Posted on Thu, Feb. 19, 2009
It's no secret that the foods you eat have an impact on your health, but some foods are better than others for helping treat what ails you. With an increased focus on what we put in our bodies, not to mention the economics of buying expensive over-the-counter remedies, it pays to build a balanced diet and incorporate the foods that can help combat some common problems.
INFLAMMATION
If your joints are aching, try ginger tea, says Dr. Susan Rubin, nutritionist and food educator. She also recommends not eating certain foods, such as sugar, trans-fats and poor quality oils such as corn or cottonseed. Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, spokesperson for the ADA and author of "The Flexitarian Diet," (McGraw-Hill, 2008) adds that omega-3 fatty acids work for fighting inflammation as well and recommends fish, walnuts and flaxseeds. Pineapple is also a natural anti-inflammatory.
DIGESTION ISSUES
Blatner suggests eating yogurt and making sure it has active live cultures in it or even advancing to the brands that tout its probiotic benefits. Both experts note that ginger can also help stomach problems and Rubin additionally suggests peppermint tea.
COMMON COLD
It's not an urban legend-chicken soup really can help cure a cold. Rubin adds ginger and garlic to chicken soup for extra fighting power. Blatner recommends the red bell pepper as "it has more vitamin C than an orange."
HEADACHE
Calm the tension in your head with green tea, says Blatner who cites the bit of caffeine in it as just enough to nip that ache. Beyond taking in that fluid, make sure you're drinking enough water, says Rubin. "A lot of people are dehydrated and don't realize it," she says.
MENSTRUAL CRAMPS AND FERTILITY BOOSTERS
"There's an interesting correlation between dairy and cramps," Rubin says. She advises cutting out dairy two weeks before and two weeks after menstruation if cramps are a problem. To boost fertility naturally, Blatner recommends beans, as they're high in iron, fiber and protein from plant-based sources, all of which have shown promise in studies. She also suggests healthy unsaturated fats such as avocado, olive oil and nuts.
Restaurants & Food
Philly.com Promotions
