HEALING FOODS: Practical Guide to the Health Benefits and Medicinal Properties of Food (8 page)

Cacao (Dark Chocolate!)

The cacao nut (raw chocolate) is packed with a myriad of beneficial properties including minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, Theobromine, Phenylethylamine.

Depression and Mood

Cacao is a mood enhancer. Phenylethylamine, in combination with theobromine, can elevate mood and create a sense well-being. Eating cacao can raise your natural levels of serotonin and create a balancing effect.

PMS

If you suffer from PMS, your levels of serotonin are likely low; eating chocolate or cacao seeds can raise your levels of serotonin.

Brazil Nut

Brazil nuts are extremely tasty treats and are loaded with health benefits. They contain exceptionally high levels of selenium. Just 1 ounce of these nuts provides about 800% of the recommended daily intake of selenium making them the highest natural source of this mineral. High levels of selenium are associated with many health benefits.

Heart Disease

Selenium is a very powerful and essential nutrient. It encourages the production of glutathione, an important antioxidant that helps protect our body from free radical damage. Selenium helps prevent blood clotting and protect us from heart disease and strokes. Studies have shown that higher concentrations of selenium in the blood are associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
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Flaxseeds

Flax seeds are a nutrient dense power food. Flax seeds are rich B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. 

Cognitive Problems

Flax seeds are rich in brain-healthy fats including omega-3 fatty acids which are directly used by the brain to build and protect neurons. Flax seeds also contain GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid which are used to build healthy neurons and also to regulate the environment of the brain. To boost your brain power to the max, have a tablespoon or two of flax seeds every day.

Constipation

Everyone experiences a bout of constipation now and then. Constipation is often simply the result of consuming too little fiber, and adding more fiber to your diet is the simple remedy. Flax seed are high in fiber. You’d be hard-pressed to find a food higher in fiber than flax.

GRAINS

Courage, cheerfulness, and a desire to work depend mostly on good nutrition.

—Jacob Moleschott

Oat

Nothing starts the day off better than a big bowl of warm oatmeal. The oat is generally cited as the most nourishing of all the cereals. Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein than other cereals and contain phytochemicals which have been associated with protection from many forms of chronic disease. Oats also contain a good balance of essential fatty acids, which have been linked with longevity and general good health.

Heart Disease

The accumulation of cholesterol is implicated in many types of cardiovascular disease. Oatmeal and oat bran are significant sources of soluble and insoluble fiber. One component of the soluble fiber found in oats is beta-glucans, which has proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol. Oats are also one of the best sources of compounds called tocotrienols which inhibit cholesterol synthesis and have been found to lower blood cholesterol. Research also indicates that the antioxidants found in oats reduce cholesterol by reducing the ability of blood cells to stick to the inside of artery walls. A daily bowl of oatmeal can lower cholesterol by up to 23 percent and reduce the risk of heart disease by almost half.

PART THREE: Health Conditions

From the bitterness of disease man learns the sweetness of health. 

—Proverb

The information in this section is organized by health condition and is intended to serve as a cross reference to the information provided earlier in the book. Under each condition you will find the medicinal foods recommended or suggested for that particular condition.  

Anemia

Banana

Bananas are high in iron which is essential for the production of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and enzymes essential in the production of red blood cells. They are therefore an excellent food for anemic persons.

Beets

Anemia is a condition in which too few red blood cells are in circulation. Iron deficiency is the most frequent cause of anemia.
Beets are good source of iron which regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body. The copper content in beets helps make the iron more available to the body.

Acid Reflux

Mango

Mangoes taste so delicious that people often forget how healthy they really are. Mangoes are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, and B2, niacin, potassium, iron, and fiber. They are good for the kidneys, digestive system of the body and the skin.

Acne

Lemon

Lemon decreases redness and irritation from acne and restores skin to health. Lemons are rich in vitamin C which has anti-inflammatory properties and alpha-hydroxy acid which works as a skin exfoliator.

Arteriosclerosis

Beets

The juice of this wonderful root is a powerful solvent for inorganic calcium deposits that cause the arteries to harden and therefore it is very useful in fighting arteriosclerosis. It helps to keep the blood vessels and the arterial system in a very sound condition.

Asthma Inflammation

Carrots

Carrots contain beta carotene, which may decrease the asthma symptoms caused by exercise. Carrots are a top source for beta-carotene, hence the name. Beta-carotene may also reduce lung inflammation caused by toxins.

Orange

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes wheezing, difficulty breathing and chest tightness Asthma symptoms can be triggered by allergens, such as pollen or pet dander, by non-allergic triggers, such as emotional stress, physical activity, cold air, smoke, or viruses. Consuming oranges and other citrus fruits may help reduce your symptoms. Citrus fruits are rich sources of vitamin A and C which help lessen lung inflammation associated with cigarette smoke and other pollutants.

Pineapple

The bromelain in pineapple reduces asthma inflammation. Studies have found that bromelain can significantly reduce markers of lung inflation and reduce the total white blood cells which normally increase with the onset of asthma.

Bone Loss

Olives

Hydroxytyrosol is a phytonutrient in olive oil has been found to have the potential to help us prevent bone loss. Several studies have found increased depositing of calcium in bone and decreased loss of total bone mass following consumption of this olive phytonutrient.

Brain Fog

Apple

Eating apples can improve your memory and help you sustain overall brain health. Apples contain a larger percentage of phosphorus than any other fruit or vegetable. For this reason it is an invaluable food for brain health. Sufferers from cognitive problems such as brain fog and poor memory should eat at least two apples every day. The effects of the antioxidants and flavonoids present in apples have been shown to reduce brain-cell inflammation and oxidation that occurs naturally due to the presence of free radicals. Eating apples increases acetylcholine, which is a critical neurotransmitter for memory and brain health. Eating apples has also been shown to diminish accumulations of toxins in the brain, particularly beta-amyloid, which is thought to be one of the main factors causing Alzheimer's disease.

Cancer

Asparagus

Asparagus is packed with antioxidants and can neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Asparagus is the best food source of glutathione, a detoxifying compound that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals. In addition, Asparin A, a compound
in asparagus, has been found to halt the growth liver cancer cells and can even cause death in those cells.

Blackberries

According to a study published
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
, the anthocyanins in blackberries may help prevent or inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
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In addition, the high concentration of antioxidants found in blackberries may help prevent free radical mediated damage, thereby reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as cancer.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain phenolic compounds which, in harmony with anthocyanin and other antioxidants can do wonders to prevent or treat cancers. Studies published in the
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
showed that the phenolic compounds in blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation. Another study at the Beckman Research Institute showed that blueberries have the potential to inhibit the growth of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a particularly aggressive form of breast tumor

Broccoli

Diets high in broccoli have been linked with a lower risk of certain types of cancer.
Broccoli contains certain chemicals that work through numerous mechanisms to inhibit tumor cell adhesion, spread, and invasion. These
substances act as antioxidants, boost detoxifying enzymes in the body, and may even
produce beneficial changes in gene expression. Studies suggest that a broccoli compound known as sulforaphane induces cancer cells to commit a sort of cellular suicide.

Grapefruit

Pink and red grapefruits are excellent sources of lycopene. Lycopene has a high capacity to help fight oxygen free radicals and is a powerful agent against tumors and cancers. Grapefruit also contains liminoids and naringenin. Liminoids may help prevent
cancerous cells from proliferating and
also inhibit tumor formation by promoting the formation of glutathione-S-transferase, a detoxifying enzyme. Naringenin is an antioxidant compound which has been shown to repair damaged DNA in prostate cancer cells.