When I was growing
up, I spent a lot of time with slabs
of meat on my face.
As kids, my brother Eric and I
fought like wild animals. He still
sports a scar above his lip from a
cut I accidentally gave him, and my
nose isn't quite as straight as it
might be if I hadn't taken so many
shots to it. We're as close as can
be today, but back in our teen
years, we sported many a bruised ego
and blackened eye. And the home
remedy for the latter? A hunk of
steak.
Turns out, a lot of moms don't have
the whole story when it comes to
food cures. Cold is good for a
bruise, but meat doesn't do anything
more than a bag of ice would. But
there are plenty of foods that are
effective home remedies for curing
everything from pounding headaches
to potency issues to
procrastination. Take these 25
secret food cures, for instance.
Incorporate these wonderfoods into
your daily diet, and you'll be
surprised at how quickly your body
and your mind react.
And best of all? Nobody will laugh
and call you "meat head."
1.
BE MORE POSITIVE
Dark Chocolate
Research shows that dark chocolate
can improve heart health, lower
blood pressure, reduce LDL
cholesterol, and increase the flow
of blood to the brain. It also
boosts serotonin and endorphin
levels, which are associated with
improved mood and greater
concentration. Look for chocolate
that is 60 percent cocoa or higher.
2. REDUCE
ANXIETY
Garlic
Tuck a few extra cloves into your
next stir-fry or pasta sauce:
Research has found that enzymes in
garlic can help increase the release
of serotonin, a neurochemical that
makes you feel relaxed.
3. FIRE UP
YOUR MORNING METABOLISM
Caffeinated Coffee
A study published in the journal
Physiology & Behavior found
that the average metabolic rate of
people who drank caffeinated coffee
increased 16 percent over those who
drank decaf. Caffeine stimulates
your central nervous system by
increasing your heart rate and
breathing. (Want to know what else
coffee is good for? Read
25 Best Nutrition Secrets Ever to
find out.)
4. FIRE UP
YOUR EVENING METABOLISM
Chile Peppers
It turns out that capsaicin, the
compound that gives chile peppers
their mouth-searing quality, can
also jumpstart your fat-burning,
muscle-building engines. According
to a study published in the
Journal of Nutritional Science and
Vitaminology, eating 1
tablespoon of chopped red or green
chiles boosts metabolism by 23
percent.
5.
LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Fried Eggs
Go ahead, crack under pressure:
Eating fried eggs may help reduce
high blood pressure. In a test-tube
study, scientists in Canada
discovered that the breakfast
standby produced the highest levels
of ACE inhibitory peptides, amino
acids that dilate blood vessels and
allow blood to flow more easily.
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6. REDUCE
STRESS
Gum
When you find yourself feeling
overwhelmed at work, reach for the
Wrigley’s: Chewing gum can help tame
your tension, according to
Australian researchers. People who
chewed gum while taking multitasking
tests experienced a 17 percent drop
in self-reported stress. This might
have to do with the fact that we
associate chewing with positive
social interactions, like mealtimes.
7. STAVE OFF
DEPRESSION
Salmon
Omega-3s may calm
your neurotic side, according to a
study in the journal
Psychosomatic Medicine.
Researchers found that adults with
the lowest blood levels of
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were more
likely to have neuroses, which are
symptoms for depression. Salmon is
loaded with EPA and DHA, as are
walnuts, flaxseeds, and even
cauliflower.
8. SPEED
WEIGHT LOSS
Yogurt
The probiotics in yogurt may help
you drop pounds. British scientists
found that these active organisms
boost the breakdown of fat molecules
in mice, preventing the rodents from
gaining weight. Try the Horizon
brand of yogurt—it contains the
probiotic L. casei, the same
organism used in the study.
9. AMP UP YOUR
ENERGY
Grilled Chicken Breast
The protein in lean meat like
chicken, fish, or pork loin isn't
just good at squashing hunger and
boosting metabolism—it's also a top
source of energy. University of
Illinois researchers found that
people who ate higher amounts of
protein had higher energy levels and
didn't feel as tired as people with
proportionally higher amounts of
carbs in their diet.
10.
BE MORE EFFICIENT
Kidney Beans
These legumes are an excellent
source of thiamin and riboflavin.
Both vitamins help your body use
energy efficiently, so you won't be
nodding off mid-Powerpoint.
11. STABILIZE
YOUR BLOOD SUGAR
Barley
Swedish researchers found that if
you eat barley—a key ingredient in
whole-grain cereals—for breakfast,
the fibrous grain cuts blood sugar
response by 44 percent at lunch and
14 percent at dinner.
12. IMPROVE
YOUR ENDURANCE
Clams
Clams stock your body with
magnesium, which is important in
metabolism, nerve function, and
muscle function. When magnesium
levels are low, your body produces
more lactic acid—the same
fatigue-inducing substance that you
feel at the end of a long workout.
13. BOOST YOUR
IMMUNITY
Rooibos Tea
Animal research suggests that this
South African tea, also known as
bush or redbush tea, may provide
potent immunity-boosting benefits.
In addition, Japanese researchers
found that it may help prevent
allergies and even cancer. Adagio
offers a wide range of great-tasting
rooibos teas.
14. STOP
COUGHING
Honey
Penn State scientists have
discovered that honey is a powerful
cough suppressant—so next time
you¹re hacking up a lung, head for
the kitchen. When parents of 105
sick children doled out honey or
dextromethorphan (the active
ingredient in over-the-counter cough
medicines like
Robitussin), the honey was
better at lessening cough frequency
and severity. Try a drizzle in a cup
of rooibos tea.
15.TAME
A COLD
Kiwi
The
vitamin C in kiwi won¹t prevent
the onslaught of a cold, but it
might decrease the
duration of your symptoms. One
kiwifruit provides 117 percent of
your daily recommended intake of
vitamin C.
16. SOOTHE A
MIGRAINE
Olives
Foods rich in healthy
monounsaturated fats help reduce
inflammation, a catalyst for
migraines. One study found that the
anti-inflammatory compounds in olive
oil suppress the enzymes involved in
inflammation in the same manner as
ibuprofen. Avocados and almonds are
also high in monounsaturated fats.
17. LOWER YOUR
CHOLESTEROL
Margarine
Not just any margarine, mind
you—those containing plant sterols.
In a Tufts University study, people
who ate a butter substitute
containing plant sterols with three
meals each day saw their LDL (bad)
cholesterol drop by 6 percent. How?
The researchers say that plant
sterols prevent cholesterol from
being absorbed by the intestine.
Promise Active and Smart Balance
HeartRight are two great options.
18. REPAIR
MUSCLE
Spinach
Popeye was onto something, it seems.
Rutgers researchers discovered that
treating human muscle cells with a
compound found in spinach increased
protein synthesis by 20 percent. The
compound allows muscle tissue to
repair itself faster, the
researchers say. One thing to keep
in mind, however: Spinach doesn't
automatically make any salad a
healthy option. Check out
20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper
to see what I mean. You'll be
absolutely shocked!
19. RECOVER
FROM A WORKOUT
Green Tea
Brazilian scientists found that
participants who consumed three cups
of the beverage every day for a week
had fewer markers of the cell damage
caused by resistance to exercise.
That means that green tea can help
you recover faster after an intense
workout.
20.
REPLENISH YOUR BODY POST-WORKOUT
Low-Fat Chocolate Milk
Nothing like a little dessert after
a long workout. British researchers
found that low-fat chocolate milk
does a better job than sports drinks
at replenishing the body after a
workout. Why? Because it has more
electrolytes and higher fat content.
And scientists at James Madison
University found that the balance of
fat, protein, and carbs in chocolate
milk makes it nearly one-third more
effective at replenishing muscles
than other recovery beverages.
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21. IMPROVE
FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION
Sardines
According to research published in
Nutrition Journal, fish oil
can help increase your ability to
concentrate. Credit
EPA and DHA, fatty acids that
bolster communication among brain
cells and help regulate
neurotransmitters responsible for
mental focus. Salmon, trout,
halibut, and tuna are also great
sources of EPA and DHA.
22. AVOID
ALZHEIMER¹S DISEASE
Bananas
The antioxidants in bananas, apples,
and oranges may help protect you
from Alzheimer's, report Korean
scientists. The researchers
discovered that plant chemicals
known as polyphenols helped shield
brain cells from oxidative stress, a
key cause of the disease.
23. PROTECT
YOUR BRAIN
Steak
Vitamin B12, an essential nutrient
found in meat, milk, and fish, may
help protect you against brain loss,
say British scientists. The
researchers found that older people
with the highest blood levels of the
vitamin were six times less likely
to have brain shrinkage than those
with the lowest levels.
24. BUILD
LONG-LASTING BRAINPOWER
Carrots
Researchers from Harvard found that
men who consumed more beta-carotene
over 18 years had significantly
delayed cognitive aging. Carrots are
a tremendous source of the
antioxidant, as are other orange
foods like butternut squash,
pumpkin, and bell peppers.
25. SHARPEN
YOUR SENSES
Ground Flaxseed
Flax is the best source of alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA)—a healthy fat that
improves the workings of the
cerebral cortex, the area of the
brain that processes sensory
information, including that of
pleasure. To meet your quota,
sprinkle 1 tablespoon flaxseed on
salads or oatmeal once a day, or mix
it into a smoothie or shake.
