Tart Cherries for help in reducing Inflammation that can cause Joint Pain

There are plenty of natural superfoods with powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can ease your joint pain and kill inflammation in it's tracks.  One of the single MOST powerful anti-inflammatory foods actually ranked #1 is...

Tart cherries!  (or tart cherry extract or concentrate)

Studies have shown that the anthocyanins and phenolics in tart cherries have a powerful effect in reducing the inflammation that can cause joint pain.  In fact, according to researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University, tart cherries have the "highest anti-inflammatory content of any food".

Tart cherries also have a long history in helping people get relief with Gout or Osteoarthritis.

Note that sweet cherries can have some benefits as well, but tart cherries have been identified in research to have larger quantities of the anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.  One thing that you could do is to add a little bit of tart cherry concentrate (about 1 tsp) to your daily glass of unsweetened iced tea, and also use frozen cherries frequently in smoothies.  This will helps you to maintain your joint health as you  get older.  Give it a try for yourself!

Cabbage for help with Digestion Problems

Compounds found in cabbages actually strengthen stomach muscles, which can help your body resist acid attacks. Europeans often drink one cup of cabbage juice daily for symptoms of stomach ulcers and heartburn. Studies prove that this actually works. After consuming cabbage juice for 10 days, subjects with stomach ulcers had significant healing.

Red Cabbage, Another weapon against Diabetes

In studies done in 2008, diabetic rats were fed red cabbage for 60 days. Afterwards, it was discovered that all the rats has lower blood glucose levels, lost weight, and had restored renal function. The research findings were published in the Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Scientists believe that it’s the antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties which help with diabetes. Cabbage is also a great source of fiber, which is well known to help prevent diabetes as it slows the body’s absorption of sugar.

Chewing gum fights Ear Infections

Chewing gum with the sweetener Xylitol can help prevent middle ear infections in healthy children. Regular consumption of Xylitol in the form of gum, lozenges or syrup was associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of developing the infections, compared to kids who chewed gum without xylitol.

While there is fair evidence to support a benefit, more research is needed to make a firm recommendation about using xylitol to prevent ear infections, say Dr. Amir Azarpazhooh of the University of Toronto.

Proteolytic Enzymes for Cold & Flu Symptoms

Did you know that cold and flu symptoms are a result of our body’s inflammatory response to the virus, rather than the result of the virus itself?  Not Proteolytic, enzymes not only have very potent anti-inflammatory properties, they also fight viruses and support our immune system.

 

Proteolytic enzymes are produced naturally by our pancreas and are used by our body to “eat up” scar tissue, cleanse toxins from our blood, fight viruses and improve our immune system, so we’re likely to get sick less often.

 

Unfortunately, our body stops producing optimal amounts of proteolytic enzymes sometime in our late 20s, which is why taking a proteolytic enzyme supplement is an extremely smart move, especially if we’re in our 40s and beyond...

Licorice for treatments of Coughs, Asthma & Heartburn

You're likely more familiar with licorice in candy form, but licorice root makes for a sweet treatments for coughs, asthma & heartburn, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

It may also help whittle your middle: A small 2003 study found that people who consumed 3.5 grams a day of a "commercial preparation of licorice" had less body fat after two months.