Try immune boosting power foods
Christmas is just around the corner and it’s been getting chilly lately, although we have yet to see any snow hit the ground. When the weather starts to fluctuate it can sometimes wreak havoc on even the most health conscious individual, if he or she happens to be unprepared and caught in the cold without a hat and gloves. Unexpected exposure to germs or cold can leave us feeling low energy, with sore lymph nodes, and the dreaded feeling that we are on the verge of getting sick.
Cold interventions
So what can you do when you get that not-so-great-runny-nose feeling? Your best bet is to immediately grab some natural immune boosters that will stop sickness in its tracks and have you barely missing a beat from your usual routine. Below is a list of some go-to immune boosting foods and supplements. Depending on how intense the onset of your cold, you may need more than one on this list. Don’t forget that sickness and mucus based illnesses can also happen as a detox reaction from excess food consumption, consumption of the wrong kinds of foods (processed or mucus forming like dairy), or our colons being backed up from lack of fiber or water. Which is why taking a break from heavy foods and doing soups, juices, teas, and water always accelerates your process of getting back to a 100% healthy you.
Ginger
Ginger is one of the best cold remedies on the planet. A staple in traditional Chinese medicine, ginger has been used for over 2,500 years to treat congestion, sinus pain, and sore throat. It has strong yang energy and warms the stomach and lungs. Ginger is also great for relieving nausea or indigestion. Eat ginger fresh, juice the root along with greens, boil it and steep to make tea, or add it to foods.
Garlic
Garlic has been used the world over for warding off colds and the common flu. It is powerful because of it’s anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Eat fresh garlic cloves, juice them, take odorless garlic pills, make garlic tea, or add to foods.
Papaya
Papaya is a very nutrient dense fruit packed with beta carotene, vitamin A, C, iron, calcium, folate, potassium, fiber, and more. A small papaya contains around three times the daily recommended value of vitamin C, which is a nice whopping serving that can send a common cold running for the hills faster than you can say “Bless you!”
Oranges
Oranges are the typical go-to Vitamin C boosters that will help you fight a cold if you already have one, or keep the sniffles at bay. Eat them fresh or juice them fresh. Remember that the typical cartons of orange juice in the store are not only pasteurized (which kills off most nutrients) but they have other preservatives added to the juice that won’t necessarily do your body good. Fresh squeezed is always the best way to go, especially if you are trying to give the common cold a run for its’ money.
Spirulina
Spirulina is blue green algae that you can take in pill or powder form that is packed with nutrition including: potassium, calcium, zinc, iodine, magnesium, selenium, iron, phosphorous, folic acid, niacin, B vitamins, including super essential B12, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin E, and more. Consuming this superfood regularly will boost your immunity enough that you will not have to worry about most illnesses. Read more about the amazing superfood Spirulina.
Mung Bean Sprouts
Mung Bean Sprouts have pure forms of vitamin A, B, C, and E, along with K, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, and zinc. One cup contains 1/4 the daily recommended value for vitamin C. Because of their high vitamin C content these power sprouts have been used since ancient times to ward off disease. Eat them fresh, add to soups, or salads.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass may be hard on the taste buds going down, but it’s worth the discomfort. About two ounces of this green stuff is equivalent to three pounds of organic vitamins and minerals. Wheatgrass is a complete protein and this antioxidant packed super shot helps to detoxify the body and remove toxins, energize, and will assist with relieving sinus issues and congestion. Contains vitamin A, C, E, and zinc to name a few, and can be taken alone as a shot or added to a juice.
Wellness Formula
Wellness Formula is a vitamin supplement that really works. It’s a great supplement for people who get sick often or who want a way to stop the onset of a cold and is ideal to take the moment you think your immunity is getting low or as a preventative immune booster. You can find it in most health food stores. Nowadays many vitamins can be unreliable, but this formula delivers for warding off sickness, or helping you recover.
Green Juice
Green Juice is a powerful cure-all. Got chlorophyll? Add in a lot of ginger root and lemon, and you should start to feel groovy and sickness-free pretty quickly. Juicing nutrient packed greens and herbs like kale, chards, parsley, spinach, etc. will help bring your body back to one.
Kombucha Tea
Kombucha Tea is a powerful tea created from fermenting mushrooms that can assist in healing numerous conditions. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and therefore can treat sore throats and common colds. If Kombucha is consumed regularly it has been shown to be an effective preventative medicine creating resistance to colds and flu in the majority of people. You can brew your own, buy it local, or find it at a health food store. When you find that magical brand, stick with it. The most powerful brands tend to be locally made.
References:
Mirzaie S, Zirak-Khattab F, Hosseini SA, Donyaei-Darian H. Effects of dietary Spirulina on antioxidant status, lipid profile, immune response and performance characteristics of broiler chickens reared under high ambient temperature. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2018 Apr;31(4):556-563. doi: 10.5713/ajas.17.0483.
Vīna I., Semjonovs P, Linde R, Deniņa I. Current evidence on physiological activity and expected health effects of kombucha fermented beverage. J Med Food. 2014 Feb;17(2):179-88. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0031. Epub 2013 Nov 5.