In this issue, we shall devote our column to exalting the “medicinal values or therapeutic effects” of regular, ordinary food that people all over the world eat as a part of their diet.
The reported health benefits of some of the foods we have listed hereunder are anecdotal, passed down from generations after generations, and have not been thoroughly and scientifically proven. But since they are regular food items we consume daily, trying them for some of the ailments or situations they are allegedly effective for is simply natural and safe. As long as one is not allergic to them, ingesting these food items does not result in adverse “side-effects” as could be encountered in, say, Noni Juice or some other cure-all “food supplements” in the market today.
Besides their essential nutritional value, many of the foods we ingest regularly have “medicinal effects” that we are not conscious about but which help alleviate or correct some diseases or conditions. It is common knowledge that scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), for instance, is cured by eating a lot of citrus fruits, or that hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) among diabetics will be alleviated by eating candies, sugar or other sweets. Or, that banana and apples are good for diarrhea, while papaya, prunes and other fruits, and vegetables are good for constipation.
But did you know that onion, hot pepper and tomato are good for common cold? Or that cherries are good for cramps? Or that apple, grapefruit, kalamansi are good for halitosis (bad breath)?
Here is a list of medical conditions and the corresponding food items claimed to either prevent, alleviate and/or cure them:
1. Arthritis: Apple, pineapple, cantaloupe, grape, grapefruit, orange, mustard green, strawberry, tangerine, cucumber, lettuce, cherries, celery, cauliflower.
2. Insomnia: Onion, cabbage, celery, avocado, onion, apple
3. Hemorrhoids: Prunes, date, beans, eggplant, plum, sweet potato
4. Nausea Pineapple, papaya
5. High Cholesterol Soybean (tofu), red wine, grapefruit, tomato, apple, eggplant, corn, cabbage, peas, beans, green leafy vegetables, high fiber cereals
6. Indigestion Plum, papaya, pineapple, banana, apple, grapefruit, cucumber, peach
7. Sinusitis Onion, hot pepper, tomato
8. Gastric Ulcer Pumpkin, rice, avocado, banana, date, okra, peach
9. Hypertension Bamboo shoots, guava, pear, tangerine, squash, cherries, jackfruit, peach, celery, orange
10. Impotence Pumpkin seeds, avocado, seaweeds, date, oyster, hot pepper
11. To lose weight All variety of fruits and juices, like grapefruit, orange, apple, pineapple, radish, tomato, lettuce, especially when eaten as a substitute for red meat and carbohydrates.
12. Cancer For prevention, high fiber, low cholesterol diet (fish), plus frequent intake of processed tomato (ketchup, tomato paste), broccoli, apricot, strawberry, cherries, mustard green, okra, apple, carrots, papaya, prunes, spinach, peach, pumpkin, watermelon, green leafy vegetables
13. Heart Attack Just like for cancer prevention, high fiber and low cholesterol diet, plus a lot of fruits and vegetables.
14. Stroke The same anti-oxidants as above.
15. Cuts & Burns Sesame Seed Oil, coconut oil, olive oil
16. Dry scalp, skin Coconut oil, papaya, avocado, sesame seed oil
17. Constipation Papaya, prunes, green leafy vegetables, peanuts
18. Dizziness Onion
19. Gall Stones Soybean, radish, tomato, apricot
20. Headache Beets, cabbage, apple, asparagus
One of my favorite vegetables is asparagus. The US National Cancer Institute reports that asparagus is loaded with gluthathione, a potent anti-cancer agent, which also helps build protein and DNA, and a valuable antioxidant that also slows down progression of cataract and minimizes kidney stone formation. Gluthathione for cosmetic use as a skin whitener, etc., does not confer the same benefit as the natural one from vegetables like asparagus.
Ampalaya, which is another favorite of mine, lowers blood sugar and improves glucose, a great way to lower the risk of developing diabetes. Caution: eating ampalaya alone, or taking ampalaya capsules alone, is not effective enough to treat diabetes. Abandoning prescribed anti-diabetic medications is dangerous and could be fatal. Unconfirmed value of ampalaya ingredients are in the areas of malaria and HIV.
Garlic is a cholesterol-lowering spice that also lowers blood pressure. Breast-feeding mothers who ate garlic seem to have babies with lesser incidence of abdominal cramps. Garlic lovers obviously needs to brush their teeth, floss, and use mouth rinse to fight garlicky breath.
Ginger is said to be effective in 57 to 90 percent of people with motion sickness. It also has thermogenic (calorie-burning) properties, a good aid to those who are dieting and exercising to maintain normal weight.
Malunggay has been on the spotlight the past few years as a healthy vegetable and a low-cost health enhancer. It is described as a mother’s breastfeeding friend, as it provides vitamin and calcium (four times higher) rich milk for the infant. Malunggay is believed to boost the immune system, helps lower blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines, helps lower blood sugar, reduces inflammation and arthritis, and heals wounds. Caution: Natural malunggay has all those potential benefits, but NOT the ones being sold as capsules, powder, and solutions. The marketing claims are unfounded and baseless.
Bananas are reportedly good in fighting depression, because it contains tryptophan, a protein that converts into serotonin (feel good hormone), which relaxes and improves mood, making one feel happier. Chocolates have the same joyful effects.
Papaya is a popular food that helps digest food with is enzyme, papain. It also promotes good bowel movements. For bruises, cuts, rashes, stings and burns, ripe papaya applied over them helps recede and heal. Papaya and its crushed seeds also have anti-bacterial properties. Green papaya rubbed over meat acts as a tenderizer. There is a papain ointment and gel.
Pineapple contains bromelain, isolated in 1891, which acts as a meat tenderizer and a digestive aid. It can also clean dead tissues from wounds. When unripe, pineapple can be poisonous, most irritating in the throat and a drastic purgative. Its raw fibers could also cause intestinal blockage (bezoars). Of course, pina cloth material comes from pineapple, a gorgeous and expensive fabric that is popular in Asia for formal attire.
These are only a few sample conditions where foods have been taken not only for their fundamental nutritive and caloric value but for their alleged medicinal effects. We want to emphasize that these food items are not substitutes for prescription medications. As a general rule, one should never stop taking prescription drugs without consulting with a physician.
For a holiday gift of health, please visitphilipSchua.com Email: [email protected]
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email:[email protected]
