Home Remedies for Common Ailments

Bananas are a great source of potassium.
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 As the holiday season comes to an end, I find myself feeling run-down, tired, and under the weather. I’m still eating well and exercising daily, and I love spending time with friends and family—but after two weeks, it can become exhausting. Yesterday, I was at work when my eye muscle started twitching, one of the signs of potassium deficiency. This morning, I dutifully ate a banana before work. Then I got to wondering what other natural remedies can be used for common ailments. Here’s what I came up with:

Chicken soup is a traditional cold remedy.
Image: Bram Cymet via Flickr CC

1. Chicken Soup has long been used to treat the common cold. It provides a warm meal for the body, but some also claim it helps reduce white blood cell activity, which is what causes the respiratory symptoms of the common cold.
2. Clove Oil contains eugenol, which is both an antibacterial and a painkiller. Because of this, it can be used to treat toothaches when mixed with olive oil. However, be sure to look up exactly how to prepare the clove oil. It should never be used undiluted, put directly on broken skin, or taken in large doses.
3. Bicarbonate of Soda (baking soda) is the main ingredient in most antacids. By mixing a teaspoon in a cup of water, you can easily treat an upset stomach (as long as you don’t mind it being a little salty tasting).
4. Whole Milk contains Monocaprin, which can be especially useful to those suffering from cold sores. Monocaprin slows the virus activity that causes cold sores to emerge and blister, so drinking whole milk can help promote healing when this happens.
5. Honey is probably my favorite remedy for a sore throat. Not only is it delicious, but also it is as effective as some cough syrups to suppress coughs and soothe sore throats. It can be mixed with lemon and ginger tea or eaten alone.
6. Vinegar is one of the best ways to cool sunburns when applied as a solution or pure via spray bottle.
7. Olive Oil, which I’ve spotlighted before as a natural beauty product, can be used to treat earaches when warmed. It soothes the inflamed eardrum and helps relieve pain in the eardrum, which is caused by a mucus blockage.

Honey is a delicious remedy for a sore throat.
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Have you ever used any of these home remedies (or others) with success? Or are there any that you think don’t work? I’ve tried about half of the remedies above with success, but the other half is listed on the word of others. List any other remedies you can think of in the comments below! I’ll look forward to reading them!

Foods That Boost Your Immune System

Cold & flu season calls for immune-system boosting foods.
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As I sit at work, I’m reminded of the fact that it is cold and flu season and my immune system needs all the help it can get. I can literally feel my body fighting off sickness when I’m around others who are sick—I get run down, tired, and exhibit a few symptoms of the sickness. Sometimes I do get sick, but when I’m lucky, my immune system wins the battle and that run-down feeling passes in just a few days.

Most of us hate being sick, and if you’re like me, you don’t mind adding a few extra steps into your daily routine to ensure that the bad bugs stay out and your immune system stays strong. So, what can you do to help your body out? For starters, you can feed yourself foods that help your immune system fight off viruses and bacteria.

The following foods can help prevent sickness, and I’m more than willing to make sure they stay in my diet for the next few months:

Chamomile tea can help boost your immune system.
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1. Chamomile Tea
2. Oats (especially steel-cut)
3. Salad Dressings (the ones with healthy fats from nut and olive oils, NOT the fat-free kind)
4. Whey Protein (found in protein powders and yogurt)
5. Tomatoes
6. Butterbur plant extract supplements
7. Sports Drinks (think Gatorade and Powerade)
8. Wine (especially reds)—in moderation
9. Hot Sauce (or peppers containing capsaicin)

The above foods boost your immune system in a variety of ways, from helping it produce its own antibodies to warding off food poisoning to providing you with valuable antioxidants. What could be easier than adding some of these in to your daily routine? It seems a small price to pay for avoiding sickness.

Foods with capsaicin, like peppers, help your body
fight off sickness.
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Another recommendation from Women’s Health to help ward off sickness is to cut your daily calorie intake by 200-300 calories if you are overweight. Though it may sound like a lot, it’s really not hard to do—substitute a serving of pasta for steamed veggies or cut the sour cream and cheese out of your chili and you’re done. This can help you lose weight and keep all your vital systems (including your immune system) in better shape.

Do you already eat any of these foods? Which is your favorite? I love a glass of red wine with dinner and we also eat a LOT of spicy food. Comment below!

Making Probiotics Work for You

Probiotics help fight off infection, inflammation, and more.
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Chances are, you’ve heard of probiotics before. But do you know why they're supposed to be good for you and where to find them? They can be incredibly helpful and essential to your body’s functions. As research has developed over the years, we’ve discovered that our bodies are home to more than just us. I recently read an article from Time Magazine that discussed both the bad and the good microbes (“bugs”) living with us, and it taught me some valuable things.

Miso is a great source of probiotics.
Image: Albert Lynn via Flickr CC

The truth is, most microbes are good. The ones that cause disease and sickness are the minority of “bugs” on and in our bodies. According to Lita Proctor, coordinator of the Microbiome Project at the National Institutes of Health (NICH), “Tens of thousands of species of microorganisms live with is. They belong there, they’re good for us, and they support health and well-being.”

These helpful microorganisms are called probiotics, and are extremely beneficial to our health, possibly reducing intestinal inflammation, diarrhea, urogenital infections, and atopic diseases.

When we get sick, our doctors often prescribe antibiotics, which do not discriminate between good and bad bacteria. While they take care of the bad bacteria, they may also be killing probiotics in your body. Taking probiotic supplements or eating foods with probiotics can be a good way to help your body recover swifter from sickness. Just be sure to consult a doctor first.

And luckily, probiotics can be found in lots of popular foods, making this simple health-booster easily available:

• Yogurt or Kefir (a fermented milk drink)
• Miso, a Japanese soy-based seasoning
• Tempeh, a soy-based substitute for meat
• Saurkraut
• Dark chocolate
• Red wine
• Probiotic soy beverages and fruit drinks

Of course, like any vitamin, probiotics can also be ingested in pill or powder form, though it’s a good idea to consult with a pharmacist or caregiver before using them.

Garlic contains valuable prebiotics.
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Some foods also contain prebiotics, which can help your body keep up its own probiotics growing. These foods are easy to include in any diet:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Oats
• Chicory Root
• Artichoke
• Banana
• Garlic
• Onion
• Honey