Five Flu Favorites
Fact: most of us don’t love being sick. But it happens. In fact, it really is an opportunity to observe your immune system at work. Yes- those symptoms we all dread: the sniffly nose, the raw, sore throat, the congestion and the fever… those are all proof that our bodies are actively trying to fight for health. “That sounds great,” you say, “but it still sucks!” Today, I am going to give you a few of my favourite natural ingredients to help your body beat those nasty colds and flus- and maybe speed your recovery. Best part is, they are accessible, easy-to-prepare, and pretty tasty!
Please note: this article is not a substitute for medical advice. Please check with your health practitioner about the use of these foods and herbs for your condition, especially if you are on medication, have an underlying condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have possible allergies to these foods or foods of the same family.
Garlic: There is a reason that whole books have been written about this amazing bulb. Whether you add it to every meal, take it in concentrated form (but check with your health practitioner first!), or eat it straight up, get your garlic. Don’t worry: no one wants to kiss you while you’re sick anyways. Take the chance to stock up on garlic’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant powers. It is stocked with nutrients (especially vitamin B6, C, and manganese) and highly beneficial sulfur-containing compounds such as allicin - which are also found in onions and other similar-looking plants. In addition to being an important soldier to bring on board to fight the bugs, studies also show it to enhance immune function. You might as well keep it in your diet after the sniffles have passed: it’s positive impact on heart health is well-studied.
Lemons: When life gives you lemons… you can do so much more than make lemonade! Add lemons (and garlic) to dressings, sauces, tea, and water. Not only does this citrus fruit give you a good dose of Vitamin C, the vitamin of the season, but it also has antimicrobial effects to help your body get rid of foreign invaders. As with so many “healthy” foods, lemons (and it’s green relative, the lime) have antioxidants to help protect your cells so that they are stronger and more apt to defend. I would recommend against lemonade in this case though… skip icy drinks in the fall and winter and stick with warming ones instead!
Honey: You may have heard that you should be decreasing your sugar intake when you’re sick. It is true: sugar can impede our immune response. However, I’m still including honey in my list. Who hasn’t been soothed before by a cup of hot water, lemon, and honey during a sore throat or cough? There is something about honey. It’s different. Raw (good quality) honey contains propolis, a natural antimicrobial (it will attack everything from viruses, bacteria, and fungus)- as long as you’re getting good quality honey. Some varieties can be a supply of friendly bacteria (think probiotics), which will also enhance your immune system (flower-fed bees in the summer are most likely to produce this type of honey). And the soothing properties? Honey is also anti-inflammatory, which is why you’ll find it in a lot of natural cough and throat syrups and lozenges too. Use it with your hot lemon water, add it to herbal tea, or coat your garlic with it (no, I’m not joking) to enhance your body’s fighting capability AND make your remedies more palatable! (Note: Honey is usually restricted for use in children under 1.)
Green Tea: Were you scared that I was going to recommend a bunch of foul-tasting herbal teas that are hard to find, and harder to swallow? Well, ok. Here’s one that we can all get and has so many beneficial properties that it cannot be ignored. Green tea protects our cells with it’s high anti-oxidant value, boosts the immune system with it’s catechin content, and will warm you up when you have the chills. Research shows that it will reduce the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms. If you don’t want to drink it, I still have good news. An interesting study recently found that gargling with green tea tends to help prevent flus. Note: green tea does contain caffeine, but in amounts much less than coffee.
Ginger: I love ginger. During flu season, I put it in smoothies, make ginger tea, add it to stir-fries, and pile it in soups (yummmm carrot-ginger soup!). From a Western-medical standpoint, evidence-based studies lean in the favour of it’s anti-nausea, digestive, and cardiovascular benefits. However, traditional medicines (Chinese, Ayurvedic, Greco-Arab, and even Western) tout a much longer list of benefits, especially when it comes to treating acute infections, colds and flus. From a Chinese Medical perspective, fresh ginger root is a warming food that stimulates sweating (yes, we want to encourage this natural function!). As the weather gets colder, we are more prone to a “cold-invasion” from the exterior. Ginger can warm you up from the inside out, and prevent this invasion. Make ginger tea with lemon and honey, and get three powerful foods in one!
