greenville business & community directory
go to...
OR, click here for site map

This is an archived page that may contain outdated or incorrect information. Please visit www.Greenville.com for the latest news, events, and more.


greenville.com community news
Baby Your Lungs with the Power of Beans!


Imagine slashing your risk of lung cancer � no matter what your health history � by 50 percent. And here's the bean that may help you do it: chickpeas, also called Garbanzo beans.

Chickpeas are a great source of vitamin B6. And in a large study, people with the highest blood levels of this nutrient were half as likely to develop lung cancer compared with people who had the lowest B6 levels.

Vitamin B6 Benefits

Half a cup of chickpeas supplies about half a milligram of this cancer-fighting B vitamin, which doesn't sound like much. But you only need slightly north of 3.5 milligrams daily for optimal RealAge benefits. And in the recent study, people from many different walks of life seemed to benefit from ample B6 � from smokers to nonsmokers, from people in their mid 30s to those pushing 80. People who had never smoked before and had the highest B6 levels enjoyed a 60 percent drop in lung cancer risk, while former smokers with high B6 fared well, too, cutting their risk of lung cancer in half. And even current smokers appeared to benefit from B6.

Powerful Protection

Your body needs vitamin B6 to prevent DNA damage and guard against genetic mutations � processes that up the risk of cancer. Not only do chickpeas supply ample B6, but they are also good sources of fiber and have just 140 calories per serving. Not a chickpea lover? Other good sources of vitamin B6 include bananas, potatoes with the skin, broccoli, tuna, chicken breast, and fortified cereals.

(Image provided by Buncombe County.)

Looking for more happenings in the area? Check out Greenville.com's comprehensive visitor center.



all contents copyright © 2011, greenville.com. contact: [email protected] or 828.253.2880
For listing and advertising information...