Was just sitting and reading on some things as its another rainy night and Im bored. I was reading about food and its effects on the body and all of the wonderful things berries and fruits have in them and started to get hungry. After grabbing a bowl of Greek yogurt with some mixed berries I sat and flipped through the medical journals. I came across an article talking about the extracellular matrix in the body, its importance and its functions.
This particular journal was on the effects blueberry flavanoids have on the ability to decrease degradation of the extracellular matrix. In this study it focused particularly on the ECM in patients with deep vein thrombosis. Knowing that the matrix is responsible for the healing of injuries and knowing its proteins play a crucial role in the prevention of metastasis of tumours and cellular cancers is indeed obvious why its so important. Not to forget that its proteins also play a role in preventing thrombosis. Particularly important when talking in regards to DVT complications. This all sounds great and is seemingly nothing but positive.
But then my mind got thinking as I continued to eat my delicious berries. And this is where id love to hear all of your opinions. I pondered that if blueberries do indeed help decrease the degradation of the extra cellular matrix. Than if we eat them for liver health, how could we expect cirrhosis to reverse effectively? As we know liver cirrhosis is caused by the bodies response and attempts to heal liver injury. Time and time again it uses collegen, enzymes, and glycoprotiens to repair the damage incurred by forming bands of fibrous tissue indeed creating an extracellular matrix over the liver. For a person that does not have cirrhosis than the blueberries would be of no concern. But if one does have cirrhosis, are the blueberries adding to the livers struggle to breakdown the fibourous septa that is the extracellular matrix? If they are being shown in studies to decrease degradation of it. Than this arguably can be true no? Whilst they may benifit in preventing the metastisis of liver cancer and help in the prevention of thrombosis. Are we benefiting a good thing liver wise whilst negatively supporting another liver problem?
Are blueberries helping us keep the scar tissue strong and encouraging it not to bugger off? Just food for thought. (Pardon the pun). Just a mad man overthinking variables and felt to share my wandering thoughts with my friends here lol.
Just something for us to chat back and forth on. Nothing to serious. OR IS IT 😳 (he says while eating the last bit of yogurt with blueberries)
If everyone was sensible (I know not possible lol) then a lot of conditions probably wouldn't be aggravated so much to the point of no return or serious complications
Obviously most of us have something we just can't do in moderation and mine is crisps yummy 😋 so I know I can't have them in the house otherwise every last crumb would be demolished 😂😂
Hello, this is my first post but there's been a lot of reading over the last year since I was diagnosed with cirrhosis after having my gall bladder removed. Getting back to Jojo's crisps, have you tried Walker's No salt (it comes in a separate packet which, of course, you immediately throw away). Still a treat but not quite such a guilty one.
Hmm, Just to add to your ponderings Phoenix I hope that your rotund, plump, sweet and juicy little friend sitting in that there bowl is organic?. When I was researching foods that heal I was somewhat surprised to discover that the average soft fruit, blueberries, strawberries etc has been sprayed with all the usual delights of the modern day farm, three times ( yep, three times! ) before arriving in our kitchens. And, contrary to my previous thinking no amount of soaking and rinsing in apple cider vinegar, shop bought fruit and veggie washing liquids etc, will remove those pesky ( allegedly cancer causing 😂) chemicals. And, speaking of pesky pests, our local organic farm shop has a sign that I adore, it reads " I,d rather eat a lettice thats been nibbled by a catterpillar, than a perfectly formed lettice that killed the catterpillar that nibbled it ". 🐛🐌🍄 by the way you may find Dr Morse youtube channel interesting, he is a great believer in berries in particular as aiding health and healing. Berries and melons I think are his " thing ", anyway He,s often an interesting watch particularly for those beings that are awake mulling over life, the u universe, cirhosis and ancient aliens in the wee hours. Happy ponderings. .... 😤😃 xxx
Great post moonbeam! Lots of good info you pointed out there about how food is handled and treated before we stick it in our mouths! Nice to see another avid thinker! 🙂
It's a myth that organic farming doesn't use pesticides. Granted, most of them are organically derived (altough certain synthetic chemicals are also allowed) but often much less is known about their potential toxicity.
It's also worth remembering that 'natural' doesn't necessarily mean safe.
Some of the most toxic things we know of are entirely organic.
Additionally, organic farming, on a scale that could keep us all fed, and out of food poverty, can have massive impacts on natural habitats due to more land being required because of lower yields.
As usual in science, it's an issue that is far more complicated than it might seem, once you look past the marketing halo surrounding organic produce.
This is an excellent brief article on the subject.
I saw a program where they examined the difference between organic and non organic food produced in the EU. Apart from price, there was no difference in terms of taste, chemical composition (as these foods are washed at harvest), nutritional value. So as you say its a clever way of encouraging people to spend more. From an environmental point of view you're right, using more resources for lower yeilds doesn't make sense.
Others can obviously make up their own minds, but I personally don't buy organic.
My mum always said strawberries helped my eczema as a child and used to give me extra portions and the family would go strawberry picking. She told her gp but he didn’t really believe her (1970s time period. - I’m not sure how much credence was given to healthy eating then? We also used to eat Angel Delight instant packet mix dessert at the time lol)
I can't remember who told us but after having two bleeds my husband obviously is on the lookout for darker poo as it can mean bleeding. I believe it was beets and blueberries he was told to eat with caution because they can cause a darkening of the poo and make you think you have bleeding when you don't. Might be an important thing to consider!! When we have them we have the frozen ones. They are delicious!
Hi, blood in the stools (melena), is very distinctive. Yes dark foods, beetroots, blueberries and things like liquorice do give you darker stools, melena is black. It has a strong and unusual smell and is very sticky (it's difficult to 'wipe' away).
I know this from recent experience, really unpleasant stuff!!
So I wouldn't worry about eating small amounts of those foods if you like them. You are unlikely to miss melena if it happens to you. Fingers crossed you never encounter it!!
This is very true! A GI bleed smell is very distinctive, it’s absolutely awful! I equate it to smelling like rotten meat. Very different in look and texture than the stools from beets/blueberries or even spinach.
Oh dear, I'm very sorry to hear that. If your husband is anything like mine he's so unaware of his body, and a leg would have to be hanging off for him to go to a Dr!! You're right though, I shouldn't assume everyone is accutely aware of changes in their body or bodily functions.
Hi phoenix, I think jojo is right, any food eaten occasionally is unlikely to do harm.
Also, studies like that are often very 'not in the real world' science. It's like this recent obsession with turmeric, yes it does have anti inflammatory properties but you would have to ingest an unrealistic amount of it to gain benefit.
Also I'm sure I saw a BBC program about controversial opinions about anti oxidants and if they really do make a difference.
I can understand your thought process, but some times you can't extrapolate one theory and apply it it a different concept. I don't have enough knowledge of cellular science to make any sensible contribution to your theory.
Although I fully encourage you to keep digging, maybe you'll be the one to join up something the scientists have missed.
Interesting, I eat quite a few of them as they are supposed to be really good for you, given that my Other option would be chocolate, I’m sticking with the blueberries!
Thanks for all the replies! As i said initially The post was to just get us thinking scientifically and to challenge the validity of some of the studies done and humour a few outside the box ponderings. Also was a bit of satire surrounding how much our minds are always on liver related things and its variables. Nice to see it got everyone just chatting ideas. That was its intention.🙂
It’s a valid question. Maybe a dietitian can offer an educated opinion. They charge about £80, but you’ll soon recoup that by skipping blueberries for a few weeks!
I eat stacks of blueberries in porridge. I buy the frozen type but no idea if they’re organic, and this is something I’ll check. I suspect not
I was worried recently that I was feeding my guy too many blueberries! Haha I try to put them in everything, same with fresh parsley. They’re both high in vitamin k and he hasn’t had a nosebleed in quite sometime now! Also, I freaking loooove frozen blueberries 🤤 they better not end up being bad for livers😂
We're currently eating lots of homegrown, unsprayed purple flowering broccoli 🥦 from being picked, steamed for three minutes then on the plate. The rhubarb is almost ready to pick then in a couple of months it will be raspberries, loganberries, strawberries, gooseberries, and salad veg and cherry tomatoes. I just love to eat things freshly picked. My grandson loves raw gooseberries 😳🍅🥦🍎🍒🥬
Wow Grandma D. That sound like heaven. Nothing lke freshly picked food. Not only does it taste better. It just gives this warm feeling inside about it. You grandson will remember those things for the rest of his life. The makings of very happy memories!
Oh yes... How I remember the home grown, raw gooseberries straight from the bush, nothing better except perhaps the young raw peas straight from the pod. Priceless memories for sure.
Hi Phoenix, I've been learning about extracellular matrix recently for my A- levels. There are many different types of ecm, varying in density and elasticity. Plasma in your blood being one type, ccollagenous being the ground substance that keeps bones and ligaments in place(and comprises the glissons capsule) and elastin, utilised in blood vessels, lungs etc. Based on my understanding of it,(Which is by no means extensive 😁), the benefits of blueberries protecting the ecm in blood and the portal vein, not only will help hepatocytes gain more nutrients for healing and function, it will be conducive to overall health everywhere in general, the heart, kidneys etc, which is also important with horrible liver disease. I think this would probably outweigh any negative of the blueberries effects. I would keep eating blueberries 😁. Fascinating stuff ecm...if you like that kind of thing! 🤣 Xxxx
All yours Nic. Just mention me in the acknowledgments lol!
Hi
When we were in holiday a few years ago I had Eton mess!! Bit was I in a mess the next day, thought I was bleeding!! Then we realized what what it was!!! Not had an Eton mess since as they literally go through me!! Sorry, too much info!!, Take care Lynne
I eat lots of Blueberries (lots). I am on a completely plant based diet. Lots of juicing and avocados and veggies and ginger turmeric. Lemon water and much much more. I truly believe food is thy medicine. Just thought I throw that out there ! 🙃. Lots of Greens 🥬 too. Western Diet I buried 2 years ago.
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