The fruit that switches on your heart disease protection

19th June 2009 • Amazing NEW information about heart disease the fruit that 'turns on' your protective proteins • FREE lemon recipes to try at home, click here to see more: Lemon Recipes • Ladies! Cure your hot flushes.... Men! Fight prostate cancer... all with the SAME herb Ever heard of The French Paradox? No, it's not a thriller by Robert Ludlum. Or a film starring Gene Hackman. It's a phenomenon described in 1992 by Dr. Serge Renaud, a scientist from Bordeaux University. He pointed out that while the Mediterranean diet in France was higher in animal fats compared to other European diets, they suffered less heart disease. The finger of truth was pointed firmly at the French penchant for slugging glasses of red wine with their meals. Now, it isn't alcohol that helps regulate the blood flow. ('Awwwww!' cry the audience.) And it isn't the volume of wine that keeps those French arteries functioning. ('Booooo!' go the crowd.) It has been suggested that the small daily dose of chemicals present red grapes that are the secret. Some good news about heart disease prevention In 2006 Researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that red grapes improved cholesterol levels and the inflammatory markers associated with heart disease The reason? It's the chemicals known as 'polyphenols' in grapes which are likely to be responsible for the observed effects of red grape juice claim the authors. On April 23 this year, some bran new research results were announced by University of Michigan. They suggest that grapes may prevent heart health risks 'beyond the simple blood pressure-lowering impact that can come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables'. The reason is that the antioxidants in red grapes 'turn on' a protein called glutathione. This is one of the main defenders against the damage of oxidative stress. This oxidative stress is one of the major factors in heart diease. So how can you get all the heart protecting benefits of red grapes? Mike Adams, author of The Seven Laws of Nutrition told the Natural News website recently: 'You can get the same benefits be eating both red grape skins, which contain resveratol, and red grape seeds, which contain proanthocyanidins, another powerful heart medicine with miraculous cardiovascular benefits. Grape seed extract supplements are also another way to experience the benefits...' Red grapes, red grape seeds, and red grape seed extract: three easy natural ways to protect your heart, then. Get them into your fruit bowl pronto! As Gordon Ramsay would say: 'Red grape heart disease protection snack... DONE.' Talking of fruit... The lemon juggernaut continues! I'll admit right now. I hate speaking in front of people... Talks, speeches, business meetings... they're not for me. That's why I left work for 'the good life. I started writing this newsletter so I could stay at home with the kids... cook.... grow vegetables... walk the dog... and engross myself in reading and writing about food and health. Of course, my editor and publisher - a Londoner with a big gob - has other ideas. He's gone publicity crazy. Gareth's appeared on the Chris Evans Radio 2 drive-time show to talk about The Lemon Book and The Honey, Garlic and Vinegar Miracle. He talked (or babbled enthusiastically) about The Good Life Letter on BBC Radio Lancashire's morning show. Now the world's gone lemon crazy, or so it seems. Loads of people are writing to ask if these claims could be true... Why drinking a lemon 'through your nose' could help relieve asthma symptoms... Get rid of cellulite! Try this simple two-minute trick every day... Trouble sleeping? Why the secret of a good night's rest is through your feet!.. How to treat piles, rashes, scaly skin and prickly heat instantly - and without paying for expensive creams or medicines! Well, if you don't know already, check out the book and discover all these tips and more. If you like these letters, you'll really enjoy it. In the past week I've helped put together a brand new website for lemons and all things lemony. You can not only see free recipes from my book, and loads of feedback from people who've tried the tips in the book, you can order your very own lemon tree and grow them at home. Take a look and see what you think: The Lemon Book Finally today... Could this folk remedy really work? For centuries, Chinese Medicine and Western folk medicine have used extracts from red clover as a diuretic, cough expectorant, and remedy for skin conditions like psoriasis. Now modern medicine claims that it can help reduce the symptoms of the menopause and ease prostate problems.... and even fight cancer. The reason is that red clover contains isoflavones. These are chemicals which act like weak oestrogens. This blocks some of the bad effects of naturally-occurring oestrogen, which can cause breast, prostate and colon cancer. One of the isoflavones, known as 'geneistin' can revert breast and prostate cancer cells back to their pre- cancerous states. It can also delay the growth of new blood vessels in tumours. This may explain why the prostate cancer rates in Asia are lower than in the west. They eat a lot of isoflavone- rich foods like red clover, soya, lentils, chickpeas and beans. Red clover can also help reduce the symptoms of the menopause, such as night sweats and hot flushes. In Japan, another Asian country that loves its isoflavones, hot flushes are rarely reported. Red Clover is available as a dried herb, and in tablets, capsules, and tinctures. To try it out, pour boiling water over two teaspoonfuls of dried Red Clover flowers. Cover, then steep for another ten minutes.