Healing foods are quite simply those that promote health and help combat disease. In "Food, Medicine, and the Quest for Good Health," Nancy Chen illuminates food therapy practices globally and historically to identify intersections between food and medicine. Thus, we find that long before modern medicine made the correlation, humans have used foods as medicine. Foods that contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, as well as those high in necessary trace minerals and fiber, can all be considered healing foods.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are compounds in your food that are intimately involved in the prevention and healing of cellular damage which is known to be the cause of cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. Foods that contain an abundance of antioxidants contribute to healing your body by reducing the number of free radicals available to attack your cells. Such foods high in antioxidants are fresh fruits (particularly berries), curry, fresh garlic, yellow, orange and red vegetables, dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, and allium vegetables like onion and garlic.
Anti inflammatory
The University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine's anti-inflammatory diet recommends eating cold water fish high in omega-3 fats, ground flax seeds or flax oil, leafy green vegetables and walnuts. Additionally, foods high in antioxidants and fiber are recommended to reap anti-inflammatory benefits as well. spices that contain anti-inflammatory compounds include ginger, rosemary, tumeric, oregano, cayenne pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Inflammation in the body, according the university, is one of its natural ways of protecting itself, and therefore a clear sign that healing is needed.
Trace Minerals
Alfalfa is a healing food because it contains trace minerals uncommon to most other plants. therefore, it can behave as a natural diuretic and prevent or treat conditions such as urinary tract infections, bladder, kidney and prostate disorders according to the Northwestern Health Sciences University. Other trace minerals such as copper, iron, zinc, chromium and selenium can be found in whole grains, nuts, lean meats and some dairy foods.
Low Glycemic/High Fiber
High fiber foods are also considered healing by the University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine. Fiber is important in healing and prevention of chronic disease of the colon, such as diverticulitis, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Foods with a low glycemic index and high fiber content do not spike blood sugar levels. Such foods include whole grain cereals, oats, bran, legumes and whole fruits.
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