“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food”
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, 400 BC


Food can be strong and effective medicine, a fact that the medical establishment is finally acknowledging. Unquestionably, early health therapists used food as the mainstay prescription against diseases. Ancient Egyptians noted that cabbage could cure as many as 87 types of health complaints and onions 28. Garlic was revered as a healing plant. Recent findings reported in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association say that certain foods have the ability to protect against diseases like cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. There are also substances found in some foods that help slow the ageing process. Until recently, modern medicine neglected the healing power in everyday foods, viewing it as folklore and unscientific.

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 35% of cancers in Americans may be related to poor diet. This means that if we change our eating habits, it is possible to reduce our risk of developing cancer by more than one third. Many experts believe that 35% is a conservative estimate and the number may be nearer to 50%!

The diet link may even be stronger for heart disease and diabetes. Diet has the distinction of being the only major determinant of health that is solely under your control. You cannot always control the other factors such as the quality of air you breathe but you have the final say over what goes into your mouth. It would be a shame not to take this opportunity to positively influence your health.

Apple
Apple is rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that may help to normalize cholesterol levels. Even better, apples help to decrease LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. An added bonus is that apples are good for diabetics because the soluble fiber helps to regulate blood sugar, preventing sudden surges or drops in blood sugar levels. Scrub apples well to remove as much of the wax and insecticide but I don’t advise peeling the apple. There is much valuable pectin in the skin.

Broccoli
Researchers from the Institute for Hormone Research in New York discovered that cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussel sprout) contain indoles and sulphoraphanes, compounds that may be potential weapons against cancer. Broccoli in particular is rich in beta-carotene, selenium and fiber, all of them important to help fight cancer.

Celery
For more than 2000 years, celery has been used by Orientals to help normalize high blood pressure. Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that the ancient healers may be right. Celery contains a compound called 3-butylphthalide that reduces blood pressure by relaxing and dilating the walls of the blood vessels to allow the blood to flow more freely. Celery also contains psoralens that may help people with the skin condition known as psoriasis.

Garlic
Garlic has a rich history as a healing food. Hippocrates used it to treat cancer. In the Middle Ages, monks chewed on garlic to protect themselves against plague. During World War 2, garlic was used to prevent wound infection when antibiotics were scarce. There has been more than a thousand studies to date performed on the healing properties of garlic. Among it’s possible benefits are in preventing heart attack (by lowering cholesterol levels, specifically LDL), protects against stroke by keeping the blood thin and protects against cancer.

Green Tea
Green Tea is rich in antioxidant compounds that help keep a heart. A recent study also noted that Green Tea may protect against cancer. Hirota Fujiki, a Japanese researcher, is quoted as saying, “We would like to think drinking green tea may be one of the most practical cancer preventions at this moment”.

Papaya
Papaya is richer in vitamin C and has five times more beta-carotene than orange. It is also an excellent source of fiber and potassium. The juice of raw papaya is a traditional remedy for indigestion. Earl Mindel, nutrition guru and author, says, “Even though scientists claim that papaya has no effect on digestion, many people swear that papaya juice works far better than some antacids!”

Tofu
Tofu is high in protein, cholesterol-free and low in calories. Like other soybean products, tofu is rich in isoflavones. These compounds may be the reason why Japanese women rarely complain of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, which are quite common among Western women. Studies also show that women who take tofu regularly have lower rates of breast cancer than those who don’t. Tofu is not just for women. It is a wonderful food for men too. Japanese men who routinely eat tofu have lower rates of prostate cancer than their Western counterpart.

Yoghurt
Here’s an example where an “old wives” tale being quite true. For years, yoghurt has been recommended for yeast infections. Dr. E. Hilton of the Long Island Jewish Medical Centre found that women who ate one cup of yoghurt containing live cultures of Lactobacilli daily had significantly fewer infections than those who did not. Yoghurt may also improve the body’s immune function. It was discovered that regular consumption of yoghurt containing live cultures reduced the incidence of colds and the symptoms of allergies.

Writer’s Note:
Diet is one of many factors in the genesis of disease. Genetic susceptibility, stress and environmental exposure to toxins are also important issues. Thus, you should not rely on diet alone to treat / prevent disease. No single food should be eaten to the exclusion of others for this purpose. Finally, you should not substitute foods for medication without the advice of your doctor.

Patricia Loh is an educator and writer on natural therapies. She is a qualified clinical herbalist and operates a herbal centre in Subang Jaya. Comments and inquiries: herbz@tm.net.my or 03-5631 7751.