Food Remedies

Fix It with Food

Problem: You're starting to go bald
Prescription: Dinner at a steak house

Researchers may have discovered why Patrick Stewart lost his hair: one too many cheesesteaks. Order top round steak instead. It's the leanest cut of meat available on most menus. Going lean instead of eating fatty cuts of meat won't keep you from going bald, but it may slow down the process. According to a study from Australia, men who ate lean cuts of meat were less likely to go bald than those who ate fatty cuts of meat.
Another plus: "Beef is an excellent source of zinc," says Thomson. "And not getting enough zinc can lead to sudden hair loss."

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Problem: You're worried you'll start wandering aimlessly through the city
Prescription: A bag of almond M&M's

Chocolate-covered nuts may prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer's disease. It's not the chocolate that protects you, though; it's the E in the almonds. A National Institutes of Health study found that the antioxidative properties of vitamin E reduce deterioration in the brain as you age. Just 2 ounces of almonds contains your entire recommended daily intake of E.

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Problem: You can't breathe
Prescription: A few fish fillets each week

"Magnesium helps to improve lung function and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks," says Michael Dacey, M.D., a critical-care physician in Rhode Island. "Emergency rooms use magnesium to treat patients having acute attacks," he says. Plus, recent research found that asthmatics with magnesium deficiencies spent more time in the hospital than those whose diets were rich in the stuff. For men with severe asthma, Dr. Dacey recommends eating at least one serving of fish, seafood, or spinach each day.

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Problem: You've got sore joints
Prescription: Half a cup of cooked, mixed vegetables

The more cooked vegetables you eat, the lower your risk of developing arthritis, according to a recent Greek study. Researchers studied the diets and health of 330 people and found that those who ate the most cooked vegetables were 75 percent less likely to develop arthritis than those who consumed the least. One possible reason: Heat destroys the vegetables' cell walls, allowing your body to absorb more of the nutrients that would otherwise pass through your system.

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Problem: Your gums bleed when you brush your teeth
Prescription: An A.M. grapefruit

Inflamed gums hurt, and they can also mean you aren't getting enough vitamin C, says Cyndi Thomson, Ph.D., R.D., an assistant professor at the University of Arizona. When you don't get enough C, collagen in your body starts to break down. And that process starts in your gums. "One grapefruit provides your entire daily requirement of vitamin C," she says.

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Problem: Your breath stinks
Prescription: Eight glasses of water throughout the day

Instead of sucking on breath mints, keep a bottle of water by your side. "Bad breath is caused by sulfur compounds in your mouth, and sipping water frequently helps wash away those compounds and trigger the production of breath- neutralizing saliva," says Anthony Dailley, D.D.S., founder of the Center for Breath Treatment in San Francisco.


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Problem: You've got diarrhea
Prescription: A glass or two of wine

It's not Pepto's pink color that makes you feel better; it's a compound called bismuth subsalicylate, which is also found in high levels in both red and white wine. According to one study, drinking a glass or two of wine is just as effective at controlling diarrhea as taking a single dose of most over-the-counter remedies. The bismuth compound appears to prevent diarrhea by slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, before they can make you any sicker.

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Problem: You drank too many Bloody Marys
Prescription: Lots of virgin Marys

Only time and aspirin can heal the effects of crazed celebration, but for a major hangover, reach for the red stuff--tomato juice. "If you're throwing up, it's likely you're low on potassium, calcium, and sodium," says Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D., a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University. "That combination is what leaves you feeling sick and exhausted." Tomato juice is a good source of all those nutrients, along with additional water to make up for the fluids you've lost.

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Problem: You're worried about heart disease
Prescription: Drink a beer (but just one)

Beer may lower your risk of heart attack, according to a University College of London study. Researchers followed men in the Czech Republic and found that those who drank an average of one beer a day had the lowest risk of heart disease. But men who drank an average of two or more beers a day lost that extra protection. Doctors theorize that ethanol in the beer thins the blood and helps protect the heart.

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Problem: You've got hic--, hic--, hic--spasmodic closing of the glottis
Prescription: A spoonful of sugar

If the thought of Dick Cheney's heart health doesn't scare away your hiccups, try this: "Pouring a spoonful of sugar under your tongue can cure a bad case of the hiccups," says Marla Tobin, M.D., a family physician in Higginsville, Missouri. Like hiccups themselves, the science behind the cure isn't clear, but Dr. Tobin theorizes that the sugar granules excite nerves in the back of your throat. Once stimulated, the nerves block other nerve signals within the body, including the one that might be causing your hiccups.

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