12/31/2019 / By Isabelle Z.
We are constantly learning more about the healing power of food, and 2019 was no exception. Here’s a look back at 10 of the most important superfood-related stories of the year.
Do you ever wish your brain worked just a little faster? It turns out that blueberries may give you the boost you’re looking for. In a study we reported on in February, researchers discovered that consuming wild blueberries actually enhanced children’s reaction time by 9 percent without affecting their accuracy. The flavonoids in blueberries are believed to be responsible for this effect.
Onions are featured in many savory dishes, but there are some compelling health reasons you should eat them even when the recipe doesn’t specifically call for them. In addition to being rich in antioxidants, they can lower your cholesterol, improve your gut health and bone density, and they may even help prevent cancer. They’re healthy raw as well as cooked, although raw ones tend to have higher levels of beneficial compounds, especially in the outer layers of the flesh.
If you’re limiting your pineapple consumption to the hottest summer days and the occasional tropical cocktail, it’s time to add this fruit to your diet year-round. In addition to being an excellent source of vitamin C, they are excellent at improving digestive and oral health. They can help maintain your blood pressure, enhance your circulation, strengthen your bones, and even suppress coughs.
Stress is so common that it is tempting to pass it off as a normal part of life that we all have to deal with, but it’s important to keep in mind the damage it can cause to your health by raising your levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Thankfully, there are three nutrients that can help reduce your cortisol levels: B vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, and adaptogenic herbs like ginseng and holy basil.
If you’re not worried about heavy metal contamination yet, you should be. These dangerous metals are in our food, our water, our air and our hygiene products, and they build up over time in your system to cause a host of toxic effects that you might not notice until it’s too late. In September, we shared ten natural detox foods with readers that can help your body eliminate heavy metals, and the list included foods like cilantro, blueberries, lemons, chlorella and spirulina.
We all know what happens when your arteries are clogged, but that doesn’t mean you need to start taking toxic prescriptions to get the problem under control. Instead, you can help prevent or even reverse atherosclerosis with help from foods like garlic, fermented cabbage, pomegranates, turmeric and sesame seeds.
You might have heard that honey is great for your skin when used topically, especially when it comes to healing burns, but did you know that consuming it can also be beneficial? Rich in antioxidants, it can reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack and some types of cancer in addition to helping detoxify.
Alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant found in foods like yeast, spinach, and broccoli, has been shown to help restore damaged liver and pancreas tissue and kill tumor cells in these organs without compromising healthy tissue. This could be excellent news for those suffering from two of the deadliest types of cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer.
Drinking lemon water can benefit your body in many ways, including promoting digestion, boosting your immune system, fighting inflammation, and providing your body with potassium. Drinking it first thing in the morning is a great way to make it part of your daily health routine, and you can add ingredients like ginger and mint for further benefits.
What does your bedtime routine look like? If you’re like most people, it involves going to the bathroom and brushing your teeth, but you might want to add consuming coconut oil to that list. Not only does it keep your skin healthy, but it also helps you sleep soundly by preventing sleep-interrupting blood sugar spikes and boosting your production of sleep hormones.
As you can see, food really is some of the best medicine there is!
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Tagged Under: Blueberries, coconut oil, cortisol, detox, grocery cures, honey, lemon water, lemons, natural medicine, onions, pineapples, prevention
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