Disease Proof

From Dr. Fuhrman's book Eat to Live:

Even though we have many unique human traits, we are genetically closely related to the great apes and other primates. Primates are the only animals on the face of the earth that can taste sweet and see color. We were designed by nature to see, grasp, eat, and enjoy the flavor of colorful, sweet fruits.

Fruit is an essential part of our diets. It is an indispensable requirement for us to maintain a high level of health. Fruit consumption has been shown in numerous studies to offer our strongest protection against certain cancers, especially oral and esophageal, lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.1 Thankfully, our natural sweet tooth directs us to those foods ideally "designed" for our primate heritage—fruit. Fresh fruit offers us powerful health-giving benefits.

Researchers have discovered substances in fruit that have unique effects on preventing aging and deterioration of the brain.2 Some fruits, especially blueberries, are rich in anthocyanins and other compounds having anti-aging effects.3 Studies continue to provide evidence that more than any other food, fruit consumption is associated with lowered mortality from all cancers combined.4 Eating fruit is vital to your health, well-being, and long life.

Regrettably, our human desire for sweets is typically satisfied by the consumption of products containing sugar, such as candy bars and ice cream—not fresh fruit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that the typical American now consumes an unbelievable 32 teaspoons of added sugar a day.5 That's right, in one day.

We need to satisfy our sweet tooth with fresh, natural fruits and other plant substances that supply us not just with carbohydrates for energy but also with the full complement of indispensable substances that prevent illness.

1. Hebert, J.R., J. Landon, and D. R. Miller. 1993. Consumption of meat and fruit in relation to oral and esophageal cancer: a cross-national study. Nutr. Cancer. 19 (2): 169-79; Fraser, G.E. 1999. Association between diet and cancer, ischemic heart disease, and all-cause mortality in non-Hispanic white California Seventh-Day Adventists. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 70 (3): 532-38S; Block, G., B. Patterson, and A. Subar. 1992. Fruit, vegetable, and cancer prevention: a review of the epidemiological evidence. Nutr. Cancer 18 (1): 1-29.

2. Joseph, J.A., B. Shukitt-Hale, N.A. Denisova, et al. 1999. Reversal of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation. J. Neurosci. 19 (18): 8114-21.

3. Cao, G., B. Shukitt-Hale, P.C. Bickford, et al. 1999. Hyperoxia-induced changes in antioxidant capacity and the effect of dietary antioxidants. J. Apple. Physiol. 86 (6): 1817-22.

4. Hertog, M.G., H. B. Bueno-de-Mesquita, and A.M. Fehily. 1996. Fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer mortality in Caerphilly Study. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 5 (9): 673-77.

5. Kantor, L.S. 1999. A dietary assessment of the U.S. food supply. Nutrition week 29 (3):4-5.