Flu jabs, immune boosters and vitamin C....

It seems everyone has their own idea about how best to fight this winter's rounds of colds and flu! In fact, in Health Bytes on Monday, I revealed Dr Wright's remedy for warding off colds and flu. And today I'd to like reveal a different benefit of another 'all rounder' immune booster... The beautiful, succulent, brightly-coloured blueberry and its memory and mind boosting properties...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Keep reading to find out about the sesame seeds success in promoting a healthier you!

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Have you heard the news?
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The “anti-virus”  CNN reports is: “Rich and red… And may help cut your cancer risk”

Eight years ago, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was 79 years old at the time. The doctors removed his prostate, but the cancer had already spread. So, when he woke up after the operation, they told him he had less than three months to live.

He celebrates his 87th birthday in May this year. He’s been cancer-free for the last seven years…

He had a secret weapon. The same secret weapon used in the Oncology Department of one of South Africa’s bigger hospitals. A secret weapon CNN reported is “Rich and red… [and] may help cut your cancer risk.”

And this “anti-virus” could help you too… Get the full story here!

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'Dirty' fruit supercharges your memory in 12 weeks
Dr Allan Spreen
North Star Nutritionals

Scientists have found that one 'dirty' fruit could hold the key to supercharging your memory. Just one little fruit could stop - or even reverse - years of cognitive decline. So instead of drawing a blank when you run into a long-lost friend at the grocery store, her name could pop into your brain instantly.

You see, this 'dirty' fruit contains special substances that help your brain cells send and receive information faster. Much faster. Plus, according to the new research, it doesn't take long for your brain to start working lightening fast... Just 12 weeks.

Berry blocks natural brain ageing...

Over the years, lots of studies have shown that this fruit reduces your risk of vision loss, weight gain, heart disease and even certain types of cancer. That's nothing new. But very recently, scientists have also found that it also protects your brain from ageing.

I'm talking about blueberries, which contain two special kinds of antioxidants called anthocyanins and flavanols. They are special because they can cross the blood-brain barrier. Very few nutrients on Earth can do this. Once there, they scrub your brain cells and get rid of harmful free radicals. And that's important... Because free radicals in the brain can lead to oxidation, memory loss and even Alzheimer's disease.

But that's not all...

Blueberries also help existing nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other better. They even appear to encourage the growth of new nerve cells in the brain. That's huge.

Can you imagine, just for a moment, if pharmaceutical giants came up with a drug that could grow new nerve cells in the brain? Not that it could (or would) ever happen, but can you imagine the headline: "Grow New Brain Cells with Our Miracle Drug!!!!!" Sure, there would be the occasional side-effects, like your head exploding. But that's a small risk.

Thankfully, you don't have to wait for the next wonder drug. Blueberries could improve your brain function right now... And they're a whole lot safer than any drug I've ever run across.

Boost your learning capacity...

For the latest study, researchers fed ageing rats a blueberry-enriched diet for one or two months. They also sent the rats through a series of mazes to test their cognitive ability. The faster the rat got through the maze, the better its score.

The first time the ageing rats ran through the maze, they scored badly. But after eating a diet filled with blueberries they all performed better, even the rats who were fed blueberries for just one month. In fact, in just one month's time, they scored just as well as the young rats in the study. On the other hand, the ageing rats fed a normal diet performed worse on later tests.

In addition, the ageing rats that were fed blueberries for at least two months kept their young brains. What does that mean?

Well, these rats continued to perform like young rats even months after they stopped eating the blueberries. So it appears that eating blueberries has a lasting affect on the brain.

According to Dr David Malin, PhD, the team's lead researcher, "The present results suggest that even a relatively brief blueberry diet might produce measurable benefits. Second, the benefits of several months of the diet might be maintained for a considerable period after the diet is interrupted. Third, blueberry supplementation might possibly reverse some degree of memory impairment that has already developed. This raises the possibility that this sort of nutritional intervention might still be beneficial even after certain memory deficiencies have become evident."

In other words, eating blueberries could really help your memory... Even if you already show signs of mental decline. Plus, once you start eating blueberries, the results seem to be long-lasting.

Now, I know these results came from testing rats. And the research has to come a long way before we can say with certainty that we'll get the same results on humans. But the emerging data looks really positive. In fact, last year researchers from the University of Cincinnati found that men and women who drank about 500ml of blueberry juice improved their learning and word list recall in just 12 weeks! They also significantly improved their depressive symptoms.

So... Why do I call blueberries 'dirty'?

Yes, it's true. These delicious brain-boosters are one of the 'dirtiest' fruits on Earth. In fact, each year the Environmental Working Group ranks fruits and vegetables according to their pesticide residue. And last year blueberries ranked fifth 'dirtiest'. This means that most blueberries on the shelves at your local fruit and veg shop are covered in pesticides.

So is there such a thing as a 'clean' blueberry?

The truth is, washing fruits and vegetables with soap and water does very little to remove pesticides. The only safe way around the problem is to avoid commercially grown produce. Choose organic instead.

Alternatively look for a supplement that contains blueberry extract.

Another way to boost your brain power and mental vitality is with new audio technology - click here to read more.

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Boost your health with one crunchy snack    

I keep sunflower seeds in my kitchen cabinets, at my desk and in the car. These crunchy seeds contain lots of natural vitamin E. In fact, just a quarter cup of sunflower seeds contains almost 100% of your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of this fat-soluble vitamin.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that patrols your body for harmful free radicals that lead to disease and ageing. It also blocks free radicals from damaging cholesterol in your body. You see, every cell in your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol, but when attacked by free radicals, it becomes oxidised (or unstable). And cholesterol, once it has oxidised, can stick to blood vessel walls and lead to atherosclerosis. But eating a handful of sunflower seeds each day will give your body the tools it needs to flush out these unstable molecules.

But that's not all...

When you eat a handful of sunflower seeds, it's almost like taking a multivitamin. That's because they contain all the nutrients your body needs, except for vitamin D. So when you bite into a sunflower seed, you also get:

• Selenium, another powerful antioxidant shown to help with DNA repair
• Magnesium, a versatile mineral that plays a major role in controlling blood pressure, migraines, muscle cramps, asthma and fatigue.
• Phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids and lignans, which may help prevent heart disease and cancer.
• Fibre & protein help you to feel fuller longer.
• Potassium helps to counteract too much sodium in your diet.
• And even Tryptophan, the hormone that encourages the release of the feel-good neurotransmitter, serotonin.

When shopping for sunflower seeds, look for black-and-white shells that are firm and unbroken. Skip any packs that have shells with a yellowish tinge... This means they've probably gone rancid. And if you buy them from a bulk bin, give them a sniff to make sure they still smell fresh. Add fresh seeds to salads, yoghurt, porridge and homemade muffins... Or just eat them by the handful as I do.