At this point, we are all aware of the thing we should do in order to maintain good physical and mental health. This involves eating whole grains, fruits and veggie; limiting soda and candy intake; and doing physical activity on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, most people fall into the pattern of eating processed food. The supermarkets are loaded with packaged foods which have little or no nutritional value. What`s more, we are eating less variety of foods, mainly focusing on corn, wheat, rice, and soy.
But, it is high time we changed this and begin looking at food at medicine. Food is powerful stuff and choosing the right ingredients offers a wide range of health benefits. Here are some of them:
1. Make muscle pain a memory with ginger
A Danish study published that ginger every day can reduce muscle and joint pain, stiffness and swelling for even 63%. This is due to gingerols that stop pain hormones. Get a tsp dry ginger or 2 every day.
2. Cure a toothache with cloves
UCLA experts say chewing a clove can ease the gum and tooth pains In a few hours. This has eugenol and is a great anesthetic. Add ¼ tsp cloves ground in a meal and regulate the blood sugar, lower cholesterol and more.
3. Heal heartburn with apple cider vinegar
Sip 1 tbsp ACV and 8 oz water before a meal all day long. The heartburn will be gone in 24 hours. MD Joseph Brasco, gastro expert at Colon and Digestive Diseases Center of Huntsville, AL said that ACV has malic and tartaric acids, both amazing for digestion and faster breakdown of fats and proteins in the gut, this happens before the food passes the esophagus, making the pain.
4. Erase earaches with garlic
For curing this, put 2 drops warm garlic oil in the ear that hurts. To do so, do this for 5 days, every day. Experts of the New Mexico University said this is better than drugs. The active items are sulfur and selenium and they kill pain and bacteria. To make garlic oil, simmer 3 cloves and ½ tbsp. olive oil for 2 min. refrigerate for 2 weeks.
5. Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries
Headache, arthritis and gout are the most common. To cure them, eat cherries, a bowl daily. They have anthocyanins and kill inflammation so they are 10 times better that ibuprofen and aspirin. Ph.D. prof. of food science Michigan University, Muraleedharan Nair said that these compounds lock down and shut enzymes that make inflammation and pain.
6. Fight tummy troubles with fish
Inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and bad digestion all can be cured if you munch 18 oz fish every week. For better results, get sardines, herring, trout, salmon, mackerel and tuna. The biological chemist, Ph.D. Barry Sears, president of Inflammation Research Foundation Marblehead, MA said that EPA and DHA are the best natural agents against inflammation and side effects. Fish can prevent cramps, inflammation and gut pains.
7. Prevent PMS with yogurt
Almost 80% women have PMS troubles, say Yale experts. The cause for this is nervous system sensitivity and bad spikes ups and downs of estrogen and progesterone every month. New York Columbia University experts said that 2 cups yoghurt daily eases up these signs by 48%. Yoghurt has calcium, mineral that calms down nerves and stops pains due to hormones, explained MD prof. of gynecology Mary Jane Minkin of Yale University.
8. Tame chronic pain with turmeric
Science proved that turmeric is 3 times better for pain than ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen and more. Cornell experts said this eases chronic pain by 50% in those with fibromyalgia. The active item is curcuma and this shuts down pain hormones and enzymes. Get at least ¼ tsp turmeric daily and mix it best with meat, poultry, rice, veggies.
9. End endometrial pain with oats
Endometriosis is when the uterine lining grows out the uterus and makes awful pain. For curing this pain and cramps, and heavy periods, get a diet full of oats to remove pain by 60%. MD, prof. of medicine Colombia University, Peter Green, said that oats have no gluten, and gluten makes the most inflammation.
10. Soothe foot pain with salt
Soak ingrown nails in warm salty water to cure infections of feet in just 4 days. Salt kills bacteria, inflammation and kills germs that make swelling and pains. Mix 1 tsp salt in 1 cup water, heat this and soak feet for 20 min.
11. Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple
California Stanford University experts said that 1 cup fresh pineapple juice reduces bloating after 3 days. This fruit is loaded with enzymes that speed up pain proteins in the intestine and gut.
12. Relax painful muscles with peppermint
If you leave this untreated, knots might even last a few months. The naturopath Mark Stengler, ND, book author “The natural physician’s healing therapies” said that muscles can be relaxed with warm water soaking and added a scent of 10 drops mint oil. He also adds that this reduces cramps by 25% more than painkillers.
13. Give your back some TLC with grapes
Recent results of Ohio State University said that having a cup of grapes daily can relax the blood vessels and make blood flow better for damaged tissues. Making the blood flow better is vital for healing the damage in back tissues because the back vertebrae depend on the blood vessels to get nutrients and oxygen.
14. Tame leg cramps with tomato juice
These cramps are common and can be really painful and annoying. The cause for this is potassium deficit. Also this is due to diuretics and some workouts. To speed up the recovery and reduce this issue, get 10 oz of this juice every day.
15. Energize migraine medication with coffee
The National Headache Foundation said that painkiller and coffee can speed up healing by 40%. This means caffeine boosts painkiller absorbing better.
16. Fight breast pain with flax
A study said that 3 tbsp ground flax daily can ease up breast soreness in just 12 weeks. The flax has phytoestrogens that stop estrogen spikes that make the breast pain. For more benefits, sprinkle a bit on the yoghurt, oatmeal, veggie dip and smoothies.
17. Heal mouth sores with honey
Experts of the Dubai Medical Center of United Arab Emirates said that dabbing honey on cold sores, 4 times daily can make them heal faster by 43% better than creams. The honey has enzymes that kill viruses, inflammation and make healing faster.
18. Beat bladder infections with blueberries
The experts of New Jersey Rutgers University said a cup of this fruit daily lowers risk of UTIs for 60%. This fruit has tannins, items that target the bacteria and stop it further for infections.
19. Heal sinus problems with horseradish
The sinusitis makes face pain and congestion. Luckily, the horseradish makes better blood flow in the sinuses and they drain easier and heal better. The best dose: 1 tsp 2 times daily.
20. Wash away pain injuries with water
Having 8 oz glasses water daily can treat this. Experts say that water can dilute and flush the pain items of tissues. Also water makes block in the cartilage that is in the bone ends, the joint lubricating liquids and the spine soft discs, said Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D. book author of “ The good mood diet”. If you are hydrated, tissues move easier and glide to each other.
