Many foods, herbs and spices promote our well-being beyond merely providing nutrients. Numerous scientific studies point to the benefits associated with health and disease prevention based on our dietary choices.
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates recognized the benefits of a veritable food pharmacy that still exists in our kitchens today when he said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”
Food not only sustains life; it also can help promote, prevent or alleviate health problems. Excessive eating of junk and processed foods is widely blamed for contributing to unhealthy lifestyle diseases. Conversely, eating foods with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory characteristics is credited for promoting good health. It’s not surprising that many drugs are derived from plant substances, fungus and molds.
While some people see a doctor at the first sign something is wrong and typically receive pharmaceutical interventions, others take a more proactive approach to feeling healthy by actively pursuing a lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Many people believe our bodies are well designed to heal themselves. Including natural medicinal foods in our diets can help the body maintain its health and balance, but of course sometimes a visit to the doctor is still absolutely necessary.
There are many ways to include foods with medicinal qualities in everyday diets to make meals more tasty and interesting while promoting health and possibly preventing illness. Many foods and their benefits are widely known, such as the antimicrobial nature of cranberry juice. Garlic has both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Spices such as cumin, turmeric, cayenne and pepper have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-viral properties. Yogurt and fermented foods contain beneficial probiotic bacteria.
Honey is considered one of the best natural antibiotic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory antiseptics known.
Health Wire also provides a list of other natural antibiotics, which includes:
- Cabbage
- Apple cider vinegar
- Oregano
Health Wire also recommends eating medicinal foods and herbs on a daily basis, noting that bacteria haven’t ever shown any signs of becoming resistant to them. Some beneficial herbs it suggests include:
- Allspice
- Anise
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Ginger
- Mustard seed
- Rosemary
- Mushrooms are another great addition to healthy and balanced diets. Recent research reported on by the International Society for Mushroom Science discusses how shitake and other kinds of mushrooms help cancer patients, stimulate the immune system and even help prevent upper respiratory tract infections.
A wide variety of foods are available with a natural ability to promote health in addition to providing nutrients. Perhaps what’s most important to remember is to include as many as possible, as part of a balanced diet focused mainly on plants, while avoiding or at least limiting consumption of red and processed meats and other foods containing too many unpronounceable chemical ingredients.
