Eat to Beat Your Health Problems

From stomach blahs to forgetfulness... Your prescription is in your kitchen.

By Jessica Girdwain

The next time someone in the family gets an owie, look to your kitchen, not your medicine cabinet, for relief. "There are a lot of unexpected benefits from many of the foods we eat every day," says Hannah El-Amin, a registered dietitian specializing in integrative medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Dig in, and get well soon.

Related: Love Can Make You Skinny

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EASE STOMACH BLAHS When a Mexican meal produces a fiesta in your belly, give peppermint a shot; it can help soothe abdominal discomfort, says a recent study from the journal Pain. A cooling agent called icilin activates a receptor in the colon that desensitizes the area. So pour yourself a cup of minty tea, or ask your doc about peppermint-oil capsules. Because really, nobody wants to give up enchiladas.

CURE A COUGH Treating anything with chocolate sounds good, and studies show that a substance in cocoa called theobromine may be the most effective cough suppressant around-even more so than codeine-based syrups. So go ahead and snack on an ounce or two of dark chocolate. Anyone else's throat suddenly feeling scratchy?

Related: 10 Ways to Beat Bloat

FIX YOUR FORGETFULNESS We all have those moments: You walk into a room and... wait, what did you come in for? Munching on celery or green peppers, two veggies high in the plant extract luteolin, may help boost your memory, according to a 2011 study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Scientists found that feeding mice luteolin helped fight aging in the brain and improved memory. We knew celery sticks were good for something.

BEAT BAD BREATH A cup of tea may edge out gum for fighting stinky breath, per a study from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Go for green or black teas, which contain compounds that suppress bacteria in the mouth, deodorizing every exhalation. Or offer some to your close-talking coworker.


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