Fight Pain With Food

According to Prevention Magazine, science is beginning to recognize that foods can relieve pain as well as—or even better than—drugs. I have provided the link that provides information for each bullet point.

• CHERRIES (arthritis, muscle pain)
• GINGER (migraines, arthritis, sore muscles)
• CRANBERRY JUICE (ulcers)
• SALMON, HERRING, SARDINES (achy back, neck, joints)
• TURMERIC (achy joints, colitis)
• YOGURT (IBS)
• COFFEE (headaches)
• MINT (IBS, headaches)
• EDAMAME (arthritis)
• HOT PEPPERS (arthritis)

Foods That Fight Pain
Meals That Fight Pain

Healthy Skin 101

 The following information was in my email inbox this morning. I have listed the bullet points.The expanded article  can be found at the link listed.

Natural Strategies for Healthier-Looking Skin

Dr. Mercola

1. Avoid eating grain carbohydrates, especially wheat.
2. Consider a gluten-free diet.
3. Eliminate/Reduce sugar in your diet.
4. Establish the proper balance of gut bacteria.
5. Drink plenty of fresh pure water.
6. Choose raw milk over pasteurized.
7. Eliminate ALL sodas, juice, and energy drinks.
8. Eat for your Nutritional Type (NT).
9. Optimize your vitamin D levels.
10. Reduce your stress.
11. Exercise regularly.
12. Get a good night's rest.
13. Naturally cleanse and moisturize your skin.

Dr. Mercola

Toxic Triclosan

This post is not food-related, but products that contain triclosan are ingested or absorbed by our bodies, thus the posting.

Researchers that have discovered that the chemical triclosan, a polychloro phenoxy phenol found in some antimicrobial soaps, deodorants, cosmetics and toothpaste is toxic. 

Greener Choices 
Dr. Ben Kim  
WebMD

 Chloroform (a toxic chemical linked to cancer) is produced when triclosan reacts with the chlorine in tap water.
 Natural News 

Alternatives:
You can buy toothpaste without triclosan. 
Regular Colgate doesn’t have it (but Colgate Total toothpaste does); 
Tom’s of Maine sells many triclosan-free options; 
Crest Pro-Health toothpaste contains another antibacterial, stannous fluoride, also to help protect against gingivitis. 

Other Alternatives

Don't Eat Green Potatoes

FYI: A friend's mother ended up an intensive care unit because she ate green potatoes. It took a while, but she is on the mend. I am posting links about the toxin, Solanine (an alkaloid), that resides in the nightshade family.





Link 1 (foods that contain Solanine)
Link 2  (Solanine Toxicity Syndrome)
Link 3 (New York Times Article)
Link 4 (What is Solanine?  @wiseGEEK)

I want to get this information out there. I will add more links and refine (and edit) this post as I uncover more facts.

Let's Go to the Movies...Again

Link to health documentaries I posted  July of 2011.

'BOUT GOUT

 From Free Online Medical Dictionary:
 Gout is a form of acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe, but may also affect the heel, ankle, hand, wrist, or elbow. It affects the spine often enough to be a factor in back pain. Gout usually comes on suddenly, goes away after 5-10 days, and can keep recurring. Gout is different from other forms of arthritis because it occurs when there are high levels of uric acid circulating in the blood, which can cause urate crystals to settle in the tissues of the joints.

FYI: Eat dark cherries...


I hope you find some answers and/or relief at the following websites.

Foods to Eat (About.com)
Foods to Avoid (About.com)
Cut Back on Purines (About.com)
Mayo Clinic
Every Diet
Livestrong Menu
Livestrong Diet
Livestrong Gout Prevention Food List

VITAMIN D

Daily "doses" of sunlight (that's why it's called the 'sunshine vitamin') can seriously increase your vitamin D intake. The rays of the sun hitting your skin stimulates the production of this vitamin.   

 

Sun-synthesis through the skin is the best way to get our daily dose of D, but that is not always possible. Many foods have been fortified with synthetic Vitamin D. Only a select number of foods contain it naturally.

TOP FOODS CONTAINING VITAMIN D

Mushrooms: They suck up sunlight (Vitamin D). Dried shiitake are high in vitamin D and B vitamins (B1 and B2). Make sure they are sun-dried (not artificially dried) for optimal benefits.

Salmon: 3½ ounce portion of cooked (WILD ideally, if not, sustainably farmed) salmon = 90% of daily requirements of vitamin D.  Zooplankton is an excellent source of this important vitamin. Salmon eat them.

Mackerel: Omega-3 rich fish. 3 1/2 ounces = 90% of the recommended daily amount.

Herring: High in vitamin D because they are the part of our food chain that thrive on plankton (brimming with D). 

 

Sardines: One of the best foods containing Vitamin D. One small tin can of sardines = approx. 70% of your daily needs.  Sardines also contain vitamin B-12, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, selenium and protein.

Tuna (ideally fresh, wild-caught): A 3 ounce serving supplies 50% of daily vitamin D requirements.

 

FYI: Eating oily fish can lubricate the body with good fats, providing many heath benefits including better memory and brain function.

Catfish: Feed on plankton (and other miniscule sea life that create vitamin D from sunlight.

Cod Liver Oil: Contains 10,000 IUs of Vitamin D. Rich in the sunlight vitamin. This golden, terrible tasting (and smelling) oil is rich in Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. Helps keep your bones strong and healthy, improves brain function as well as optimize nervous system functions. Hold your nose and take one tablespoon for your daily vitamin D fix.

Eggs: Contain small amounts of vitamin D (1 egg = 10% of daily requirements. (Ideally, free-range from a local farm). 

 

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Vitamin D Health Benefits 

• Prevention of  many forms of cancer and chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

• Regulation of healthy cell activity and cellular growth.

• Lubrication and protection of bones  (protection against adult osteoporosis), hair and teeth.

• Reduction of inflammatory response, known to cause many chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and obesity.

•  Significant reduction in the occurrence of prostate cancer (in African-American men).

• Reduction of breast cancer risk (in postmenopausal women).  

Source: globalhealingcenter.com 

Other Links:  
Vitamin D Quick Facts 
Medical News Today 
The World's Healthiest Foods