10 Remedies that have Some Surprising Health Benefits
There are times when a visit to the doctor
is not entirely necessary, and in such times, home remedies ought to do
the trick. So, from cranberry juice to cucumbers, to ginger, these home
remedies have been hiding some pretty surprising health benefits.
Cranberry juice
Traditionally used to stave off urinary
tract infections, cranberry juice has been found to lower blood
pressure. A study, presented at a meeting of the American Heart
Association, found that people who drank low-calorie cranberry juice for
two months saw an average drop of three points in blood pressure. It
was also found that a group who drank a placebo beverage had no change
in their BP numbers. Furthermore, the antioxidants in cranberries have
been linked to lower blood pressure in other research too.
Red wine
Traditionally used to protect against heart disease, red wine has also
been found to fight cavities. In a lab study published in the Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that red wine eliminated the
kind of bacteria that contribute to tooth decay. Researchers believe
that it is a combination of the wine's antioxidants and the fact that it
sticks to your teeth. This gives it time to effectively destroy germs.
Lemon juice
Traditionally used to highlight hair, lemon
juice has also been found to prevent kidney stones. The same potent
citric acid that makes lemons good hair lighteners can also reduce
calcium excretion and help prevent kidney stones from forming. The best
solution will be to drink a glass of lemonade, from actual lemon juice,
and with barely any sugar, daily.
Dairy food
Traditionally consumed to build strong bones, dairy is also great to
ease PMS symptoms, which includes bloating, cravings, headaches, and
irritability, by getting more calcium from dairy products and dark leafy
greens. A study found that women who took 500mg of calcium per day for
two months showed a reduction in PMS symptoms compared to another group
of women who took a placebo.
Oranges
Oranges have been traditionally used to
ward off colds, but are also great to lower cholesterol. The vitamin C
in oranges has been hyped as one of the best home remedies. But in
recent years, researchers have found oranges are beneficial for reducing
cholesterol. Dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of 2 Day
Diabetes Diet says “Oranges are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that
creates a gel-like substance inside your body that binds to bad
cholesterol and carries it out. Eating a diet rich in soluble fiber can
help to reduce unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels as well as total
cholesterol levels.”
Coffee
Coffee is best known to increase alertness but has recently been found
to prevent stroke. New research is emerging about this drink for its
cardiovascular health, including stroke prevention. “One study found
drinking one cup of coffee daily may reduce stroke risk by as much as 20
percent, while another study found the risk to decrease by as much as
25 percent in women who drink two cups of coffee per day,” Palinski-Wade
says. “Although the exact reason is unknown, it is possible the coffee
may have an impact on reducing inflammation and/or insulin resistance.”
Chamomile
Chamomile is best known as a sleep aid but
has also been found to treat anxiety.l Researchers have found that the
herb's calming properties may treat generalized anxiety disorder. In
fact, research from the University of Pennsylvania found that study
participants with moderate to severe GAD who took a chamomile supplement
could significantly reduce their symptoms. While more research is
needed, it is generally, a safe treatment to try.
Ginger
Traditionally used to relieve nausea, ginger lowers blood sugar. A go-to
remedy for seasickness and pregnancy, ginger can help people who suffer
from diabetes or who are at risk of developing it. In a study, people
who took a ginger powder supplement of 2g per day for 12 weeks, had
lower levels of blood sugar and blood fats, in comparison to those who
had taken a placebo.
Cucumbers
Used to calm puffy eyes, but also to reduce
diabetes. “Thanks to their fiber content—and very few
calories/carbs—cucumbers may help to reduce blood sugar levels in
individuals with diabetes,” Palinski-Wade says. “In animal studies,
regular consumption of cucumbers decreased blood sugar levels in rats
with diabetes.”
Prunes
Traditionally used to relieve constipation, prunes also prevent bone
loss. “Studies have found that eating just five to six prunes per day
can help prevent bone loss,” Palinski-Wade says. In fact, a recent
review of research backed up these findings, in which it was found that
prunes are high in bone-boosting nutrients and have antioxidants that
may protect against bone breakdown. “Prunes are incredibly versatile and
you can easily eat five to six every day as a healthy snack, pureed as a
substitute for added sugar in baked goods, or even mixed into smoothies
and sauces.”