Prescription foods to cure your ills

Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:25

Written by Editor

Throw away those pills and try these foods instead.

For aching muscles, a cup or two of tart cherry daily, before and during exercise. It contains the same anti-inflammatory enzymes as ibuprofen, without the potential kidney and stomach-related side effects.

For memory loss, a quarter cup of sunflower seeds a day. These vitamin E-loaded seeds will protect the neurons in your brain from oxidative stress, which means you keep your memory longer.

For poor eyesight, one cup of kale a day. Xanthophyll pigments not only give kale (and other leafy greens) its colour, they can also help slow age-related macular degeneration, the process by which vision goes from sharp to blurry.

For muscle wear, an apple a day. Leave the peel on - it's full of ursolic acid, which fuels the production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) and insulin, two hormones important in building muscle.

For erectile dysfunction, one or two cloves of garlic a day, in food. Crushed garlic contains allicin, a compound that can decrease blood pressure and improve blood flow, which may lead to a harder erection.

For lack of focus, an egg a day. Eggs are packed with choline, a nutrient that boosts the brain's ability to relay commands to the rest of your body while also maintaining the structure of your brain's cell membranes.

For ageing skin, an orange a day or six ounces of juice. Vitamin C helps your body make collagen, the protein that keeps skin elastic.

For depression, one cup of cooked brown rice daily. Carbs help regulate the production of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter in controlling mood and suppressing anxiety. A complex carb like brown rice will give you the best high-carb-low-cal combo.

For insomnia, four ounces of chicken a day. Tryptophan is often associated with turkey, but chicken contains more of the amino acid that helps the body produce the sleep-friendly hormone melatonin.

lFor puffy eyes, one cup of green tea day, after a meal. The puffiness that creates dark circles under your eyes is often caused by fluid retention. Green tea is a diuretic that'll reduce unwanted swelling all over your body.

For an upset stomach, a peppermint or two after dinner. Peppermint has long been associated with aiding digestion and has also been shown to soothe inflammatory pain in the gastrointestinal tract. Peppermint tea also   works.

For dull hair, a cup of spinach a day. The leaf is loaded with vitamins A and C, which help your body to create sebum, the oil secreted by follicles to give your hair gloss and shine.

For low energy, a banana a day. The potassium-packed fruit is also a great source of magnesium, a key element in producing and storing energy.

For anxiety, a quarter cup of peanuts a day.  If you're not producing enough gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), your brain is more prone to let anxiety run wild. Peanuts are one of the best (and tastiest) sources of glutamine, the amino acid needed to make GABA.