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Food as Medicine

This article is to make you aware of the foods which can be used as medicine.

· Foods high in natural digestive enzymes can improve digestion  

The three main types of enzymes:⁣

 Protease converts proteins into amino acids: and small peptides to build and repair.⁣

A protease is an enzyme that catalyzes proteolysis, breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids, and spurring the formation of new protein products. They do this by cleaving the peptide bonds within proteins by hydrolysis, a reaction where the water breaks bonds. 

 Amylase breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars for energy.⁣

Amylase is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch into sugars. Amylase is present in the saliva of humans and some other mammals, where it begins the chemical process of digestion.

 Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids.⁣

Lipase is a family of enzymes that catalyzes the hydrolysis of fats. Some lipases display broad substrate scope including esters of cholesterol, phospholipids, and of lipid-soluble vitamins and sphingomyelinases; however, these are usually treated separately from "conventional" lipases.

People suffering from bloating and gas are more likely to have low stomach acid and be at risk for low production of enzymes.⁣

⁣The stomach produces Hydrochloric acid which is about pH2 to digest the proteins.

Seeing undigested food in the stool or having loose stool, also suggests a lack of digestive enzymes.

⁣

Adding in enzymes will promote the breakdown of food, increase nutrient availability and absorption, and support gut health and energy levels.⁣

Remember that diets must be personalized. Not every single food on this list may work for you! 

Some of the well-known foods that supply the body with the needed enzymes are as follows:

Avocado, Bananas, Coconut, Flax seeds, Figs, Ginger root, Kefir, Kimchi, Mango, Melon, Pineapples, Raw Honey, and Kiwi.

Foods as natural Pain killers:

Ginger: Muscle pains

Garlic: used as an oil to help earache.

Cloves, toothache, and gum inflammation.

Cherries: Joint pain and Headaches.

Tumeric: chronic pains

Peppermint: sore muscles

Pineapples: Bloated stomach and gas.

Apple cider Vinegar: Heartburns

Blueberries: Urinary tract inflammation and conditions

Natural foods as medicine:

Bananas: Boost energy

Cherries: Calms the nerves.

Blueberries: Improves Brain Health

Strawberries: fights ageing

Apples: Gut health

Pomegranates: arthritic and joint pains and help the heart

Grapes: Lowers BP

Cucumber: Regulates Blood Sugar

Water Melon: promotes weight loss

Papaya: PMS

Mangos: Sex drive

Soursop: anti Cancer.

Mixes to Consider:

Immunity: Mix Apples/ginger root/ Carrot

BP; Celery/ Carrots/ apples/ Pears

Weight Loss: Apples/ grapefruit.

Digestion: cucumber/ apples/ Celery.

Cucumber: though 90% water assists in resolving Kidney stones, is anti-cancerous, heals stomach ulcers, regulates headaches, and promotes healthy skin.

Hydrating food: 

watermelon/cucumber/ lettuce/ tomatoes/ strawberries/ peaches Oranges/ Cantaloupe

Mixes:

Pineapple and cucumber as a juice assist in detoxifying the colon and removing excess waste from the intestines.

Foods to Promote a happy gut: 

Ginger root/ Soaked Almonds/ Bananas/ Peas/ Garlic/ Yogurt.

Alkaline-causing foods:

Cherries/ oranges/ grapes/ cucumber/ apples/ peaches/ zucchini/ berries/ mango/ strawberry/watermelon/ Cherry tomatoes.

Why we need more fruits in our diet:

Cherries: assist in calming the nerves

Grapes: relaxes the Blood vessels

Peaches: rich in Potassium, Fluorine, Iron 

Apples: help the body fight infections

Oranges: Skin and vision

Watermelon: Controls heart rate

Bananas: gives the body energy

Strawberries: fights against cancer; anti ageing

Pineapples: joint aches and pains

Blueberries: Palpitations of the heart

Kiwi: Bone Mass

Mangoes: fights against cancer

Ayurveda says to eat your water and drink your solids.

A good way to promote this principle is to eat foods high in water.

The following foods are high in water:

Celery: 95.4, Tomatoes: 95.2, Watermelon: 91.4, Squash: 96.4, Lettuce: 95.6, Strawberries: 90.7, Melon: 90.8, Cucumber: 97.9, Grapefruit: 91.5,

Bananas: 79%, Peppers: 92%

Calcium-rich Foods:

Plant milk, Kale, Collard, Figs, Chia seeds, Almonds, Broccoli, and Butternut squash.

Low in Sugar Fruits:

Blueberries, Strawberries, Cantaloupe, kiwi, Peaches, Papaya, Avocado, Watermelon

Ayurveda:

Why avoid acid foods?

Why do we avoid sour foods when we have skin, nervous or joint disorders?

Ayurveda recognises 6 tastes, each of which has a vital role to play in our physiology, health, and well-being.

 Foods that are sour help in cleansing the tissues. Just like lemon is used to clean a greasy pan, we use sour foods to cleanse our tissues. Sour taste is digestive, fuels the appetite, increases salivary secretions, enhances the secretion of digestive enzymes, and stimulates metabolism overall.

However, a sour taste in excess can also lead to sensitivity in the teeth, ears, and eyes. It can dry out mucus membranes, draw the tissues inwards, disturb the blood and cause congestion, itching, excessive thirst, and digestive discomfort. It can aggravate skin disorders and is not advisable for those with bone-related disorders, nervous debility, or anxiety issues. In this instance, it is better to have foods that are sweet, bitter, astringent, mildly spicy, and mildly salty.

 Sweet foods: help in building new tissues, and are found in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Sweet taste is strengthening, nutritive, energizing, tonic, and soothing to the mind. It benefits the skin, hair, and complexion, hastens the repair of wounds, and is pleasing to the senses. Eg; fresh fruits, vegetables like carrots, beets, cucumber, sweet potatoes, grains like corn, rice, wheat, legumes, nuts and seeds.

 Foods that are Salty in taste help in lubricating the tissues, creating moisture within the body. However, excess salt leads to water retention in our bodies. Eg: table salt

 Foods that are Pungent in taste stimulate metabolism and digestion and create saliva. Eg: onion, garlic, capsicum, chilli

 Foods that are Bitter in taste help in detoxifying the body and even deworming. Eg: bitter-gourd, leafy greens

 Foods that are Astringent in taste help in tightening the tissues and are therefore suitable for reversing the ageing process. Eg: berries, apples, hummus

Benefits of Ginger

Helps the digestive system and promotes regular bowel movements and constipation

Prevents and heals inflammation

Protects the respiratory system

It helps the cardiovascular system

Helps with nausea and vomiting

Helps with muscular pains

Sage

Improves sleep, relieves tension, cleanses the Air, and increases positive energy. It lifts the mood and resets it, removes negative feelings, and cleans up an argumentative mood.

Foods rich in Minerals:

Magnesium is essential for numerous body functions including bone health, calcium absorption, metabolism of food, synthesis of fatty acids and proteins, and nerve function. Magnesium deficiency is fairly common and some people do not even realize they lack the nutrient. In addition to eating the wrong foods, excessive alcohol consumption, certain prescription medications, high-sugar diets, overuse of acid inhibitors, and a leaky gut can all contribute to insufficient magnesium.

 Magnesium rich foods: 

Pumpkin seeds, roasted, 1 ounce; Chia seeds, 1 ounce; Almonds, dry roasted, 1 ounce; Spinach, boiled; Cashews, dry roasted, 1 ounce; Peanuts, oil roasted, ¼ cup; Cereal, shredded wheat, 2 large biscuits;

Soymilk, plain or vanilla; 1 cup Black beans, cooked, ½ cup; Edamame, shelled, cooked, ½ cup, Peanut butter, smooth, 2 tablespoons, Potato, baked with skin, 3.5 ounces, Rice, brown, cooked, ½ cup, Yogurt, plain, low fat, 8 ounces, Breakfast cereals, fortified with 10% of the DV for magnesium, 1 serving, Oatmeal, instant, 1 packet, Kidney beans, canned, ½ cup, Banana, 1 medium Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, cooked, 3 ounces, Milk, 1 cup, Halibut, cooked, 3 ounces, Raisins, ½ cup, Bread, whole wheat, 1 slice, Avocado, cubed, ½ cup, Chicken breast, roasted, 3 ounces, Beef, ground, 90% lean, pan-broiled, Broccoli, chopped and cooked, ½ cup, Rice, white, cooked, ½ cup, Apple, 1 medium, Carrot, raw, 1 medium

Calcium: chia, almonds, figs, sesame seeds, beans, kale, avocado, broccoli

 Maintaining healthy vision, neurological function, and healthy skin. Helps with bone heart and nervous system

Zinc: Pumpkin seeds, almonds, carob, chocolate, collard greens, asparagus

Improves immunity, digestion, control of diabetes, reduces stress, increases the metabolism, provides energy, helps with acne and wound healing, improves sexual function

Potassium: Avocado, bananas, spinach, beans, coconut

Relief from stroke, blood pressure, heart and kidney disorders, anxiety and stress. Improves muscle strength, metabolism, fluid balance, electrolytic function, and nervous system

Chromium: whole grains, brown rice, fresh vegetables

Regulates blood sugar, aids in digestion and metabolism, slows down age-related loss of calcium

Silica: Bamboo, bamboo shoots, horsetail, nettles

Speeds up hair growth, thicker and stronger hair, improves skin texture, strengthens nails, aids in calcium absorption

Selenium: brazil nuts, shitake mushrooms, chia seeds, seeds in general, nuts, beans, cabbage

Improves cognitive function, healthy immune system, and improved fertility in both men and women

Sulphur: kale, avocado, sweet potato, garlic, cabbage

Makes up of vital amino acids, used to create protein from cells and tissues, hormones, enzymes and antibodies

Foods containing vitamins

Vitamin A: sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, winter squash,

lettuce, dried apricots, canteloupe, bell peppers, tropical fruit

Maintaining healthy vision, neurological function, and healthy skin

Vitamin B1: nuts, oats, oranges, seeds, legumes, peas, yeast

A healthy nervous system improves cardiovascular function

Vitamin B2: spinach, almonds, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, 

raspberries, cabbage

Helps in energy production, mineral absorption, skin, nervous system and immunity

Vitamin B3: peanuts, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, avocado

Improves blood circulation, skin conditions, and normal functions of the brain, boosts memory helps with the absorption of proteins and fats and reduces the effects of arthritis

Vitamin B5: sweet potato, mushrooms, avocado, cauliflower, nuts,

sunflower seeds

Helps with asthma, hair loss, allergies, stress and anxiety, respiratory disorders and heart problems

Vitamin B6: grains, nuts, seeds, avocado, canteloupe

Protects the immune system, improves metabolism, premenstrual syndrome, hormone control, emotional disorders, skin conditions, cardiac diseases, kidney disorders

Vitamin B12: natural yeast, chlorella

Helps with heart disease, nervous system, energy production, depression, and adrenal function, and improves brain health and memory

Vitamin D: mushrooms, sunlight

Improves the immune system, helps with calcium absorption, reduces depression, and helps with hair, skin and nails

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