3 Foods for a Healthier Mind and Body

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Eating as healthily as possible is essential if you want your body and mind to function properly, especially once you reach middle age. Every food that you decide to include into your diet will have some kind of physical or mental effect and will set the mood for the day.

Do not be surprised if you experience a lack of energy after consuming junk food on a regular basis. Eating a variety of fresh, natural produce will not only boost your energy levels, but will also enhance your immune system and provide the body with the tools needed to prevent various diseases. There are a lot of options out there, but to make your choice easier, here are three foods for a healthier mind and body.

Garlic

Garlic, one of the symbolic vegetables of the Mediterranean region, has been admired for millennia for its culinary and medicinal qualities. You can find garlic in almost every dish, regardless of the region or culture because its flavor has the advantage to enhance the taste of the food.

Apart from its culinary appeal, garlic has the power to prevent and even heal some conditions. The first and most well-known advantage of garlic is that it boosts the immune system, preventing and treating the common cold, if consumed daily in liquid form (usually as a tea).

Moreover, recent studies have shown that this particular food is also good for the brain. It prevents Alzheimer’s Diseases, regulates the blood flow to the brain and improves learning capabilities and the memory.  

Garlic is especially effective if you catch a cold as an adult, when it is usually more aggressive.  Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it soothes psoriasis. Further on, studies show that this vegetable can help control weight, helping the body lose all the extra fat.

Last but not least, garlic is regarded as one of the best home remedies for kidney infection. Due to the fact that it possesses diuretic properties, it can soothe and alleviate the symptoms of renal infection. The way it does this is by forcing the kidneys to eliminate more salt and various other toxins through the urine.

Aloe Vera

Like garlic, aloe vera’s medicinal qualities have been known and appreciated for centuries. Before the advent of modern medicine, aloe vera was used for treating various hair and skin conditions, whether by applying it directly on the skin or through ingestion.

Its health benefits are provided by its high amounts of saponins, fatty acids, salicylic acid, amino acids, sugars, minerals, vitamins and the list goes on. From a mental health standpoint, it is a great method to alleviate symptoms of stress and depression.

Firstly, aloe vera can detoxify the body upon consumption because it eliminates any unnecessary waste elements and products from your body through the process of absorption. Once this is done, the body will naturally flush the toxins through the colon.

Inflammations caused by razor burns, radiation burns, wounds, cuts, abrasions and sunburn can be easily treating with aloe vera thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Internal inflammations caused by tendonitis, Crohn’s diseases and psoriasis, which women are more likely to develop after the age of 40, can also be alleviated by ingesting it.

Cranberries

To round-up this list, the last food that can do wonders to your mind and body are is the cranberry. Native to North America and customary food on everybody’s Thanksgiving tables, they can be consumed either in sauce, drink or dried form. They can also be added as stuffing, or eaten as a dessert.

Regardless of what version you opt for, cranberries provide the same health effects all across the board. Apart from having a very low caloric level, they contain loads of vitamins, like C, A and K. Their antioxidant properties can prevent a wide range of diseases, from urinary tract infections, cardiovascular diseases to dental issues. Other than that, cranberries can help keep the brain sharp, improving the memory.

Conclusion

The food that we eat on a daily basis influences our health both short and long-term. That is why it is important to carefully plan our diets by removing any unnecessary fats and focusing on cleaner choices, especially after reaching a certain age. Three of these choices are garlic, with its healing qualities, aloe vera, which boasts anti-inflammatory properties and cranberries. Make sure to follow this guide and your quality of life will improve significantly.