Letting food be your medicine
Years ago when I was a ski bum in Banff, I came down with a sore throat. My adenoids were swollen, it hurt to swallow, and if I didn't whisper it felt like my vocal chords were sawing through my windpipe. It was nasty.
Luckily I had a new age roommate who spent her spare time reading books on herbal remedies, although I didn't think I was lucky at the time.
She force-fed me three huge cloves of garlic before I went to bed that night, and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. She had a 'shut-up and do what I say' bedside manner that could have put my mother to shame.
Thinking I was probably going to die anyway, I choked the cloves down. Each one burned in my mouth and in my throat, and by the time I got the third one in me, my eyes were tearing over.
Glad I was single, I brushed my teeth and went to bed, unable to get the taste of it out of my mouth.
Then the most amazing thing happened. In the morning, the swelling in my throat had gone down and it wasn't quite as sore as it used to be. I could talk normally.
The next day, and three more cloves of garlic later, I was cured.
Since that day, my friend has fed me cantaloupes for vitamin C, zinc tablets, Echinacea, black tea, radishes, and dandelion soup. When I'm sick, I no longer question her natural remedies because they always seem to work wonders. And hey, there's nothing on that clove of garlic that says I can't go and operate heavy machinery.
These days people are looking for herbal cures to treat their ailments, and in a lot of cases doctors will actually prescribe some tried and tested herbal remedies.
While people are accustomed to trusting in science before nature, there's no denying that foods and herbs are an effective way to ward off, treat, and cure various ailments.
At the same time, the science is finally starting to catch up to the cures, confirming many of the things that healers have known for thousands of years by analyzing the content of various foods and herbs, and studying their use in the general population.
Using health records from different countries and cultures, and studying the diets of the people there, gives more credence to the idea of foods as preventative medicines and cures. Some populations have far lower cancer rates, and some live longer than others. Some populations have lower risk of heart diseases. Some have healthier organs. Some have better resistance to eye disease, and aging diseases like Alzheimer's, arthritis and rheumatism.
Once a health anomaly is identified, the first thing researchers look at is diet and lifestyle, working backwards to determine how people developed their unique immunities, resistances, and healthy organs.
Eating healthfully is not an exact science, but most nutritionists can agree on a few foods that should be part of most diets because of their proven restorative properties. For example, the people of Okinawa tend to live longer on average than people on mainland Japan, and researchers believe this is because the islanders tend to eat more sweet potatoes than mainlanders, and seafood makes up the bulk of their protein intake.
To turn your fridge into a medicine cabinet, here are a few basic and easy to find foods, researched on the Web, that you might want to look into. It's by no means a comprehensive list, but you can probably work many of these things into your diet - even into the same meal if you're adventurous.
In most of the Web sites I visited, the research recommended choosing organic foods, if possible, because they are free of pesticides and herbicides, chemical fertilizers, genetic modification, and generally contain the right minerals in the right quantities.
Garlic - Aside from warding off dates, potentially protecting you from venereal diseases and sleep deprivation, garlic has a lot going for it, health-wise. Garlic is from the same plant family as onions, leeks and chives, all of which are high in allyl sulfides - that's what gives garlic its pleasing/disgusting odour. Allyl sulfides are powerful antioxidants, detoxifying our systems. Antioxidants prevent cell damage, remove free radicals (unstable molecules) from our systems, and essentially clean our blood and tissue of toxins and contaminants.
Some studies have shown that garlic does help to cure coughs and colds, and some scientists believe it may also lower your risk of cancer and heart disease.
Some people are sensitive to garlic, however, and can have stomach aches, nightmares and even worse after eating it, so pay attention.
Sweet Potatoes - Although they do raise blood sugar levels, sweet potatoes are brimming with vitamin A, C and beta-carotene, which is another strong antioxidant. Sweet potatoes are also rich in potassium and fibre, as long as you eat the skin as well as the orange innards. The leafy tops, though hard to get, also have health benefits, packed with more vitamins and minerals than spinach and lettuce.
Walnuts - Although you probably don't need an excuse to eat more delicious walnuts, consider that walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart and can lower cholesterol by four to six per cent. They also contain vitamin E, which is an antioxidant.
The one drawback, aside from allergic reactions for some, is the fact that walnuts are pretty high in calories, so go easy.
Almonds and Sunflower Seeds- Almonds and sunflower seeds are considered some of the healthiest foods around, as they are high in calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as selenium, which is an antioxidant, and zinc, which helps to boost our immune systems.
They also are high in omega-3's, work as antioxidants, and are recommended as part of a program to lower cholesterol and battle heart disease. Almonds have also been studied as preventative medicine for colon cancer.
The one drawback is the fact that they are high in fat, although there is some debate on how much fat is actually absorbed by the body. A third of a cup of almonds has about 225 calories, so take it easy.
Black and Green Tea - Recent studies show that these teas may play a role in fighting off or preventing cancers. In addition, the catechins in the tea improve kidney function, cleaning out toxins that accumulate in our digestive organs.
These teas also function as natural antihistamines, as well as mild laxatives, keeping both of your windpipes clean and clear.
Some studies have also found tea kills the bacteria that can lead to cavities and gum disease.
American researchers have also found that black and green tea might help to boost your immune system, containing an amino acid, L-theanine, that naturally boosts the capacity of our gamma delta T cells (also called helper T cells), which fight off bacteria and infections, and increase our immune response.
Of course there's a drawback. All teas have caffeine, and caffeine dehydrates you. Try to limit your intake, and don't reach for the tea when you're thirsty.
Broccoli - There's nothing, but nothing, that this vegetable can't do except taste good. The same goes for Brussels sprouts, cabbages, kale and other members of the brassica family.
A short list of the health benefits of broccoli includes a reduction in breast, colon and rectal cancer risks; a lower risk of age-related eye diseases, defense against stomach ulcers and digestive tract illnesses, and improved defense against blood diseases and osteoporosis. It's high in fibre and packed with vitamin C, and vitamin A, and it's a strong antioxidant.
Broccoli is also high in calcium, folate and potassium, and has been called the "Crown Jewel of Nutrition".
Oats - Oats are a staple of any good diet, providing a lot of necessary fibre, mopping up our innards and lowering fats and cholesterol in our blood streams. It's also very filling, so, in theory anyway, you can eat less. How many people do you know who need more than one bowl of oatmeal to get going in the mornings? And I do mean going - there's no better way to jump-start your day.
Apples - An apple a day keeps the scurvy at bay. That's right, apples are pretty high in vitamin C, packing as much as three vitamin C tablets into a single apple. Apples are also high in antioxidants, and provide a lot of fibre.
Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers - Loaded with vitamin C, assorted B vitamins, carotenoids and other nutrients, tomatoes and sweet peppers are high in lycopenes, which help to keep to cleanse the prostate and revitalize tissues.
Assorted berries - All brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are typically healthy, and the more intense the colour the healthier it is -greener kale, the darker berries, and oranger oranges and carrots are signs that these foods are higher in antioxidants. Black raspberries recently took the crown from blueberries as the berry with the highest antioxidant content. Strawberries sit in third.
The one rule of thumb that applies to healing foods is the simpler, the better. Most of the above foods don't take a lot of preparation, and have strong flavours that don't require a lot of sugar or sauce to bring out.
Of course no two people are the same, so stick to what works for you. Most nutritionists recommend that their customers and clients keep a food diary, tracking what they ate and when, and how it made them feel. It's not a bad idea if your goal is get healthier through foods.
Some of the Web sites you might want to check out:
Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion - http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/onpp-bppn/index_e.html
World of Alternatives.com/UKHomeopathy/links/healingfoods.html
Fat Free Kitchen - www.fatfreekitchen.com/foodsthatheal.html
New Century Nutrition - www.newcenturynutrition.com
HealthWorld Online - www.healthy.net
Natural Ways - www.naturalways.com
Breast Cancer Prevention Project - www.breastcancer.com/prevention/healingfoods.html
