We are all aware that incorporating healthy foods into our daily diet is essential. Unfortunately, even after following a healthy diet, a lot of us can fall ill or suffer from some other ailment for various reasons. When you are recovering from an illness, however, some foods and beverages can really help boost the healing process.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” is what Greek physician Hippocrates is renowned for saying. He wasn’t wrong. Many kinds of foods can ease pain and even help in preventing and healing certain conditions. In fact, certain foods are known to fight inflammation, improve immune function, and facilitate healing. Then there are foods that provide our bodies with the necessary fuel to heal faster. Here, we will look at a few such healing foods that you should add to your diet right away.
1. Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is native to New Zealand. What sets this honey apart from common honey is its amazing natural antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory qualities. In recent years, manuka honey has become renowned for its wound healing properties. Health experts have found that when the honey is applied directly to a wound, it tends to improve the healing process, increase the regeneration of tissue, and alleviate pain. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration approved manuka honey as an option for wound treatment in 2015.
Furthermore, research has also shown that manuka honey is effective at treating ulcers, acne, digestive problems, eyelid wounds, and even superficial burns.
2. Garlic
Garlic has several health benefits and has long been considered a natural antibiotic. This power food has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant properties and has also been used historically to heal wounds by many cultures. Garlic also contains many sulfur compounds such as allicin, ajoene, and alliin. Allicin is known to help lower blood pressure, detoxify the body, and facilitate healing.
One study by the researchers from the University of East London found that the allicin present in garlic was beneficial against the most antibiotic-resistant strains of the MRSA “superbug” also known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that causes infections in different parts of the body.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric, that bright yellow spice, has been used for ages in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve pain and to promote healthy digestion. In fact, it’s popularly used as a digestive healing agent in many parts of the sub-continent.
Turmeric also contains curcumin, a substance that has proven to have anti-inflammatory properties and can help heal irritable bowel syndrome. Making turmeric a part of your daily diet may even help protect your body from tissue destruction and joint inflammation. This wonder spice can also help relieve heartburn and bloating while preserving good nerve cell function.
4. Berries
All berries, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, are loaded with plenty of vital nutrients and plant compounds that can assist with your body’s recovery. One of the best features of berries is that they are high in Vitamin C which facilitates wound healing by stirring up the generation of collagen, the most plentiful protein in your body. Moreover, all dark berries contain anthocyanins – plant pigments that prevent cell damage and also have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune-supporting properties.
5. Salmon
Salmon is brimming with protein, B vitamins, iron, selenium, zinc, and omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats, apart from lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease, can also be useful in regulating the heart rhythm and preventing blood clotting. Moreover, salmon is also considered great for back and joint pain.
Studies have shown that omega-3 fats may assist in wound healing, improve immune response, and reduce inflammation. Another point worth noting is that 3 ounces (85 grams) of wild-caught salmon provides more than half of your daily needs for selenium – a powerful mineral that controls inflammation and immune response.