The everyday foods you eat can help to keep you healthy and prevent or treat some common medical problems as well.
1. Honey
Nutrients: The B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
Good for: Sore throats, coughs, and cold, healing wounds, and hay fever
2. Ginger
Nutrients: Vitamins A and B2 (riboflavin) iron, phosphorus and potassium
Good for: Nausea, food poisoning, motion sickness, vertigo, respiratory ailments, menstrual pain, lowering blood cholesterol
3. Garlic
Nutrients: the B vitamins, vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium, iron, and selenium
Good for: Fighting infections, relieving colds, bronchitis, congestion, fungal infections, protecting against food poisoning, lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, asthma, diarrhea, and indigestion.
4. Carrots
Nutrients: The B vitamins, vitamins A (beta-carotene) and C, iron, and fiber
Good for: Eye health, healthy skin, gum disease, asthma and respiratory problems, protecting against cancer.
5. Watercress
Nutrients: Vitamins A and C, folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, and lutein
Good for: protecting against cancer; urinary infections, and good eye health reducing risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
6. Avocados
Nutrients: Vitamins B2 and E and fiber
Good for: healthy skin and treating skin problems, fighting stress, good digestion, boosting immune system, and lowering cholesterol levels
7. Bananas
Nutrients: vitamin B6, potassium, zinc, and fiber
Good for: digestive ailments, constipation, diarrhea, convalescing after illness, relieving muscular cramping.
8. Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flaxseeds)
Nutrients: Vitamin E and zinc
Good for: healthy nervous system, good digestion, reducing risk of dementia, and enhancing memory and thinking skills.
9. Nuts
Nutrients: protein, the B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, magnesium, iron, healthy oils, and folic acid
Good for: healthy nervous system, easing fatigue and stress, lowering cholesterol, preventing memory loss.
10. Oats
Nutrients: protein, vitamins B6 and E, magnesium and fiber.
Good for: treating constipation, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, protecting against colon cancer.
11. Yogurt with live cultures
Nutrients: protein, vitamins A and D, calcium
Good for: stomach ailments, food poisoning, constipation, fighting fungal infections, boosting the immune system.
12. Oily fish
Nutrients: protein, vitamins A, B12, and D, omega-3 fatty acids, iodine
Good for: a healthy heart and preventing heart disease, healthy nervous system, protecting against memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease.
1000 home remedies, Metro Books, 2013
101 Best Super Foods, Betsy A. Hornick, MS, RD, 2011
