30 Days of Self Healing – Day 17
2) Tea- All varieties of tea are healing; this has been known for eons. Green tea, in particular, has been found to inhibit breast, digestive, and lung cancers. The catechins in tea are responsible for the protective effect. A 2002 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that Dutch citizens who drank 11?2 cups of black tea daily were less likely to die of a heart attack than non–tea drinkers. Tea is also a bone-builder. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who consume two or more cups of tea (green, black, or oolong) daily for six to ten years had stronger bones than people who were non–tea drinkers. ?Most people don’t realize this, but black and green teas are made from the same plant; they’re just processed differently and contain a different mix of antioxidants. That’s why it’s a good idea to drink both types (perhaps on alternating days) to get the greatest health benefits.
3) Tomatoes- Pass me the spaghetti sauce, salsa, and the tomatoes—please! All are terrific sources of lycopene, a carotenoid that works as an antioxidant. Known mostly for its protective power against prostate cancer, lycopene may also help fight cancers of the colon, bladder, and pancreas.
4) Watercress– Watercress is coming into its own as a powerhouse veggie, as compounds in this vegetable can actually detoxify nicotine, according to a clinical trial published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Watercress is also a key source of a very powerful anticancer substance with a hard-to-pronounce name: beta-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). If you have high levels of PEITC in your blood, your body may be able to zap carcinogens before they can start damaging cells.
