Food as Medicine

I was raised by a mother who always claimed the benefits or harm of the foods we ate. Back in the days before there was medicine, food was medicine. People would eat chicken soup for congestion or champagne for blood infections. I just got the "John's Hopkins" Health magazine and they were saying that 64% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese and given the effect on cardiac, vascular and cancer related diseases, researchers are taking a closer look at food and how it can heal, enhance lives, prevent diseases and of course negatively affect our health - it's about time!

Junk foods high in fat and sugar - like fast foods - can contribute to inflammation (localized tissue reaction to injury, infection or irritation) and can lead to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Chronic inflammation is also being linked to cancer. Now within the last five years doctors and researchers are looking to food to help heal the body.

Cloves and walnuts can help reduce inflammation. According to this article I read, Integrative gastroenterologist Gerard Mullin, M.D. says certain foods may even replace drugs. Ginger, for example, can help prevent nausea and gastric dysfunction and he says ginger works the same way a powerful anti-nausea drug works - working on the same receptors of the brain.

I did a little research myself on the foods that heal and how through eating the right foods we can help fight of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer - two of the biggest killers!

Here are just a few...and I have also listed the powerful affects of greens in previous blogs.

• apples - protect your heart, prevents constipation, blocks diarrhea, improves lung capacity and cushions your joints
• apricots - combats cancer, controls blood pressure, saves eyesight, sheilds against Alzheimers, slows the aging process
• avocadoes - battle diabetes, lowers cholesterol, helps prevents strokes, controls blood pressure, smoothes skin
• beans - prevent constipation, help hemorroids, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, stabilizes blood sugar
• blueberries - combat cancer, protects your heart, stabilizes blood sugar, boosts memory, prevents constipation
• broccoli - strengthens bones, saves eyesight, combats cancer, protects your heart, controls blood pressure
• grapes - saves eyesight, fights kidney stones, enhances blood flow, protects your heart
• grapefruit - protects against heart attacks, promotes weight loss, helps stop strokes, combats prostate cancer, lowers cholesterol
• mushrooms - controls blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, kills bacteria, combats cancer, strengthens bones
• strawberries - combats cancer, protects your heart, boosts memory, calms stress
• tomatoes - protects prostate, fights cancer, lowers cholesterol, protects heart
• walnuts - lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, boosts memory, lifts mood, protects against heart disease

Here are a couple good combos of healing juices - I recommend the book "The Juice Lady's Juicing for High Level Wellness and Vibrant Good Looks" by Cherie Calbom - but here are a couple of ideas (juices and foods) from a website called "www.fatfreekitchen.com".

• Arthritis - apple, banana, mango, cucumber, garlic
• Asthma - garlic
• Cancer fighting juice - carrot, garlic, lime, lemon
• Constipation - almonds, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, lime, lettuce, banana, beet root, corn, dates, figs, raisins, soyabeans, spinach, whole wheat bread
• Heart Disease - cabbage, carrot, honey, apple, asparagus, garlic, onions, oranges, grapes, grapefruit, lime, lemon, raisins

TAKE AWAY:

A book that further digs into the fighting disease with food is "Foods that Heal" by Bernard Jensen and I also found another blog that you may be interested in on this subject, http://foodsthatheal.blogspot.com/

Think about what you are eating before you put it in your mouth - is it good for you and ask yourself......

"What is this food going to do for me? Is it going to help me look beautiful, feel energetic, make me lean and fight off disease or is it going to make my skin break out, constipate me, make me bloated and fat, and cause me to die at a young age?" Look at the food you are eating - if it is mostly brown - reconsider. Think green, yellow, orange, red....Think lots and lots of vegetables, whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, nuts, beans and if you are eating fish, meat or chicken/eggs - make it organic, free range, grass fed, fresh caught.....

STOP AN THINK before you eat!