Prevention or Cure? Check out ways you can use food as medicine

The productivity of an individual can be hindered by illness. This could be caused by an his or her lifestyle, weather conditions, working conditions, among others. 

However, you can use food as medicine to prevent and manage illnesses because nutrients, such as vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, or fat, can contribute to keeping you healthy and managing your illnesses. 

Now, let’s talk about ways you can use food as medicine:

1. Strong immune system

When you have a strong immune system, you are at a lower risk of falling ill. So, to achieve this, you can eat nutritious meals like vegetables and fruits like carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, bananas, oranges, and mangoes. These foods can help your body with strength to fight diseases. 

2. Improved digestion

A basic way to improve your digestive system is to eat your meals in moderate proportions. You should avoid overeating and eat fruits as often as you can while staying hydrated.

Meals that have fibre in them like beans, ewedu, and ugwu; fermented food like pap, fufu, and yoghurt can aid proper digestion of food. You can also cook your meals with palm oil, eat fruits with high water content, and eat food that has healthy spices in it. 

3. Healthy guts

Gut infections can make you sick and uncomfortable because of the pain that could come from them. So, to avoid infection in your guts and avoid other related illnesses; you can avoid roadside foods and meals cooked in an unhygienic environment. 

To use food as medicine for a healthy gut, eat beans and plantain, vegetables, okra, fish, pawpaw, yam, yoghurt, and pap. Some of these meals are rich in fibre, probiotics, protein, etc. And they are just what your gut needs to be healthy. 

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4. Cold and catarrh

What kind of meals can help your body fight against cold and catarrh? As you may have already guessed, the legendary pepper soup is one of such foods. Fish, beef or chicken pepper soup to clear your throat and clogged nose. You can also eat meals that have nutrients that fight against viruses and bacteria like garlic and ginger. Hot tea with ginger, lemon or honey, and fruits like oranges can help you fight against illness. 

5. Blood sugar level

Not having your blood sugar levels regulated will make your body vulnerable to diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, mood swings, kidney problems etc. So, the kinds of foods that you can use as medicines are beans and plantain, eba, oatmeal, grilled fish, okra, potatoes, vegetables, moi moi elewe (Ground beans wrapped in leaf), unripe plantain, etc. 

All in all, using food as medicine requires intentionality and commitment to eating the right meals. What are other kinds of food that you know of?