6 Pantry Staples That Steady Blood Sugar, Soothe Menopause Symptoms and More
The best part? You likely already have these ingredients on hand
Who says better health has to come with a hefty price tag? Some of the most potent wellness boosters are already in your kitchen, no pricey supplements or specialty foods required. These healthy pantry staples are more than just convenient—they’re a great source of nutrients that can support everything from sharper thinking to balanced blood sugar. The best part? You’re probably already using many of them in your everyday meals. Read on to discover the simple ingredients that can make a big difference for your health.
6 pantry staples that boost your health
From sharpening your memory to soothing menopause symptoms, these everyday ingredients pack a wide range of perks. Here’s how they can help you feel your best.
Canned tuna blocks dry eye
Crisp up a perfect tuna melt in the air fryer and you’ll be on your way to lowering your risk of dry eye. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who eat five servings of tuna weekly (about three to four cans) have a 68 percent lower risk of developing dry eye syndrome. Credit goes to tuna’s abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, which soothe inflammation and improve the quality of vision-protective tears.
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Extra virgin olive oil keeps thinking sharp
A Harvard study found that adding at least ½ tsp. of olive oil to your cooking daily delivers antioxidants to the brain that lower your risk of memory troubles by 28 percent. Not only that, Brown University research found that women watching their weight who consumed 3 Tbs. of this pantry staple daily lost a third more weight over eight weeks than women on low-fat diets who ate the same number of calories.
Chamomile tea eases menopause symptoms
Sipping chamomile tea daily may help ease bothersome menopausal symptoms. Research in the journal Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology found that women who took a supplement that included chamomile experienced significant reductions in hot flashes, night sweats, restless sleep and fatigue, with improvements noticeable within a month. Chamomile flowers are a good source of the flavonoid apigenin, a compound that mimics estrogen and helps stabilize hormone levels.
Peanut butter curbs blood sugar spikes
Open the jar of unsweetened peanut butter and enjoy a generous tablespoon before eating a carb-heavy meal. Doing so tamps down post-meal blood sugar spikes, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Fat and fiber in peanuts slow digestion, preventing a rapid release of carbs into your system. This may improve your body’s ability to pull glucose out of your bloodstream by more than 50 percent.
Honey and hot sauce calm a cough
Stir 1 tsp. of honey and a few drops of Tabasco into a mug of hot water for quick relief from a persistent cough. Research published in OTO Open notes that capsaicin (the compound responsible for the hot sauce’s heat) helps reset over-sensitive cough reflex nerves, preventing them from misfiring and triggering coughing. And honey, a classic pantry staple, may soothe coughing better than traditional cough medicine, suggests a Canadian study.
Yellow mustard stops cramps fast
The next time a muscle cramp strikes, reach for yellow mustard. Taking just ¼ tsp. may provide fast relief, thanks to its acetic acid. This helps stimulate the body’s production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that signals muscles to relax. A study from Methodist University suggests this simple trick can stop cramping within 85 seconds.
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