Home Remedies of Health

 

Swallow this: Honey

Here’s more proof that honey is nature’s sweetest treat. Studies have found that it can help alleviate scratchy throat and hack attacks. “This probably has a lot to do with honey's antibacterial and antioxidant properties,” says Babb. Stir two teaspoons of honey into warm water or herbal tea, and sip a cup every two to three hours as needed. “Some studies suggest that manuka honey [a variety produced in New Zealand and Australia from a tree of the same name] and darker varieties like buckwheat may have the strongest antibacterial properties,” says Babb.

 

Other Ways to Dose Yourself: Mix into yogurt, salad dressings, and smoothies; use in baked goods in place of the processed white stuff; drizzle over roasted vegetables

 

Swallow this: Ginger

Got a date with an overzealous trainer and don’t want to spend the next two days moving as stiffly as an extra on The Walking Dead? Reach for a knob of ginger. A study published in the Journal of Pain found that subjects who lifted weights experienced a 25 percent greater reduction in their post-workout pain after consuming two grams of raw ginger (about two teaspoons) each day for a week and a half, compared with when they skipped it. Experts credit antioxidants called gingerols, which can have inflammation-reducing properties similar to drugs like ibuprofen. And this wonder root does double duty: It has long been used to quell nausea and motion sickness too.

 Other Ways to Dose Yourself: Mince and add to stir-fries and soups; eat it pickled as a sandwich topper or sushi accompaniment; snack on or add to baked goods in its crystallized form.

 

Swallow this: Kiwi

When shut-eye is hard to come by—and women are more likely than men to toss and turn all night—this fuzzy fruit may help you conk out faster. Researchers at a Taiwanese university found that women who ate two kiwis one hour before bedtime for a month fell asleep 14 minutes faster and had better sleep duration and quality than those who didn’t eat the fruit. One possible explanation: Noshing on the sweet green flesh before hitting the sack may boost levels of serotonin, a sleep-inducing neurotransmitter that delivers an express ticket to dreamland.

Other Ways to Dose Yourself: Chop and add to fruit salads and salsas; puree and mix into smoothies and fruit drinks; slice for a tart topping