Food Medicine
By Lizzie Nichols
I’ve been stressed out lately. My mom decided to pay me a visit and brought along a bottle of anti-depressants that she wanted me to take to get me through this period of change in my life. Much to her disappointment, I refused. My parents are of the generation that everything can be solved by popping a pill. It’s not that I’m against western medicine; I just prefer to not take medicine if I really don’t think it’s necessary. I’d rather beat the stress with the gym, yoga and eating right before trying a prescription.
I’m a big believer that food, exercise and a positive attitude can do wonders for just about any situation. I’m always amused by the commercials for prescription medicines and the long list of possible side effects that usually include conditions much worse than what the pill is supposed to be treating. It brings me more anxiety and stress wondering what side effects I might have to endure from the pills, which kind of defeats the purpose of taking them.
Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.” There’s a ton of information written about foods that heal. I’ve pasted a couple of websites that I just found.
Before running to the doctor for a prescription every time you feel a little under the weather, you might try to eat something good for you first.
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/photos/9-spices-super-healing-powers#2
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/9-mood-boosting-foods-you-should-be-eating.html
