Shoots

Brocco Shoots contain four different sprouts broccoli, alfalfa, clover and radish; these four sprouts contain concentrated amounts of plant compounds called phytochemicals that can protect us against disease.
Research by Dr Paul Talalay of the Johns Hopkins University Medical School showed that the high levels of sulforaphane found in broccoli sprouts helps the body in mobilising its natural cancer fighting resources. Studies have demonstrated that broccoli sprouts contain up to 50 times the concentration of sulforaphane compared to mature broccoli.
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Alfalfa sprouts are also a fine food source of Saponins. Saponins lower bad cholesterol and fat.
Sprouts also contain an abundance of highly active antioxidants.
Canavanine an amino acid analog present in alfalfa has demonstrated resistance to pancreatic colon and leukaemia cancer in vitro.
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It is also known that broccoli sprouts represents one of the most concentrated and natural sources of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids. They are biogenic in that they are alive and capable of transferring their energy to the body when eaten.
When eating a sprout you are eating a tiny easy to digest plant that is at its peak of nutritional value. The seed releases all of its stored nutrients in a burst of vitality as it attempts to become a full size plant.

Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds
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Pumpkin seeds are subtly sweet and nutty with a malleable chewy texture and are one of the most nutritious and flavourful seeds around. They contain chemical substances called cucurbitacins that can prevent the body from converting testosterone into a more potent form called dihydrotestostrerone (DHT). Dihydrotestosterone is responsible for the development of many male gender characteristics. Accumulation of DHT in the prostate can lead to an enlargement in size due to cell division, a condition called prostatic hyperplasia. This condition is common in men over 50 and by the age of 80 9/10 men will show symptoms. Cucurbitacins inhibit the formation of DHT from testosterone thus helping to slow enlargement of the prostate gland. Pumpkin seeds are also good source of zinc a mineral also used to help reduce prostate size.

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of phytosterols. Phytosterols are plants fats that have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol, and when present in the diet in sufficient amounts, are believed to fool the body into making less cholesterol and so reducing blood levels of cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is a significant factor in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Protection for Men's Bones

In addition to maintaining prostate health, another reason for older men to make zinc-rich foods, such as pumpkin seeds, a regular part of their diet is bone mineral density. Although osteoporosis is often thought to be a disease for which postmenopausal women are at highest risk, it is also a potential problem for older men. Almost 30% of hip fractures occur in men, and 1 in 8 men over age 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture. A study of 396 men ranging in age from 45-92 that was published in the September 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a clear correlation between low dietary intake of zinc, low blood levels of the trace mineral, and osteoporosis at the hip and spine.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits in Arthritis

The healing properties of pumpkin seeds have also been recently investigated with respect to arthritis. In animal studies, the addition of pumpkin seeds to the diet has compared favorably with use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin in reducing inflammatory symptoms. Importantly, though, pumpkin seeds did not have one extremely unwanted effect of indomethacin: unlike the drug, pumpkin seeds do not increase the level of damaged fats (lipid peroxides) in the linings of the joints, a side-effect that actually contributes to the progression of arthritis.

A Rich Source of Minerals, Protein and Monounsaturated Fat

In addition to their above-listed unique health benefits, pumpkin seeds also provide a wide range of nutrients. They are a very good source of minerals magnesium , manganese and phosphorous, and a good source of iron , copper , protein and monounsaturated fat

Pumpkin Seed Phytosterols Lower Cholesterol

Phytosterols are compounds found in plants that have a chemical structure very similar to cholesterol, and when present in the diet in sufficient amounts, are believed to reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response and decrease risk of certain cancers.

Phytosterols beneficial effects are so dramatic that they have been extracted from soybean, corn, and pine tree oil and added to processed foods, such as "butter"-replacement spreads, which are then touted as cholesterol-lowering "foods." But why settle for an imitation "butter" when Mother Nature's nuts and seeds are a naturally rich source of phytosterols—and cardio-protective fiber, minerals and healthy fats as well?
In a study in the November 2005 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers published the amounts of phytosterols present in nuts and seeds commonly eaten in the United States .

Linseed
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The warm, earthy and subtly nutty flavor of flax seeds combined with an abundance of omega 3 fatty acids makes them an increasingly popular addition to the diets of many a health conscious consumer.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Omega-3 fats are used by the body to produce Series 1 and 3 prostaglandins, which are anti-inflammatory hormone-like molecules, in contrast to the Series 2 prostaglandins, which are pro-inflammatory molecules produced from other fats, notably the omega-6 fats, which are found in high amounts in animal fats, margarine, and many vegetable oils including corn, safflower, sunflower, palm, and peanut oils. Omega-3 fats can help reduce the inflammation that is a significant factor in conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and migraine headaches.

As a highly concentrated source of not only omega-3 fatty acids but also lignans, both of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, flaxseed may also be useful in treating lung inflammation and injury, according to animal research published in the June 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Protection Against Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes

Omega-3 fats are used to produce substances that reduce the formation of blood clots, which can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease. Omega-3 fats are also needed to produce flexible cell membranes. Cell membranes are the cell's gatekeepers, allowing in needed nutrients while promoting the elimination of wastes. While important for everyone, flexible cell membranes are critical for persons with diabetes since flexible cell membranes are much better able to respond to insulin and to absorb glucose than the stiff membranes that result when the diet is high in saturated and/or hydrogenated (trans-) fats. In the colon, omega-3 fats help protect colon cells from cancer-causing toxins and free radicals, leading to a reduced risk for colon cancer.

Flaxseed Provides Comparable Cholesterol-Lowering Benefits to Statin Drugs

In a study involving 40 patients with high cholesterol (greater than 240 mg/dL), daily consumption of 20 grams of ground flaxseed was compared to taking a statin drug. After 60 days, significant reductions were seen in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol—in both groups. Those receiving flaxseed did just as well as those given statin drugs!

Body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol were measured at the beginning of the study and after 60 days.

In those eating flaxseed, significant reductions were seen in total cholesterol (-17.2%), LDL-cholesterol (-3.9%), triglycerides (-36.3%) and the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (-33.5%) were observed in the diet+flax group, compared to baseline. Similar reductions were seen in those taking the statin. Benefits did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Rich in Beneficial Fiber

Flaxseeds' omega-3 fats are far from all this exceptional food has to offer. Flaxseed provides a very good source of fiber that can lower cholesterol levels in people with atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, reduce the exposure of colon cells to cancer-causing chemicals, relieve the constipation or diarrhea of irritable bowel syndrome sufferers, and help stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Flaxseeds are also a good source of magnesium, which helps to reduce the severity of asthma by keeping airways relaxed and open, lowers high blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, prevents the blood vessel spasm that leads to migraine attacks, and generally promotes relaxation and restores normal sleep patterns.

A study published in the September 8, 2003 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms that eating high fiber foods, such as flaxseed, helps prevent heart disease. Almost 10,000 American adults participated in this study and were followed for 19 years, during which time 1,843 cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) and 3,762 cases of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were diagnosed. People eating the most fiber, 21 grams per day, had 12% less CHD and 11% less CVD compared to those eating the least, 5 grams daily. Those eating the most water-soluble dietary fiber fared even better with a 15% reduction in risk of CHD and a 10% risk reduction in CVD.

Special Protection for Women's Health

Flaxseed has been studied for its beneficial protective effects on women's health. Flaxseed is particularly rich in lignans , special compounds also found in other seeds, grains, and legumes that are converted by beneficial gut flora into two hormone-like substances called enterolactone and enterodiol . These hormone-like agents demonstrate a number of protective effects against breast cancer and are believed to be one reason a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk for breast cancer. Studies show that women with breast cancer and women who are omnivores typically excrete much lower levels of lignans in their urine than vegetarian women without breast cancer. In animal studies conducted to evaluate lignans' beneficial effect, supplementing a high-fat diet with flaxseed flour reduced early markers for mammary cancer in rats by more than 55%.

In a study published in the February 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , when postmenopausal women ate a daily muffin containing either 25 grams (a little less than 1 ounce) of soy protein, 25 grams of ground flaxseed, or a placebo muffin containing neither for 16 weeks, the estrogen metabolism of those eating flaxseed, but not soy or placebo, was altered in several important protective ways:

• Levels of 2-hydroxyestrone, a less biologically active estrogen metabolite thought to be protective against breast cancer, increased significantly.
• The ratio of 2 hydroxyestrone (the protective estrogen metabolite) to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (an estrogen metabolite thought to promote cancer) increased.
• Blood levels of the estrogen fractions (estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate) did not change significantly—which is important since estradiol is involved in maintaining bone mass.

So what does this mean in plain English? Eating about an ounce of ground flaxseed each day will affect the way estrogen is handled in postmenopausal women in such a way that offers protection against breast cancer but will not interfere with estrogen's role in normal bone maintenance.

In addition to lessening a woman's risk of developing cancer, the lignans abundant in flaxseed can promote normal ovulation and extend the second, progesterone-dominant half of the cycle. The benefits of these effects are manifold. For women trying to become pregnant, consistent ovulation significantly improves their chances of conception. For women between the ages of 35 and 55 who are experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, breast cysts, headaches, sleep difficulties, fluid retention, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, weight gain, lowered sex drive, brain fog, fibroid tumors, and heavy bleeding, a probable cause of all these problems is estrogen dominance. Typically, during the 10 years preceding the cessation of periods at midlife, estrogen levels fluctuate while progesterone levels steadily decline. Flaxseed, by promoting normal ovulation and lengthening the second half of the menstrual cycle, in which progesterone is the dominant hormone, helps restore hormonal balance.

Preliminary research also suggests that flaxseeds may serve a role in protecting post-menopausal woman from cardiovascular disease. In a recent double-blind randomized study, flaxseeds reduced total cholesterol levels in the blood of postmenopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy by an average of 6%. Lastly, lignan-rich fiber has also been shown to decrease insulin resistance, which, in turn, reduces bio-available estrogen, which also lessens breast cancer risk. And, as insulin resistance is an early warning sign for type 2 diabetes, flaxseed may also provide protection against this disease.

Sesame Seeds
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Not only are sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper, they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber. In addition to these important nutrients, sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin . Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans , and have been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect in humans, and to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E supplies in animals. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage .

Copper Provides Relief for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Copper is known for its use in reducing some of the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis . Copper's effectiveness is due to the fact that this trace mineral is important in a number of antiinflammatory and antioxidant enzyme systems. In addition, copper plays an important role in the activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme needed for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin--the ground substances that provide structure, strength and elasticity in blood vessels, bones and joints.

Magnesium Supports Vascular and Respiratory Health

Studies have supported magnesium's usefulness in:

- Preventing the airway spasm in asthma
- Lowering high blood pressure, a contributing factor in heart attack, stroke, and diabetic heart disease
- Preventing the trigeminal blood vessel spasm that triggers migraine attacks
- Restoring normal sleep patterns in women who are experiencing unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause
- Calcium Helps Prevent Colon Cancer, Osteoporosis, Migraine and PMS

In recent studies, calcium has been shown to:

• Help protect colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals
• Help prevent the bone loss that can occur as a result of menopause or certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Help prevent migraine headaches in those who suffer from them
• Reduce PMS symptoms during the luteal phase (the second half) of the menstrual cycle

Sunflower Seeds
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Looking for a health-promoting snack? Enjoy a handful of mild nutty tasting sunflower seeds with their firm but tender texture to take care of your hunger and get a wealth of nutrition at the same time. Sunflower seeds are available at your local market throughout the year.

Sunflower seeds are the gift of the beautiful sunflower that has rays of petals emanating from its bright yellow, seed-studded center. The flower produces grayish-green or black seeds encased in tear-dropped shaped gray or black shells that oftentimes feature black and white stripes. Since these seeds have a very high oil content, they are one of the main sources of polyunsaturated oil.

Anti-Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Benefits from Sunflower Seeds' Vitamin E

Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E , the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin E travels throughout the body neutralizing free radicals that would otherwise damage fat-containing structures and molecules, such as cell membranes, brain cells, and cholesterol. By protecting these cellular and molecular components, vitamin E has significant anti-inflammatory effects that result in the reduction of symptoms in asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, conditions where free radicals and inflammation play a big role. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer, help decrease the severity and frequency of hot flashes in women going through menopause, and help reduce the development of diabetic complications. In addition, vitamin E plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E is one of the main antioxidants found in cholesterol particles and helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol. Only after it has been oxidized is cholesterol able to adhere to blood vessel walls and initiate the process of atherosclerosis, which can lead to blocked arteries, heart attack, or stroke. Getting plenty of vitamin E can significantly reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis. In fact, studies show that people who get a good amount of vitamin E are at a much lower risk of dying of a heart attack than people whose dietary intake of vitamin E is marginal or inadequate. Just a quarter-cup of sunflower seeds contains 90.5% of the daily value for vitamin E to be precise.

Calm Your Nerves, Muscles and Blood Vessels with Sunflower Seeds' Magnesium

Sunflower seeds are a good source of magnesium . Numerous studies have demonstrated that magnesium helps reduce the severity of asthma, lower high blood pressure, and prevent migraine headaches, as well as reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Magnesium is also necessary for healthy bones and energy production. About two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is found in our bones. Some helps give bones their physical structure, while the rest is found on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to draw upon as needed.

Magnesium counterbalances calcium, thus helping to regulate nerve and muscle tone. In many nerve cells, magnesium serves as Nature's own calcium channel blocker, preventing calcium from rushing into the nerve cell and activating the nerve. By blocking calcium's entry, magnesium keeps our nerves (and the blood vessels and muscles they ennervate) relaxed. If our diet provides us with too little magnesium, however, calcium can gain free entry, and the nerve cell can become overactivated, sending too many messages and causing excessive contraction. Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to high blood pressure, muscle spasms (including spasms of the heart muscle or the spasms of the airways symptomatic of asthma), and migraine headaches, as well as muscle cramps, tension, soreness and fatigue.

Improved Detoxification and Cancer Prevention from Sunflower Seeds' Selenium

Sunflower seeds are also a good source of selenium , a trace mineral that is of fundamental importance to human health. Accumulated evidence from prospective studies, intervention trials and studies on animal models of cancer have suggested a strong inverse correlation between selenium intake and cancer incidence. Selenium has been shown to induce DNA repair and synthesis in damaged cells, to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, and to induce their apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells.

In addition, selenium is incorporated at the active site of many proteins, including glutathione peroxidase , which is particularly important for cancer protection. One of the body's most powerful antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase is used in the liver to detoxify a wide range of potentially harmful molecules. When levels of glutathione peroxidase are too low, these toxic molecules are not disarmed and wreak havoc on any cells with which they come in contact, damaging their cellular DNA and promoting the development of cancer cells.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

- Add to your favorite tuna, chicken or turkey sandwich.
- Garnish your favourite mixed salad
- Add to your favourite roasted vegetables.
- Grind pumpkin seeds with fresh garlic, parsley and cilantro leaves. Mix with olive oil and lemon juice for a tasty salad dressing.

Wheatgrass
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Further information available from www.wheatgrassuk.com

It'll give you energy

Stress, sadness, everyday pollution and an acidic diet (such as sugar and refined carbohydrates) can create acid in our bodies. This angry acid attacks the defenceless red blood cells, causing them to weaken, stick together and die.

As a direct result, our bodies receive less oxygen and we become feeble, sluggish individuals. No energy, no gusto, nothing.

Wheat Grass is one of the most alkaline foods known to man. This means by taking Wheat Grass the alkalinity will balance the acidity in your body, so the red blood cells won't be bullied by the nasty acid, allowing them to continue their good work - picking-up oxygen from the lungs and delivering it to all the other cells in your body. The happy cells take this oxygen and use it as fuel for completing their important tasks.

Our clever Wheat Grass also improves oxygen levels by increasing the production of haemoglobin due to its naturally high concentration of Chlorophyll.

So when people ask you where you get your energy, please don't keep it a secret!

It's full of nutrients

Do you remember your parents banging-on about eating your vegetables? Well, they had a point. Vegetables are extremely good for you. In fact, hundreds of private and government funded studies have found that by eating lots of vegetables you may be able to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. However, 90% of us still fail to get 3-5 servings of veg every day.

Some people are just too busy and others forget that they need vegetables in their diet. This is where Wheat Grass can come to the rescue. Just one rounded teaspoon of Wheat Grass, weighing a mere 3.5 grams, is nutritionally equal to an entire spinach salad weighing a full 50 grams! You see, it provides the same nutrients and minerals as vegetables do but without the hassle of munching on 5 servings a day.

There are far more toxins in the modern world than our bodies can deal with. In the olden days, when things were simple, people used to travel by horse and live off the fat o' the land. Entire families would munch on chickens, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and the occasional pig's trotter.

Today we have to live with pollution, waste, chemicals (in water) and additives (in food), which all damage our immune system. We can't go back to the good old days, but we can fight the wretched toxins with the natural power of Wheat Grass.

You see, the chlorophyll in the Wheat Grass is a powerful anti-oxidant that neutralises toxins in the body by purifying blood and cleansing the cells. The chlorophyll regenerates the liver, which is the primary detoxification organ. So by taking Wheat Grass everyday, you'll actually be detoxifying your body, effortlessly!

The enzymes in your body work hard to use the good bits in food in order to repair and rebuild your body. As you get older, the enzymes reduce in numbers and less repair work can be carried out, so you age and weaken

Wheat Grass has a high concentration of important enzymes, which have been found to reverse the affects of aging, cure illness and prevent disease. Each enzyme has a vital role to play in the body's rejuvenation and can actually help to extend your life. So by taking Wheat Grass today, you'll have a healthier and longer life. Bet your moisturiser can't beat that!