These plant chemicals block the effects of harmful free radicals. This helps protect the cells in your organs from damage. Because they can block cell damage, flavonoids have been linked to cancer prevention.

Some experts recommend at least 31 mg of flavonoids daily. You can boost your intake by drinking green tea (8 mg per cup), or by feasting on broccoli and strawberries—which provide about 4 mg each per cup. Other rich sources of this compound are white tea, grapes (skin and juice), dark chocolate (70 percent or more cacao content), citrus fruits, ginkgo biloba and onions.

These remarkable “food cures” may help you add more vibrant years of healthy living!

In the popular book Eat This, Not That! by Dave Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, the authors break down restaurant menus and uncover hidden fats, calories and sodium… and then offer healthy options intended to boost your metabolism, increase your fiber intake and reduce the pounds added to your waistline.

Here are some of their findings:

• IHOP Colorado Omelet has 1,890 calories, 47 grams (g) of fat and 4,200 milligrams (mg) of sodium.
• Applebee’s Appetizer Sampler has 2,500 calories, 49 g of fat and 6,520 mg of sodium.
• Chili’s Buffalo Chicken Crisper Bites have 1,620 calories, 21 g of fat and 5,380 mg of sodium.
• Outback Steakhouse Baby Back Ribs have 3,021 calories, 90 g of fat and 4,648 mg of sodium.
• Five Guys Large Fries have 1,464 calories, 14 g of fat and 213 mg of sodium.
• Cold Stone Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shake has 2,010 calories, 68 g of fat, 880 mg of sodium and 152 g of sugar.

For healthier food options look for steamed, broiled or baked menu items and leave the creamy dressings, condiments and sauces on the side or off completely. Also consider vegetarian dishes or leaner items such as chicken, fish and soy products.

Plus, you can plan ahead and pack a cooler of fruits, veggies, water and other nutritious snacks. You’ll be surprised how simple and easy it can be to focus on healthy foods while away from home.

These antioxidants are found in fruits like blackberries and currants, and give them their dark color. Anthocyanins not only show positive outcomes for fighting cancer, but they have also been shown to lower your risk of heart and brain disease. Unfortunately many folks don’t eat enough of these healthy foods. This new genetically engineered tomato contains even more potent levels of the antioxidant.

The findings show the cancer-prone mice that were fed the new breed of tomatoes lived significantly longer than those mice on a regular diet.

Check out this list compiled by Health magazine:

• Smoking can affect your circulation. This means less blood flow to your genitals resulting in lower sexual performance for men and women.
• Smokers report getting less sleep four times more often than non-smokers. Why? Nicotine withdrawals during nighttime hours can disturb your slumber.
• Smokers have been found to lose more bone mineral density than non-smokers, and the results are far worse for postmenopausal women.
• Are you prepared to be deaf? Reports indicate smokers have a 70 percent higher chance to develop a hearing loss than non-smokers.
• Smokers are four times more likely to fall victim to Crohn’s disease. This chronic condition can affect your digestive system and intestinal tract resulting in painful constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and ulcers.
• Smoking can shrink your blood vessels and damage the tissues that help give your skin elasticity and strength. This can cause a major increase in wrinkles.
• As a smoker your chances of experiencing acid reflux and heartburn increase by about 70 percent.
• For every cigarette you smoke, reports indicate you shave off 11 minutes of your expected lifespan.

These are just a few of the dozens of risks associated with smoking. Talk to your doctor or medical professional today about a plan to help you kick the habit for good!

However, millions of Americans continue to demand antibiotics to treat colds, flu and other respiratory infections. Jeffrey Linder, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, stresses the importance of knowing the risks and benefits. “There’s a very small chance this antibiotic will help you, but a much bigger risk that it will hurt you.”

Linder insists that antibiotics are useless for colds, influenza, most sore throats and a large majority of bronchitis cases. The reason is because these illnesses are viral and antibiotics only kill bacteria.

The widespread use of antibiotics can cause the elimination of all the GOOD bacteria in your digestive and intestinal system. These healthy flora called probiotics help break down food, assist in the absorption of essential nutrients and keep bad bacteria from multiplying and attaching to the walls of your intestines.

For our best recommended supplement containing more than 6 billion powerful bacteria… check out Ultimate Probiotics™ from our friends at True Health™.