This article describes a study in which researchers found that lycopene, the long-heralded "active ingredient" in tomatoes that prevents prostate cancer, apparently doesn't work alone.
This is news? Herbalists, naturopaths and holistic nutritionists have known this for literally hundreds of years. That's why holistic health practitioners generally recommend
whole foods -- because they know that phytochemicals in plants work synergistically, never in isolation.
It's only Western medicine that is surprised to find
lycopene doesn't work as well in isolation. Because the Western approach to
medicine, promoted heavily by pharmaceutical companies, is based on the misconception that whatever healing properties certain plants or
herbs might contain can be isolated, extracted and possibly synthesized under patent protection.
Through this process, nearly 25% of all
pharmaceuticals actually come from plants. The history of medicine, in fact, has its roots in botany. But you wouldn't know it by the rhetoric coming from the FDA today: "herbs are dangerous!" they cry. Meanwhile, they promote and uphold the sale of highly toxic pharmaceuticals that blatantly kill more than 100,000 Americans each year, even when used correctly. Pharmaceuticals are now the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Back to the study: I commend the researchers involved with this, because they're asking important questions. In fact, the results of this study support the notion that
whole foods, not isolated chemicals, have far stronger healing properties when it comes to human
health.
Broccoli reverses cancer. Pumpkin seeds reverse prostate problems. Flax oil reverses heart
disease. And superfoods like chlorella treat and even reverse a long list of diseases and complaints. It's about time more researchers studied these well-demonstrated cause / effect connections, for it is ultimately nature, not the pharmaceutical industry, that holds the answers to human health.
About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams created NaturalNews.TV, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also the CEO of a highly successful email newsletter software company that develops software used to send permission email campaigns to subscribers. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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Wednesday, November 05, 2003
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