We all love to lead a healthy lifestyle but at some stage we end up with colds, flu or an injury. If this happens to you, don’t stress and don’t rush to the pharmacy, you may well have the solution in a kitchen cupboard! Discover 10 Natural Health Remedies in your pantry!
We know that we need to ensure we include the right types of food in our diet to gain the benefit of their minerals, vitamins, and nutrients.
Likewise if we want to boost our bodies natural healing abilities we simply need to add a specific food to our diet. Discover those foods that offer our body defense and boost healing here!
We know that we need to maintain a healthy balanced diet if we are to achieve optimal health and well being.
As well as eating for general health, there are a number of foods, often found in our cupboards, that are not only healthy but also help alleviate common and everyday health complaints.
Note: If you have been diagnosed with any serious medical condition you should check with your doctor before starting any alternative health treatment.
Healthy Natured
This article offers you information on 10 everyday foods that can be used to boost your bodies natural healing properties and tackle common everyday health issues.
These natural remedies are a great alternative before reaching for pharmaceuticals. They are easy to use and highly effective. Why not try them, especially if they exist in your pantry or cupboards!
Top 10 Natural Health Remedies Found In Your Pantry.
1. Ginger – Natural Health Remedy for Menstrual Cramps.
Many cultures have long held the belief that ginger is a key component for natural health treatments.
Traditional Chinese medicine, for example, has used ginger in treatments and medicines for more than 2,000 years.
Ginger is known for its excellent properties for improving blood flow and reducing inflammation in our muscles.
It is widely accepted as an excellent anti-inflammatory, and is especially good for providing relief to pain in the uterus where cramps originate.
A clinical trial1Comparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea even found that ginger was as effective as ibuprofen for relieving period pain .
For those who suffer from menstrual cramp, why not try this suggestion?
Simply cut half a fresh ginger root, approximately 3 to 4 inches, into chunks. There is no need to peel.
Add the chunks to 2 cups of water and bring to the boil. Cover and let the ginger steep in the boiling water.
After 15 minutes strain the mix and add some honey to taste. Take a cup morning and evening. If the taste isn’t appealing you can always add your favourite tea bag to the ginger broth.
2. Cranberries For Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).
Cranberries are an amazing little berry. They contain proanthocyanidins, which is a great natural remedy. It is a compound that fights off the bacteria which cause urinary tract infections (UTI).
It is believed that E. coli is usually the main culprit in triggering a urinary tract infection.
Proanthocyanidins found in Cranberries, are proven natural remedies, and have been shown to prevent infection. It does this because it prevents bacteria from attaching to the bladder walls.
It is important to note that if you already have a UTI, cranberries probably won’t cure it, as the infection has already lodged.
However since 20% of women who contract a UTI will at some stage get another one, simply drinking one to two glasses a day of 20% pure cranberry juice will help prevent recurrence.
3. Calcium Rich Foods For PMS.
It is thought that around 85% of menstruating women experience at least one symptom of PMS every month. Is that you? Tired of those annoyingly irritating symptoms?
Well the good news is simply by tweaking your daily diet and adding calcium rich natural foods you may well lessen your symptoms.
Studies have shown that women with PMS also have lower blood calcium when compared to those without PMS. It is recommended for adults to consume around 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day.
We are all aware that dairy products are rich in calcium. However less known is that almonds, broccoli, leafy greens, and sardines are also high in calcium. These are a great supplement for your diet.
4. Eczema improves with Oatmeal.
Did you know that you are able to calm itchy, inflamed skin with one of your favorite breakfast foods?
The humble oatmeal is one of our home remedies for health because it is able to soothe rashes. This is because it’s packed with phytochemicals which have anti-inflammatory properties.Â
Create your own rash soothing bath simply by grinding 1/3 cup of plain oatmeal into a fine powder. Use your household blender or a pestle and mortar.
Then pour your powdered oatmeal into lukewarm water. Stir evenly with your hands until the water is a milky color.
Soak a clean cloth in this oatmeal water and apply to the rash area. Leave the oatmeal soaked cloth in contact with the skin for at least 15 minutes.
Another method is to grind 1/4 cup of oatmeal and then add just enough water to form a thick paste. Then apply the oatmeal paste directly to the skin. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off.
5. Dry Skin Disappears With Sea Salt or Sugar.
Now there is no more need for expensive skincare products to treat rough patches on your knees, elbows, and heels. Making a sea salt or sugar scrub at home is just as effective. It’s also far more economical.
The use of sea salt or sugar as an exfoliator is excellent because of the thick course particles. They do a great job of clearing away dry skin.
Simply mix 1 cup of sea salt with 1/2 cup of a light oil. It is important that the final mix is still solid. Don’t dissolve the sugar or salt crystals.
The final product should resemble moist sand. It is important to remember that this product should be used on dry skin areas only. Do not use on sensitive areas as the salt can be harsh.
6. Cucumbers For Puffy Eyes.
You have probably all seen the photos of movie stars with cold cucumber slices over their eyes. While this may seem far fetched, or even a little silly, this technique really does reduce puffiness.
Cucumbers are 95% water. Therefore they offer a nice cooling sensation. The cool temperature causes our blood vessels to constrict which in turn reduces inflammation.
Cucumbers, believe it or not, work even better than ice packs. Cucumber slices fit to the contours of our eyes perfectly. This helps to reduce swelling.
Place chilled cucumber slices on your eyes for 10 minutes. You will notice remarkable reduction in puffiness as well as a much refreshed feeling overall.
7. Prunes For Fiber.
Prunes are simply dried plums. They are rich in insoluble fiber which is a key nutrient to help fight constipation.Â
Insoluble fiber is simply the type of fiber that does not dissolve in water.
The insoluble fiber in prunes creates more bulk. This helps waste pass through the digestive system. As well as insoluble fiber Prunes also contain substances which act as natural laxatives.
These natural laxatives are sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin. These laxatives build up in your body over time. They are far more effective than any store bought laxative.
Just one prune a day is sufficient for natural constipation relief. If you do not notice improvement within a week take 2 prunes per day.
8. Hiccups & Sugar!
Hiccups is simply when our diaphragm gets caught in a series of spasms. It is said there is no cure for hiccups … however!!!
You can fool your body.
You can stop the hiccups and spasms by putting 1 teaspoon of sugar underneath your tongue.
The sweetness creates sensation which is strong enough to stimulate the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in our body. It starts at our brain stem and extends down to our diaphragm into the stomach.
Once we stimulate the vagus nerve we take back control of the stomach and diaphragm.
By keeping the sugar under our tongue you actually will stop hiccupping. Once the hiccups stop you can simply swallow any remaining sugar!
What did Mary Poppins say? Just a spoonful of sugar? If she was referring to hiccups she was correct!
9. Eat Apples To Ease Heartburn.
Fried Foods, Soda, High Fat Beef etc are triggers for Acid Reflux.
One food to keep at hand are apples. Apples have an ingredient known as Pectin. Pectin is a soluble fiber. It is excellent at absorbing stomach acid.
As well as Pectin apples also contains 2 types of acid (malic and tartaric).
It may sound odd to add additional acid to our diet. These acids work by actually neutralizing the juices that flow up from your stomach. The best are red or golden delicious apples. They are naturally sweeter than most apples so are considered alkaline.
Sweet apples are known as alkaline foods. Alkaline foods work at a cellular level to restore pH balance which prevents Acid Reflux and heartburn.
10. Treat Infection With Tumeric – Natural Health remedies.
The mighty spice turmeric is known, and rightly so, in India as a “holy powder”. Turmeric is used to prevent infections and treat wounds. This is due to a compound found within turmeric called Curcumin.Â
Foods with curcumin have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They help with cleansing and healing.
Curcumin has the ability to stop bacteria from multiplying.
If you are ever running low on antibiotic ointments try dabbing a little turmeric powder on your cut or scrape instead. Remember this should be used only for minor or superficial wounds.
You can also use turmeric by making a paste. Use half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and add a drop or two of water. Mix and apply to a non bleeding wound. If the wound is still bleeding apply the turmeric powder without water. Allow to dry and then cover with a clean dressing. Now let the healing begin.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Have you tried any of these remedies? Did they work for you?
Do you have suggestions for other natural health remedies? Please do let us know by adding a comment below or you can contact me directly by clicking here!
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References
- 1Comparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea
