10 Health Remedies You Already Have in Your Kitchen

11 years ago | Posted in: NISA, women | 1311 Views

We’ve all heard that it’s good to drink orange juice and eat chicken noodle soup when we’re sick, but did you know there are plenty of other foods you can eat to help treat minor ailments like colds, seasonal allergies, upset stomachs and sore throats?

It turns out many items you already have in your kitchen can help relieve symptoms of common illnesses and even some chronic health problems. Click through to find out how you can put your kitchen to work for your health.

Cayenne Pepper

Have ground cayenne in your spice rack? If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you might want to start eating more of it. Cayenne peppers are rich in quercetin, which prevents histamines from being released in the body.

Additionally, cayenne pepper stimulates digestion and circulation and is also sweat-inducing, which can help reduce fevers and relieve congestion, according to Discovery Health.

One study even suggested cayenne pepper may assist with weight loss under certain conditions because it decreased appetite in some of the study’s participants.

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Photo: Shutterstock

Ginger

Some people opt for ginger ale on turbulent flights, since ginger can treat motion sickness and upset stomachs, but ginger has plenty of other health benefits, too.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce joint pain and stiffness for some people. Additionally, ginger can help soothe muscle aches and reduce menstrual cramps.

Some remedies suggest using fresh ginger, while others do not, so its worth doing a little research about the reasons you intend to use ginger.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been used as a folk remedy for a long time and has become popular in recent decades as a natural treatment for many health issues.

Although it has not been studied extensively, vinegar may have some antimicrobial properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, which may help patients recover from food poisoning. Apple cider vinegar may also help control glucose levels in patients who suffer from diabetes, according to a study conducted at Arizona State University.

Some people also claim apple cider vinegar assists with weight loss and promotes heart health, but studies have not yet confirmed these claims. One doctor at the Mayo Clinic explainsthat people believe consuming small amounts of vinegar can curb appetite, but points out that without adjusting one’s diet in other ways, this is unlikely to be very effective.

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Garlic

If you cook with garlic, you may be unknowingly helping out your health. Garlic has many health benefits and has beenused for thousands of years for medicinal purposes.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, garlic may be good for the heart, both preventing heart disease and lowering blood pressure.

Garlic also has antimicrobial properties and studies suggest that garlic supplements may help prevent the common cold.

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggestsconsuming two cloves of raw garlic per day. There is somedebate over whether cooked garlic has any health benefits, so you may want to opt for recipes that don’t require cooking garlic if you’re looking to get the most from it.

ailments, remedies

Honey

You may already use honey in your tea or as a sweetener in baking. Honey has also become very popular as a home remedy.

Studies show that honey is an effective cough suppressant, according to the Mayo Clinic, and one study even found that honey was just as effective in children age two and older as common, store-bought cough suppressants.

Early research suggests that honey may help shorten the healing time for burns as well as lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Many people who eat local honey claim it helps alleviate seasonal allergies, though clinical trials have not yet confirmed this. One Mayo Clinic doctor writes that the idea that local honey could treat allergies isn’t terribly far-fetched because users are exposed to small traces of pollen, which could build up immunity. Further research is needed to confirm this theory, though.

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Peppermint

There’s a reason restaurants offer mints to customers after dinner: peppermint helps soothe the stomach.

According to Harvard Health Publications, peppermint has been shown to alleviate abdominal problems like pain, bloating and constipation. Some studies also suggest that applying peppermint topically may relieve tension headaches.

The University of Maryland Medical Center also explains that peppermint can temporarily relieve skin irritation because of its cooling effect, and peppermint can also help as a decongestant if you suffer from a cold or the flu. Try making an herbal tea from peppermint leaves to help relieve symptoms.

Menthol, a common ingredient in many over-the-counter products like Bengay or cough drops, is actually a compound extracted from peppermint oil, so peppermint may already be in your medicine cabinet.

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Oregano

While insufficient evidence exists to determine whether oregano is effective for treating many specific illnesses, it does have some antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, according to the Mayo Clinic. Limited research corroborates this, and theNew York Times reported last year that some chicken farmers are successfully using oregano oil as a substitute for antibiotics in animal feed.

Because of these antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, some people use oregano (especially oregano oil) to treat sinusitis, cough and other illnesses. More research is needed, but we may be hearing more from oregano in the future.

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Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is a commonly recommended treatment for preventing bladder infections, according to the New York University Langone Medical Center. Ongoing research is exploring what properties of the juice make it effective, and one may be that cranberry juice blocks bacteria from attaching to the walls of the bladder. It is possible that cranberry juice may have a similar effect in the stomach, which could prevent stomach ulcers.

Eearly research out of NYU suggests that cranberry juice may be effective for preventing gum disease, though because many juices are high in added sugars, it’s important to select alternatives without loads of added sugar.

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Thyme

Thyme is another herb with properties that may just have a positive impact on your health. Thyme is often used to treat respiratory illnesses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, so try making a cup of thyme tea next time you have a cough or bronchitis.

In the future, thyme’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties might even be used to treat acne.

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(Earth911)

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