Health

Health Problems Fixed by Foods

Can’t sleep? Moody? Bloated? Battling acne? You are what you eat and what you eat could cure what ails you.  So, before you head for the medicine cabinet, step into the kitchen.

From fast food to processed food to just plain bad for your food, it’s the standard American diet.

“It’s also called the SAD Diet.  Honestly most of the ailments that we deal with is because we’re eating the wrong foods,” Tanya Edwards, MD, M.Ed., Director, Center for Integrative Medicine, Wellness Institute, Cleveland Clinic, told Ivanhoe.

What you eat can impact how you feel. First off, bloating; it’s caused by too much sodium.  Choose foods high in water and loaded with digestive enzymes like papaya and pineapple.

“Eating foods that are high in magnesium, things like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds,” Dr. Edwards said.

If you are battling acne, target the toxins in your body by increasing glutathione.

“It is the master detoxifying thing in our body. Those are things like cruciferous vegetables; such as, broccoli, cabbage, onions, and leaks,” Dr. Edwards explained.

Also, if you have trouble sleeping, then try some tart cherry juice a half hour before you go to bed.

“It’s a high source of melatonin,” Dr. Edwards said.

PMS is a sign women are low in iron and magnesium.

“Eighty-five percent of Americans don’t get even 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance,” Dr. Edwards explained.

Low magnesium levels can cause insomnia, mood swings, headaches, constipation, and Charlie horses. Try eating more spinach and vitamin B6 found in eggs, dark green veggies, and whole grains. Want to protect your skin? Add more beta carotene to your diet. Carrots and endive are packed full of it. These foods will keep you looking and feeling good.

If you feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster, it’s probably a glucose imbalance. Start your day with a good breakfast. Greek yogurt has twice as much protein as regular yogurt and the mineral selenium helps regulate your thyroid. A couple of Brazil nuts will give you 100 percent of what you need each day.  Tuna, eggs, and turkey are also packed full of it.