The harvest may be over, but these pantry staples can keep you on the road to good health all winter long.

Not just for salad or a dash of flavor items like nutrient dense oils, herbs and, spices, are also rich in antioxidants and other healing properties. Check out these 16 healthy-up, slim down for foods to heal body, mind, and spirit.

OILS
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL: The evening primrose—a plant with bright yellow flowers is found in dry meadows from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains. It blooms only in the evening—dies, leaving seed pods, which can be used for their healing oil.

Healing Powers: “Evening Primrose oil (EPO) contains an omega-6 essential fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid. Some research has found that because of EPO’s potential inflammatory effects if may be helpful for arthritis,” explains New York City Keri M. Gans, R.D., American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokesperson.

FISH OIL: Eskimos in Alaska and Greenland use fish oil as a staple in their fatty fish based diet. Today, nutritionists know that consuming more healthy fish oil, like Eskimos, and less unhealthy saturated fats such a butter and trans fats can lead to a lower risk of developing heart disease—the number one killer for both women and men in the United States.

Healing Powers: “Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which the body cannot produce. Research on omega-3s from fish oils have revealed it to have anti-inflammatory and other effects that could improve cardiovascular health and help lower triglycerides,” says Gans.

FLAXSEED OIL: This oil has been praised by ancient Egyptians and Greek physicians in folklore. Flaxseed oil, in later centuries, has also been noted in folk medicine to help stomach problems, colic hemorrhoids. The seeds are believed by alternative healers to treat coughs, colds, respiratory infections and urinary tract infections. And there’s more.

Healing Powers: “Flaxseed oil is considered one of the richest food sources of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and thought to have beneficial cardiovascular effects,” explains Gans. Plus, this healing oil can be added to cooked casseroles and soups.

OLIVE OIL: The olive tree was first cultivated in the Mediterranean countries 6,000 years ago. Since then, olive oil has played a therapeutic role in the diet and provides amazing healing powers, from preventing diabetes to unwanted pounds, especially when combined with vinegars.

Healing Powers: Olive oil, which is 74 percent heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, contains plenty of healthful nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E. Other good stuff also found in olive oil are phytoestrogens and sterols. Olive oil (extra virgin is recommended) is good for the digestive system, helps regularity, lowers cholesterol levels, and guards against cancer, according to research by the International Olive Oil Council. Teamed with antioxidant-rich red wine vinegar and herbal vinegars is a good start to enjoy the healing benefits of the heart-healthy, health-boosting Mediterranean diet.

HERBS, SPICES & TEAS
GARLIC: For at least 3,000 years, garlic, dubbed “the stinking rose,” has been used medicinally. In World War I and II, the British military used it to control infections. And people in the early 20th century used it to fight off the flu epidemic.

Healing Powers: The therapeutic uses of garlic have been noted in more than 1,000 scientific studies. Garlic has been found to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as ward off infections and cancer. It contains allicin, which is strong antibiotic so putting garlic in your diet can ward off colds, flu, and bronchitis—which hit during cold, winter months. It may be the antioxidant mineral selenium in garlic that protects cells from damage and fights off disease and infection.

ONIONS: For centuries, doctors and common folk have also touted the onion’s curative powers. Hippocrates prescribed onions as wound healers, and pneumonia fighters. And today, in the U.S. we believe onions are a healing food.

Healing Powers: “Yellow and red onions contain powerful antioxidants and an anti-inflammatory agent called quercetin, which may provide relief for sufferers of hay fever and asthma. The sulfer compound in onions lessens swelling, redness and allergic reactions,” notes ADA spokesperson Bonnie Taud-Dix, R.D., of Woodmere, New York.

CINNAMON: Thousands of years ago, Egyptians used cinnamon imported from China in funeral rites, a tradition later carried on by Egypt’s Roman conquerors. The popular and valued spice was used for both embalming and preserving meats.

Healing Powers: According to Taub-Dix, cinnamon may help to reduce blood sugar levels and help control diabetes. “The number of people with diabetes climbs each year. This is a health problem we need to control all year round.” Perhaps it’s culinary instinct that has led bakers to use cinnamon in sweet concoctions from drinks to baked goods.

GINGER: Who in the world would eat ginger wrapped in a piece of bread after a big meal to stave off indigestion? Legend has it, the ancient Greeks did just that more than four thousand years ago.

Healing Powers: Ginger root is known to be a soothing medicine for the stomach and intestines, relieving cramps and nausea. Planning on taking a long leef peeping drive? Ginger may be your secret weapon against carsickness. “For those who travel, it might be smart to take some ginger tea bags along and have a soothing mug on your cruise to prevent motion sickness or after indulging in exotic foods,” says Taub-Dix.

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