Food as medicine: 5 of the most powerful natural medicines that you should have in your kitchen

Food. It not only prevents us from starving, but it helps us build a healthier body, too.

You see, Mother Nature is pretty clever. She not only gave us food as a way to prevent starving to death, but also as a way to help heal our bodies. Here’s the tricky part: knowing which foods benefit us the most. That’s because not all food has been studied for benefits outside of typical vitamin and mineral content. But, several foods have been looked at in studies for their remarkable healing properties.

Apples

In an examination of over 28 studies, it was found that this flavonoid-rich fruit enhances cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of disease. This involved hundreds of healthy non-smoking adults, aged 18-64 years old. 

Flavonoids are antioxidants. And antioxidants are things that fight the oxidation of your cells.

Oxidation is not a good thing.

If you’ve ever seen a rusty piece of metal, then you’ve seen what oxidation does. It destroys metal; turns it into rusty flakes. So, when it comes to living tissue, this same process destroys cells. Cells age quicker. Which leads to them dying sooner. This means a person’s body ages faster than it should.

Of course, your cells will never turn into rust. But because oxidation means cells age quicker than they should, this is why people who don’t get enough antioxidants suffer from premature aging.

Thankfully, apples help prevent that. Their antioxidants help neutralize ‘free radicals’ that oxidize cells. This prevents oxidative damage from happening. So, if you can prevent that, you have a strong ally in your fight to prevent disease and premature aging.

Honey

A study was performed to look closer at honey. What they found was quite amazing: a powerful probiotic bacteria by the name of ‘Lactobacillus kunkeei’ was discovered there. 

Due to this bacteria, the honey tested stimulated something called, ‘immunoglobulin A (IgA) production.’ And, its effects were found even when honey was heated to temperatures that killed much of this bacteria. This means even pasteurized honey can help the immune system do its job better and stay strong.

White onion

White onions contain over 26 vitamins, minerals, and compounds that greatly improve your health. They boost circulation, strengthen the immune system, and even contain quercetin. And quercetin can prevent cancer.

White onion is also full of another anti-inflammatory compound: sulfur. Sulfur helps minimize conditions such as asthma. It also helps prevent allergic reactions and the common cold. 

Turmeric

A compound found in turmeric called, ‘curcumin’ was found to effectively suppress hepatitis, herpes, chikungunya, influenza-A, HIV and HPV, without negative side effects. Curcumin also limits cancer growth, resolves lichen panus, and reduces type 2 diabetes. It even prevents Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Oregano

Most people only know oregano as a staple in Italian cooking. As it turns out, oregano is very useful in the fight against infections.

A substance in oregano called “carvacrol” is the source of its power, and this substance has been shown to kill superbugs — with no development of antibiotic resistance. 

To get the strongest anti-bacterial benefits out of oregano, consumers will want to use ‘oregano oil.’ It’s often found at health food stores, and requires no prescription to buy.

Prevention is best

Ultimately, preventing illness is more achievable than recovering from it. Be sure to keep these natural medicines around and use them for optimal health. Your body will thank you for it.

Discover more ways to better your health and prevent cancer at Anticancer.News.

Sources include:

GreenMedInfo.com 

American Association for Cancer Research

USDA Food Composition Databases

PubMed.Gov

National Cancer Institute

Springer.com

Wiley.com