Food as medicine

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You need to eat cabbage regularly to heal your ulcer

HEADACHE? EAT FISH! Especially for all the ladies.
Eat plenty of fish — fish oil helps prevent headaches.
So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!
Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season.
Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!
Prevent build-up of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea.
(actually, tea suppresses appetite and keeps the pounds from invading….
Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN’T SLEEP?) HONEY!
Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!
Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.
(onion packs placed on chest helped the respiratory ailments and actually made breathing better).

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.
(fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS – GINGER!!!!!
Bananas will settle an upset stomach.
Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!
Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage
Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!
A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!
Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!
Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!
The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protects the body from causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they’re high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young………blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field……..they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 – 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients
found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn uv rays)

Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre which helps prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies……GOOD AS MEDICINE.

Alert! Coral Calcium Supplements Scam

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Written by Gloria Tsang, RD of HealthCastle.com

The “discoverer” of coral calcium Dr Robert Barefoot claimed that the reasons Okinawans from Japan live longer was due to the fact that they have been drinking water rich in coral reef substances surrounding Okinawa. In addition, Dr Barefoot also suggested that coral calcium can “neutralize” the toxic acidity of our bodies as coral calcium is alkaline base. According to the coral calcium infomercial, taking coral calcium can cure up to 200 human diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc.

Coral Calcium can cure all! That is the message that Dr Barefoot wants to sell and we should be wary of it. In addition to maintaining healthy bones, calcium is essential in the healthy functioning of the circulatory and nervous systems. However, there is no evidence that calcium can cure any diseases. There is also no evidence that alkalinizing our bodies can stop cancer or reverse any ailments. In addition, coral reef is protected by international laws and hence it is likely that these coral calcium supplements came from fossilized coral beds i.e. industrial waste.

Indeed, coral calcium is composed of mostly calcium carbonate, just like those you found in Tums or other calcium carbonate supplements from the stores! In addition, in June 2003, the Federal Trade Commission FTC has charged the marketers of Coral Calcium Supreme with making false and unsubstantiated claims about the product’s health benefits. In Sept 2004, the marketer for Coral Calcium Supreme Kevin Trudeau (who has previously been jailed for credit card and financial fraud) was banned from appearing in other health-related informercials. For the details of these charges, visit www.ftc.gov.

In January 2005, the Consumer Reports tested 2 brands of coral calcium supplements – both did not meet the California state’s lead standard.

Diet Soda and Heart Risk

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Written by Beth Sumrell Ehrensberger, MPH, RD of HealthCastle.com
Published in March 2011

Diet Soda Stethoscope Electrocardiogram

You’re eating a diet low in saturated and trans fat, exercising and watching your sodium – all healthy habits that can keep your heart happy. But now there’s one more thing to add to your heart risk to-do list: Can the diet soda. An abstract presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2011 indicated that people who reported drinking a diet soda every day were 61% more likely to experience a vascular event, like a stroke or heart attack, than those who did not partake.

Diet Soda No Good for the Heart

It’s confusing news, since most people assume they’re making a healthier choice by drinking diet soda, thereby skipping the calories in the sugar-soaked regular version. Diet soft drinks are free of (or have very few) calories, but that doesn’t mean they’re a healthier choice. According to the research, it’s still too early to definitively say why diet soda can increase your heart risk, but based on what science has shown so far, it’s enough to warrant a diet soda slowdown.

Kick Diet Soda=Healthier Diet

If you’re drinking a daily diet soda, the truth is it’s probably taking the place of something more healthful you should be knocking back instead. Low-fat milk or water should make up the majority of your daily drinks, which you can supplement with nutritive extras, like one small serving (4 oz) of 100% fruit juice if you like. Plus, sugar substitutes are used to sweeten the majority of diet sodas (most of which are not endorsed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer health watchdog group). With so many questions still existing about the safety of artificial sweeteners (except sucralose), it’s better to find a fizzy alternative without the dubious artificial sweeteners (see below for ideas).

Need another reason to kick the diet soda habit if you want to control your heart risk? Besides this newest link to heart risk, 2005 research from the University of Texas research a correlation between drinking diet soda and increased risk for obesity – which ups your risk for heart disease.

Make a Heart-Happy Healthy Drink Sub

If you’re used to a daily diet soda fix, you don’t have to axe the ritual of drinking something fizzy and crisp. Instead, try swapping it out for a caffeine-free green tea you’ve brewed yourself, topped off with a splash of 100% juice (like pomegranate or cherry) and ice-cold seltzer water. Or, just keep it simple by cracking open a can of unflavored seltzer and adding a squeeze from a lime or orange wedge. If you crave caffeine, not fizz, try an iced latte made with low-fat milk; you’ll get a pick-me-up libation with the added benefits of vitamins, minerals, and protein.

The Bottom Line

Diet soda isn’t a healthy choice – it’s linked to increased heart risk as well as other health issues. Even though it’s free of calories, it’s full of additives and artificial sweeteners that your body just doesn’t need. It’s better to try a healthier alternative to quench your thirst.

 

Powerful Benefits of Soy

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Written by Gloria Tsang, RD of HealthCastle.com
Published in February 2006

Benefits of soyWhat has most interested scientists in recent years is the discovery of phytochemicals and the profound benefits of soy on human health. Benefits of soy include promoting heart health and healthy bones, preventing cancer and alleviating menopausal symptoms.

Soy beans contain high amounts of protein, including all essential amino acids (the only such vegetable source). Soy beans are also a rich source of calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, B-vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and fiber.

Benefits of Soy: Heart Health

The cholesterol lowering effect of soy milk and its role of heart disease was widely recognized in the mid 90s when the results of a meta-analysis of 38 clinical studies were published. The results demonstrated that a diet with significant soy protein reduces Total Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the “Bad” cholesterol) and Triglycerides.

The average consumption in these studies was 47 grams per day of soy protein, which is a considerable amount. One way to include this is to try a soy protein beverage or powder that may add 20 grams preserving. Soy protein was effective even in people who were already following the American Heart Association’s 30 percent-fat diet. Soy protein appears to lower triglyceride levels while preserving HDL cholesterol.

Researchers Erdman & Potter in 1993 reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition a 12 percent drop in cholesterol when 20 to 25 grams of soy protein and fiber were included in the diet. Soy beans contain soluble fiber, which is known to interfere with the absorption and metabolism of cholesterol.

As a result of these findings, in 1999, FDA authorized a health claim about the relationship between soy protein and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) on labelling of foods containing soy protein.

A heart health claim can be found on qualified soy products.

Health Claim:
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease. One serving of [name of produce] provides [amount]g of soy protein.

A few recent studies released in 2005 found that soy only had a modest effect on cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association no longer recommends soy for heart disease. FDA is currently reviewing its policy on soy health claim. So what should you do? Enjoy your soy foods like before. It may not lower cholesterol to an extent we originally thought, but it certainly does not harm our health!

Benefits of Soy: Healthy Bones

Many soy foods are naturally high in calcium (some fortified with calcium because it is a good source of a particular coagulating agent). In addition, soy also contains magnesium and boron, which are important co-factors of calcium for bone health.

Isoflavones in soy foods may inhibit the breakdown of bones. Daidzein, a type of isoflavone, is actually very similar to the drug ipriflavone, which is used throughout Europe and Asia to treat osteoporosis. One compelling study completed by Erdman in 1993 focused on post-menopausal women who consumed 40 grams of isolated soy protein daily for 6 months. Researchers found that these subjects significantly increased bone mineral density as compared to the controls.

Another study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in September 2005 also found that intake of soy food was associated with a significantly lower risk of fracture, particularly among early post-menopausal women.

Benefits of Soy: Menopause

In Japan, where soy foods are commonly consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. In fact, there is no word in the Japanese language for “hot flashes”.

Current studies showed that soy only helps some women alleviate menopausal symptoms. Indeed, soy is more effective in preventing than alleviating hot flashes. Despite these findings, the North American Menopause Society in 2000 recommended that 40 – 80mg of isoflavones daily may help relieve menopausal symptoms.

Benefits of Soy: Cancer

Among all cancers, data on soy and prostate cancer seems to be the most promising; many studies support its role in the prevention and possible treatment of prostate cancer.

While some studies showed soy offers a protective effect against breast cancer, a few studies showed the estrogen-like effects in isoflavones may be harmful for women with breast cancer. American Institute for Cancer Research stresses that data on soy and breast cancer are not conclusive, and more work is needed to be done before any dietary recommendations can be made.

What we know at this point is the phytoestrogens in soy foods are “anti-estrogens”. In other words, they may block estrogen from reaching the receptors – therefore potentially protecting women from developing breast cancer. Studies found that pre-menopausal women may benefit from eating soy foods as their natural estrogen levels are high.

However, this may not be true to post-menopausal women. Studies found that soy could become “pro-estrogen” in women with low levels of natural estrogen. In other words, concentrated soy supplements may add estrogen to the body and hence increase breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women. Therefore, post-menopausal women should avoid taking concentrated soy supplements until more is known. Eating soy products, however, is not harmful.

Benefits of SoyBenefits of Soy – the Bottom Line:
Although it is still inconclusive that soy can prevent any diseases, many studies have shown promising results. Include soy products such as edamame, tofu, tempeh, soy milk etc in your diet and enjoy the possible health benefits they may bring.

With increasing public concerns regarding genetically modified foods, look for soy products which use non-genetically modified soy crops in their production.

Benefits of Soy Soy products Available:

  • Calcium-fortified soy milk
  • Tofu
  • Soy nuts
  • Edamame
  • Tempeh
  • Miso
  • Other products such as soy patties, soy cheese, soy yogurt and breakfast cereal

Magnesium

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Published in May 2007
Prepared by Jessica Hookham
Reviewed by Gloria Tsang, RD

Common names
  • Magnesium
Recommended Intake
  • Males 19-30: 400 mg/day
  • Males 31+: 420 mg/day
  • Females 19-30: 310 mg/day
  • Females 31+: 320 mg/day
What’s Magnesium for?
  • Assists in nerve and muscle function
  • Involved in energy metabolism and controls blood sugar levels
  • Regulates muscle contraction and blood clotting
  • Maintains bone and teeth health
  • Aids in the synthesis of proteins, fat, and nucleic acids
  • Supports the immune system
  • May help prevent and control hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
Best Food sources
  • Green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, “hard” tap water
Related Articles
  • Magnesium lowers risk of Metabolic Syndrome such as heart disease
  • Magnesium in Plant-based Foods may reduce Colon Cancer risk