25 Amazing Food Cures

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Eat This, Not That

by David Zinczenko

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When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with slabs o f meat on my face.

As kids, my brother Eric and I fought like wild animals. He s till sports a s car above

his lip from a cut I accidentally gave him, and m y nose isn't quite as s traight 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

ass ociated 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 in to 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 & Behaviorfound 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 Everto 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 m ay 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 vess els and

allow blood to flow more easily. (For up-to-the-

minute tips like these, be sure to follow me on

25 Amazing Food Cures

By David Zinczenko

Sep 27, 2010

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6. REDUCE STRESS

Gum

When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed at work, reach for the Wrigleys:

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 s elf-reported stress. This might have to do with the fact that we ass ociate

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 lowes t blood

levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were more

likely to have neuroses, which are symptoms for depress ion. 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 boos t the breakdown of fat molecules in mice, preventing

the rodents from gaining weight. Try the Horizon brand of yogurtit contains the

probiotic L. casei, the sam e organism used in the s tudy.

Bonus Tip: Don't let all of your hard work go down the drain: Avoid this shocking list

of the 20 Scariest Food Creations of 2010!

9. AMP UP YOUR ENERGY

Grilled Chicken Breast

The protein in lean m eat like chicken, fish, or pork loin is n't just good at squashing

hunger and boosting m etabolismit'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 ene rgy efficiently, so you

won't be nodding off mid-Powerpoint.

11. STABILIZE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR

Barley

Swedish researchers found that if you eat

barleya key ingredient in whole-grain

cerealsfor breakfast, the fibrous grain cuts blood s ugar response b y 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 mus cle function. When magnesium levels are low, your body

produces more lactic acidthe same fatigue-inducing substance that you feel at

the end of a long workout.

13. BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

Rooibos Tea

Animal res earch suggests that this South African tea, also known as bus h 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 s cientists have discovered that honey is a powerful cough s uppressant

so next time youre 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 wont prevent the

onslaught of a cold, but it m ight decrease the

duration of your symptoms. One kiwifruit

provides 117 percent of your daily recommended

intake of vitamin C.




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Foods rich in healthy monounsaturated fats help

reduce inflammation, a catalyst for migraines.

One study found that the anti-inflammatory

compounds in olive oil s uppress the enzymes

involved in inflamm ation in the sam e manner as ibuprofen. Avocados and almonds

are also high in monounsaturated fats.

17. LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL

Margarine

Not just any margarine, mind youthose 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 m uscle cells w ith 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

Whopperto see what I mean. You'll be absolutely shocked!

19. RECOVER FROM A WORKOUT

Green Tea

Brazilian scientists found that participants who consum ed 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 dess ert 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 m uscles than other

recovery beverages .

Bonus Tip: Sign up for the FREE Eat This, Not That! e-mail newsletter, and get

super nutrition and weight-loss tips like these delivered straight to your inbox.

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 m ental focus. Salmon, trout, halibut, and tuna are also great

sources of EPA and DHA.

22. AVOID ALZHEIMERS 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 s hield brain cells from oxidative stress , akey cause of the dis ease.

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 s ix times less likely to have

brain shrinkage than those with the l owest levels.

24. BUILD LONG-LASTING BRAINPOWER

Carrots

Researchers from Harvard found that men who consum ed 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

workin s of the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain that rocesses s ensor




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