the formation of the arterial plaques which can result in cardiovascular disease. In animal studies, 3nB has also been found to help prevent strokes and to enhance energy production in the brain, as well as to improve neurological function after simulation of a stroke.

 

Antioxidant celery compounds called coumarins are also the focus of much current scientific research due to their potential as anti-cancer therapies. The celery seed oil extract sedanolide has, along with 3nB, been found to inhibit tumours in lab tests. Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C, which has anti-carcinogenic properties through its role as an antioxidant and is rich in folate a vitamin required to make DNA and to prevent pre-cancerous changes to it.

 

In addition, celery is a good source of manganese, which is important for normal central nervous system and reproduction functions; fibre, which keeps your colon healthy, preventing constipation, diverticulitis and cancer, and potassium which can also help to keep blood pressure low.