Wednesday, April 6, 2011

5 Healing Foods That Are Healthy!

Hi fitness friends! Here are 5 healthy foods that can help cure what ails you!


1. Banana

Cure for: Stress or anxiety

Next time your buttons get pushed, reach for a banana, says Molly Kimball, RD, a certified specialist in sports dietetics with Ochsner’s Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans. With only 105 calories and 14 g of sugar, a medium banana fills you up, provides a mild blood sugar boost, and has 30% of the day’s vitamin B6, which helps the brain produce mellowing serotonin, getting you through a crisis peacefully.


2. Raisins

Cure for: High blood pressure

Sixty raisins—about a handful—contain 1 g of fiber and 212 mg of potassium, both recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Numerous studies show that polyphenols in grape-derived foods such as raisins, wine, and juice are effective in maintaining cardiovascular health, including bringing down blood pressure.


3. Yogurt

Cure for: Bloat

One and a half cups of live-culture yogurt (high in gut-friendly bacteria) pushes food more efficiently through the gastrointestinal tract, says a 2002 study in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. The beneficial bacteria also improve your gut’s ability to digest beans and dairy lactose, which can cause gas, adds Kimball.


4. Apricots

Cure for: Preventing kidney stones

Eight dried apricot halves have 2 g of fiber, only 3 mg of sodium, and 325 mg of potassium—all of which help keep minerals from accumulating in urine and forming calcium oxalate stones, the most common type of kidney stones, says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, an integrative nutritionist in private practice in Sarasota, FL, and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.


5. Tuna

Cure for: A bad mood

A 3-ounce serving of canned white tuna has about 800 mg of omega-3s, which research suggests may treat the kind of blues that leave you feeling low or anxious. The fatty acids in fish have been endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association as an effective part of depression treatment, says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Eat Your Way to Happiness. For a seafood-free way to get happy, nosh on a small 

bagel. The 37 g of carbs will give you a dose of mood-boosting serotonin.



Read more on Prevention here.

3 comments:

  1. this is really neat! I get kidney stones when I'm pregnant. I'll remember to eat plenty of apricots next time we decide to have a baby! lol Thanks for sharing :) I really enjoy your blog. Would you mind if I shared this post on my blog?

    ReplyDelete
  2. thanks Kate!! Share away- the Prevention link is on the bottom to the entire article including more foods :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love food - and I love reading little tips and interesting facts like this. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

DISCLAIMER

This site has been created for entertainment purposes only. We are not medical doctors, trained nutritionists or certified personal trainers. We are not responsible for the use or intended use of any information provided on this site. Always check with a medical professional or trained nutritionist before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle or beginning any type of exercise program.

Hits since June 3rd, 2012