Easy food for common problems

Before raiding your medicine cabinet, look in your kitchen for natural ways to remedy that dodgy stomach or skull-pounding headache. The following foods give instant relief, no prescription necessary.

Quick fix the Stinky breath with parsley

All out of sugar-free gum? No worries. That sprig of parsley on the side of your plate works just as well. Fresh parsley is rich in the plant pigment chlorophyll, a powerful breath freshener. We recommend chewing parsley after onion heavy kebab or a latte to cure malodorous breath.

Quick fix a headache with a hard-boiled egg

Eating protein can sometimes stop the pounding before it starts, or at least reduce its severity. It’s important to eat protein, not carbohydrates, as you don’t want to raise your blood sugar too quickly. Carbohydrates send your blood sugar soaring, and then crashing, which can trigger headaches. Protein takes longer to digest, so it raises sugar levels slowly. Not an egg fan? Try nuts, reduced-fat tasty cheese, or a protein bar. Avoid aged cheeses, like camembert, which have been shown to cause headaches.

Quick fix your annual review with chocolate

Your Lindt habit is a smart one, literally. Milk chocolate can help boost brain activity. Scientist believes that the nutrients released during chocolate consumption enhance cognitive performance. Pop a few squares of fruit and nut before the big meeting and negotiate your way into a corner office.

Quick fix a hangover with fruit juice

Pick up some orange juice before cocktail hour. Fruit juice contains the natural sugar fructose. This helps you burn off the alcohol and get it out of your body faster. After an evening on the town, drink 250 to 300ml of fruit juice before hitting the sack, so you’re not so unhappy in the morning.

Quick fix motion sickness with ginger

Don’t let your overseas flight feel like an afternoon on a roller-coaster. Take 500mg of powdered or raw ginger 30 minutes before departure, then another 500mg every three to four hours. Ginger can reduces motion sickness because it stimulates receptors in the digestive tract that help release the soothing hormone serotonin.