When someone in our household catches a cold or other illness, they know I’m going to break out the garlic. That’s not all I can do with food. Here are some tips to help you choose dishes to enhance your family’s health and wellbeing:
Grandma’s Chicken Soup: Grandma is proving smarter than doctors thought. Besides helping increase fluid intake, the garlic and the broth can both help you recover. Whether it’s a virus or an infection, properties in garlic are beneficial. The broth may even help thin the mucus clogging your nose, throat and lungs.
Marjoram and Insects: Several days before a planned camping trip, I’ll start serving foods laden with marjoram and cayenne. This is an effort to make our sweat spicy, and send biting insects off to find a meal elsewhere. We like it best in soups or broth, but a simple tea can also be made.
BRATTY: Nope, that does not mean a spoiled rotten child. It’s an acronym for a food based diarrhea remedy. Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, tea and yogurt are all helpful in getting the problem under control. Preparation methods do apply; the toast should be dry and the banana raw. Yogurt with live culture is also the best choice.
Heart Helpers: I prefer to think of this as a “yes we can” sort of thing instead of “no, you can’t.” There’s a lot of stuff someone with heart disease can’t eat, but focusing on the negative will only make things worse.
In the positive, foods like salmon and halibut are top on the list. In fact, any cold water fish is helpful, because they all contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Also on the “can” list is garlic. Taking the supplement is helpful, but getting the real deal can be even more so.
Brain Food: If anyone in your house needs to study, you can help by what you feed them. Peanut butter and tuna are two good examples. They can help boost the ability to focus the memory.
What we eat can do a lot more than fill our bellies. It can enhance wellness, help resolve health issues and help us think. As you’re planning your menu, keep in mind that you have the power to help your family.
It is important to note that you may need medical care for some of the above conditions. These applications shouldn’t take the place of your doctor’s advice.