Prunes

Prunes are a good source of fiber and have long been recognized as a nutrient-rich fruit with multiple health benefits. But according to a recent study from Tufts University in Boston, prunes may also help slow the aging process in both the body and brain. The study ranked the antioxidant value of commonly eaten fruits and vegetables using an analysis called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity). Prunes topped the list with more than twice the antioxidant capacity as other high-scoring fruits such as blueberries and raisins.

ORAC is a test tube analysis that measures the total antioxidant power of foods and other chemical substances. Early findings suggest that this same antioxidant activity translates to animals, protecting cells and their components from oxidative damage.
"If these studies are borne out in further research, young and middle-aged people may be able to reduce their risk of diseases of aging – including senility – simply by adding high antioxidant foods to their diets," said Floyd P. Horn, administrator of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, in Beltsville, Md.

The role of fruits and vegetables in health promotion and disease prevention may also be related to nutrients, other than the vitamins, minerals and fiber, found in these plant-based foods. In addition to well-known antioxidant vitamins A and C and beta-carotene, there are over 1,800 other biologically active compounds that have been identified in foods. Research is just beginning to identify these nutrients and to describe their activity in the human body; however, many are believed to offer the protective benefits of antioxidants.

At The Wholefood Farmacy, prunes can found in Phi Plus and DetoxiPhi, which are two of the most popular foods amongst the family of Wholefood Farmacy Wholesale Club Members.

What’s for breakfast?

The science is crystal clear. Children who eat a healthy breakfast before school are healthier, more alert, have more energy, exhibit better behavior and get better grades.

A recent State of Minnesota Breakfast Study found that students who ate breakfast before starting school had a general increase in math grades and reading scores, increased student attention, reduced nurse visits, and improved student behaviors. (December, 1997)

Researchers at Harvard Medical/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that hungry children are more likely to have behavioral and academic problems than children who get enough to eat. At school, hungry children had more problems with irritability, anxiety and aggression, as well as more absences and tardiness. (Pediatrics, January, 1998; Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998)

The recent Tufts University Statement (1998) on The Link Between Nutrition and Cognitive Development in Children cites new findings: "Recent research provides compelling evidence that under-nutrition impacts the behavior of children, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development".

The importance of a healthy breakfast is paramount to your child’s health, behavior, and academic performance. As the new school year begins, we encourage you take a stand for your children and make a healthy breakfast, everyday, the rule in your home.

If you’re on go and don’t have much time, please consider these quick, easy and very nutritious ways that The Wholefood Farmacy foods can help.

Our fruit based Farinas (BeautiPhi, ClariPhi, ElectriPhi, FructiPhi & GloriPhi) can provide a wonderful way to add taste, variety and nutrition to oat meal, cream of wheat, and whole grain breakfast cereals. Simply sprinkle them over these healthy breakfast foods and you’re done! Phi Plus, TropiPhi and Fruitalicious also make a wonderful and very delicious addition to these healthy breakfast foods and they provide a wonderfully sweet alternative to processed sugar.

Breakfast Smoothies are also a quick and easy way to start your child’s day with healthy whole food nutrition. Start with some fresh fruit and your choice of milk, then add any of our fruit based Farinas – hit the button and in 15 seconds it’s ready to go.

Make Phi Plus cookies the night before. Form Phi Plus into the shape of cookies then drizzle with Wholefood Farmacy Organic Coconut Oil and refrigerate. In the morning, you’ll have some very healthy and very tasty treats ready when you’re on the go.

Set the alarm clock a few minutes earlier and give your kids the daily advantage of a Healthy Start – it makes all the difference in the world.

Alzheimer's Risk Lowered by Mediterranean Diet in Study

Americans who ate a Mediterranean diet - lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, some fish and alcohol, and little dairy and meat - had a reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease as they aged. The findings from this new study are published in the April 2006 issue of Annals of Neurology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons. "Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," the authors report. For each additional point to Mediterranean diet scores (indicating increased adherence to the diet), Alzheimer's risk dropped by 9 to 10 percent. Compared with the subjects in the least adherent group that adhered to a Mediterranean diet the least, subjects in the middle had 15 to 21 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and those in the highest group had a 39 to 40 percent lower risk, suggesting a significant response effect.

"We conclude that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduction in risk for Alzheimer's disease," they say. In addition, they say that the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet for non-neurological conditions have been previously shown to be generalized to different populations, and that the current study provided the opportunity to examine the effect of this diet for a neurological disease in a multiethnic community in the United States.

When it comes to getting your 5 servings of fruits and veggies everyday, the Wholefood Farmacy is the easiest way. When healthy foods are delicious and convenient everyone in your home, especially the children, will benefit. Keeping some Wholefood Farmacy foods on hand can help you “bridge the gap” when you just don’t have the time. Have you and your children had your 5 servings of fruits and veggies today?

TLC's New Show - Honey We're Killing The Kids

We are writing today to tell you about a brand new television series on The Learning Channel (TLC). Beginning Monday, April 10 9/8c, TLC will transform the lives of 13 families across the nation in the groundbreaking new series, Honey We're Killing the Kids! In each family, the children’s eating habits have spiraled out of control into a diet of nonstop junk food – sugar, snacks, processed food– and huge, oversized portions. Coupled with a lack of exercise and sleep, this lifestyle means the kids are not only hyper and unruly; they are at serious risk of becoming overweight and developing high-blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

Honey We're Killing the Kids! offers a startling look at the causes of America's childhood obesity epidemic and issues a critical wake-up call for parents. In the series, nutrition expert Dr. Lisa Hark shows how everyday choices can have long-term impacts on children, and offers both the motivation and the know-how to help turn these families’ lives around. Using state-of-the-art computer imaging and certified assessments based on measurements and statistics, Dr. Hark first gives Mom and Dad a frightening look at the possible future faces of their children – and a dramatic reality check. Then, introducing her new guidelines and techniques, Dr. Hark works with parents to reverse course and give their kids a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

The family then has three weeks to overhaul its bad habits under the direction of Dr. Hark, who delivers a set of life-altering rules with the aim of completely transforming the children’s future health and lifestyle. Dr. Hark’s rules are straightforward and simple – rules like "Sack the sugar," "Family eats together," "Set a bedtime routine," "Limit television hours" and "Exercise together" are introduced each week. How are the families responding to the challenges set by Dr. Hark? Are the children trying new healthy foods? Can Mom quit smoking? Will Dad agree to become more involved in family life? Will the children try rock-climbing? While not always initially easy for the families, the rules often become fun, as new experiences are brought into their routines. At the end of the three weeks, Dr. Hark meets with the parents to discuss the modifications made to the family’s diet and lifestyle. Taking all of the changes into consideration, she then provides a new simulation of what each child could look like in the future, if they continue their healthy nutrition and exercise habits on a long-term basis. But not all families have an easy time adapting to Dr. Hark's rules. Tune in each week to see which families can correct their nutritional attitudes and habits. We encourage you to make plans to watch the premier episode on Monday night and to follow the series as it unfolds week after week. If you have family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers who have children, please tell them about the show and encourage them to watch as well. "

Are organic foods healthier and why are they more expensive?

Why is organic produce more expensive than the other kind?
Organic produce, since it is grown without synthetic pesticides or chemicals, is more labor-intensive. Organic crop yields are often not as high as those grown under non-organic conditions, and fewer farmers use organic methods and sustainable agriculture practices. This is why the price of organically grown produce reflects the greater demands placed on the grower.

Are organic foods healthier?
Organic foods are not necessarily more nutritious, rather organic food are spared the application of potentially harmful long-lasting insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Now, the EPA considers 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides, and 30% of all insecticides as potentially cancer-causing.

What is the difference between "organic" and "natural"?
"Natural" often is misrepresented in product labeling to imply "healthful," but "natural" only means that the product has undergone minimal processing. Unlike products that are certified organic, natural products have no certification or inspection system. The term "natural" does not necessarily relate to growing methods or the use of preservatives.