20 Common Cooking Ingredients that Act Like Medicines

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The use of herbal treatments for everything from sore throats to cancer has
become more and more common with every passing year. We all know about the
herbal supplements like St. John's Wort that can help you with chronic
health problems, but did you know that many common edible herbs, spices and
vegetables can provide impressive health benefits?

While you probably already use these ingredients in your home, you may not
realize that they can do much more than just making your meals tasty and
interesting. Here are some common foods that do double duty as effective
herbal treatments.

1. Turmeric. As anyone who has ever treated a head cold with a nice hot
Indian meal already knows, turmeric is one of the best healing herbs
available to us today. It contains the anti-inflammatory curcumin, which may
function in the same way as some pharmaceutical arthritis drugs.

The next time your joints are aching, just have a healthy serving of curry
and see if your symptoms respond to the exotic spice. Researchers recommend
a daily serving of 400 mg each day.

2. Ginger. Ginger has been well-known as a calmer of upset tummies for many
generations. This "old wives' tale" has actually been proven to be true
following several research studies on the effects of ginger ingestion of
cruise ship passengers.

Many people around the world also use ginger as a mild pain reliever. For
everyday aches or for arthritis pain, fresh or powdered ginger added to food
can actually help to reduce your symptoms.

Ginger may also be an effective means of controlling ovarian cancer cells,
according to a 2006 study by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center. More research is needed, but the preliminary findings are very
promising.

3. Cinnamon. Cinnamon was recently studied by German scientists for its
effects on people with type 2 diabetes. Amazingly, they found that diabetics
could decrease their blood sugar by up to 10% just by taking a cinnamon
extract daily. Another study found that cinnamon may help to lower
cholesterol as well.

Since cinnamon can be toxic when taken in very large quantities (much more
than you would probably be able to eat at once), experts recommend that you
use a cinnamon extract rather than actual cinnamon.

4. Garlic. Garlic is truly a super food. Not only does it taste wonderful,
but it may even reduce your cancer risk. A 2006 study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who consumed high
doses of garlic had low instances of several types of cancers.

Garlic is known to be extremely useful against bacteria, even those that are
resistant to antibiotics. It has antifungal and antiviral properties and may
even help to lower cholesterol and prevent strokes.

5. Rosemary. If you have to choose just one herb to help you avoid several
different types of cancer, rosemary may be it. Rosemary can actually help to
prevent carcinogens that you ingest from binding with your DNA. This can
help to prevent the formation of tumors and the eventual development of
cancer.

Although human studies have not yet been conducted, preliminary animal
studies have shown amazing potential for this common herb. You don't need to
buy any special form of rosemary to get these benefits; simply use rosemary
liberally in your cooking along with other beneficial herbs like parsley,
oregano, onion, garlic, or thyme.

6. Honey. Honey is commonly used as a digestion aid and to soothe sore
tummies and throats. The hydrating qualities of honey are well-known all
around the world, and desert travelers have been known to carry honey and
water to quench their thirst on long treks.

Honey is used externally as well as internally. Its ability to hydrate skin
works even when it is applied topically. Because of this, honey is a common
ingredient in many skin treatments, lotions, soaps, and anti-aging skin
creams.

Perhaps the most impressive of honey's abilities is its effectiveness as a
burn treatment. Honey helps to soothe the pain of a burn while limiting
inflammation and retarding infection.

7. Chili Peppers. Hot peppers are an amazing food that can help you treat
any number of common conditions. At home, you can eat them to to clear up a
congested head and as a natural pain reliever.

An exciting and often-publicized use for chili peppers is as a metabolism
boost. Adding chili peppers to your meals can help you burn more calories,
and it is believed that chili peppers can even help you feel fuller after a
meal.

8. Olive Oil. This delicious and exotic-tasting oil may help to save your
life some day. With regular modest consumption, olive oil can help stop
plaque from forming in arteries, thus reducing your risk of heart attacks.

9. Rice. Rice is one of the best-tolerated foods available. It can help to
soothe a stomach that is suffering from constipation or diarrhea, and even
people suffering from the flu are likely to be able to take some rice.
Eating rice regularly can prevent the formation of kidney stones and block
some types of intestinal cancers.

10. Parsley. Because it is rich in antioxidants, parsley can help to block
certain types of cancers and keep your body's cells young and healthy.
Antioxidants are particularly useful for detoxifying carcinogens, such as
the types found in cigarette smoke.

11. Onions (and related plants such as chives, shallots, and leeks). Plants
in the onion family have been used as medicines since ancient times. Their
properties have been known and enjoyed by cultures all around the world.
Their exceptionally high concentration of antioxidants makes onions and
related plants ideal for preventing cancer.

Onions and related plants are also a hugely effective treatment for lung
disorders such as pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. They have outstanding
anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as antibiotics and antivirals.

12. Lemon. Lemon has a multitude of medicinal uses and has been a prized
part of the medicinal kitchen for many generations. It is a general
clarifier and purifier, and can be taken to cleanse the body of impurities.
It has also been used to treat headaches, arthritis, and pneumonia.

Although it seems counterintuitive (or just plain painful), applying lemon
juice to cuts and scrapes is great for preventing infections. The natural
antiseptic properties of lemon juice will keep infections at bay and can
even reduce the appearance of bruises.

13. Mustard. This humble little plant is commonly used as an expectorant and
decongestant. It is antibacterial and can also help to clear nasal passages
when one is suffering from a cold or other sinus malady.

Surprisingly, mustard is also used to increase the metabolism. Using plain
yellow mustard liberally on foods adds a negligible amount of calories and
helps to increase the amount of calories that the body burns.

14. Cloves. Clove oil is used by many cultures as a natural painkiller and
anti-inflammatory. It is used in many modern toothache remedies to dull the
pain and swelling.

15. Apples. An apple a day keeps the cancer away. Regular consumption of
apples can block many types of cancer and act as a general health-booster.
Apples can reduce appetite and even lower your cholesterol.

16. Kale. Kale has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity lately, and with good
reason. It has more lutein than any other vegetable and more beta carotene
than spinach. It can help prevent cancer and regulate estrogen in the body.

17. Licorice. Not the licorice candy sold in the United States - this often
contains no licorice at all! Real licorice contains a substance that is
strongly anti-cancer. Licorice is also antibacterial and can reduce stomach
ulcers and diarrhea.

18. Peppermint. Most mints, in fact. The leaves of mint plants are commonly
used in teas and medicines to calm upset stomachs, promote sleep, and reduce
stress and tension.

19. Horseradish. Like its relative mustard, horseradish is a fantastic tool
for fighting digestive disorders. It can be used to treat constipation. It
is also a great immune system booster, giving the liver increased power to
filter out harmful substances from foods.

20. Avocado. The main ingredient in guacamole isn't just tasty; it's the
source of lots of "good" fat and can prevent the buildup of "bad"
cholesterol. It keeps your heart and circulatory system healthy by
preventing the clogging of arteries.

Now that you know the incredible health benefits that some common herbs,
spices, and plants can provide, try to incorporate some of them into your
everyday eating.You may just find yourself in better health today and in the
future.