16 Foods that Heal
1) Banana
Stress or anxiety
Next time you feel stressed, reach for a banana. With only 105 calories and 14 g of sugar, a medium banana fills you up, provides a mild blood sugar boost, and has 30% of the day’s vitamin B6, which helps the brain produce mellowing serotonin, getting you through a crisis peacefully.
2) Yogurt
Constipation or gas
One and a half cups of live-culture yogurt (high in gut-friendly bacteria) pushes food more efficiently through the gastrointestinal tract. The beneficial bacteria also improve your gut’s ability to digest beans and dairy lactose, which can cause gas.
3) Raisins
High blood pressure
Sixty raisins—about a generous handful—contain 1 g of fiber and 212 mg of potassium, both recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Numerous studies show that polyphenols in grape-derived foods such as raisins, wine, and juice are effective in maintaining cardiovascular health, including bringing down blood pressure.
4) Apricots
Preventing kidney stones
Eight dried apricot halves have 2 g of fiber, only 3 mg of sodium, and 325 mg of potassium—all of which help keep minerals from accumulating in urine and forming calcium oxalate stones.
5) Tuna
A bad mood
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.
6) Ginger tea
Nausea
Dozens of studies reveal that ginger (¼ teaspoon of powdered, ½ to 1 teaspoon of minced gingerroot, or a cup of ginger tea) can ease nausea from motion sickness and pregnancy.
7) Basil
Tummy troubles
Studies suggest that eugenol, a compound in basil, can keep your gut safe from pain, nausea, cramping, or diarrhea by killing off bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria. Eugenol even has an antispasmodic property that can keep cramps at bay.
8) Pear
High cholesterol
One medium pear has 5 g of dietary fiber, much of it in the form of pectin, which helps flush out bad cholesterol, a risk factor in heart disease.
9) Buckwheat honey
Coughing
In a study at Pennsylvania State University, 2 teaspoons of thick, dark brown honey were more effective than OTC cough medicines at limiting the severity and frequency of a cough in children. Honey’s antioxidants and antimicrobial properties may soothe inflamed throat tissues.
10) Cabbage
Ulcers
A 2002 study at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found that sulforaphane, a powerful compound in cabbage, clobbers H. pylori (the bacteria that causes gastric and peptic ulcers) before it can get to your gut, and may even help inhibit the growth of gastric tumors. For only 34 calories a cup, cabbage provides 3 g of fiber and 75% of the day’s vitamin C.
11) Turkey
Sleepless nights
A 3-ounce serving of turkey has nearly all the tryptophan (an essential amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin and melatonin, hormones that regulate sleep) you need in a day.
12) Figs
Hemorrhoids
The 3 g of fiber in four dried figs helps create soft, regular stools that will keep hemorrhoids from returning.
13) OJ
Fatigue
The fructose in a 4-ounce glass is a perfect pick-me-up. Some studies suggest that vitamin C’s ability to combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals may provide energy, and the vitamin plays a key role in metabolizing iron, which helps your body move energizing oxygen through your bloodstream.
14) Garlic
Yeast infection
Garlic contains essential oils that can inhibit the growth of the Candida albicans fungus, the culprit in the pain, itch, and vaginal discharge of yeast infections. Recent studies suggest that thyme, cloves, and even the essential oils from oranges are also effective fungicides, she adds. Include garlic in sauces, salad dressings, and marinades.
15) Chamomile tea
Heartburn
“Chamomile can ease digestive inflammation, spasms, and gas. Steep 2 teaspoons of the herb in 10 ounces of very hot water for 20 minutes, covering the cup to keep the essential oils in the water. You may have to drink the tea a few times a day for complete relief
16) Potatoes
Headache
The 37 g of carbs in a medium potato can ease a tension headache by upping serotonin levels, as long as you keep the fat and protein below 2 g.
For more information on specific programs to address your blood pressure, contact Dan Prater, ND on 219.613.1161 or via email.
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