Natural Remedies ... From Round the World

Natural remedies are the healthiest way to treat your ailments,  but where do they come from? Here are 15 common natural  remedies from around the world that you may or may not have heard of.   This is necessary information for any health buff!

1. Coconuts Fight Fat - Sri Lanka

You may have heard that coconut oil is a great way to slim your waist.  Well the people of Sri Lanka figured this one out way before the rest of the world.  It is reported that the average Sri Lankan eats about 116 coconuts per year, and  they are half as likely as the average American to pack on the pounds.  The reason is that coconut oil is packed with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)  that stimulate the liver to burn fat 50 percent faster than normal. Try having about  two tablespoons of coconut oil daily (in your cooking) and you could shed up to  three pounds a month!

2. Yoga Treats Insomnia - Austria

Although yoga is practiced all over the world, in Austria it is used solely  as a stress-buster and quick treatment for insomnia. Austrians like to go  all out and go on yoga retreats and holidays for up to a week, but according  to research from the University of Pennsylvania, practicing yoga for just  20 minutes a day could get rid of your insomnia. The research also  found that practicing yoga is just as effective, if not more, than taking a  sleeping pill and it also will rid you of anxiety, stress and depression.

3. Ginger Controls Triglycerides - Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's largest grower and consumer of ginger and  ginger products, with locals using it in their cooking, teas, candies  and breads. Their tradition has long pointed to ginger as an effective   treatment for the heart, and there are studies to back them up.  Triglycerides are fats that clog your arteries, and according to  Stanford researchers, a daily dose of ginger could cut the production  of these fats by 27 percent. Ginger is also twice as effective as  aspirin at preventing blood clots and preventing inflammation.

4. Turmeric Steadies Blood Sugar - India

Turmeric is a flavorful yellow spice used in rice and meat dishes and  even desserts, but it also has outstanding medicinal properties.  Indians use turmeric to treat high blood sugar levels, a practice  that has been scientifically confirmed by research at Gujarat University.  They confirmed that the active ingredient in turmeric, called curcumin,  switches on the genes that keep blood glucose levels stable.  The compound can also help the pancreas make insulin when it is low.  In order to see the benefits of turmeric, start taking about half a  teaspoon daily either directly or in your cooking.

5. Mushrooms Fight Cholesterol - Japan

Mushrooms are a popular food and medicine in Japan, with the average  Japanese woman consuming about 8 pounds of mushrooms a year.  According to research from Penn State University, adding about a  half a cup of mushrooms to your daily diet could cut cholesterol levels  by nearly 30 percent. This is because mushrooms are packed  with antioxidants that prevent the liver's production of artery-clogging fats.

6. Mustard Baths Calm Muscle Pain - England

Ever heard of a mustard bath? While it may sound like a hoax, mustard  baths are used heavily in England to quell tight and achy muscles.  Mustard has healing plant compounds that draw out toxins through  the pores to improve circulation, relax tight muscles and speed the  healing of damaged tissue. For your own mustard bath, mix 2 cups of Epsom salts, 1/4 cup  baking soda, 1/4 cup dry mustard in a jar. Pour only 1/4 of this  mixture into a warm bath, mix the water before getting in, soak  for 20 minutes and rinse.

7. Chamomile Tea Beats Off Bloating - Germany