12 Foods with Extra Healing Power

From the book Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal

You might know that the fiber in apples and broccoli helps ward off diabetes and heart disease, that the antioxidants in berries have anticancer powers, and that the protein in lean meat builds muscle. But did you know that flaxseeds can reduce hot flashes? Or that pumpkins are one of the foods tolerated by Crohn’s sufferers? Here are 12 more foods that are even healthier than you knew. 

ASPARAGUS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Asparagus contains the natural diuretic asparagine, which helps your body get rid of excess fluid and salt. This is helpful for people with edema caused by high blood pressure. Plus, the B vitamins in asparagus can help fight cognitive decline and depression. If you have gout, though, keep your consumption to a minimum: Asparagus contains purines, which can precipitate painful attacks.

TEA FOR INFECTIONS A chemical in tea, L-theanine, expands gamma delta T cells (immune blood cells that form the body’s first line of defense against all types of infections) by up to fiftyfold. Tea can, however, cut iron absorption by more than 80 percent when it is sipped with an iron-rich meal. Drinking your tea between meals or adding lemon minimizes that effect.