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Natural Foods That Heal Urinary Tract Infection

Natural Foods That Heal Urinary Tract Infection: What you eat and certain foods can heal urinary tract infection and ease symptoms. Most people including me have suffered from urinary tract infection at some time or the other. I have found certain foods do ease symptoms and relieve the condition . Again, as I advocate with all my natural health remedies I am not asking you to toss your antibiotics or drugs out of the window. Nope!! But leaning towards natural foods to ease symptoms is safe and builds your immune health. In a lot of cases, easing the symptoms as they start prevents a full-blown infection. Most of these are common foods that you probably have in your pantry right now.

What causes Urinary Tract Infection?

Your urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them. When bacteria via germs get into this system, they can cause an infection. Women tend to get more bladder infections than men. This is probably because women have shorter urethras, so it is easier for the germs to move up to their bladders.

Symptoms of UTI

Mild

Burning or pain when you urinate
You feel like you have to urinate often, but not much urine comes out when you do.

Severe

Nausea and vomiting followed by fever
Pain in one side of your back under your ribs.
Urine is cloudy or smells bad

When the symptoms get to severe, you need to call your doctor, but here are some natural remedies that can be used to manage mild symptoms and which can be preventive in nature.

Foods that heal Urinary Tract Infection.

Cranberry juice: This is probably the oldest remedy in the book and is a popular one. Some studies have found that cranberries contain compounds that seem to inhibit bacteria from setting-up-shop and infecting the lining of the urinary tract. In order to get benefit of this you must consume pure unsweetened cranberry juice, easily available at health food stores. 1 ounce diluted with 7 ounces water drunk 3-4 times a day helps clear infection. Drinking Cran water regularly to ward off or prevent urinary tract infection is not a bad idea for those prone to UTI. Cran water is a regular part of my diet. It also helps remove water retention.

Pineapple: Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that may decrease inflammation from infection and may even kill bacteria and viruses, which would make it effective to heal UTI. Adding pineapple to a smoothie or juice is a delish easy way to get pineapple in your diet.

Probiotics: Flush your digestive tract with healthy bacteria which strengthen your immune system and help ward off infection. Eating fermented yogurt or yogurt with live cultures will give you a dose of healthy robotics. You can also take a course of natural probiotic pills when you feel UTI symptoms coming on. My favorite way to get probiotics is by drinking a kefir smoothie! Make it a pineapple kefir smoothie to get a double dose of goodness !

Vitamin C: Keeps your bladder and urethra healthy and working well, It also makes your urine more acidic, which helps to prevent bacteria from growing and causing UTIs, she says. Popping a Vitamin C pill or getting good food sources of Vitamin C via food is great for many other conditions as well.

Lemon juice: Works the same way as Vitamin C in keeping the urine acidic. Conversely this makes the body more alkaline which is again the best state for the body to be in to ward off infection. Drinking water spiked with fresh lemon juice or organic pure lemon juice is a good practice for those prone to UTI.

Baking soda: Baking soda may help with the burning pain of UTIs and helps create an alkaline PH which is optimum for any infection. Stir in ¼ or ½ tsp of baking soda in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. Since baking soda is high in sodium, this is not recommended for those who have high blood pressure.

Water : Flushing you system with water when you have UTI should be common sense, but bears repeating. Water helps flush bacteria and germs away and when the bacteria gets flushed away, the burning sensation that often accompanies UTI is lessened. Drink at least 8 cups of water on a regular basis and at least 12 cups when you have UTI. While a lot of liquids can constitute a fluid, when you have UTI plain water, non sugared herbal teas or Cran Water are the best ! Drinking water everyday should be a must for everyone to prevent UTI. Water helps with so many other functions as well, not a bad idea to chug it down!

Foods to avoid when you have UTI!

On the flip side, sugar, refined foods like white bread, pasta and simple carbs like soft drinks, junk food are best avoided when you have UTI. These contribute to yeast overgrowth and can aggravate the condition. It is also recommended that spicy foods, alcohol, diary which are considered bladder irritants be avoided when infection is at its peak. These may be included back once infection is out of the body. Avoiding these foods for a short period could speed healing.

Cranberry Juice

Pineapple

Probiotics

Vitamin C

Lemon

Baking Soda

Water

Do you have any natural remedies you use for urinary tract infection. Do share ! Would love to hear from you !

Natural Foods That Ease & Heal A Sore Throat

Sunithi Selvaraj, RD @ 12.02.2013 Blog 10 comments

It’s that time of the year again when the dry itchy feeling in the throat happens. I started mine 2 days back and I hate taking meds unless I have to. My first choice is always giving natural foods a try. I pulled out all those foods I usually double up on when I get a sore throat and now after 48 hours I feel so much better. I’ve found them to be very useful in quelling the symptoms. The sooner you start natural food therapy the better it is . A sore throat can progress into a painful hard to swallow feeling and then into flu-like symptoms. Nipping it in the bud while it is just a sore throat may prevent progression into a full-blown cold. Even if these foods do not completely heal a sore throat they do ease the symptoms which is a good enough reason to try it. So here goes : my tried and tested list of foods that heal a sore throat and some scientific reasons why they may help!

Foods that heal a sore throat !

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Ginger : Lots of it eaten as close to raw as possible. Ginger is an analgesic (a pain-killer) that may alleviate the pain associated with a sore throat. It is also a good antibacterial and antifungal and can help fight the infection causing your sore throat. I love ginger and use it a lot whether I have a sore throat or not. I keep a grater handy and grate fresh ginger into soups, salads, veggie sides and meat dishes. I also love to blend it with fruits and veggie smoothies. The trick is to eat it as raw as possible. so if you’re adding it to dish, add it at the end to get maximum potency. I also carry around dry ginger honey crystal packs for drinks on the go. I get these neat packets in China town that dissolve into cold and hot water and I have a box of that at work. I can seriously get a little jittery if I run out of fresh ginger.

Garlic : Garlic is also a strong antibacterial, antibiotic and has antiviral antiseptic powers. The potency of raw garlic seems to be stronger if eaten raw. The easiest way to do this is to add crushed garlic to soups, stirfrys and dishes at the end of cooking. I like adding it to individual bowls of soup, so I can control how much goes in. With fresh peeled garlic available at most grocery stores, peeling garlic does not pose a problem. To read my post on garlic and ways to use it in the diet, click here.

Honey: Has been used for generations as a throat soother. It is one of the best known anti-inflammatory agents and soothes irritation in the skin and mucus membranes lining the throat. Just what your throat is craving when it’s sore. when combined with ginger and lemon it makes a great tea and tastes better too. Honey also has special infection-fighting enzymes, such as the glucoseoxidase enzyme, which gives antimicrobial protection. Honey will coat the throat and will help in preventing irritation, which is the main reason behind coughing fits.The more natural the honey is, the more anti-inflammatory properties it has. Raw honey is the best. Note : Never give honey to children under age 24 months. They cannot digest it and the spores can cause botulism in infants.

Lemon Juice : Is commonly used in conjunction with honey and ginger to soothe a sore throat. A great remedy for inflamed throats, sore throats will feel better as the this magical mixture goes down your throat. It will thin any congestion and also cool down your aggravated throat. Lemon also gives you a nice boost of vitamin C to fight any infection.

Soups : Are the proverbial remedy for a sore throat of the first symptoms of the flu. Although chicken soup is supposed to be the key, any warm soup will do. The action of warm liquid floating down an inflamed throat is relief in itself. Power up your soup with coconut oil ( anti inflammatory) herbs, pepper, garlic and ginger for an extra soothing throat healing soup. the beauty about soup is you can add anything to it and customize it with all of the throat soothing ingredients. Try my chicken leek soup for a soothing soup that is a real throat tamer. As for chicken soup, it has mild anti-inflammation properties and helps in relieving congestion by limiting the viruses that come in contact with mucus membranes. Egg drop soup is the home remedy in Asian cultures for a sore throat and works the same way as chicken soup.

Sage : Known to have healing properties, sage has been used as a medicinal herb for sore throat remedies. It contains oxygen-handling enzymes, flavonoids, and phenolic acid. Add it to tea, soups or dishes. To get the maximum benefit of this herb it must soak in the cooked food awhile, so add it during cooking and let the flavor soak in. I love adding sage to my soups because it enhances the flavor or the soup. I keep some dried sage at work to infuse into my teas.

Turmeric : Is a strong antibacterial and kills bacteria on contact. Sipping a hot cup of hot milk with some turmeric (about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon) stirred into it is soothing for a sore/inflamed throat. Add a little honey if you want. Choose almond, rice or coconut milk. Dairy increases mucous production and may not be the best choice when you have a sore throat. Gargling with salt water and a pinch of turmeric soothes a sore throat. When I was kid, salt water gargle was the first remedy for a sore throat followed by a glass of milk with turmeric and honey. It worked wonders. Turmeric can be added to herbal teas too.

If nothing else these foods are all natural, so try them and see if they help. Are there any home remedies you use to soothe a sore throat ? Do share, would love to hear from you.

References

Ginger and Honey for sore throat

Turmeric for sore throat

Chicken Leek Soup With Garlic & Coconut Oil To Fight The Flu

Sunithi Selvaraj, RD @ 17.01.2013 Appetizers and Soups 10 comments

Chunky chicken leek soup with the goodness of fresh garlic, spinach & just a dash of coconut oil is an old fashioned remedy for fighting off a cold or the flu. In the old days when they did not rely on medicine as much, chicken soup was the doctor’s prescription for fighting flu and turns out grandma was right – it works. Research has found that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory activity, which may ease cold symptoms. One, by reducing the swelling in sore throats and nasal passages, and two by reducing mucus production, which can help ease coughs and stuffy noses. Adding leeks and fresh garlic further intensifies the anti- inflammatory qualities and promotes healing. My husband was experiencing flu like symptoms yesterday and I made a big batch of chicken leek soup. Chicken soup is a staple in our home and I have different versions of it. Sometimes we just have soup for dinner and I usually add a load of veggies to it to make it a more complete meal. This time I wanted the soup to be more healing and so I just added leeks, celery and spinach to it. It made it a green looking soup and it tasted great. Some pepper, cumin and salt and just a dash of coconut oil spiced it up perfectly. I added the garlic in the end to tap into the healing power of garlic. If your family can’t handle a raw form of garlic, add it while cooking the soup. After making homemade chicken soup I can never drink the canned stuff. Chicken leek soup is so easy to make, I think I sometimes have a harder time opening a can ! Anyway, soup was great so I am blogging it and hope you enjoy my version. PS: you don’t have to be sick to make this soup !

Nutrition Wise!

Chicken is a good source of lean protein and iron, both of which are needed to strengthen your immune system. Leeks are loaded with potassium, calcium and phosphorus, all needed for nerve function and strong bones. They are also a good source of iron and have potent antiviral properties similar to garlic! Spinach, often touted as a super food has a lot of vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin K. Coconut oil has immune boosting functions as well. Put all these together and you have a potent wholesome chicken leek soup that is warm comfort in a bowl !

Chicken Leek Soup with Spinach

Print recipe

Serves	10
Dietary	Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Meal type	Appetizer, Soup
Misc	Child Friendly, Freezable, Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Hot

Ingredients

4 cups raw chicken (cut into chunks ( about 3 lbs boneless chicken))
1 large leek (diced and chopped)
4 stalks celery (diced)
1 cup spinach
4-6 cloves garlic (crushed)
2 tsp thyme (fresh or dried)
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup cilantro (chopped)
4 cups low sodium chicken stock (optional)

Note

You can use chicken stock as a base or just cook the chicken in water and veggies which will create a stock. If not using chicken stock, cook an extra 20 minutes to allow the flavors of the leek & celery soak in.

Directions


	Dice leek into small pieces right to the green stem. Chop celery into small pieces. Crush garlic .

	Boil 6 cups water or 4 cups chicken stock and 2 cups water.

	Add diced chicken, celery, leeks , pepper, cumin, salt and cook for about 30 – 40 minutes.

	Add thyme, cilantro, coconut oil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add crushed garlic and remove off the fire.

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Fight Flu Naturally With Raw Garlic & Ways To Eat Raw Garlic

Sunithi Selvaraj, RD @ 12.12.2012 healing foods 20 comments

Does the thought of eating raw garlic make you go ewwww ? Think again! Garlic is one of the most ancient medicinal foods in the world and the number one natural remedy to fight flu. You just need to find some creative ways to eat raw garlic. Why raw ?? Garlic is rich in compounds called allicins that build up the immune system and help fight flu. Unfortunately, cooking garlic destroys the garlic’s ability to make allicin and makes cooked garlic generally not as beneficial as raw garlic. If you absolutely cannot eat raw garlic even with the ideas I’ve given you, go for roasted garlic or any form of garlic that is cooked as little as possible. But go ahead and look at my suggestions on ways to eat raw garlic. You may just get to become a fan of raw garlic !!The amazement of people when they experience the positive effects of eating raw garlic when suffering from infections, has led many to reconsider their concerns over garlic breath. It all pales into insignificance when measured against the health benefits.

General benefits of raw garlic:

The magic ingredient in garlic called allicin has superior healing powers ! It’s a strong antiseptic, antibiotic that lowers cholesterol and reduces plaque by helping prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together.Raw garlic exerts antimicrobial activity against viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi.Unlike antibiotics that actually weaken your immune system, garlic actually boosts your immune system. It has also been seen to be beneficial in treating cancers.

When to take raw garlic.

You can make eating garlic a part of your normal routine or take it in an extra strong dose when you feel a cold coming on. It provides some additional insurance along with a flu shot ! Some people have found that eating 2 cloves of garlic 3 times/ day on the onset of a cold seems to just take the cold away.

Ways to eat raw garlic!

Remember the potency of allicin the magic ingredient in garlic is intensified when garlic gets crushed, chopped or mashed.

Dips : One of my favorite ways to use raw garlic is in a dip. Just whip it up with some chickpeas or white beans to get a creamy hummus. here’s a great garlicky hummus recipe. You can also use garlic in salsa and sauces. A little chopped garlic mixed with avocado adds flavor and tastes great.

Garlic Butter : Make your own garlic butter and spread over bread. Here’s a great recipe for garlic butter ! It’s better than garlic bread ! You can use garlic butter on baked potato!

Salads : Ah yes, just chop fresh garlic and use in a salad dressing or just mixed with salad. Here a great salad recipe using fresh garlic and here’s another one. Both use crushed raw garlic in their salad dressing.

Soups : The way to use fresh garlic here is to smash or chop garlic and toss it in after the soup is done. Heat will reduce the efficacy of the magic compound ” allicin” a little, but since you’re not really cooking the garlic it will still be effective. Here’s a great recipe for a super garlicky soup. Just add the garlic in the end !! The same rule applies to stir fry and other dishes that you want to add garlic to. Add it at the end of cooking to get maximum benefits. After some time it will become a habit.

Juice it : Oh yes !! Juicing it with other fruits and veggies is a great way to consume raw garlic. You won’t even taste it. Here’s a great fresh juice recipe using raw garlic, some tips on how to juice it and some tips on the flu vaccine.

Raw garlic shot : For those brave souls who can chop garlic and chug it down, just remember to take it with some fat like olive oil or coconut oil. The oil will protect your stomach and improve absorption of the compound. Taking raw garlic on am empty stomach will upset the stomach. Although swallowing whole garlic is easier, to get the maximum healing benefit, crush garlic before chugging it down. I’ve tried it with orange juice and it tastes pretty good. You can also try crushed garlic in honey : like they say…. a spoonful of honey makes the garlic go down. Follow up raw garlic with a little fat.

Roasted garlic : For those dubious folks who cannot think of eating raw garlic, try a roasted version. Great recipe here ! You’ll still be able to tap into the flu fighting power of allicin in garlic. Roasted garlic is great in a lot of recipes. Here’s a great mashed potato recipe using roasted garlic & another cauliflower mashed potato recipe using roasted garlic !! You can also soak garlic in oil and make garlic confit ! Here’s a neat recipe to make garlic confit and a chicken salad that tastes yum with it.

Damage control !

Side effects of eating raw garlic are a garlicky odor and breath which personally I don’t find offensive but there are those people who do. This is due to sulphur in raw garlic. So, arm yourself with fresh parsley, peppermint, spearmint, cardamom seeds and fennel seeds, all of which purify the system and freshen breath. All these herbs can be used in cooking with the garlic too. You can also use mints, chewing gums and mouth washes to mask garlic breath. Drinking a lot of water will help the garlic compounds evaporate through your skin faster and let the odor linger less. Another tip is to eat your garlic dose at night while you sleep. The allicin will work it’s magic and heal your cold and the odor will evaporate with your morning shower. There are always deodorant sticks and perfumes that are very handy for the daytime garlic shot. I personally think the benefits far outweigh any concerns about garlic breath or odor.

Cooking garlic

Cooking garlic may affect the amount of the active ingredient called allicin that you consume, but cooked garlic still offers many health benefits , so if you can’t eat it raw or roasted, eat it cooked.

Looking for some great recipes that use raw or roasted garlic ? Look no further: here are some neat ones from blogging buddies of mine !! All of them are loaded with garlic, raw, roasted or lightly cooked. Check them out ! So, go ahead! Kill off those cold and flu bugs and get the maximum garlic health benefits by eating it raw. If you have any ideas on using raw garlic, do share!

References :

Why raw garlic is beneficial