5 Food-Medicines That Could Quite Possibly Save Your Life!
Some of the most powerful medicines on the planet are masquerading around as foods and spices.
So valued were these in ancient times that they were worth their weight in gold, and entire civilizations either rose to great power or collapsed as a result of their relationship to them.
What is even more amazing is that many of these "plants" are found growing in our backyards, and often sitting in our refrigerators and spice racks, neglected and under appreciated. In fact, many of us use these daily unaware that this is why we don't get sick as often as those who do not incorporate them into their diet 🤩
Today, we’ll take a look at a few examples of these powerful plants, what they are, their benefits, and how to incorporate them into your daily diet.
Before we get started, if you missed last week’s blog on“Microgreens, eat and grow this amazing superfood”, you can use this link, Here.
OK, let’s see if you recognize some of these powerful plants!
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GARLIC
With the increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, spices have regained their once universal reign as broad spectrum infection-fighters with sometimes life-saving power. Garlic, in fact, has several hundred therapeutic properties, confirmed by a growing body of scientific research.
How do you eat garlic for medicinal purposes?
Raw garlic is the optimal way to get its benefits. However, you can still boost your health by cooking with garlic. If you're using garlic in a recipe, use at least 1-2 cloves per dish. As with raw garlic, make sure to crush, chop or mince it to release the compounds that boost health.
How much garlic do you need to eat to get health benefits?
1-2 garlic cloves
Eating 1-2 garlic cloves daily can have health benefits, but more can cause bad breath, heartburn, stomach issues, and other unpleasant side effects. It's best to enjoy it in moderation. For many home chefs, garlic is a favorite spice to cook with, thanks to its pungent taste and aroma.
What is the 10 minute garlic rule?
To activate allicin the garlic has to be chewed (raw), crushed or sliced. You can change this and keep all the health benefits of garlic by making ONE SIMPLE CHANGE. Crush, chop or mince garlic and keep it away from heat for 10 minutes. During this time the maximum allicin is created and stays intact during cooking.
Can I drink water after eating garlic and still get the benefits?
It's best to consume garlic with a meal, add it to meat, veggies, and spreads. Drinking water after consuming raw garlic can help to wash away any residue in your mouth and reduce bad breath.
Can raw garlic burn belly fat?
Garlic boasts of high sulphur content which eliminates toxins and helps with digestion, aiding weight loss. Raw garlic is known for its metabolism-boosting properties, which can help your body burn fat more efficiently.
What conditions does garlic help with?
One quick example of garlic's power, is in killing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Garlic's anti-infective properties don’t end with MDR-TB; it has been demonstrated to inhibit the following as well:
Amoeba Entamoeba histolytica (parasite)
Cholera
Clostridium
Cytomegalovirus
Dermatophytoses (a type of topical fungal infection)
Haemophilus Influenzae
Helicobacter Pylori
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2
Klebsiella
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus A. (MRSA)
Parainfluenza Virus
Peridontal Infection
Pneumococcal Infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Streptococcus Mutans
Streptococcus Infections: Group A
Streptococcus Infections: Group B
Streptococcus pyrogenes
Thrush (oral fungal infection)
This amazing list underscores how important it is to keep a supply of garlic close by, and incorporate it into your diet as often as possible.
A Few Words of Caution:
While raw garlic can be a valuable addition to your routine, it's essential to exercise caution. Garlic can be potent and may not suit everyone. If you're new to consuming raw garlic, start with a small amount and monitor how your body reacts. It's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.
HONEY
Bees produce a wide range of therapeutic substances beyond honey, such as royal jelly, beeswax, bee pollen, etc., but this sweet, sticky stuff that we all love to dip our fingers into, is the most well-known and most copiously consumed of them all - and for good reason, it tastes great!
But did you know that this sweet treat is one of nature's most powerful healing agents?
I did an in-depth newsletter last year on what to look for in purchasing the healthiest honey, and where to find it locally. If you need a re-fresher, you can take a quick read, here.
Here is just a smattering of some of honey's more scientifically researched health benefits and/or applications:
Aspirin-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity (honey coats the delicate linings of the stomach, preventing aspirin-induced lesions and bleeding)
Bacterial Infections
Burns
Candida infection (despite the fact that honey contains sugar, it demonstrates anti-fungal properties)
Conjunctivitis
Dental plaque (a viable alternative to chemical mouthwash in dissolving dental plaque)
Dermatitis
Diabetic Ulcer
Herpes-related ulcers
MRSA (especially for Manuka honey)
There are many more uses for honey than covered here. Needless to say, replacing synthetic sweeteners or highly processed sugars or high fructose corn syrup with a moderate amount of honey may be a great preventative health step to take.
You can read more on the science backed - power of honey, Here.
APPLES
An apple a day does in fact keep the doctor away, especially cancer specialists. One of the most well-established health benefits of consuming apples is to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The more apples you consume, the less likely you are to develop this potentially fatal disease.
To view the PubMed study that references the below health benefits, go to the detailed study, Here. Apple consumption benefits include:
Aging, Reduce Rate
Allergies
Allopecia (Hair Loss)
Diarrhea
Insulin Resistance
Liver Cancer
Radiation Induced Illness
Staph Infection
Is apple juice as healthy as eating a whole apple?
In general, juice can be consumed faster than a whole apple, which can cause you to take in a large number of calories over a short period of time. Additionally, juice isn’t particularly good at satisfying hunger or helping you feel full. This may lead you to consume excess calories. The processing of apples for juice results in a very significant decrease in the powerful healing phenolics consumed when eating a whole apple. Still, if you really like it, choose cloudy, organic juice with the pulp to get more beneficial plant compounds and avoid pesticide contamination.
TURMERIC
This is quite possibly the world's most important herb. It’s healing properties have been deeply appreciated, if not revered for countless centuries.
Turmeric (and its primary polyphenol Curcumin) has been scientifically documented to have over 800 applications in disease prevention and treatment. It also has been shown to modulate over 150 distinct biological and genetic/epigenetic pathways of value in health, demonstrating a complexity as well as gentleness that no drug on the planet has ever been shown to possess.
As there are too many health conditions that turmeric may benefit to list, here is the list the top 10:
Oxidative Stress
Inflammation
DNA Damage
Lipid Peroxidation
Colorectal Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colon Cancer
Chemically-Induced Liver Damage
Alzheimer's Disease
Tumors
For a more in depth look at the 1500+ studies on Turmeric (and its primary polyphenol Curcumin), take a look at the PubMed synopsis article, Here, and please share it with others if you find the information compelling.
SUNLIGHT
This one may throw some of you off, but sunlight possesses both energy and information with real, metabolic value and is therefore a source of usable energy for the body - and so, in a very real sense it can be considered a form of food that we consume through our skin by way of its built in, melanin-based "solar panels."
Not only does adequate sunlight exposure result in the production of vitamin D, a hormone-like substance that regulates over 2,000 genes in the human body, but sunlight exposure itself has a unique set of health benefits not reducible to simply vitamin D production alone.
What happens if you get sunlight everyday?
Getting too much sun is dangerous for your skin. However, contrary to what sunscreen companies and vampires have led you to believe, getting some sun every day is actually quite good for you. The sun loads your body with beneficial vitamins and hormones. You can't see it happening, but you can feel it 🤩
What does 20 minutes of sunshine a day trigger?
During the day the sunlight triggers our brains to produce serotonin which is needed for energy and vitality. Getting into the sun in the morning tells our brain that it's day time and that it's time to start producing serotonin.
What are the benefits of sunlight exposure?
Numerous studies have shown that sunlight exposure can provide protection to a wide variety of diseases, ranging from different types of tumors to hypertension to type 1 diabetes to multiple sclerosis. There is growing observational and experimental evidence that regular exposure to sunlight contributes to the prevention of colon-, breast-, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, hypertension and diabetes.
Can you get vitamin D through a window?
Sitting beside a sunny window doesn't help you meet your Vitamin D needs, since glass absorbs all of the ultraviolet B rays that stimulate Vitamin D production.
Why is sunlight good for the brain?
Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. At night, darker lighting triggers the brain to make another hormone called melatonin. This hormone is responsible for helping you sleep.
What happens if you don't get sunlight for a year?
Not getting enough sunlight can weaken your immune system and make you more prone to diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, the flu, and more. Your body gets essential vitamins and hormones (such as serotonin and melatonin) which are vital to keeping your body physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
What skin color absorbs the most vitamin D?
lighter skin tones
Individuals with lighter skin tones have less melanin, allowing them to absorb UVB radiation more efficiently and produce vitamin D more effectively. However, this increased efficiency can also lead to a higher risk of sunburn and skin cancer if proper sun protection measures are not taken.
Does the sun help with hair growth?
Some of the main benefits to your hair include: The sun provides a dose of vitamin D which helps to create new hair follicles and thus promotes hair growth. Following the same path of extra vitamin D, sunlight can also help to prevent and combat hair loss.
Is sunlight an appetite suppressant?
June, July and August are the best times to lose weight in the Northern Hemisphere. The long hours of sunlight are a natural appetite suppressant.
Which body part absorbs most vitamin D from the sun?
Vitamin D is made from cholesterol in the skin, which means one needs to expose lots of skin to sunlight to get enough vitamin D. Expose your arms, legs, back and abdomen to get more vitamin D. Don’t forget to expose your back as it allows your body to produce the maximum vitamin D.
Does coffee inhibit vitamin D absorption?
Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, which leads to an increase in urination. As a result, water-soluble vitamins, such as B-vitamins and vitamin C can be depleted due to fluid loss. Research also demonstrated that the higher the level of caffeine, the more it interfered with vitamin D absorption.
THE BOTTOM LINE
“It all begins with the food we eat. In fact, food acts as medicine. A healthy diet helps us to maintain good health and prevent disease, and there is growing awareness of these benefits. ”
“Each patient carries his or her own doctor inside themself.”
“Access to nutritious food is critical to health and resilience. Food is Medicine is a concept that reaffirms this connection, recognizing that access to high-quality nourishment is essential for well-being.”
“Be your own Lifeguard: Came from a plant, eat it; was made in a plant, don't.”
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What you choose to eat has profound effects on your overall health. Research shows that dietary habits influence disease risk. While certain foods may trigger chronic health conditions, others offer strong medicinal and protective qualities. This is why I stand by the premises that food is medicine.
From honey, turmeric, garlic, apples and sunshine, make sure to include these powerful ingredients in your daily life 🤩
I hope you have enjoyed our quick dive into each of these wonderfully natural god-given options to enhance your personal health.
Enjoy their benefits….
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Make an appointment and come talk with us if you are having doubts or questions about your family’s health. We will give you the honest truth, and the clinical research that supports it.
To make an appointment with me use this link: HERE.
Or, you can always give me a call at (973) 210-3838
I want to hear from you! Do you get enough sunshine, eat turmeric, apples, garlic and/or honey? Did you find this newsletter helpful?
Share your thoughts in the comments on our
We bring tools such as these to you, our patients, by using proven cutting-edge therapies to extend the health-span, life-span and years of health for everyone (no matter their age)!
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