Post subject: Food as Medicine

[Guest guest]

Post subject: Food as Medicine JoAnn Guest

Sep 26, 2005 16:55 PDT

 

Post subject: Food as Medicine

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HEADACHE? EAT FISH!

Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does

ginger,

which reduces inflammation and pain.

 

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!

Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat honey from your

area

(local region) daily.

 

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!

Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses

of

tea. (actually, tea suppresses my appetite and keeps the pounds from

invading... Green tea is great for our immune system)!

 

INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?) TRY HONEY!

Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

 

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!

Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

 

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!

Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.

(fish

has omega oils, good for our immune system)

 

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS - GINGER!!!!!

Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning

sickness

and nausea.

 

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!

High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

 

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!

Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in

pineapple.

 

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!!

Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help

reduce

depression, anxiety and fatigue

 

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!

Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-

needed

zinc.

 

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!

Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers

cholesterol, too.)

 

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!

A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in

hot

red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate

your

tummy.

 

BREAST CANCER?

Eat Wheat bran and cabbage. Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy

levels.

 

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!

A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark

green and orange vegetables.

 

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE !!!

Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal

ulcers.

 

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!

Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure

this

condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

 

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!

Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

 

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!

Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a

chemical that lowers pressure too.

 

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!

The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and

blood

sugar.

 

Kiwi:

Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium,

Vitamin

E and fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

 

Apple:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low

Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances

the

activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon

cancer, heart attack and stroke.

 

Strawberry:

Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant

power

among major fruits and protects the body from cancer causing, blood

vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for

you...

they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young...

blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field...

they

get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

 

Orange:

Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds

away,

lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as

lessen

the risk of colon cancer.

 

Watermelon:

Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed

with a

giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They

are

also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other

nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C and Potassium.

(watermelon

also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin

healthy, protecting our skin from those darn uv rays)

 

Guava and Papaya:

Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high

Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent

constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your

eyes.

(also good for gas and indigestion)

 

Tomatoes:

Very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate

problems from invading their bodies

http://www.greatestherbsonearth.com/articles/foods_as_medicine.htm

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Post subject: Medicinal Components of Cabbages

 

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Medicinal Components of Cabbages

Apr 02, 2005 12:05 PST

 

 

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/cabbage.htm

--

Wild cabbage is native to the coasts of the English Channel and the

Mediterranean, but cultivated varieties are produced worldwide as a

vegetable.The plant has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years.

It has been called: " poor man's medicine chest " and " doctor of the

poor " .

 

Cabbages were used by sailors to prevent scurvy. It was also an

ancient

remedy for TB (tuberculosis).

 

Cabbage has an ancient reputation for " purifying " the blood, a

practice

seen today as decoctions and fresh cabbage juice are taken as a good

cleanser and detoxifier.

 

It was used by the Romans as an antidote to alcohol, believing it

counteracted intoxication and prevented, or reduced, a hangover.

This

concept has some validity since cabbage aids in the " breakdown " of

" toxins " in the liver.

 

In a Greek ritual, cabbage was given to expectant mothers shortly

before

 

birth in order to establish good breast-milk production, a practice

that

 

is carried out by women, of any culture, today.

 

Cabbage leaves have long been used as a poultice to treat infected

wounds.

---

 

anti-inflammatory

antibacterial

anti-rheumatic

heals tissues by encouraging cells to proliferate

a liver decongestant

protects the stomach from " gastric hydrochloric acid "

-

Components

vitamins and minerals (especially A, B, C, E, calcium, sulfur,

silica,

magnesium, iodine, iron, and phosphorus) chlorophyll

mustard oils

---

 

Medicinal Parts -Leaves

Extensive modern research largely confirms its ancient use in folk

medicine, and it has been shown to " stimulate " the immune system and

the

 

production of antibodies.

 

Its sulfur compounds are largely responsible for its antiseptic,

antibiotic, and disinfectant actions, particularly in the

respiratory

system.

 

An amino acid, methionine, found only in raw cabbage, is responsible

for

 

promoting the healing effects.

 

As an old remedy for hangovers and used to dry out alcoholics,

cabbage

is showing through modern research that a substance

called " glutamine "

can help both peptic ulcers and alcoholism.

 

Its " tumor-inhibiting " constituents are the bioflavonoids, indoles,

genistein, and monoterpenes.

 

 

Poultices have long been used to treat wounds, burns and scalds,

boils

and carbuncles, bruises and sprains, ulcers, blisters, cold sores,

shingles, and bites and stings.

 

Its anti-inflammatory action can benefit swollen and painful joints

and

help relieve the pain of neuralgia, sciatica, toothache, headaches,

migraines, and lumbago.

 

Traditionally, it was applied over the abdomen and left overnight to

treat peptic ulcers and bowel problems. Applied during the day to

the

lower abdomen, it was thought useful in soothing cystitis and renal

colic and the relief of " fluid retension " .

 

Poultices, along with cabbage tea or juice, were taken to relieve

the

pain and soreness of a harsh cough; and, if the poultices were

applied

to the throat, they helped soothe tonsilitis and laryngitis.

 

To make a poultice, cut out the midrib of a leaf and iron it. Place

while still hot onto the area to be treated, being careful not to

have

it too hot or to leave it on too long as it can cause blisters.

 

Fresh leaves steeped in olive oil can be applied to chapped skin,

chilblains, varicose veins, abscesses, and boils.

 

Fresh juices can be used as a diuretic and antiseptic for the

urinary

tract and to ease fluid retension and to reduce or prevent kidney

stones, arthritis, and gout.

 

Gargles made from cabbage juice are used for sore throats.

 

Lotions with the juice can relieve burns, bites, cold sores, acne,

impetigo; and, if squeezed into the ear,they can help heal earaches

(this must be done by a professional).

 

Eyewash made from cabbage juice and warm water is excellent for

sore,

tired eyes.

 

Fresh leaves can be placed directly onto wounds or even into a bra

for

mastitis or engorged breasts. To use, cut out the midrib, and beat

the

leaf gently to soften it and release its medicinal properties, then

place on an affected area.

 

Decoctions are used for digestive problems, including colitis.

 

Syrup made from a decoction can be used for coughs, asthma, and

bronchitis.

-

Traditional Use

Because of its " iron " and chlorophyll content, it has long been used

to

treat anemia.

 

It is taken to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, exhaustion.

Breastfeeding mothers use it to stimulate milk production.

 

In soups and teas, cabbage has long been used during colds, flu,

sinusitis, and sore throats.

 

Cabbage has long been used to heal ulcers as it contains " mucilage "

that

 

coats the lining of the digestive tract, protecting it from

irritants

and excessive acid.

 

It is recommended that two or three glasses of freshly extracted

juice

be taken between meals to relieve peptic ulcers, gastritis,

heartburn,

and ulcerative colitis.

 

It is used to stimulate the digestion and to relieve constipation.

 

A traditional Russian cure for chronic constipation is one-half

glass

of salted cabbage juice taken before each meal.

 

However, it can be just as effective without the salt.

 

As a tonic, cabbage has long been used to treat cirrhosis of the

liver,

as well as lethargy, irritability, and headaches, all symptoms

associated with a sluggish liver.

 

Cabbage may help " reduce " blood sugar, so may be of benefit to

diabetics.

 

Like other brassicas, cabbage also has the ability to help lower the

risk of cancer, especially of the colon, and growth of polyps, which

often are a prelude to cancer.

 

When eaten raw, cabbage has been shown to help protect against the

effects of radiation.

 

Cabbage also appears to " enhance " the body's ability to " metabolize "

estrogen, helping to reduce susceptibility to breast,

uterine, and ovarian cancers,

if eaten regularly.

 

Externally, cabbage leaves have a soothing antiseptic and healing

effect

 

and the ability to draw out toxins from the skin. Cabbage poultices

are

also excellent for sore throats and hot, swollen joints. Lightly

crush

the leaves, blanch in boiling water, and wrap around the area. Leave

on

for two to four hours and renew, as necessary. Care is needed not to

blister the skin.

_________________

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets