You may think parsley is a throwaway garnish, celery is a snack that delivers fewer calories than it takes to digest and artichokes are just meant for dips.

 

But the real facts: Those three veggies, essentials of the Mediterranean Diet, are loaded with apigenin, an inflammation fighter that kills cancer cells. These foods can boost cancer treatments (some studies show it makes paclitaxel, used to treat certain breast cancers, more effective) or prevent cancer (breast, colon, skin, thyroid and leukemia) in the first place.

 

There are 50 trillion to 75 trillion cells in the body, and inevitably some of them will become cancerous. But when your immune system can knock them out, you'll never know or care that they were there.

 

Your diet is an important component of the ammunition you need for that battle, and apigenin is emerging as the toughest cancer fighter in the produce aisle. In addition to parsley, celery and artichokes, you'll find it in apples, cherries, grapes, chamomile tea and wine, and in herbs such as tarragon, cilantro, licorice, spearmint, basil and oregano.

 

Q: I'm desperate to find an energy drink that's good for me. What's out there?

 

Sandy H., Ocean Grove, N.J.

 

A: Black coffee is our favorite energy drink because caffeine delivers many benefits (alertness is the least of them!). And if you stay with the basics, you'll dodge health problems that come from choosing energy drinks packed with risky additives. So here's how to choose smart drinks to power up your day.

 

1Capture caffeine's power. Caffeine boosts energy, plus helps stave off heart disease, Parkinson's, diabetes, dementia and nine types of cancer! And it eases migraines, improves exercise performance, opens airways and steps up concentration, memory and reaction time.

 

Aim for around 300-600 mg of caffeine a day - stop before you get edgy or can't sleep. At-home brews deliver 100-180 mg in 12 ounces; chain coffee shops may double that dose; and 8 ounces of green or black tea contains 30-80 mg. (Skip caffeine if you have an irregular heartbeat or an enlarged prostate - and none for pregnant women; it will affect the fetus).

 

2Brew secrets of success: Drink filtered coffee; a paper filter removes substances that raise LDL cholesterol. DO NOT add milk; it erases some of coffee's benefits. And you know what we say about added sugar - don't do it!

 

3Consider caffeinated water. Looking for an alternative to coffee? Bottled waters with caffeine (45-90 mg in 12-16 ounces) - and no sugar - can do the trick.

 

4Skip energy drinks with additives, sugar and extra vitamins. If it says lecithin, creatine, taurine, phenylalanine, citicoline, tyrosine or choline on the label, or if it says "amino acids" but doesn't list them individually (or if you simply can't understand what's on the label), say, "No thanks!" Such ingredients can cause inflammation, boost blood sugar and trigger dangerous reactions. Get extra vitamins from eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily. And take a multivitamin - half in the morning and half in the evening. Skip energy drinks with added sugar; they'll pack on pounds and increase your risk for everything from dementia, to impotence, cancer or a heart attack.




http://www.chron.com/news/health/article/Vegetables-with-apigenin-are-key-cancer-fighters-4738722.php?cmpid=healthhcat