Beetroot to Pineapples: 8 Foods to Fight 8 Common Health Disasters

How do you curb a cold, deal with diarrhea, reduce bloating and tackle a heartburn? Here’s how.

Beetroots are great for health. 

Often there are very simple solutions available to beat common yet debilitating health concerns and disorders. Yes, as simple as the every day foods that we eat. Here’s a list of eight of them:

Curb the Cold

Food to go to: Chicken soup

The hot broth helps break up the congestion, prevents dehydration by rehydrating and keeps the nasal passages moist. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Now this one isn't just an old wives' tale - chicken soup can actually help soothe a cold. The hot broth helps break up the congestion, prevents dehydration by rehydrating and keeps the nasal passages moist. But why chicken soup?

Well, that’s because chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine, which helps thin the mucus in the lungs and thus provides instant relief.

It is also rich in a compound called carnosine that helps reduce that stuffy, congested feeling in the nose and throat by minimising inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. And the best news is that this warm, inviting broth delivers immune supporting minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, silicon and sulphur in a form that’s super easy for our sick body to absorb.

Cut Cravings

Food to go to: Spinach

Besides being a high fibre and low calorie food, spinach also contains thylakoids, which are known to decrease cravings.(Photo: iStock)

Besides being a high fibre and low calorie food, spinach also contains thylakoids, which are known to decrease cravings of unhealthy foods like sweets or fast food and thus help with weight loss. Thylakoids basically help to up the production of satiety hormones, which leads to better appetite control, healthier eating habits and increased weight loss.

Delete Diarrhea

Food to go to: Ripe banana

With diarrhea comes loss of potassium, which may lead to major electrolyte imbalance in the body. Bananas are a brilliant source of potassium and thus a great way to replenish this lost mineral. Secondly, this fruit is rich in fiber and nutrition, and provides multiple essential nutrients, including carbohydrates to give you energy.

At the same time, it is gentle and bland enough to pass easily through a weakened digestive tract, perfect, thus for the times when our digestion is compromised.

Hack Heartburn

Food to go to: Pineapple

Pineapple is the only major dietary source of bromelain, a unique protein digesting enzyme that has anti-inflammatory properties.(Photo: iStockphoto)

This precious fruit is alkaline, which is great for realigning our gut’s Ph balance, and cutting acidity in the stomach. Plus, pineapple is the only major dietary source of bromelain, a unique protein digesting enzyme that has anti-inflammatory properties.

Lower the Bad Cholesterol

Food to go to: Pomegranate

Pomegranate is loaded with polyphenols - antioxidants that provide several heart-protecting benefits, including reducing the bad - LDL cholesterol. So, make it a habit to crunch this juicy fruit at least thrice a week.

Reduce Bloating

Food to go to: Parsley tea

Parsley tea with lemon and honey.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Unhealthy eating, junk food consumption and irregular food habits lead to a toxic body, which can land you with a water logged body.

To cut the bloat besides checking wrong food eating, zero in on they natural diuretic - parsley tea. Brew two teaspoons of dried parsley leaves per cup of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to three cups a day.

Strengthen Weak Bones

Food to go to: Green banana

Bananas contain a special compound fructooligosaccharides, which helps the body absorb important bone-strengthening nutrients like calcium and magnesium better. And green banana (also known as plantains) goes a step further as they also offer short chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) which make them twice as effective at strengthening our bones.

Tame High Blood Pressure

Food to go to: Beetroot

Beetroot helps significantly lower the blood pressure. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Beetroot helps significantly lower the blood pressure. The benefit is because of its high nitrate content, which get converted to nitric oxide in the body and helps to relax and dilate the blood vessels, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. So, it’s a good idea to chomp on some beetroots or have a glass of beetroot juice every other day.

(Kavita Devgan is a weight management consultant, nutritionist, health columnist and author of ‘Don’t Diet! 50 Habits of Thin People’.)