FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!

Not just for eating, these staples on your grocery list can heal, fortify, and beautify!
(published in Smart Parenting, July 2005, pp.58-60)

      Through the years, people have been attributing special powers to one food or another.
Today, these super foods or "functional foods" provide more than nourishment. They're also
loaded with potent compounds that provide specific health benefits, such as prevention of
heart diseases, diabetes, and risk of cancer. These compounds may be found naturally in
food or added during processing.

Food As Immunity Boosters

     For Carol Ann Rinzler, a noted authority on health and nutrition who holds an M.A. from
Columbia University, the following super foods are proven to stimulate immunity to a host of
illnesses (from minor bacterial and viral infections to cancer):
 

• Yogurt. Eating only six ounces of yogurt a day can help prevent colds and significantly
  reduce hay fever symptoms. The effect begins after four or five months of daily
  consumption.
   
• Garlic. Raw or cooked, garlic can kill viruses and bacteria responsible for colds and
  flu. Add a few crushed garlic cloves to spaghetti sauce. Put it in homemade soups,
  stir-fries, meat marinades, stews, meatloaves, and salad dressings.
   
• Zinc. Can help revitalize an aging immune system. Studies also show that wounds heal more
  slowly if there is a zinc deficiency. Eat oysters, lean beef, pork, turkey, or lamb for zinc
  intake.
   
• Chicken soup. A certain protein released when making chicken soup thins mucous in the
  lungs, making it easier to expel. Chicken soup is even more effective than hot or cold water
  in moving mucus.
   
• Hot and spicy foods. These act like an expectorant. Eating spicy foods regularly helps
  thin secretions of colds, allergies or asthma.
   
• Fiber. Fiber helps to bulk up the stool and start mobility in the intestine by
  mechanically stimulating nerve reflexes in the colon wall. High-fiber foods include cereal
  bran, pears, dried fruits, berries, peas, and cooked dried beans.
   
•  Prunes. They have already earned their reputation as a natural laxative.
   
• Apples. Virtually fat-free, these have lots of pectin (a soluble fiber known to lower
  cholesterol levels) and are high in flavinoids, the natural chemicals in many fruits,
  vegetables, red wine and tea, which appear to protect your heart.
   
• Chocolate. The cocoa bean is a good source of energy, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, B
  vitamins, and minerals. It is also rich in flavinoids and stearic acid, which reduces the
  risk of blood clots.
   
• Fish. It is rich in iodine, which spurs the thyroid gland to produce the hormones for
  thinking and moving (hence, its nickname "brain food").
  Beans. Legumes lower cholesterol levels and protect diabetics from blood sugar overload,
  thanks to the soluble dietary fibers that mop up up the fats against being absorbed by your
  body. Soybeans, a member of this family, are packed with fiber and are a prime source of
  phytogens, hormone-like compounds that appear to reduce the risk of heart disease and
  cancer. Soya is also an ideal supplement for women approaching menopause, since this helps
  relieve symptoms such as hot flashes, as well as provide some protection against
  osteoporosis.
   
• Mushrooms. Fat-free, low in calories, and rich in minerals, mushrooms help boost immune
  functions. Mushrooms are also a good source of potassium, which can help lower blood
  pressure. Flat and button mushrooms contain selenium, which may help prevent prostrate
  cancer by working with vitamin E to clean up the free radicals that damage cells.
   

      For Sharon G. Rebong, M.D., a family physician at the Center for healing and Integrative
Medicine-Asia (CHI-Med Asia) in Makati City, the following food can be added to this list:
 

• Coconut oil, a medium-chain saturated fatty acid that has antibacterial and antiviral
  properties.
   
• Aloe vera has healing capabilities for stomach discomforts, indigestion and skin problems
  like insect bites, burns, and other skin irritations.
   
• Papaya stimuates the appetite and aids digestion. It is good for heartburn, indigestion
  and inflamed bowel.
   
• Alfalfa sprouts help make the body more alkaline and detoxify the body.
   
• Anise seeds aid digestion, clear mucus from air passages, combat infection and promote
  milk production in nursing mothers.
   
• Two to three cups of cranberry juice daily is said to help cure urinary tract infections.
   

Food for Your Skin

     Did you know that certain food may help cure some skin diseases? Rellie Cruz-Cajucom,
M.D., a dermatologist at Skin Asia Dermatology Clinic and Spa in Marikina City, believes so.
For easy herbal remedies to certain skin problems, she prescribes the following:

* Dermatitis and Eczema. Take an oatmeal bath. Pour two cups of colloidal oatmeal (oatmeal
ground to fine powder) into a tub of lukewarm water. As a soap substitute, wrap colloidal
oatmeal in a handkerchief, place a rubber band around the top, dunk it in water, wring it
out and use as a normal washcloth.

* Burns. Two or three days after sustaining a burn, break off a fresh piece of aloe and use
the plant's natural healing moisture. Do not use aloe if you are using blood thinners or
have a medical hostory of heart problems.

* Sunburn. Use skim milk. Milk protein is very soothing. Mix one cup skim milk with four
cups water then add a few ice cubes. Apply as a compress for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat
every two to four hours.

* Acne. Bergamot, geranium, tea tree, lavender, and lemon promote healing or generation of
new healthy skin cells. These oils may be used in a light carrier vegetable oil such as
virgin coconut oil, grapeseed oil or wheat germ oil.

Beauty in Your Cupboard

     Discover the wonderful spa treats your kitchen can offer. Here are more of
dermatologist Rellie Cruz-Cajucom's recommendations:

Egg mask
For dry skin, mix together one raw egg and one tablespoon of honey. Spread over face and
neck and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.

For oily skin, mix one egg white with one tablespoon oatmeal. Spread over face and neck and
let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. This mask is good for removing
blackheads.

For normal skin, mix one egg with one teaspoon fresh sour cream. Sour cream is rich in
lactic acid and helps soften and remove surface impurities and dead skin cells, leaving your
skin soft and smooth. Spread on face and neck and let sit 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid
water.

Skin freshener
Place 1/2 cup chopped parsley in a ceramic bowl and pour one cup boiling water over the
herb. Allow the mixture to cool completely then strain and pour into a clean container.
Apply to the skin using a cotton ball.

Facial masks
Corn: The high protein and fat content of corn soothe dry skin. Grate an ear of corn and
strain off the milky fluid. Pat this on your skin and let sit 15-20 minutes, the rinse with
cool water.

Melon: Honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon all make light toning facial masks. Melons
contain vitamins A, B and C that keep skin healthy and glowing. Cut paper-thin slices of
fresh melon and place on your face and neck while lying down. Let sit 15-20 minutes then
rinse with cool water.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are mildly acidic so they make a good astringent mask for oily skin. They
are also a good cure for blackheads. Using a cotton ball or pastry brush, spread a thin,
even layer of fresh tomato juice over your face and neck. Let sit for 10 minutes then rinse
off with tepid water. For sensitive skin, use yellow tomatoes since they contain less acid
than the red varieties.

* Side effects may likely occur, says Cruz-Cajucom, when treatments are mixed together, when
application is overdone, or when there is too much sun exposure. Reactions and effectiveness
to treatments may vary with each individual. If any skin problem gets worse or continues,
stop the treatment and seek professional help.