When you come down with a cold or have a flu, food may have a more subtle effect than medication, but can be an effective treatment tool when used to arrest a cold at the first sign of symptoms.
Certain foods, herbs, and spices can help prevent common ailments and speed your recovery. Their primary function is to strengthen your own immune system so that it can effectively do it’s job of healing. Here’s some foods with medicinal properties that are known to fight infection, according to Molly Siple, writing in her book ,”Healing Foods For Dummies”.
- Garlic has both antibacterial and antiviral properties and is a potent immune enhancer. If you feel like you’re coming down with something cut one or two cloves of raw garlic into bite-size pieces and swallow like pills.
- Onions fight bacteria and viruses. In addition, onions trigger the release of fluids
that dilute mucus so that it can move through the lungs and into the throat from where it can be coughed up. While raw onions are the most beneficial, cooked onions are also therapeutic. Half an onion a day is considered an ample dose.
* Watercress helps clear up phlegm and is high in healing minerals.
* Sea vegetables or Seaweed, supply abundant minerals, which support the healing . process.
- Vitamin A, or beta carotene, vitamin C, and zinc are also good support for
Your natural immune response . Good sources are :
Vitamin A : Sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash, cantaloupe, and greens
Vitamin C : Sweet peppers, broccoli, papayas, kiwis, rose hips, and mangoes
Zinc : Oysters, pork, beef, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, cashews, oysters, and mushrooms.
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