Foods That Heal at Her Active Life

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Foods That Heal

Posted October 10, 2007 at 09:00 AM by Shannon Clark

Section: Her Health, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating

Chile Peppers When you become ill, do you always turn to drugs first? While it’s good to be aware of your general health and wellness and take appropriate steps if something is ‘off’, it is not always the best choice to rely on medication as a way to get better.

Generally you should try to maintain proper health by using natural remedies if possible, as these will likely be better for you. Plus, the body is obviously not meant to be on medication, so avoiding it when you can is a good idea.

For some of your more minor symptoms there are various things you can do with nutrition to ease your troubles. If all it takes is a small change to your diet to get you feeling well again, you really can’t go wrong.

See below for a few symptoms and their appropriate quick fixes to try next time you are under the weather.

Indigestion

Next time you are experiencing pain or discomfort after eating something that isn’t agreeing with you, try adding some chile peppers to your next meal. While it may seem like an odd suggestion - adding hot foods when you are already suffering, the peppers contain capasaicin, which helps block the stomach’s pain receptors in the body.

There was a study that looked at those who suffer from chronic indigestion and it was found that when they supplemented their diet with 2.5 grams of red pepper capsules they experienced a great reduction in pain. Because of this, eating a small amount of chile peppers, a more potent source, should help you as well.

Itchy Skin

Dry, itchy skin is enough to make anyone unhappy. Apart from using moisturizer on a frequent basis, another trick is to drink a cup of Oolong tea three times a day. In a study done with those who suffer from atopic dermatitis, a form of skin eczema, participants noticed they felt much better after a month. This form of tea has anti-allergenic compounds, which could be the prime reason it seems to aid with this issue.

Depression

While serious depression should be treated by your doctor or psychologist, if it’s just a case of the blues, you could change your diet around to improve your mood.
Walnuts
A good intake of essential fatty acids has been shown to provide mood-lifting benefits. Not only that, but on the whole, getting enough of this nutrient is probably one of the most positive things you can do for your health and well-being, and when you feel better physically, it will only cause you to feel better psychologically. Physical ailments can often send individuals into a period of depression, so by ensuring you are getting your EFA’s, you can kill two birds with one stone.

Good foods to choose are salmon, walnuts, Brazil nuts, butternuts, macadamia nuts, soybeans, peanuts, olives and flaxseeds.

Urinary Tract Infections

If you find yourself suffering from a urinary tract infection, one food in particular to take a look at is yogurt. The lactobacilli in it will help to keep urinary tract infections at bay. In a report by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who ate yogurt only three times per week lowered their risk by approximately 80%.

The best type of yogurt to consume will be the sugar free varieties, as this will also cause less of a blood sugar response, therefore preventing the build-up of other diseases such as insulin resistance.

So take these suggestions into consideration the next time you suffer from any of these symptoms. While it never hurts to get your condition checked out, it also doesn’t hurt to take a look into what you can do naturally to overcome the problem and promote better health.