Beat the bloat with artichoke water
An up-and-coming beverage, artichoke tea has a surprisingly sweet-yet-mellow flavor. Studies have found that artichoke extract, which shares similar chemical properties with steeped artichoke tea, may reduce symptoms of stomach upset—including nausea, bloating, and flatulence as well as LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol levels.
Other health claims surrounding artichoke water, such as those touting anti-aging properties, liver-protection, and its ability to lower blood pressure still need to be verified in human studies.
To make artichoke tea at home, steep fresh artichoke leaves or store-bought artichoke tea bags in boiling water. Serve the tea hot or cold, on its own, or added to smoothies and fresh juice.
Remember that, in order to reap the prebiotic and dietary fiber benefits of artichokes, they’ll need to be eaten rather brewed in a tea. Skip the classic melted butter and check out some of our tasty artichoke recipes at deliciousliving.com.
Go for glowy skin with a plumping flaxseed facial
Flaxseed facials, or DIY face masks made with flaxseeds, have been making the rounds on social media as a natural alterative to Botox—but do they actually compare? While equating the two might be an over exaggeration, there are real benefits to making face masks from flaxseeds.
Flaxseed contains mucilage, which gives the mask its gelatinous texture and has a brief plumping effect on the skin. Flaxseeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which when applied topically have been shown to protect against and repair sun damage as well as relieve symptoms of rosacea and psoriasis.
Flaxseed mask:
- 1 Tbsp flaxseeds
- 1/3 cup boiling water
Combine ingredients and let the mixture rest for 3-4 hours or overnight. Apply as a mask to your face and let dry before rinsing off. Finish with your normal skincare routine.
Lace up your walking shoes to reduce inflammation
You can add “anti-inflammatory” to the ever-growing list of reasons to include walking in your routine. In fact, one study found that just 20 minutes of walking on a treadmill per day was effective at reducing inflammation.
Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting against different kinds of infection so it’s an important bodily function. When the body becomes too inflamed, however, pain and other negative health outcomes may follow.
Walking also lowers stress, another major contributor to inflammation levels. Similarly, walking improves the duration and quality of your sleep, and lowers body weight, which can also help lower inflammation in the body.
Beginning a walking routine? Be sure to build up your routine slowly as overtraining can inadvertently lead to more inflammation. Alternatively, try other lower impact forms of movement such as swimming, yoga, or tai chi.
Stay cooler than cool with cryotherapy
Are you someone who likes to chill—literally? Check out cryotherapy, a type of treatment for pain and inflammation that uses sub-zero temperatures to achieve results.
When undergoing cryotherapy, participants are encased in a chamber that is chilled with liquid nitrogen or argon gas to temperatures as low as -200 to -300 F. During the 2–4 minutes spent in the chamber, protective gear is worn on the hands, feet, and ears.
While not FDA-approved, cryotherapy is thought to work similarly to an ice pack after working out and is used for exercise recovery and certain joint conditions. Some studies have found that cold therapy has the potential to reduce inflammation, and muscle spasms.
Cryotherapy can also be used on smaller, targeted areas to treat certain types of cancer and skin conditions. Intrigued? Check with your healthcare provider first, then look for a cryotherapy clinic in your city.
This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue of delicious living magazine.
