Worries solved
Your top nutrition questions answered
SOS for hay fever
Q: My allergist recommended antihistamine tablets and a prescription nose spray to tame my seasonal allergies, but I’d prefer a natural fix. Can you help?
A: To alleviate the sniffling and sneezing of seasonal allergies, we recommend a two-pronged approach:
(1) For a symptom-free fall, start taking butterbur tablets at least two weeks in advance of ragweed season. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that compounds in the wildflower tamped down allergy symptoms just as well as Zyrtec without causing drowsiness. Just choose a product labeled “free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids,” which are toxic to the liver. One we like: Petadolex Pro-Active (Vitacost.com).
(2) For right-now relief, try a baking soda spray. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine researchers found that using a drug-free blend with noniodized salt, water and baking soda (like Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Nasal Mist) reduces congestion by 64%—on par with Rx nasal sprays. Best of all, you can use it all season long since baking soda mists don’t spark the cycle of “rebound congestion” common with most nasal sprays.
Is there a natural Rx for arthritis pain?
Q: Gardening is my favorite way to de-stress, but it causes the arthritis in my hands and wrists to flare. I’d rather not rely on NSAIDs for pain relief. Is there anything else can I try?
A: Sip a turmeric iced latte before heading into the garden: It stops hand and wrist pain as effectively as prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (NSAIDs), say Harvard researchers. The vivid yellow spice contains a potent compound (curcumin) that blocks pain-triggering enzymes, without side effects. The same study also found that turmeric triggered weight loss of 1 pound a week without dieting—a major bonus since Danish scientists reveal that a 5% to 10% reduction in body weight reduces joint pain.
To make the healing drink: Pour 1⁄2 cup of coconut milk over ice, then stir in 1 tsp. of turmeric and 1 tsp. of honey, plus maple syrup and sweetener to taste. Tip: Adding a pinch of black pepper boosts curcumin’s pain-relieving potency by 2,000%.
Q My friend likes ‘tiger nuts’ and says they helped her drop 10 pounds without hunger pangs. I’m struggling to get my weight down. Could they work for me?
A Yes, tiger nuts are a smart snack for weight loss! Long before becoming a health-food store go-to, the superfood was a dietary staple in Egypt for more than 6,000 years.
Despite the name, tiger nuts aren’t nuts at all, but nutrientpacked root veggies with a flavor reminiscent of coconut and almonds, making them a great addition to trail mix or granola.
Just 1 oz. is packed with 10 grams of resistant starch. And therein lies their magic: British researchers found that women who add resistant starch to their diet lose 400% more weight than those who don’t. Scientists say resistant starch passes undigested through the stomach to the gut, where it feeds the friendly bacteria that regulate weight. Plus, tiger nuts are packed with oleic acid, which sends “I’m full” signals to the brain, blocking hunger for hours.