“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates

It’s my favorite quote, one by which I live. It’s also the theory behind our Intelligent Gourmet juices and every single menu item we offer. While enjoying healthy food on a daily basis is the most powerful preventative we can give ourselves for every possible disease, sometimes, we need a cure for specific ailments caused by weakened immune systems, years of wear and tear, inflammation, or emotional imbalances. When that is the case, I love whole food – but nothing packs quite the same punch as a good supplement.*

Insomnia: First, cut out the caffeine – it’s the most common cause of sleeplessness. But after you’ve tried that, you may have a melatonin deficiency. As we age, our bodies make less melatonin, and taking a supplement can help regulate sleeping patterns. Take 1-3 mg 2 hours before bedtime.

UTIs: UTIs are caused by e-coli getting a foot-hold in your urinary tract. Antibiotics kill the bacteria after you’ve already suffered, but prevention is as simple as using cranberries. Cranberries make the walls of your urinary tract and bladder too slippery for bacteria to adhere to. Cranberries work best as a preventative, but can be taken after the fact as well. Typical store-bought cranberry juice has far too much sugar (and other added ingredients) to be effective, and even 100% cranberry juice has more sugar in it than you want (and sugar promotes bacterial growth). Supplements, however, are highly concentrated. Take 1 500 mg cranberry pill 3 times daily on an ongoing basis to act as a preventative (it’ll also support your, heart, liver and stomach health).

Arthritis: Turmeric (or it’s active ingredient, curcumin) is a powerful anti-inflammatory and blood thinner, which makes it almost like taking an Aspirin. If you’re on blood thinners already, consult a doctor before taking turmeric! Take capsules of 250 to 500 mg three times daily.

Mild to Moderate Depression: St. John’s wort has been proven to help reduce anxiety, depression, tiredness, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping (which, not coincidentally, are symptoms of depression). The plant’s hypericin and hyperforin chemicals help the nervous system regulate mood. Take 300 mg of St. John’s wort 3 times daily.

*I’m not a doctor, so please consult your physician before starting any routine supplement, especially if you’re on drugs with potential interactions.

And, for the best possible supplement for your health, come by for an Intelligent Gourmet juice today!