Curing Insomnia With Food

 Few things are as frustrating as not being able to fall asleep at night. Whether you suffer from chronic insomnia or just have an occasional sleepless night, not getting enough sleep at night takes a serious toll on your body. There are many prescription medicines designed to help you fall asleep, but they have serious side effects and can be very addictive. Luckily, you can naturally combat insomnia with the help of many great foods. Here are some suggestions for curing insomnia with food.

Bananas

Bananas can help you go to sleep at night thanks to the magnesium they contain, which works as a natural muscle relaxant. They also are a good source of other relaxing nutrients like melatonin and serotonin, and are easy to digest so as to not upset your stomach before bed.

Cherries

Tasty cherries are a great source of melatonin, which is a substance your body uses to help regulate your sleep. Snacking on cherries before bed is a great way to make sure you'll be able to drift off easily. Both regular cherries and dried cherries should work well.

Lentils

Lentils are an excellent source of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps your body to regulate sleep. Try eating a relaxing lentil soup for dinner to get yourself ready to fall asleep by the time you head off to bed. Other tryptophan rich foods include spinach and broccoli.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is marketed for bedtime use for a reason! It works as a natural sedative on your body. To make it extra potent, try sweetening your tea with honey. Because honey contains glucose, consuming a small amount of it will signal your brain to turn off orexin for the night.

Hazelnuts

Enjoying a carbohydrate-rich snack like hazelnuts will help to make serotonin and melatonin more available to your brain. The best way to take advantage of this is to eat it alongside other foods on this list. Be careful not to munch on just any high-carb food- many of them contain substances that make your body more alert.

Potatoes

Try making potatoes part of your last meal of the day. They'll help to flush out acids in your body that interfere with tryptophan. If you enjoy your potatoes mashed, mixing in a small amount of warm milk will also naturally work to help your body fall asleep.

Brown Rice

Not only is brown rice incredibly easy to digest- it's also an amazing source of melatonin. The more melatonin your body produces, the easier falling asleep can be. Try pairing up your rice with a tryptophan rich vegetable like broccoli to make it super effective.

Avocado

A small portion of a food that's full of healthy fats like avocado is a perfect way to prepare your body for relaxing at night. Be sure not to eat too much- just a few slices is more than enough. Avocado also contains many nutrients like folate and copper.

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Colon Cleansing Foods

There are many benefits to colon cleansing. Doing so regularly will significantly reduce your chances of developing constipation or diarrhea, and will also improve your overall health. Colon cleansing has also been linked to weight loss, an increase in energy, and even better skin. Here are some healthy colon cleansing foods.

Green Peas

While a great many vegetables can help you to cleanse your colon naturally, green peas are one of the very best. They are a terrific source of fiber, but will feed your body with many other great things as well, such as vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and thiamin.

Blackberries

Blackberries boast an incredible eight grams of fiber per cup, which makes them a perfect food to eat when you want to cleanse your colon. They'll also provide your body with plenty of nutrients while they're eliminating toxins, including Vitamin E, Magnesium, Potassium and Copper.

Spinach

Calcium is crucial to good colon health, and spinach is a terrific source of it. One cup will give you about 25% of the recommended daily value for it. Spinach also is high in fiber and magnesium, two other substances that will help to cleanse your colon.

Fortified Cereals

Starting your day off with a fortified cereal is important to any colon cleansing diet. Look for a cereal that's high in soluble fiber, has no sugars or additives, and contains things like bran, wheat, flax, rye and oats. Oatmeal is also a great choice.

Walnuts

Loading up in magnesium is also important when you're trying to cleanse your colon. Walnuts will give you all the magnesium your body needs easily, while also providing you with the mega-nutritious omega-3 fatty acids that they contain.

Kidney Beans

Many kinds of beans are beneficial to our colons, and kidney beans are one of the best. They're packed with nutrients like fiber and magnesium, and also contain molybdenum, protein, thiamin, phosphorus, iron, copper, and vitamin K.

Vegetable Juice

Because vegetable juice is so easy to digest, it's perfect for a colon cleansing diet. Try picking veggies like broccoli, cucumber, eggplant, and asparagus that are rich in fiber for your juices. If you don't use, a simple soup made with fiber, calcium, and magnesium rich vegetables can work just as well.

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What to Eat When You Have a Stomach Bug

Though stomach bugs are usually brief, they're very common, and can be very difficult to deal with. When your body isn't feeling well, it's more important to eat well then ever, but it's very difficult to do so when you're suffering from symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Luckily, there are many great foods to eat that will nourish your body and help to fight off your illness. Here is what to eat when you have a stomach bug.

Fennel Tea

Fennel Tea is the perfect thing to drink when you're suffering from an upset stomach. Not only are warm liquids soothing, but fennel has natural anti-nausea properties. It'll also load your body up with nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber which will help your body recover as quickly as possible.

Bananas

Easy to digest foods that are are also full of fiber like bananas are the perfect way to fight off a stomach bug. Eating bananas won't irritate your stomach, and the fiber will help flush toxins out of your stomach more quickly. Bananas also have plenty of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium.

Yogurt

Not only is yogurt easy to eat even with a sick stomach- it's also full of healthy bacterias that will work hard to fight off any viruses effecting your body. Look for a yogurt full of probiotics. If you choose a yogurt with fruit, pick a fruit high in fiber like blueberries, peaches, or raspberries.

Papaya

If you're having trouble keeping foods down, try munching on some papaya. It contains enzymes which will help your body to better digest food. It also gives you a healthy dosage of nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, folate, fiber, and vitamins K and A.

Cumin Seed

Try sprinkling some ground cumin seeds onto a food that's bland and easy to eat, like whole wheat toast or boiled chicken. The cumin seed will work to relieve nausea and will help to stop vomiting, and it also boosts your immunue system. Cumin seeds also contain iron and manganese.

Vegetable Juice

Whether you prefer juiced carrots, cabbage, or leeks, vegetable juice is incredible easy to digest, and is a great way to feed your body plenty of nutrients even when you're having trouble eating. If vegetable juices aren't your speed, try enjoying a nice plain vegetable soup.

Pineapple

Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that will aid your body in digestion. Munching down on this food will help settle your stomach so that you can keep other foods you eat down. Pineapple also is full of vitamin C as well as manganese and fiber.

Rice

Rice is yet another easy to digest food that's full of great nutrients. It contains manganese, selenium and magnesium, and has been shown to promote overall health via phytonutrients. Make sure that you choose brown rice and not white rice so that you'll be able to take advantage of all of this.

Ginger

No natural remedy will soothe your stomach faster than ginger. Though ginger ale and ginger tea are the most popular ways to take ginger when you're sick, pickled ginger is also a great choice. You can even add your ginger to a healthy vegetable soup for some stomach-safe flavor.

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Foods That Contain Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a nutrient that boasts an incredible amount of benefits. It not only fights off free radicals with its antioxidant properties, but it also helps to hydrate your eyes and skin. If your body doesn't get enough Vitamin A, you may be more prone to viral infections, and will even have poorer night vision. Luckily, there are many foods high in vitamin A that you can load up on to keep your body healthy.

Carrots

Crunchy carrots are one of the richest sources for vitamin A. That's why they're known for giving better vision, and why carrot soup is such a great thing to eat if you're feeling ill. Carrots also are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber and potassium.

Sweet Potato

Like carrots, sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. This gives it potent antioxidant effects, especially because of the way sweet potato roots store nutrients. They also have plenty of vitamin C, copper and manganese.

Kale

Leafy greens like kale are a wonderful way to add more vitamin A to your diet. Kale has been shown to reduce your risk of several types of cancer, and it also helps your body to detoxify. Kale is jam packed with nutrients such as vitamin C, fiber and manganese.

Cantaloupe

This sweet melon offers plenty of vitamin A! Just one cup of cantaloupe can provide 103.2% of the daily value for vitamin A. Studies have shown that it can improve lung health in addition to eye health. Other nutrients it contains include potassium, fiber, and vitamin C.

Spinach

Spinach is loaded with all kinds of nutrients, and vitamin A is one of them. Like other vitamin A rich foods, spinach can protect your eyesight, and it can also protect against many other ailments like osteoporosis and heart disease. Nutrients it has include vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6.

Apricot

If you're looking for a way to reap the benefits of vitamin A, try enjoying a tasty apricot. Apricots are an excellent source of this powerful antioxidant. They've been shown to help prevent cataracts in women. They're also a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium.

Broccoli

Because broccoli is a superfood, it can help reduce your risk of many kinds of cancer in addition to giving your body the benefits of vitamin A. It can even boost your immune system! Broccoli also has plenty of vitamin K, vitamin C, folate and fiber.

Collard Greens

Many leafy greens are a great way to load up on vitamin A, and collard greens are no exception. Because this particular food is also loaded with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, they can work together to give your body incredible protection against free radicals.

Bell Peppers

There are many nutrient rich kinds of peppers to eat, but no pepper has as much vitamin A as bell peppers do! It's chock full of carotenoids that will convert to vitamin A once inside your body. Bell peppers also contain fiber, vitamin C, and many kinds of b vitamins.

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Healthy Diet Foods

When you diet, it's easy to think only about calorie count and not about the nutrients the foods you eat are providing you. When you're cutting calories, it becomes even more important to make sure that you're eating foods that will give your body everything it needs. Luckily, there are many foods that will help you lose weight that are still full of vitamins and minerals. Here is a list of some healthy diet foods.

Asparagus

Asparagus is a negative calorie food, which means that it takes more calories to digest it than it contains. This makes it a perfect addition to a healthy meal while you're dieting. It'll give your body plenty of nutrients like vitamins K, A, and C, as well as potassium and protein.

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans aren't just low in calories. They also pack in an incredible amount of protein, which will help fuel your body and keep you feeling full for longer. Kidney beans have plenty of other nutrients to offer as well, like folate, fiber and manganese.

Water

It may seem obvious, but drinking lots of water is crucial to losing weight. Cutting out the calories you consume from drinks can have an amazing result on your waistline. Being well hydrated has a tremendous impact on your health. You won't believe how much better water will make you look and feel.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is an incredible food to eat while dieting. Not only does it lower insulin levels in your body that tell it to store fat- it can also speed up your metabolism with its high fiber content. Grapefruit also contains vitamin C, folate, and vitamin B5.

Jalapenos

Jalapenos definitely aren't the easiest food to eat, but they have many benefits. Jalapenos contain something called capcaisin, which will keep your body burning calories for hours after you eat them. They're also full of nutrients like Iron, Magnesium and vitamin C.

Oatmeal

Starting your day off with a big bowl of oatmeal is a wonderful way to help your body lose weight. It's packed with fat-soluble fibers that your body will have to work hard to break down. This will burn calories and keep you feeling full till lunchtime. Though it can be tempting to skip breakfast when you're on a diet, you shouldn't- eating it kickstarts your metabolism.

Blueberries

Though blueberries boast an incredible amount of antioxidants and nutrients, the amount of calories they contain is very low. Snacking on blueberries is an easy way to nourish your body without breaking your diet. For a more substantial snack, try blueberries in low fat yogurt.

Apples

If staying full in between meals is something you struggle with, apples are the perfect food for you. They contain a substance called pectin that will help your body feel full for longer. When you're trying to resist temptation, try munching down on this fiber rich food.

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Natural Allergy Relief

Many people have the misfortune of suffering from allergies. Whether they're plagued by seasonal allergies or have something environmental that irritates them, it can be seriously debilitating. Though there are many allergy medications on the market, many of them have inconvenient side effects. Thankfully, there are many foods that can help an allergy attack to be much less severe. Here are a few suggestions on how to get natural allergy relief:

Onion

Though onions are known for their eye-watering effects, munching down on them can actually reduce watery eyes! Onions are rich in quercetin, a flavonoid that works as an anti-inflammatory and reduces the release of histamine. For the highest dose of quercetin, go for red onions- they have a higher concentration of it than other kinds.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are an incredible source of selenium, which will help to combat allergies by improving your immune function. It also can improve your body's B-cell antibody response and even help the vitamin C you consume to become more effective. Other sources include lentils and tuna.

Artichokes

Artichokes contain plenty of magnesium, which works to fight off some stages of allergic reactions. Munching down on foods high in magnesium can also help reduce stress. They've even been shown to help relax muscles around the bronchial tubes, which will those who suffer from asthma.


Mango

Many fruits are high in vitamin C, but mangoes are near the top of the pack. Just one mango contains 95 mg. Vitamin C decreases the production of histamine in addition to working as a natural anti-inflammatory. Other foods with plenty of vitamin C include oranges and broccoli.

Spinach

Dark green vegetables like spinach contain plenty of molybdenum. Molybdenum works a bit like selenium in that it enhances the effects of vitamin C. Pair spinach up with your favorite vitamin C rich food to take full advantage of its anti-histamine effects.

Pineapple

Pineapple has plenty of bromelain, which fights of allergy effects by helping to block out pro-inflammatory compounds and inflammatory byproducts from your body. Pineapple is also a terrific source of vitamin C. If you're looking for a food to do double duty, look no further.

Green Tea

The phytonutrients in green tea help to ward off everyday cellular attacks, including those that cause allergy symptoms. Drinking a hot beverage is also a great way to clear sinuses if you've already started feeling the effects of your allergies.

Sesame Seeds

Sesame Seeds are an incredible source of calcium- just one quarter cup contains 351 mg of it. Calcium is another nutrient that works as a natural anti-histamine. Because sesame seeds are easy to snack on, you can use them to easily load up on calcium and fight off allergies all day long.

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Natural Ways of Detoxing the Body

Detoxing is becoming more and more popular. From specialized diets to supplements, people are trying all sorts of things to remove toxins from your body. If you're curious about doing a detox but don't want to commit to a regime, you're in luck. There are many foods that have natural detoxing properties that you can add to your diet. Here are a few simple and natural ways of detoxing the body.

Carrots

Loading up on a vegetable that's high in soluble fiber like carrots is a great way to help your body flush out toxins. In addition to this, carrots contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol that promotes colon health as well as several antioxidants.

Watercress

The leaves of watercress have a natural diuretic effect that will helps the foods that your body is digesting move through your system more efficiently. Try using watercress in place of whatever leafy greens you normally use on sandwiches and salads.

Green tea

Not only is green tea chock full of antioxidants- it also contains catechins. Catechins will speed up your body's liver activity so that your body can easily metabolize any harmful toxins. Try starting your day off with a nice hot cup of green tea.

Apples

One of the many reasons that apples are great at fighting off illnesses is because they contain such a high amount of soluble fiber- just one medium apple will provide your body with 4 grams of it. And that's not all that apples have to offer- they've also got one of the highest levels of antioxidant activity in fruits.

Cabbage

Like green tea, cabbage helps your liver to work more effectively, which is crucial to detoxing. Cabbage also is a great source of antioxidants like vitamin C, as well as other great nutrients like fiber, manganese, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Parsley

Parsley is another great natural diuretic. It is also a very versatile food. Not only can you use it all the ways you would a normal herb, but it also makes a delicious tea. In addition to its diuretic properties, parsley also can help you to detox thanks to the vitamin C and flavonoids it contains.

Blueberries

Anyone looking to detox should be sure to take advantage of a food as rich in antioxidants as blueberries are. And antioxidants aren not all that blueberries have to offer either- they also contain a surprising amount of fibers such as pectin.

Broccoli sprouts

While all broccoli is a wonderful thing for you to eat, broccoli sprouts are particularly good to much on while detoxing. They'll help to stimulate enzymes throughout your body so that eliminating toxins is much easier. They also contain vitamin C.


Peas

Green peas are yet another soluble fiber rich food. Of course, fiber isn't all that green peas have to offer. They're also a terrific source of vitamin C, and will provide your body with many other nutrients as well. A few of these include vitamin K, manganese, and potassium.

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