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Page 61
| Rhubarb has also shown antitumor activity as a result of two of its compounds, rhein and emodin. |
| Whole Grains |
| Eliminate or reduce your intake of refined flours and replace them with whole-grain foods in the form of cereals, breads, or simply cooked in their whole form. Whole grains are filled with many important nutrients, including vitamin E, the B vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and many other important phytonutrients. Whole grains contain a substantial amount of insoluble fiber. Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, contain soluble fiber. The combination of these two forms of fiber promotes bowel regularity and protects against colon cancer. It is estimated that colon cancer in the United States could be reduced by as much as one-third if people just consumed more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and less refined ''white'' starches. Some of the best whole grains to eat are millet, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, brown rice, barley, oats, spelt, and whole-wheat berries. Choose a diversity of grains. Many of us eat too many wheat products, especially bread and pasta. We can all benefit by adding other grains to our diets. Amaranth, quinoa, and millet, for example, are delicious and actually have a much higher nutrient content than wheat. |
| Always use fresh whole-grain flour. Try to buy and eat grains in their whole form or consider buying a grain mill to grind flour fresh as you need it. The next best thing is to buy the whole-grain flour stored in the refrigerated section of your local health food store and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer at home. Much of the flour sold today has been sitting on the shelves for months. It is nutritionally inferior, has oxidized, and in many cases is rancid when you buy it. This is true even in natural food stores, when the flour is not refrigerated. |
| Recently, for the first time, a large study involving diet and breast cancer showed a relationship between an excess of starch intake, in the form of refined pasta and bread, and breast cancer. 17 |
| Protein |
| Dietary protein should be adequate, not excessive, to maintain nitrogen balance in a slightly positive state and to maintain lean body mass. Good |
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