Cold and flu are the most common issue to wakeup with on a chilly winter day, while people with weaker immunity are more prone to cold at any time of the year. Cold and flu is the most communicative infection, causing blocking of nose and respiratory tract, uncomfortable sneezing and coughing, sore throat and the list of aligned diseases goes on. There are a lot of different factors responsible for catching cold easily, though when we come in contact with an already infected person, chances are high of getting infected .
Viruses and influenza being on peak during fall to spring, that’s why we are often advised to wear warm clothes and eat healthy food to boost our immunity system. While almost everything fails for our sick tastebuds during cold, it is important to provide healing and nourishing supplements to our body for a speedy recovery.
Down below are some of the easiest hacks that should be included in your food habbits in order to curb cold and flu without compromising with the taste cravings that we usually go through.
• Hot Water + Lemon + Honey
Hot water is termed as lukewarm water, tolerable to one's level for providing a soothing effect to your throat from all the mucus build-up. Lemon is rich in vitamin C boosting the immunity level and opening up our sleeping taste palate with a tang along it's anti-Bacterial properties of honey.
Consume one tablespoon of honey with a cup of lukewarm water and add in 3 drops of lemon, on empty stomach.
• Coconut Water
Coconut water is antibacterial in nature It is important to keep our body nourished from the hydrating properties of coconut as cold and infection tends to deplete liquids from body. Coconut water further helps in building up the immunity levels with the antioxidants, vitamin c,calcium and zinc-a strong combination for combating cold.
One glass of coconut water a day is great for your body or you can add it to your smoothies instead of plain water.
• Garlic
Age old remedy of using garlic for treating cold, finds its way through the scientific approval in recent studies-garlic prevents illness if consume at a low level regularly. A big pot of soup with a lot of garlic is hearty and nose opening while kicking Our tastebuds. Garlic is not only body warming but holds vitamin c making it anti-bacterial and immunity boosting.
Steep some crushed garlic in Lukewarm water before consuming for a relief from cold every morning.
• Sweet Potato
Sweet potato is a number choice for warming up the souls during cold months. It is loaded with carbohydrates for providing energy to our sick body along with necessary vitamin D and C for a healing effect.
The tastiest way can be roasting or baking a sweet potato with toppings or seasoning of choice as meal.
• Turmeric
Turmeric is widely used in cuisines for its antibacterial and anti septic qualities. It is an excellent for its healing properties which equally boosts up the immunity while warming up the body. It one of the most approved remedy against nasal cavity inflammation and chest congestion.
Mix a walnut sized raw turmeric with milk and boil together. You can add a sweetener of your choice or honey.
• Ginger
Ginger provides an effective remedy to dry cough, cold and sore throat from its antibacterial and anti viral essence. It is helps to elevate the body temperature for fighting against infections.
Best way to incorporate ginger to your food is by adding a raw slice with your meal or to chewing down a small slice of ginger raw in the morning on empty stomach. Ginger tea or just ginger water is equally strong and effective.
• Banana
Banana is a wonder fruit, easily accessible and affordable with its significant amount of minerals contents. It is hydrating for the weak body as well as full of vitamin goodness.
Consumption of a banana in a day, is proved to be useful against cold and flu.
• Chicken Soup
While chicken provides necessary protein for building our body, easy to digest even during our worse days. Nothing beats a warm comforting bowl of chicken soup as it is quick to assemble and great in taste. It is soothing for sore throats along with a great way of adding necessary greens and vegetables to your soup pot.
Bring a soup pot with water, chicken with bones and vegetables to boil with any seasoning and herbs of your choice. It's that simple or you can go ahead and add pasta of your choice to it as well for a complete meal.
• Dark leafy green vegetables
Vegetables such as kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli are excellent source of various vitamins and minerals which are necessary for fighting against infections and vitals. It is immunity boosting and antioxidant in nature.
Best ways to add more greens to your diet is to add them in your smoothies or soups or even stir fry.
It is important to keep in mind everybody is different and so is their immune system. It is best to visit a certified,professional person in regards to ones health. Also these above have worked me,I might be wrong as well.
