Foods that Heal

How to Heal Using Food for Medicinal Purposes

Lyn Vaccaro
In our standard American culture, healing with food may seem foreign however the food created for us by the planet is the answer to so many of our illnesses, it's just that most people aren't aware of the fact that these foods actually do things that create a state of health within us.

Whole food and raw foods are the driving force behind the quality of life we will have. Without the right foods that heal we won't have thriving health and as a result our lives will become compromised in one way or another. In an old March 2007 issue of Diet/Nutrition they suggest a few of these foods in an article written by Carol M. Bareuter R.D.

Antioxidant Foods

It's important to first realize that eating a diet that's plant based rather than the other options is the way to gain a good dose of antioxidants. These are the substances that fight and quench the free radicals that cause diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. You won't find an abundance of these in meat and other foods that are not plant based. Emphasize on plant foods like brusselsprouts, beans, spinach and deep vibrant colored plant foods that heal. Generally speaking, the darker the color the more antioxidant value a food has.

Mineral Rich Foods

The body is reliant upon sufficient minerals to adequately heal wounds. According to this article that means that good doses of zinc, selenium and magnesium are in order. For those that are deficient in zinc, they'll get the most assistance from this mineral, if you're not deficient in zinc, taking more really doesn't help. Eat plenty of whole grains, eggs, and seafood to get this mineral. More magnesium will come from plenty of leafy greens, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Omega 3 Foods

Healing food is often times tied to healing types of fatty acid components within certain foods. Quality fat is important to the body's membranes and are essential because our body can't manufacture them on it's own. You'll find omega 3 fatty acids in foods like flax seed and it's oil, cold water fish, wild game like buffalo and venison, leafy greens, and walnuts.

Hi Nutrient Low Calorie Diet

This diet plan is defined by plenty of fruits, veggies, lean protein foods and low fat dairy products. This is the opposite of what's seen in our standard American diet today with high calorie foods that are nutrient deficient. As a result of practicing this diet, you'll be eating foods that promote healing daily enabling your body to do what it was made to do...heal.

Source: April 2007 issue of Diet and Nutrition magazine

Published by Lyn Vaccaro

I am a mother of eight with a background in health and wellness, focusing on fertility enhancement, mostly for women of advanced maternal age. I owned and operated my own retail health food store for a numbe...  View profile

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