For thousands of years people have relied on herbs and various foods to cure what ails us. Over time with the invention of pharmaceuticals we’ve stopped looking to home remedies to cure our sickness. Keeping symptoms away in the first place is best.
“Your food shall be your medicine and your medicine shall be your food.”
Hippocrates
You’ve heard the old saying, you are what you eat; it’s very true. The foods we eat help determine the condition we are in. Much of it is genetic but some things can be improved if lifestyle and foods are changed, i.e. type II diabetes is caused by obesity. If a person eats healthier than her ancestors and exercises keeping her weight down, she won’t get the disease. Some heart disease can be forestalled as well.
It is much easier to stay thin than to lose fat; it’s much easier to stay healthy than to get better after our body is sick.
Garlic-
Garlic is a natural antibiotic that will not only help you get well, if eaten on a regular basis it can help keep you from getting an infection in the first place.
Bronchitis, ear infections, tonsillitis and sinus infections can all be prevented in many cases if fresh garlic is a regular addition to your diet.
It must be fresh garlic, powdered or garlic salt does not work. You can get fresh garlic year round in the produce section of your market.
It is also said to help lower or regulate blood pressure.
Some studies have shown it helps prevent prostate cancer.
Honey-
Honey that was made by bees in your area will help keep allergy symptoms from happening like itchy watery eyes, sneezing and runny nose due to flowers, grass or tree pollen. Bees gather the pollen from the offending plants and make honey with it. Eating this gives us immunity to the effects of these allergens.
It has to be locally produced. If you buy honey that comes from Wisconsin and you live in California it won’t work because the plants in the northeast are different than the ones on the west coast.
Most infections start with allergies. Keep these symptoms away and you'll reduce the chances of getting a sinus infection, ear infection or bronchitis.
Eat it in foods or take a tablespoon two or three times a day like you would liquid medication.
Soy or Tofu-
Soybean products are a natural producer of female hormones and will help combat menopausal symptoms. You can get this from soymilk or eating tofu or other soy products.
Some studies have shown it also helps prevent prostate cancer in men. Countries like Japan where tofu and other soy products are high on their diet have few cases of prostate cancer.
It can keep away menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.
Sweet Potato-
This is another estrogen producer that is a good addition to a woman’s diet.
Ginger-
Ginger helps with digestion and can help with an upset stomach. If you feel nauseous drinking ginger tea can sooth your symptoms.
It is also an anti-inflammatory for those suffering from arthritis.
Peppermint-
Eating some after a meal can keep you from getting indigestion. Drinking the tea can also help with many stomach maladies.
Yogurt-
When eaten everyday can keep women from getting yeast infections. Add this as a daily part of your diet and you won’t have to worry about what clothes you wear, or worry about those annoying symptoms.
(Taking antibiotics kills the friendly bacteria and can bring on a yeast infections.)
The bacteria in yogurt has killed the lactose so most people who are lactose intolerant can eat yogurt.
Kimchi-
Also can help keep away yeast infections.
Cayenne Pepper-
Great for poor circulation.
Ginseng-
Increases immunity, helps circulation, low libido and erectile dysfunction.
Green Tea-
Keeps away gum disease when drank on a regular basis. It works as a diuretic and can help you lose weight. It is also thought to help build up a strong immune system and ward off some cancers.
Cranberries or Cranberry Juice-
These help keep away or cure a urinary tract infection. If you start having symptoms buy a gallon of cranberry juice and drink it until it is gone and you should be good as new. If not consult your physician but I’ve always been able to cure it myself. To avoid having any further bladder problems make sure you drink lots of water to flush out any bacteria, especially in the warm months.
Cherries-
Help with arthritis and gout.
Eat Less Sugar:
In the past decades food companies have added more and more sweetners to our food in the form of high fructose corn syrup and others that are not good for us. Our ancestors had very little sugar added to their diet and only had dessert and candy on special occasions or holidays; it was not a daily addition to their meals. This is why so many people suffer from obesity and diabetes. Eliminating most of the sweets and sugars from your food will make you healthier and the pounds will fall off.
Eat Less Refined Flour:
Carbohydrates aren’t bad; it’s the type we eat that isn’t good for us. Whole grain wheat, brown rice and other roughage are better for our digestion and have more vitamins.
Eat Less or No Dairy:
Many races of people are lactose intolerant. This is because we were never intended to eat food made for calves. Asian, Native American and African people have a harder time digesting these foods because they are newer to our diet. European people have been eating them for hundreds of years and are better able to digest them but still it is why so many have allergy symptoms and asthma. If you suffer from allergies or asthma eliminate dairy from your diet and see if in a few weeks your health is improved.
Books for further study:
Eating Well For Optimum Health by Andrew Weil, M.D.
Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It by Karl Weber
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
http://hubpages.com/hub/Fibromyalgia-Taming-the-Dragon-Within
Food Matters:
