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Let food be thy medicine
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Let food be thy medicine
Hippocrates wisdom around 400 BC ‘Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food have never been more relevant. Today, there is an ever-increasing reliance on prescription drugs to treat diseases. It is for both, mental and physical ailments. The reporting is that at least 50 percent of the people are using at least 1 prescription medicine. Therefore it is evident that food is not the medicine Hippocrates was hoping it would be.
Recent studies outlines how the everyday dietary choices many people are making directly impacts their health. Hence, their reliance on drugs as ‘medicine’. For example, a diet high in refined sugars leads to Type to diabetes. Thus, often a reliance on insulin injections. Therefore, those with blood sugar challenges often need to take blood pressure regulating drugs. Furthermore, frequent use of trans fatty acids may lead to heart diseases. Hence, reliance on statin medications.
Hippocrates’ wisdom
Modern researches shed light on why food is the best medicine. Thus far, studies show that poor dietary choices are the reasons of the chronic inflammation. Therefore, this is the main driver of diseases. Among the most common of these diseases to be treated with drugs are asthma, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure. However, prescription medicines do not provide healing. It is only good to managing the symptoms. In fact, healing comes from making informed preferences with each meal. To respect food as the medicine is so true.
So, food is medicine when it provided a significant positive impact to our body system. Foods that have anti-inflammatory properties are proven to have the greatest relief on chronic diseases. It is absolutely crucial to eliminate those foods that promotes inflammation in the body. Replacing those foods that combat inflammation is essential.
Anti-inflammatory diets
It is no trendy for people to eat anti-inflammatory diets. Thus far, it is not the buzzword diets that float around these days. It is not known to help with immediate drop in waist sizes. In fact, it is a lifestyle choice rather than to view it as a ‘diet’. It is all about eating habits. So, frequent consumption and reliance on foods that moderate inflammation is the key to a healing diet. It helps to ward off disease for years.
Wild caught fish
Wild caught fish especially cold-water fatty fish like salmon, tuna, hearings and sardines contain the greatest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. These are commonly known as DHA and EPA fats. Consuming these fatty acids fight off inflammation. It suppresses cell activation, a key component in chronic illness. Cold-water fish is one of the only natural sources of vitamin D which have strong immunomodulating effects. So, eating 2 to 3 serves per week of wild-caught fatty fish is the best for healthy lifestyle. It is the way for your body to absorb these nutrients. Hence, putting them to work fighting inflammation.
Healthy fats
Healthy fats found in eggs and pastured meat are great source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It is good trans-fat responsible for lowering inflammation. Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) are known to reduce inflammation too. So, avocados, olives, olive oil avocado oil, sesame and sesame oil are good sources. Sesame oil is high in vitamin E too. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant that links to reducing inflammatory markers.
Fruits and vegetables
Vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, cabbage and beets contain extremely high levels of vitamin C. It is an antioxidant proven to reduce inflammation. Dark leafy greens are high in vitamin E. These include spinach, collards and kale. Furthermore, all of these are excellent source of phytonutrients which have health-protective properties.
Fruits, particularly berries help combat inflammation appear to be the most powerful. It is due to their high phytonutrient content. They contain anthocyanins. It is responsible for the beautiful blue and red colours. It is a type of flavonoid known to protect cells. Blueberries have been shown to have a strong anti-inflammatory properties. It is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease too.
Herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, garlic and red peppers are good concentrated forms of anti-inflammatory compounds. Particularly turmeric, has dozens of compounds that act as COX-2 inhibitors. It helps decrease pain, swelling and inflammation.
