Food is Medicine: 20 Natural Painkillers in Your Kitchen

At this point, we are all aware of the thing we should do in order to maintain good physical and mental health. This involves eating whole grains, fruits and veggie; limiting soda and candy intake; and doing physical activity on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, most people fall into the pattern of eating processed food. The supermarkets are loaded with packaged foods which have little or no nutritional value. What`s more, we are eating less variety of foods, mainly focusing on corn, wheat, rice, and soy.

But, it is high time we changed this and begin looking at food at medicine. Food is powerful stuff and choosing the right ingredients offers a wide range of health benefits. Here are some of them:

1. Make muscle pain a memory with ginger
According to a little Danish research on the topic, introducing ginger into your daily diet helps alleviate joint and muscle pain, swelling, and stiffness for up to 63{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71}. Ginger contains gingerols, compounds which prevent the pain-triggering hormones from producing. Aim at getting a teaspoon of dried ginger or two teaspoons of chopped ginger a day.

2. Cure a toothache with cloves
According to UCLA researchers, chewing a clove helps ease tooth pain and gum disease in a matter of hours. Its natural compound called eugenol works as potent anesthetic. Adding ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves in meals protects the ticker, helps regulate blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol levels within three weeks.

3. Heal heartburn with cider vinegar
Sipping a tablespoon of ACV mixed with 8 ounces of water before meals heals heartburn in 24 hours! As explained by Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL, “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain.”

4. Erase earaches with garlic
To cure an earache fast, pour two drops of warm garlic oil into your affected ear daily for five days. According to experts at the University of New Mexico School Of Medicine, this method is superior to prescription medications. Its active ingredients like sulfur and selenium work against many pain-causing bacteria. To prepare your own garlic oil, simmer three garlic clove in a half a cup of olive oil for about two minutes. Refrigerate for up to two weeks.

5. Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries
Arthritis, headaches, and gout are one of the most common ailments these days. To chase them away naturally, eat a bowl of cherries on a daily basis. Their anthocyanins content in cherries acts as powerful anti-inflammatory agent, which is even 10 times more powerful than aspirin and ibuprofen. As explained by Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University, “Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain.”

6. Fight tummy troubles with fish
Inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and indigestion can be alleviated with munching 18 ounces of fish weekly. For optimal results, choose fish like sardines, trout, herring, mackerel, salmon, and tuna. According to biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead , MA, “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract.” These compounds found in fish help reduce cramping, inflammation, and belly pain.

7. Prevent PMS with yogurt
Nearly 80{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71} of women experience premenstrual symptoms, according to Yale researchers. The reason for this is the sensitivity of their nervous system, which cannot stand the ups and downs in estrogen and progesterone that occur each month. Researchers at New York`s Columbia University claim that snacking on two cups of yogurt daily helps prevent these symptoms by staggering 48{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71}. “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms even when hormones are in flux,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of gynecology at Yale University.

8. Tame chronic pain with turmeric
It has been scientifically shown that turmeric is three times more effective at alleviating pain than aspiring, naproxen, or ibuprofen. According to Cornell researchers, it also helps ease chronic pain by 50{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71} in people suffering from arthritis or fibromyalgia. Its active ingredient, curcumin, has the ability to shut down the enzyme responsible for pain-producing hormones, thus to alleviate chronic pain. Aim at getting ¼ teaspoon of turmeric on a daily basis. It goes best with meat, veggies, poultry, and rice.

9. End endometrial pain with oats
Endometriosis occurs when tiny bits of the uterine lining grow outside of the uterus, causing extreme pain. To end this pain, cramping, and heavy periods, follow a diet rich in oats which helps reduce endometrial pain by whooping 60{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71}. As explained by Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at Colombia University, oats are free of gluten, the most common trigger of inflammation.

10. Soothe foot pain with salt
Soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths helps cure painful infections in as little as four days. The salt is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and capable of destroying the germs responsible for pain and swelling. Simply mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of water, heat it up, and soak the foot for about twenty minutes.

11. Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple
According to researchers at California`s Stanford University, a cup of fresh pineapple juice eases bloating within 72 hours. Pineapple is loaded with enzymes which accelerate the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine.

12. Relax painful muscles with peppermint
If left untreated, knots can hang for a few months. According to naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies, you can relax painful muscles by soaking in a warm tub scented with ten drops of peppermint oil. As he explains, “this method that can ease muscle cramping 25 {30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71}more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half.”

13. Give your back some TLC with grapes
According to recent studies at Ohio State University, eating a cup of grapes on a daily basis relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow to damaged tissues. Improving blood flow is critical for healing damaged back tissue since the back`s vertebrae is dependent on nearby blood vessels to supply them with oxygen and nutrients.

14. Tame leg cramps with tomato juice
Leg cramps are quite common ailment which can be extremely annoying and painful. Potassium deficiency is the key culprit, especially when flushed out by diuretics or exercise. To accelerate your recovery and lower your risk of cramp flare-ups, sip 10 ounces of potassium-dense tomato juice on a daily basis.

15. Energize migraine medication with coffee
According to the National Headache Foundation, taking your pain killer along with coffee boosts its effectiveness by up to 40{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71}. They explain that caffeine stimulates the absorption of painkillers more effectively and more quickly.

16. Fight breast pain with flax
According to a recent study, adding three tablespoon of ground flax to your daily diet helps ease breast soreness for within 12 weeks. Flax contains phytoestrogens, compounds which prevent estrogen spikes responsible for breast pain. To reap its benefits, simply sprinkle a bit on oatmeal, yogurt, veggies dips, or smoothies.

17. Heal mouth sores with honey
According to researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates, dabbing painful cold sores with honey four times a day heals them 43{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71} faster than prescription creams. Honey contains enzymes which destroy viruses, reduce inflammation, and accelerate the healing process.

18. Beat bladder infections with blueberries
As reported by researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University, eating a cup of blueberries on a daily basis lowers the risk of urinary tract infections by up to 60{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71}. Blueberries are packed with tannins, compounds which attach to problem-causing bacteria, and prevent them from creating an infection by wrapping around them.

19. Heal sinus problems with horseradish
Sinusitis is quite debilitating condition, causing congestion and facial pain. The good news is that horseradish improves blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping the sinuses drain and heal in no time. The recommended dose: A teaspoon twice a day until the symptoms subside.

20. Wash away pain injuries with water
Last but not least, drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water on a daily basis helps treat pain injuries. As explained by the experts, water dilutes and helps flush out the pain-triggering compound from the tissue. Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain.”






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Source: Healthy House of Food