When you're feeling green around the gills, food is probably the last thing you want to think about. But your kitchen may have just what you need to quell your queasies.
Ginger root has been used to over 2,000 years in China to treat nausea. Scientists suspect it blocks the release of hormones that can cause irregular muscle contractions in the gut - the ones that leave you with that heaving feeling.
Ginger appears particularly effective against motion sickness and morning sickness. In one study naval cadets who were new to the open sea took either placebos or 1 gram of powdered ginger prior to a period of sailing through high waves. Those who took the ginger reported much less nausea and vomiting and fewer cold sweats than those two took the placebos.
Other studies on ginger have been less promising, but because it's safe and cheap, it's well worth a try, especially for pregnant women. In one study, symptoms of morning sickness became milder in more than half the women who took 1 gram of fresh ginger daily.
Aim for: For motion sickness, chew on 1 gram (about 1 tablespoon/15 millilitres or a 1-inch/2.5-centimetre piece) of peeled raw ginger or candied ginger several hours prior to travel and every 4 hours while traveling. Or take two capsules of powdered ginger every 4 hours for a full day before traveling and throughout the trip. For morning sickness, take 1 gram of fresh or candied ginger daily. You can also drink a cup of ginger tea every few hours. Avoid powdered ginger because it may be less safe in large quantities for pregnant women.
Hint: For some people, ginger is more effective when taken on an empty stomach.
Remember staying home from school with the stomach flu while your mother coaxed you to drink ginger ale or flat cola? In small quantities, sweet liquids like these or like apple or grape juice seem to calm the stomach, and they provide some energy when you can’t eat. They’re absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, yet they have no fiber to activate stomach acid and digestive tract contractions that could stimulate nausea. Coconut water (not coconut milk), with its wealth of potassium, is like nature’s Gatorade, and island cultures often turn to it as a remedy for nausea. Look for it in health food stores.
Aim for: Small sips. Don’t drink too much at once. If carbonation bothers your stomach, let sodas go flat before drinking.
Cold liquids can be a godsend to pregnant women. When you can’t keep anything else in your stomach, sucking on frozen fruit juice cubes (make your own in an ice cube tray) or fruit-based ice pops can replace some of the liquids and energy that you’ve lost.
Aim for: A few fruit-based ice pops a day may pave the path to a slightly larger meal. Avoid those that contain artificial sweeteners, some of which may worsen nausea in some people.
These quickly dry saliva from the mouth, and that can help tone down nausea. The acid in lemons also triggers the formation of bicarbonate in the stomach, helping neutralize intestinal acids and calm gas and bloating that may intensify nausea.
Aim for: Suck an olive when nausea strikes or add lemon juice to hot or room-temperature water and sip it.
Looking for more great advice? Sign up to our newsletter for more useful tips, delivered straight to your inbox.
When a baby cuts a new tooth, both baby and parents suffer. The baby-care section in your local drugstore offers over-the-counter products that can ease the pain, but be sure to consult with your paediatrician and follow label directions. There are also various home remedies you can opt for. But whatever you try, the main ingredient will be parental patience during those fussy weeks when the first teeth emerge.
When a pimple rears its ugly black, white or red head, over-the-counter products can help. But so can simple remedies from Mother Nature's medecine chest.
Constipation can add inches to your waistline and cause discomfort. It affects up to 27 percent of the North American population and is often caused by lifestyle factors such as not eating enough fibre, not drinking enough fluids and not exercising regularly, as well as mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety. Here are five ways to help get things moving.
Derived from plants or plant products, herbal medecines are loaded with properties that have the power to heal. But herbal remedies can also be toxic if you don't use them properly. Find out how to use them safely.
No doubt you've heard it a thousand times by now: Heart disease is the number one killer among both men and women. Research suggests that by eating the right foods, getting enough exercise, and generally taking good care of yourself, you could slash your risk of dying from heart disease by an incredible 80 percent. Find out how these 10 tips could save your life.
Advertisement
Our testers share their experience with Colgate* Sensitive Pro-Relief™ toothpaste!
Travel worry-free anytime with exceptional and affordable travel insurance offered through Reader’s Digest
For Offers based on your interests and location, check out CentrSource
You could win 1 of 29 fabulous prizes totalling over $4,000.00! Enter Now!
What delicious dishes are you cooking up in your kitchen these days?
You could win 1 of 3 incredible prizes totaling over $1,900. Enter now.
Advertisement
© 1996-2011, Reader's Digest Magazines Canada Limited - © 1996-2011, The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) ULC - All rights reserved.
Post a comment