Food as Medicine: Old Wives’ Tales, Family Remedies, and the Healing Power of the Kitchen
Natural Remedies, Healing Foods, and the Traditions Families Trust.
As cold and flu season always seems to creep up on us soon after the New Year. In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, the question we ask is: Can food be medicine?
Join Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely as they merge family remedies with old and new science and unpack how everyday foods make us feel better. Learn how chicken soup, honey, ginger, garlic, cabbage, peanut butter, and whiskey have been standby home remedies used by many of our parents and grandparents. These comfort foods have been used through the generations to help heal and restore everything from a sore throat to an upset stomach and aching body and spirit.
This episode does not offer medical advice (please consult your physician if you’re ill), it investigates some of the whys behind food remedies: how taste, smell, ritual, and care influence well-being, especially during illness, grief, aging, and emotional stress.
🌿 Key Takeaways
- How some foods can heal more than the body: Taste, smell, and ritual can lift spirits, restore appetite, and create emotional comfort during illness, grief, and stress.
- Old wives’ tales that offer wisdom: Remedies involving ginger, garlic, honey, bone broth, cabbage, and fermented foods reflect generations of observation and are now being used and tested in current research.
- Food's role in aging care health, too: Enhancing flavor and texture can help older adults and chemotherapy patients maintain nutrition, dignity, and enjoyment of eating.
- Cooking and baking for mental health: Baking, soup-making, and bread-making calm the mind, foster purpose, and allow people to care for others while healing themselves.
🎧 Listen now and rediscover the foods, stories, and traditions that made you feel cared for and loved just a bit more. Then share this episode with someone who might need a bowl of homemade chicken soup to make them feel better, or with someone who might just need an extra hug.
💬 We’d love to hear from you: send us a note here.
What food always made you feel better in your family—and why?
Additional Links ❤️
- University of Michigan Study on how Peanut Butter can add to your life.
- Lavender Tallow hand and body moisturizer by our friends at Sincore Homestead.
- Book: My Family Tree, Food & Stories Journal Awarded #1 New Release on Amazon
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- 👇Share Your Story With Nancy & Sylvia!: Leave us a voicemail
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🎧If you missed the first time around... now's your time to listen now to Family Tree Food & Stories and get inspired to make better use of what’s already in your kitchen. Then visit our page to share how you're using your leftovers this year. Waste less. Cook smarter. Tell the story behind your fridge.
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other licensed medical provider regarding any medical condition, treatment, or personal health decisions.
About Your Award-Winning Hosts: Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely are the powerhouse team behind Family Tree, Food & Stories, a member of The Food Stories Media Network, which celebrates the rich traditions and connections everyone has around food, friends, and family meals. Nancy, an award-winning business leader, author, and podcaster, and Sylvia, a visionary author, lawyer, and former CEO, combine their expertise to bring captivating stories rooted in history, heritage, and food. Together, they weave stories that blend history, tradition, and the love of food, where generations connect and share intriguing mealtime stories and kitchen foibles.
"Every Meal Has a Story, and Every Story is a Feast." (tm) is a trademark of Family Tree Food & Stories podcast and the hosts.
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