- Pacific
By David Zinczenko
9.27.2010
As kids, my brother Eric and I fought like wild animals. He still sports a scar
above his lip from a cut I accidentally gave him, and my nose isn't quite as straight as
it might be if I hadn't taken so many shots to it. We're as close as can be today, but
back in our teen years, we sported many a bruised ego and blackened eye. And the home
remedy for the latter? A hunk of steak.
Turns out, a lot of moms don't have the whole story when it comes to food cures. Cold is
good for a bruise, but meat doesn't do anything more than a bag of ice would. But there
are plenty of foods that are effective home remedies for curing everything from pounding
headaches to potency issues to procrastination. Take these 25 secret food cures, for
instance. Incorporate these wonderfoods into your daily diet, and you'll be surprised at
how quickly your body and your mind react.
And best of all? Nobody will laugh and call you "meat head."
1. BE MORE POSITIVE
Dark Chocolate
Research shows that dark chocolate can improve heart health, lower blood pressure,
reduce LDL cholesterol,
and increase the flow of blood to the brain. It also boosts serotonin and endorphin
levels, which are associated with improved mood and greater concentration. Look for
chocolate that is 60 percent cocoa or higher. [Ed. note: This is true ONLY of raw
unprocessed chocolate.]
2. REDUCE ANXIETY
Garlic
Tuck a few extra cloves
into your next stir-fry or pasta sauce: Research has found that enzymes in garlic can help increase the
release of serotonin, a neurochemical that makes you feel relaxed.
3. FIRE UP YOUR MORNING METABOLISM
Caffeinated Coffee
A study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that the average
metabolic rate of people who drank caffeinated coffee increased 16 percent over those who
drank decaf. Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system by increasing your heart rate
and breathing. (Want to know what else coffee is good for? Read 25 Best Nutrition Secrets Ever to find out.)
4. FIRE UP YOUR EVENING METABOLISM
Chile Peppers
It turns out that capsaicin, the compound that gives chile peppers their mouth-searing
quality, can also jumpstart your fat-burning, muscle-building engines. According to a
study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, eating 1
tablespoon of chopped red or green chiles boosts metabolism by 23 percent.
5. LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Fried Eggs
Go ahead, crack under pressure: Eating fried eggs may help reduce high blood pressure. In
a test-tube study, scientists in Canada discovered that the breakfast standby produced the
highest levels of ACE inhibitory peptides, amino acids that dilate blood vessels and allow
blood to flow more easily. (For up-to-the-minute tips like these, be sure to follow me on Twitter here. You can lose weight
effortlessly and look, feel and live better than ever!)
6. REDUCE STRESS
Gum
When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed at work, reach for the Wrigley’s: Chewing
gum can help tame your tension, according to Australian researchers. People who chewed gum
while taking multitasking tests experienced a 17 percent drop in self-reported stress.
This might have to do with the fact that we associate chewing with positive social
interactions, like mealtimes.
7. STAVE OFF DEPRESSION
Salmon
Omega-3s may calm your neurotic side, according to a study in the journal Psychosomatic
Medicine. Researchers found that adults with the lowest blood levels of
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were more likely to have
neuroses, which are symptoms for depression. Salmon is loaded with EPA and DHA, as are
walnuts, flaxseeds, and even cauliflower.
8. SPEED WEIGHT LOSS
Yogurt
The probiotics in yogurt may help you drop pounds. British scientists found that these
active organisms boost the breakdown of fat molecules in mice, preventing the rodents from
gaining weight. Try the Horizon brand of yogurt—it contains the probiotic L. casei,
the same organism used in the study.
Bonus Tip: Don't let all of your
hard work go down the drain: Avoid this shocking list of the 20 Scariest Food Creations of 2010!
9. AMP UP YOUR ENERGY
Grilled Chicken Breast
The protein in lean meat like chicken, fish, or pork loin isn't just good at squashing
hunger and boosting metabolism—it's also a top source of energy. University of
Illinois researchers found that people who ate higher amounts of protein had higher energy
levels and didn't feel as tired as people with proportionally higher amounts of carbs in
their diet.
10. BE MORE EFFICIENT
Kidney Beans
These legumes are an excellent source of thiamin and riboflavin. Both vitamins help your
body use energy efficiently, so you won't be nodding off mid-Powerpoint.
11. STABILIZE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR
Barley
Swedish researchers found that if you eat barley—a key ingredient in whole-grain
cereals—for breakfast, the fibrous grain cuts blood sugar response by 44 percent at
lunch and 14 percent at dinner.
12. IMPROVE YOUR ENDURANCE
Clams
Clams stock your body with magnesium, which is important in metabolism, nerve function,
and muscle function. When magnesium levels are low, your body produces more lactic
acid—the same fatigue-inducing substance that you feel at the end of a long workout.
13. BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY
Rooibos
Tea
Animal research suggests that this South African tea, also known as bush or redbush tea,
may provide potent immunity-boosting benefits. In addition, Japanese researchers found
that it may help prevent allergies and even cancer. Adagio offers a wide range of
great-tasting rooibos teas.
14. STOP COUGHING
Honey
Penn State scientists have discovered that honey is a powerful cough suppressant—so
next time you¹re hacking up a lung, head for the kitchen. When parents of 105 sick
children doled out honey or dextromethorphan (the active ingredient in over-the-counter
cough medicines like Robitussin), the honey was better at lessening cough frequency and
severity. Try a drizzle in a cup of rooibos tea.
15.TAME A COLD
Kiwi
The vitamin C in kiwi won¹t prevent the onslaught of a cold, but it might decrease the
duration of your symptoms. One kiwifruit provides 117 percent of your daily recommended
intake of vitamin C.
16. SOOTHE A MIGRAINE
Olives
Foods rich in healthy monounsaturated fats help reduce inflammation, a catalyst for
migraines. One study found that the anti-inflammatory compounds in olive oil suppress the
enzymes involved in inflammation in the same manner as ibuprofen. Avocados and almonds are also
high in monounsaturated fats.
17. LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL
Margarine
Not just any margarine, mind you—those containing plant sterols. In a Tufts
University study, people who ate a butter substitute containing plant sterols with three
meals each day saw their LDL (bad) cholesterol drop by 6 percent. How? The researchers say
that plant sterols prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by the intestine. Promise
Active and Smart Balance HeartRight are two great options.
18. REPAIR MUSCLE
Spinach
Popeye was onto something, it seems. Rutgers researchers discovered that treating human
muscle cells with a compound found in spinach increased protein synthesis by 20 percent.
The compound allows muscle tissue to repair itself faster, the researchers say. One thing
to keep in mind, however: Spinach doesn't automatically make any salad a healthy option.
Check out 20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper to see what I mean.
You'll be absolutely shocked!
19. RECOVER FROM A WORKOUT
Green Tea
Brazilian scientists found that participants who consumed three cups of the beverage every
day for a week had fewer markers of the cell damage caused by resistance to exercise. That
means that green tea can help you recover faster after an intense workout.
20. REPLENISH YOUR BODY POST-WORKOUT
Low-Fat Chocolate Milk
Nothing like a little dessert after a long workout. British researchers found that low-fat
chocolate milk does a better job than sports drinks at replenishing the body after a
workout. Why? Because it has more electrolytes and higher fat content. And scientists at
James Madison University found that the balance of fat, protein, and carbs in chocolate
milk makes it nearly one-third more effective at replenishing muscles than other recovery
beverages.
Bonus Tip: Sign up for the FREE Eat This, Not That! e-mail newsletter, and get super nutrition and weight-loss tips like these delivered straight to your inbox.
21. IMPROVE FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION
Sardines
According to research published in Nutrition Journal, fish oil can help increase
your ability to concentrate. Credit EPA and DHA, fatty acids that bolster communication
among brain cells and help regulate neurotransmitters responsible for mental focus.
Salmon, trout, halibut, and tuna are also great sources of EPA and DHA.
22. AVOID ALZHEIMER¹S DISEASE
Bananas
The antioxidants in bananas, apples, and oranges may help protect you from Alzheimer's,
report Korean scientists. The researchers discovered that plant chemicals known as
polyphenols helped shield brain cells from oxidative stress, a key cause of the disease.
23. PROTECT YOUR BRAIN
Steak
Vitamin B12, an essential nutrient found in meat, milk, and fish, may help protect you
against brain loss, say British scientists. The researchers found that older people with
the highest blood levels of the vitamin were six times less likely to have brain shrinkage
than those with the lowest levels.
24. BUILD LONG-LASTING BRAINPOWER
Carrots
Researchers from Harvard found that men who consumed more beta-carotene over 18 years had
significantly delayed cognitive aging. Carrots are a tremendous source of the antioxidant,
as are other orange foods like butternut squash, pumpkin, and bell peppers.
25. SHARPEN YOUR SENSES
Ground Flaxseed
Flax is the best source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—a healthy fat that improves the
workings of the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain that processes sensory information,
including that of pleasure. To meet your quota, sprinkle 1 tablespoon flaxseed on salads
or oatmeal once a day, or mix it into a smoothie or shake.
Bonus Tip: Football season doesn't have to mean burgers and BBQ wings all weekend. Cook up the ultimate party spread with The 35 Best Tailgate Foods! - http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/25-amazing-food-cures
"To Achieve World
Government it is necessary to remove from the minds of men their individualism,
their loyalty to family traditions and national identification" Brock Chisholm - Director of the World Health Organization
"A society whose citizens refuse to see and investigate the facts, who refuse to
believe that their government and their media will routinely lie to them and fabricate a
reality contrary to verifiable facts, is a society that chooses and deserves the Police
State Dictatorship it's going to
get." Ian Williams Goddard
The fact is that "political correctness" is all about creating uniformity. Individualism is one of the biggest obstacles in the way of the New World Order. They want a public that is predictable and conditioned to do as it's told without asking questions.
"The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first." Thomas Jefferson
Knowledge is the key to good health!