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Tuesday 28 December 2010

Foods That Fight Colds

We're in the full swing of cold and flu season. While you and your family go about your day, eating regular meals and snacks for extra holiday shopping energy, be sure to include some of the below foods to ward off any bugs or germs that come your kids' way!
Pineapple

Pineapple is rich with an enzyme called bromelain. It not only helps you digest food, but keeps body inflammation to a minimum. It also contains the well-known, immune-boosting vitamin C, which increases the production of white blood cells, which fight off infection.

Vitamin C sources also include citrus fruits, potatoes (white and sweet), peppers, kiwi and berries.

Garlic

Garlic has super powers that will kill both bacteria and viruses. Cook with it, make garlic toast by mixing grated or chopped garlic into butter, or whip up a hot drink with raw grated garlic, a teaspoon of honey and some lemon juice all mixed into a mug of hot water.

If the thought of the potent garlic smell puts you off of eating the above, eat some fresh parsley after your meal to rid you of the garlic odour.

Ginger

Grate it and add to your garlic drink above, or make ginger tea on its own. Any way you can get ginger into you, do it. It contains compounds that can ease your sore throat, kill off bacteria and the cold virus. It helps eliminate stuffiness, and reduces the pain that you feel in joints when you're coming down with a cold or flu.

Rice and other Unprocessed Grains

Brown rice of any type (short grain, long grain, jasmine, or basmati), quinoa, millet, oats, and amaranth are rich in vitamin E. It helps to re-circulate vitamin C as well as enhance the production of B-cells, the immune cells that produce antibodies that destroy bacteria.

Oily Fish: salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna and herring.

The omega 3 fatty acids from these types of fish increases the activity of white blood cells that eat up bacteria, speeding up healing and strengthening resistance to infection in the body.

Omega 3 fats can also be found in flax oil and flaxseeds, omega-3 eggs, nuts and seeds.
First published from Sweetmama on Dec.21.10



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4 comments :

  1. Thank you so much for posting this. I have a righteous head cold that started last night.

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  2. Hi... Happy Wednesday, a little early! I'm just doing a little blog hopping & thought I'd say HI :) Great post - Garlic has awesome powers to fight off a lot & we are HUGH Vitamin D poppers here during the cold months. Vitamin D fights (and prevents) the flu!

    I have some giveaways going on if you're interested, I am trying to boost the entries!! We Don't Have It All Together They are all listed at the top of my page.

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  3. My husband has a full blown cold and he is driving us all nuts but worse, I am sure it will cycle through, ugh! Thanks for the tips!

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  4. This is a great article on this subject...I knew some of these already but now I realize why my boys keep getting colds they are not eating much of these foods. They do get vitamin C from juices but I think I need to add ginger and garlic to our diet. Visiting from Hoppin Weekend and I am a new follower of your blog.

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