It is important to monitor one’s own health, and to pay attention to diet in terms of health. There are a number of foods that can improve health and/or treat existing medical conditions without causing harm or bad side effects. Here are just a few:
Rhubarb appears to help reduce hot flashes in perimenopausal women according to Lauren Vinent of Canadian Living Magazine. It’s also rich in potassium, vitamin C and dietary fibre.
Pumpkin seeds (pepitas) lower bad cholesterol levels and appear to play a role in prostate health. They are a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron.
Shallots contain fructo-oligosaccharides, which act as a prebiotic. Prebiotics promote gut health by encouraging "good bacteria" in the digestive tract. The onion-like vegetable contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants. Flavonoids are believed to help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Cranberries are Just One of a Number of Disease Fighting Foods
Cranberries can help with bladder control and help prevent urinary tract infections according to a study at Rutgers University. Cranberries contain powerful antioxidants called proanthocyanidins stop harmful bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract and causing infection. It was found that one glass of cranberry cocktail twice a day starts providing protection within two hours and lasting for up to 10 hours. Preliminary studies show cranberries may also protect against ulcers, heart disease and cancer according to Canadian Living.
Wheat germ contains vitamin E and zinc, both of which contribute to healthy skin and improved healing and disease fighting abilities.
Garlic helps in the production of illness-fighting antibodies. It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.
Healthy Fats are Necessary
Olive oil, fish, avocados and nuts all contain necessary fats that help the immune system. Essential fatty acids are necessary to consume, because bodies can’t produce them.
Selenium for Disease Resistance
Brazil nuts, halibut, cod and tuna all contain healthy doses of selenium. Corn, cabbage, whole wheat, beans and peas also contain respectable amounts.
Honey is Sweet in Many Ways
Honey provides antioxidants. There is a reason honey never goes bad. It’s antimicrobial qualities destroy bacteria that causes coughs, sore throats and ear infections. Honey also can help heal wounds, soothe the skin and help with digestion.
Turmeric - Curry Flavouring May Help Fight Alzheimer’s, Arthritis
In a CBC article, The healing power of spices, curcumin, a component of curry and turmeric, is heralded as a new hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. A study suggests curcumin may help the immune system dispose of certain proteins that, in the brain, can form the damaging plaques of Alzheimer’s. In the India, where curry is practically a diet staple, a study found that only a quarter of the elderly population develop Alzheimer’s compared to older people in North America.
Aside from other suspected benefits, researchers at the University of Arizona considered that turmeric relieved arthritis pain, possibly because of how it inhibits joint destruction caused by inflammation. According to the Arthritis Society, over 100,000 people will be diagnosed with arthritis in Canada this year alone.
The CBC also quoted another study that found that daily intake of curcumin could lower the incidence of polyp development in the colon. Polyps are known to precede cancer.
Sesame for Natural Sun Protection
Sesame oil is an excellent tanning aid according to herbalist Dian Buchman in The Complete Herbal Guide to Natural Beauty. If too much sun results in a sun burn, that aloe vera plant in the window can supply the leaf gel that will prevent blistering.
Go Bananas for Bowels
Bananas contain pectin, which can thicken loose stools. Cheese does the same thing. Bananas are also high in potassium, and of course cheese supplied a healthy dose of calcium. For people with lactose intolerance, there are some types of cheese that contain very low amounts of lactose if any at all.. Aged cheddar cheese and many types of swiss style cheeses can be consumed with little discomfort for many lactose intolerant constitutions.
Vegetables Top the List of Anti-Cancer Foods
Many studies, including a team led by Dr. Saxon Graham at the State University of New York at Buffalo have proven that cruciferous vegetables especially are powerful cancer-fighters. In particular, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower carrots, tomato and turnip led the list.
Mother Earth News, Get Sun Protection with these Natural Sunscreen Options, accessed May 31, 2010
“Foods that Heal,” James F. Scheer, MKS Inc.
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