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 natural health author and award-winning journalist with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, and he has published numerous courses on preparedness and survival, including financial preparedness, emergency food supplies, urban survival and tactical self-defense. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams launched TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. 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 founder of a well known HTML email software company whose 'Email Marketing Director' software currently runs the NaturalNews subscription database. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and regularly pursues cycling, nature photography, Capoeira and Pilates. 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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