Let's Talk: 3 Things You NEED in Your Pantry

I'm no expert on nutrition, but I do happen to care a lot about it. I wholeheartedly believe that food is the body's best defense and offense against disease and there are some natural remedies you can buy in your local supermarket and always have on-hand to combat just about anything.

This post is not being written to bash the progressive and impressive advancements of modern Western medicine. I just believe having these in y0ur pantry means you won't have to visit the doctor nearly as often. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I went to the doctor for something that wasn't related to getting checked out for school or going abroad.

Take me back to the days when doctors used herbal remedies. Sigh.

1. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
• Apple cider vinegar, as you can see from extensive research online, can be used for combatting body odor from the inside-out, help heal the scalp from dandruff, can help with weight loss, digestion and even diabetes, but this isn't how I use it. The day I feel a slight itch in my throat, THE FEAR OF A COLD OR SORE THROAT EMERGES. That's when I put a spoonful of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water (more water the better to dilute it because no, it's not appetizing) and then--boom!--I do not get sick.
• Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar fights infection. Some holistic doctors even say regular intake can prevent urinary tract infections (heard that, ladies?).
• True story: My dog had an ear infection and giving her some apple cider vinegar (in water) helped her, as well. 
• Fun fact: My sister swears by the stuff and my dad drinks some every morning. Actually, I think I might start if it'll help my digestive woes.
  
2. TURMERIC
• Turmeric is a really fun one because anything that is bright yellow is a friend of mine. Though I am someone who has an incredibly monochrome wardrobe, I used to be a huge fan of everything yellow and I still am--to a degree. I still love the sun (I wish I was Kryptonian because that love would have benefits) and sunflowers are my favorite of all of the flowers. But most of all, I love how turmeric not only makes my rice yellow (which makes me feel SO Latin, I can't explain why), but it has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial functions. That means using turmeric in your rice, eggs or even making golden milk (which I will make, try and blog about next!) will help prevent so many ailments down the road. Lots of our everyday illnesses are caused by inflammation in the body.
3. MINT TEA
• Speaking of my digestive woes, I have to talk about my undying love and passion for mint tea. Maybe it's because I know I must have ancestry in the Middle East. Maybe it's because before I knew about my wheat and dairy intolerances, mint tea was the only thing that could settle my stomach after a meal. Whatever it may be, mint tea is my true love.
• Tea, in general, is so good for you. It prevents cancer by not only actively reducing stress (which is a main cause for many diseases, including cardiovascular), but it also has these powerful antioxidants. But it's not limited to cancer. These antioxidants actively prevent and treat a number of ailments, including: reduced risk strokes and neurological disorders (think Alzheimer's and Parkinson's), help with weight loss, treat clogged arteries, etc.
• Mint tea is special because it actively helps with digestion. Think you need that TUMS, get heartburn a lot? Well, aside from maybe making better nutritional choices, you should really consider putting those colorful pills back in your bag and steeping some mint tea in a boiling mug of water. Likewise, just infusing your water with some fresh mint leaves will curb your appetite throughout the day. ALSO, apparently just steeping some tea and sniffing it periodically throughout the day can help prevent you from satisfying your cravings. Does it get any better than that?
• Pro tip: don't let a cup of mint tea sit out for too long (by this I mean more than a day) because it's herbal and it starts to smell like a more illegal herb after a while. I kid you not. I was horrified.

There are a number of other things that are great for you, like coconut oil, as well as many other coconut-based products (think water, sugar, milk, etc.), Himalayan salt and cayenne pepper. Of course, I can always talk about them in another post. For now, you must know about these above.

For now, let me know if you have any questions and I'll be more than happy to help! Stay healthy, friends.

PS--it goes without saying, but you should buy these products certified organic. It may seem silly, but steeping leaves infested with pesticides is only going to make you sicker. It's as counterproductive as it can get, really.

Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/535407-will-apple-cider-vinegar-cure-a-bacterial-infection/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/tea-types-and-their-health-benefits
& my brain.