| Buckwheat, or kasha, as the roasted form of the | | | | buckwheat can play an important part in any |
| grain is called, is as American as corn, it's not very | | | | heart-protection plan. |
| popular in this country anymore. But it is popular in | | | | There's another way in which the rutin in |
| Japan-and some researchers suspect that this | | | | buckwheat can help keep blood flowing. It appears |
| may partially explain that country's remarkably | | | | to shrink particles of the dangerous low-density |
| low cancer rates. | | | | lipoprotein (LDL.) cholesterol. This makes them less |
| Here we will discuss why Buckwheat Is | | | | likely to stick to artery walls, further reducing the |
| Homegrown Protection Against Cancer And Blood | | | | risk of heart attack or stroke. This could explain |
| Pressure? | | | | why the Yi people of China, who consume a |
| Two - pronged protection | | | | high-buckwheat diet from an early age, have |
| Buckwheat contains a variety of compounds | | | | exceptionally low levels of total cholesterol. Better |
| called flavonoids that have been shown in studies | | | | yet, their levels of LDL cholesterol are quite low, |
| to help block the spread of cancer. | | | | while levels of the good high-density lipoprotein |
| Two compounds in particular, quercetin and | | | | (HDL) cholesterol remain high. |
| rutin, are especially promising because they | | | | Rutin has also been reported to stabilize blood |
| appear to thwart cancer in two ways. These | | | | vessels and check excessive fluid accumulation in |
| substances make it difficult for cancer-promoting | | | | the body. This may help lower blood pressure and |
| hormones to attach to healthy cells. They can | | | | with it the risk of heart disease. |
| literally stop cancers before they start. Should | | | | Research suggests that when flavonoids are |
| cancer-causing substances get into cells, these | | | | combined with vitamin E, which is also found in |
| compounds may be able to reduce damage to | | | | buckwheat, the benefits are even more |
| DNA, the body's chemical blueprint for normal cell | | | | pronounced. Fat- soluble vitamin E can neutralize |
| division. | | | | dangerous free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules |
| Keeping blood flowing | | | | that can damage cells, in the fatty portions of |
| The rutin in buckwheat plays yet another | | | | cells. Flavonoids, on the other hand, are water |
| protective role. Working in concert with other | | | | soluble; they attack free radicals in the watery |
| compounds, it helps prevent platelets-the | | | | parts of cells. That puts an antioxidant in both the |
| components in blood that assist in clotting-from | | | | watery and fatty portions of cells. |
| clumping together. By helping to keep blood fluid, | | | | |