FitSugar

10 Reasons Lemon Juice Is a Superfood

Heather Dale — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:10:08 PDT

Saying that lemons are a superfood is an understatement. Their medicinal properties are never ending and they add abundant flavor to a variety of dishes. Lemon juice is an excellent source of vitamins C and B, proteins, carbohydrates, and phosphorous. The flavanoids within the juice are said to contain antioxidants, which is why it's so useful in treating so many ailments and conditions. We've already discussed how it can cure you of the hiccups and wake up your liver and help flush out toxins in the morning, but here are 10 more health benefits associated with lemons:

Constipation and diarrhea relief. Lemons help cleanse the digestive track and allow food to digest properly.
Lemons aid in the production of antibodies in the blood that attack invading microorganisms and prevent infection.
Lemon is found to be anticarcinogenic, which can lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer.
Because of its high potassium content, lemon controls high blood pressure, dizziness, and nausea, and provides relaxation to mind and body.

Continue reading to see the rest of the list.

Halt Heartburn With Papaya Enzyme

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:40:28 PDT

That chili cheese dog was calling your name, and now that you downed the entire thing in five minutes flat, heartburn and indigestion are making you wish you hadn't. That burning pressure in your chest is unbearable, and if you don't like reaching for over-the-counter meds like Zantac, take advantage of a natural remedy - papaya.

This tropical fruit encourages digestion, eases indigestion (and constipation), and is known to relieve heartburn. The magic is in the enzymes papain and chyomopapain, which break down proteins and soothe the stomach by promoting a healthy acidic environment.

You can reap the benefits by eating fresh papaya or drinking fresh juice, but these options are not always convenient when heartburn hits. Also, eating unripe papaya may lead to uterine contractions making the fruit off-limits for the many pregnant women who suffer from heartburn. Since I should be counted among the pregos plagued with digestive issues, I found some papaya extract tablets that contain ripened papaya fruit with papain, amylase, and protease enzymes. I keep the little $3 tube in my purse, and when I eat something I know won't sit well, I chew one tablet. I'm amazed at how well it works.

Is Cod Liver Oil a Cure All?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:30:00 PDT

I have a friend who swears by cod liver oil; she takes a teaspoon everyday, which to me sounds like a punishment meted out on Tom Sawyer by his Aunt Polly. My friend swears it helps her skin (which looks great and she is nearing 50), her joints, and her overall health. She tells me my fish oil supplement is not enough, so I decided to investigate.

Here's what I discovered. It is true that cod liver oil is high in vitamins A and D, which is why it was taken as a nutritional aid back in the days of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Some holistic health practitioners think cod liver oil is still a great way to get these two vitamins, but others think that cod liver oil often provides too much vitamin A, which can be toxic and interfere with bone density.

Cod liver oil is also high in omega-3 fatty acids – the fat you should love, but so are my fish oil supplements. Additionally, cod liver oil being made from the organ that filters toxins out of blood, is more likely to contain toxins like PCB when compared to regular fish oil.

To see if there is any substance to the health claims of cod liver oil,

While many of the health claims, like that cod liver oil prevents cancer and Alzheimer's have yet to be proven, the oil has been found to slow down the damage arthritis does to joints. There is also evidence that the oil may ward off depression, but it is believed that the omega-3s are responsible over any other element in the oil.

If you are interested in taking cold liver oil, you should limit your intake to one teaspoon a day and it seems the brand Carlson Labs is often recommended.

Me? I am going to stick with my fish oil capsules, and you?

Source

Got PMS? Try a Natural Remedy

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:30:00 PST

Most women experience some sort of PMS, and certain symptoms can be easier to treat than others. Ibuprofen is great for cramps, and Midol can help with bloating, but battling PMS-related irritability or depression is more of a challenge.

I've been on the hunt for natural remedies, including vitamins and herbal supplements, that might help relieve my monthly moodiness. Of course, there's always good, old-fashioned exercise, but I've also found some other natural solutions that sound promising. To see the list,

Of course, you should consult your doctor before taking any new vitamins and supplements, but here are some I plan to talk to my OB/GYN about:

Magnesium and B-6: Recent studies have found that this vitamin cocktail can help with bloating and moodiness. WebMD recommends 200 mg per day of magnesium combined with 50 mg of vitamin B-6.

Vitamin E: In his book Natural Health, Natural Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil writes that vitamin E supplements can treat both PMS and painful or heavy periods. He recommends a supplement with 80 mg of vitamin E complex, taken once a day with your largest meal. Again, please talk to your doctor before starting any supplement program; vitamin E should not be taken if you have heart disease or diabetes.
Dong quai: Another of Dr. Weil's suggestions, this Chinese herb, made from the root of a carrot-like plant, is sometimes called "female ginseng," since it treats irregular periods, PMS, and menopausal symptoms. Weil recommends a two-month trial taking it two to three times a day.
Chaste tree berry: I've seen this recommended on several sites. According to an article on About.com: "a study published in the British Medical Journal involving 178 women with PMS found that chaste tree berry significantly reduced PMS symptoms over three menstrual cycles." It was especially effective treating irritability and depression.

Have any of you tried one of these natural remedies? If so, I'd love to hear if they worked, so please share in the comments below.

Source

Coughing Kid? Try a Spoonful of Honey

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:00:00 PST

Since the FDA released a public health advisory warning parents not to give their children cold medicine, kids sick with colds and associated coughs suffered many sleepless nights. So did their parents. Luckily a new study found that honey is close to nature's own cough syrup. Yep, a spoonful of honey eases nighttime coughing in children better than the cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan. This is great news for parents and kids alike!

It is believed that honey helps ease coughs for a variety of reasons. It not only soothes sore throats, but honey is also high in antioxidants and has antimicrobial effects. I guess if you are using honey as cough syrup, you really won't need a "spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down!"

If you are interested in the recommended dosage, just

Children ages two to five = 1/2 teaspoon
Children ages six to eleven = 1 teaspoon
Children twelve and older = 2 teaspoons

Source

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:40:56 PDT

You went for a gorgeous two-hour hike in the woods, brought back some great photos and uh-oh - you also brought back some poison ivy. When you accidentally brush up against this plant, the uroshiol oil rubs onto your skin, and can instantly create redness, raised bumps, blisters, and an insatiable itch. First and foremost, get out of the clothes you were wearing on the hike and wash the oil off your skin using soap and cold water (warm water opens your pores) to prevent the rash from spreading.

Unfortunately, now you're left with an itchy, bubbly rash. Topical creams like Calamine lotion and hydro-cortizone can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better. Reach for the remedy, pure tea tree oil. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores. Thoroughly wash and dry the affected areas. Sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the rash and use a Q-tip or cotton ball to spread it around. Apply a few times a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up.

Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal, and drying properties, which is why it's so effective against the dreaded poison ivy. This natural remedy can also be used to treat acne, minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections so it's great to keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet.

Source: Flickr User frotzed2

What Do You Know About Natural Sleep Aids?

Leta Shy — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 04:41:10 PDT

Few things are quite as annoying as lying awake late in the night wishing you could just go to sleep. But remedies to help you sleep don't have to be found at the pharmacy. Many natural sleep aids have been shown to help some people catch their Zs. Think you know what they are? Take our quiz on natural ways to help you sleep!

Take the Quiz

Got a Headache? Try a Natural Remedy

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:47:13 PDT

If you've got a headache, the easiest thing to do is reach for a bottle of ibuprofen or aspirin and pop a few pills. But over-the-counter cures aren't always the best option; you shouldn't take ibuprofen while drinking, for instance, or maybe you're worried about interactions with other drugs.

Thankfully, there are plenty of natural remedies for headaches. Some of these are tried and true, while others are unproven but have people who swear by them. If you've ever had an awful headache, you know that sometimes you'll try anything. So if you've used these or any other natural remedies, chime in and let us know what worked! To see five natural remedies to try,

Acupressure. If you feel a headache coming on, try applying pressure to the Union Valley, the area where your thumb meets your palm, using your opposite thumb and forefinger.
Almonds. Eating a handful of almonds could help fend off an acute headache. These nuts contain salicin, which is a pain reliever similar to aspirin.
White willow bark. Another salicin-rich supplement, white willow bark has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation.
Valerian root. Often called "nature's Valium," this herbal remedy is used to treat headaches, insomnia, and muscular pain.
Yoga. Certain poses - namely, forward bends and reclining positions - may help relieve tension headaches. Check out this eight-pose headache-targeting sequence next time you're hurting.

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

Packaged Dinners That You'll Feel Good Feeding Your Family

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:16:25 PDT

It happens to the best of us, those weeknights when everyone's running in different directions, and cooking dinner is simply not an option. While frozen and packaged foods may have a bad rap, our friends at Dinner: A Love Story are providing us with eight nutritious and totally tasty options for a quick and easy meal that the whole family can enjoy together.

PJ's Organic Chicken Burritos These burritos are a recent discovery. They’re not cheap - I think each goes for about $7 - but you get what you pay for. Good quality ingredients, fresh flavor, and a variety to choose from. I find them at Whole Foods, but [their] website says you can find them in the freezer section at national supermarkets and natural food stores.
Black Bean Soup A quick heat on the stove top and a dollop of sour cream, and it barely feels like I’m doing anything extra. Try Latin Style from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value brand, or Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable.
Trader Joe's Thai Shrimp Gyoza Dumplings We steam these or sauté them in a little oil and serve with broccoli. I once made a recipe from the Cooking With Trader Joe’s Cookbook, which called for tossing the dumplings into chicken broth with some frozen vegetables and a dash of soy sauce. It took about 10 minutes. I’m not sure why I haven’t reprised that one.
365 Everyday Value Organic Vegetarian Chili Organic and affordable. I often open a can of this chili for lunch and top it with chopped avocado and a little sour cream.
Naked Nuggets These are the unbreaded (so gluten-free) real white meat chicken pieces from the guys behind Blue Ribbon Sushi in New York. I think the genius is that you heat them in a little olive oil on the stove top instead of in the oven. The only problem is that they can be a little hard to find - though their site lists availability at ShopRite and Food Lion, among others. My 8-year-old literally gasps when she spies them in the freezer section.
Hofmann's Hot Dogs OK, I’ve never actually tried these hot dogs from the family-owned Hofmann, but Yolanda’s franks and beans dinner over on Momfilter sounds so good that I’m determined to remedy this culinary void immediately and stock up. (Slow-cooker owners are encouraged to follow the entire recipe.)
Amy's Spinach Pizza Snacks There was a stretch when these organic pizza snacks graced the table way more often than they probably should have. For reasons I can’t remember, we called them “Fun Pies” and have had luck with other flavors, too - like Nacho and Cheese Pizza.
Saffron Road Chicken Tikka Masala There is a whole line of these Indian freezer dinners, and so far, I haven’t tasted one I don’t like. Most take about three minutes in the microwave and come with rice. Add some grape tomatoes or a handful of baby carrots and pat yourself on the back.