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Foods and Drinks Used As Home Remedies

Some items are more effective than over-the-counter medicines.

By Margaret MinnicksPublished 2 months ago 5 min read

Many people don't realize how some foods and drinks they have on hand that can be used for home remedies. Most households have in their kitchen cabinets, pantries, and refrigerators food and drinks that can also double as cures for less serious ailments. Some items are more effective than over-the-counter medicines.

Check out the foods and drinks listed below, in alphabetical order, to see which ones you can use as home remedies.

Apples

Every household should keep apples on hand. The old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” has proven true because apples contain many of the nutrients the body needs on a daily basis.

Eating an apple the first thing in the morning on an empty stomach can provide some comfort for those who suffer from migraine headaches.

Apples are also beneficial for people with acid reflux because the fruit contains a soluble fiber that absorbs stomach acid. Eating an apple can keep liquid from returning up from the stomach. Any type of apple will work wonders, but organic red or golden delicious apples are much sweeter than the other types.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is very good on baked sweet potatoes and oatmeal. Diabetics keep cinnamon on hand because it helps maintain a normal blood sugar level. Some diabetics take cinnamon pills for that reason. However, all you have to do is use the cinnamon that is probably already on your spice rack.

Cucumbers

If you wake up with puffy eyes, a quick remedy is to place cold cucumber slices over each eye. It is a beauty trick used by many people, including celebrities. It is a quick fix because cucumbers are about 95% water.

First, they help blood vessels constrict. Secondly, they help reduce inflammation. Leave them on each eye for about 10 minutes in order to see a difference.

Garlic

People should keep garlic on hand for more than seasoning food. Garlic has many health benefits, beauty uses, and is a solution for some home repairs.

Garlic helps eliminate hair loss and dandruff. It clears the skin of acne, blemishes, psoriasis, and fungal infections. It can be used to prevent and treat cold sores in the mouth, colds, and the flu.

Athletes' feet can be treated with garlic, and plants can be protected. A little-known tip is that people can control their weight by eating garlic.

Ginger

Ginger is the ideal home remedy for stomach aches, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, morning sickness, nausea, a sore throat, and a persistent cough. You can use ginger in tea, which is also good as an anti-inflammatory.

Green Tea

Green tea has many great benefits. It is very effective for colds because the virus usually starts in the back of the mouth and throat. Therefore, gargling with green tea is very helpful to use at the first sign of a cold.

You can purchase green tea from the store, or you can make your own. Combine one teaspoonful of salt with two cups of strong green tea. Stir the ingredients. Gargle twice with the mixture during the day for immediate relief. On other occasions, drink green tea for extra measure until you are well.

Honey

Honey is a natural sweetener for foods and drinks. Additionally, honey works much better for coughs and sore throats than some over-the-counter medicines.

Honey can also be used as a beauty product for pimples and blemishes on your face. Put just a small amount of honey on the area in the morning. The honey acts as an antiseptic that stops the growth of bacteria. Therefore, no breakouts will occur.

Lemon Slices

Every cook knows that lemons should be kept on hand for cooking and drinking. However, lemons are also good as effective home remedies.

  • Use lemons to get rid of acne, eczema, and other skin discomforts.
  • Lemon essential oil can help to keep people calm when they are anxious.
  • Lemons are beneficial for hypertension.
  • Lemon juice helps lower cholesterol.
  • Eating lemons can freshen the breath.
  • Lemons are good for insect bites and stings on the skin.
  • Lemon juice offers comfort for canker sores.
  • Drinking lemon juice is a good remedy for fevers and coughs associated with colds and the flu.
  • Use lemon juice on corns and calluses on the feet.
  • Drinking lemon juice helps to eliminate fatigue.
  • Lemon juice can act as an antiseptic and gives relief due to an allergy.
  • Water with lemon can help eliminate insomnia.
  • Lemons are natural agents to help ease the pain of rheumatism in your hands, arms, and legs.
  • Lemons can relieve stomach aches after eating.
  • Lemons get rid of varicose veins.

Nutmeg

If you cannot sleep at night, reach for nutmeg from your spice rack. For a mild sedative, sip 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg that has been placed in warm milk.

Oatmeal

By Jocelyn Morales on Unsplash

Those who suffer from eczema have found relief by using oatmeal to calm itchy, inflamed skin. Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe rashes and other skin discomforts.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is very effective to use on dry skin on elbows, knees, and heels. Sea salt is a very good exfoliator that can clear away dry skin because the grains are much thicker than regular salt.

Vinegar

Vinegar should always be in your kitchen cabinet so you don't have to run out and buy it when you need to use it as a home remedy. Apple cider vinegar is an effective remedy for indigestion. It helps to break down food and to reduce gas.

Vinegar is an excellent home remedy for toenail fungus if you soak your feet in it twice a day.

Yogurt

By Lee Milo on Unsplash

Yogurt is just as much a beauty aid as it is food. However, buy the plain, cheaper brand when you intend to use it on your body. It can be used to get rid of acne and pimples, as well as be used as an anti-aging facial. Use yogurt to soothe psoriasis, sunburn, and to get rid of wrinkles on the face and dark circles from under the eyes. Yogurt is also good to use as a condition for hair and to keep it from falling out and to eliminate embarrassing dandruff.

Use yogurt as an exceptional home remedy for whitening teeth, keeping fingernails looking polished, cracked heels, and washing the dog.

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About the Creator

Margaret Minnicks

Margaret Minnicks has a bachelor's degree in English. She is an ordained minister with two master's degrees in theology and Christian education. She has been an online writer for over 15 years. Thanks for reading and sending TIPS her way.

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