
Are Aluminum Pots, Bottles, and Foil Safe?
DNA damage is assessed in users of aluminum cookware.
Topic summary contributed by volunteer(s): Wyatt
We get more lycopene (a potential depression, heart disease and cancer fighting red pigment) per gram from cooked tomatoes compared to raw. It may also be important to add a little bit of fat to your meal when eating foods such as tomatoes to maximize the body’s absorption of fat-soluble phytonutrients. Supplements are not an effective source of these phytonutrients. Surprisingly, tomato juice actually has twice the antioxidant power of regularly consuming tomatoes and may have an anti-inflammatory effect, which may help athletes recover after exercise and reduce asthma. Tomato juice concentrate is also the highest source of potassium, which may help prevent the risk of stroke. Eating vegetables (including tomatoes) with every meal decreases the level of oxidation. The yellow pigment found around tomato seeds inhibits platelet activation without affecting clotting, which may explain why eating tomato products is associated with lower cardiac mortality. One can make family dinners healthier by turning tomatoes and other vegetables into a paste and adding it into a child’s favorite foods. For most cancers, tomatoes have not been found to suppress tumor cell growth. The lycopene in tomatoes, however, may be protective against prostate cancer and cervical cancer. Cooking acidic foods like tomato sauce in an aluminum pot is not advised, as eating aluminum has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, at one point in American history the tomato was widely believed to be poisonous rather than healthful. This explains the origin of the “tomato effect,” a term used to describe the denial by the medical establishment of highly effective therapies because they go against the conventional wisdom.
Image Credit: Flickr. This image has been modified.
DNA damage is assessed in users of aluminum cookware.
In his newest live presentation, Dr. Greger offers a sneak peek into his new book How Not to Diet.
Does every-other-day-eating prevent the metabolic slowing that accompanies weight loss or improve compliance over constant day-to-day calorie restriction?
A light broth soup, packed with a rainbow of vegetables and hearty buckwheat soba noodles. Toss in edamame or your favorite vegetables and spices to make this recipe your own. This recipe comes from Hailey, our Chinese Social Media Manager.
A cruciferous spin on macaroni and cheese, this recipe takes comfort food to a whole new level, and is a tasty way to check off a few servings on the Daily Dozen checklist. This recipe comes from Kristina, our Social Media Director.
Randomized controlled studies put nuts, berries, and grape juice to the test for cognitive function.
What would happen if you stopped brushing your teeth but ate healthier?
How to choose the healthiest coffee, and the effects of adding milk vs. soymilk.
The nutritional benefits of guacamole extend beyond the nutrients in avocados.
In my book How Not to Die, I center my recommendations around a Daily Dozen checklist of everything I try to fit into my daily routine.
In this video, I explain my traffic light system for ranking the relative healthfulness of Green Light vs. Yellow Light vs. Red Light foods.
What role does diet and baby powder play in the development of fibroids and ovarian cancer?