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| dilate, which lowers blood pressure. Phthalide also reduces stress hormones, which cause blood vessels to constrict. |
| Celery's potassium content and its diuretic effect also help prevent and reduce high blood pressure. |
| STREET SMARTS |
| "I always believed in the healing power of food as a mental as well as a physical thing," says Kate Pratt, a thirty-eight-year-old book editor. "Eating a bowl of my mother's chicken soup always made me feel better when I was sickit made me feel cared for. Now I know it's not all in my headat least in one sensebecause I know it really helps my stuffy nose, too. But to me that's secondary." |
| Calm Down |
| Hippocrates used celery to treat nervous patients, and he was no quack: research has shown that essential oils extracted from celery seed have a tranquilizing effect on the central nervous system. |
| Tips: |
| Don't neglect to eat the leaves: they contain the most vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. Cooked celery retains its nutrients; try sautéing it lightly to retain its crunch. |
| Chili Peppers |
| Lower cholesterol |
| Help prevent blood clots |
| Improve circulation |
| May help prevent heart disease |
| May reduce cancer risk |
| Act as decongestants |
| May help prevent ulcers |
| Most people associate chili peppers with super-spicy meals, not super-healthy ones. Maybe you never go near them because you don't enjoy a flaming tongue. If so, you're making a mistake: although chili peppers can be eye-poppingly hot, they are always a great addition to a healing diet. |
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