You should never substitute advice you find on the Internet for advice you get from your doctor or nutriionist, but you can always tell them about ideas you find online and ask for their opinions. Managing your health is very important and eating a healthy diet is a first line of defense against illness and progressive or deteriorating health problems. But did you know that many of our earliest medicines came from the foods that we eat today?
Here are a few helpful foods to think about the next time you are feeling ill.
Honey soothes sore throats. Some popular throat drops use honey as a primary ingredient. But a spoonful of honey can give you relief when you have a scratchy throat and are not feeling well.
Balsamic vinegar helps lower blood sugar when you eat. The body converts the food we eat to sugar so that we have enough energy to do whatever is necessary. When you are diabetic your body either does not produce insulin, it produces too little insulin, or the insulin your body produces is not as effective as it should be. Insulin regulates just how much sugar your body makes. Vinegar reduces blood sugar production and so balsamic vinegar is a great salad dressing to use. As an added benefit, the more fiber (plant food that your body doesn't absorb) you eat, the less blood sugar your body makes from high carb- and starchy foods.
Use fresh ginger (about two teaspoons) to reduce pain and inflammation from workouts and other strenuous activity. Inflammation may be closely associated with cancer so you want to manage it carefully. Mined ginger is a great ingredient in many recipes (not just gingerbread, my friends!). You can add ginger to almost any Asian recipe, for example.
Live-culture yogurt helps soothe the troubled bowels. If you are taking antibiotics and are experiencing diarrhea, try eating some yogurt. Other dairy foods such as milk and cheese should be avoided as much as possible. You should also reduce your intake of caffeine and sugar.
Echinacea and garlic both possess antibacterial properties. Echninacea stimulates your immune system to fight viral infections, too. Garlic is an expectorant, thus helping you cough up mucous when you have a cold or the flu.
Elderberry is a great food to enjoy when you have the flu or a severe resperatory infection. Drinking hot (not boiliing!) elderberry tea is really nice when you're feeling sick.
Apple cider vinegar helps settle an upset stomach but some people also use it to treat fungus infections on the skin. About fungal infections: keep the infected area dry and consult your doctor.
Finally, chicken soup is about the best food to enjoy when you have the flu or a cold. Chicken soup and chicken broth, when prepared correctly, have potent anti-viral properties. They may also be the only foods some people can keep down. The high salt factor may inhibit the soup or broth's ability to rehydrate your body so be sure you drink plenty of good, clean water when you are ill.
