Whenever my stomach hurts I always look for some ginger (we’ll talk about ginger later on, don’t worry!) and so this got me thinking – what other foods around the house, or that are easy to get a hold of, are there that can help to heal me in times of need? I did some research and here is what I found!
Yogurt
Want to become a high-cultured person? Easy! Just eat more yogurt! Seriously though, the bacteria pushes food more efficiently through, which can help with constipation or gas. Yogurts also contain probiotics, which are live microorganisms (“friendly bacteria”) that your body needs in order to protect itself against disease. They can be found in foods like yogurt, kefir, and soy beverages. Probiotics can also be obtained in supplement form, which we sell here at the Yinova Center!
Raisins
Just one hand full of raisins contains one gram of fiber and 212 milligrams of potassium. Both of which, believe it or not, are thought to be able to help reduce high blood pressure. In other words, if you want to stop raisin’ that blood pressure – you know what to do! Put some raisins in your oatmeal (no, oatmeal cookies do not count), a salad, or just eat them as they are.
Tuna
You see that old can of tuna just sitting on your shelf? Well, if you’re in a bad mood, you might be surprised to find out that tuna can actually help with that! A 3-ounce serving of canned white tuna has about 800 mg of omega-3s, which research suggests may treat the kind of blues that leave you feeling low or anxious. It’s important to be happy and to keep in-tuna with yourself! Sorry to all you vegetarians out there, but this next one is for you.
Banana
Work and daily commitments can get overwhelming, stressful, and, quite frankly, can drive us bananas! It would be nice if there was an easy, cheap, and natural way to cure that stress. Wait? What’s that? There is? Oh boy! Grab a banana, once you get past that peel, you’ll find something inside that is pretty “apeeling!” Bananas help to relieve stress or anxiety. It has 30% of the day’s vitamin B6 which helps the brain to produce serotonin, getting you through stressful situations peacefully.
Ginger
Ginger root can really help settle an upset stomach. If you are feeling queasy or nauseous, get some fresh ginger, chop it up, and put in in a cup of hot water. This DIY tea will help ease all sorts of nausea from motion sickness to pregnancy. Let’s hear three roots for ginger! Hip hip hooray!
Turmeric
Speaking of ginger, turmeric is a plant that is a member of the ginger family and it has anti-inflammatory properties. It is rich in antioxidants that purify the blood and support the liver. Having clean blood helps to keep your skin smooth and soft, and some people even believe that it can help to strengthen your memory. So perhaps we should all add a little to our diets – making the memorization of this list much much easier. Try adding some to a salad dressing or add a dash into your scrambled eggs. It can go anywhere except on your clothes… because it stains.
Kelp
This will really kelp, I mean help, you to stay active and alert. Rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and—most important for low thyroid levels—iodine. It really is a superfood! The fact that it can help with low-thyroid issues is a plus because low thyroid levels can cause sluggishness, weight gain, and mood swings.
Beets
Beet lover Dwight Schrute from The Office would be proud of us right now. They are a natural energy supply packed with calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and carbohydrates. What’s not to love? Let’s break it down: carbohydrates give you energy and energy makes things happen. However, in today’s fast-paced world, many of us often turn to processed carbs that don’t provide other nutrients. Beet the afternoon lull with a boost of carb-energy and do it both naturally and healthily.
Lemons
Citrus self down and get ready to learn about what lemons can do for you. Lemons have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers. They can also be used to help with digestion and can be used as a liver cleanser. Just add some lemon to your water (hot or cold) in order to get the bountiful benefits.
Avocados
Let the Yinova Center “guac” your socks off with some information about your favorite salad ingredient. Avocados are rich in anti-aging nutrients including high levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, potassium, folate, and fiber. They are a little fatty, however, and sometimes people try to stay away from them. Calorie-counting often leads to a drastic reduction of fat from the diet. However, fat is essential for your brain to function properly. Cutting fat entirely may lead to depression.
Avocados also contain essential omega-3 fatty acids that help to moisturize your skin from the inside out. So if you’re trying to cut out fat, try and keep the good fats in your diet.
