1. Chicken noodle soup
Eating a bowl of steaming chicken noodle soup provides more than
just comfort when you have a terrible cold. In 2000, University of Nebraska
researcher Dr. Stephen Rennard published findings in Chest; the journal of the
American College of Chest Physicians, showing chicken soup contains
anti-inflammatory agents that can ease a cold’s symptoms. Dr. Mehmet Oz agrees.
“Start with a bowl of Mom’s chicken soup,” he has said. “Research has yet to
show how it works (and how the heck Ma knew), but we do know that a
nutrient-rich diet builds your immune system and fights inflammation.”
2. Milk and other vitamin D-rich foods
Vitamin D-rich foods like milk or fortified cereal might help
combat a cold. A 2009 study by Massachusetts General Hospital found that people
with low levels of vitamin D reported more colds than those who weren’t vitamin
D deficient. As an added bonus, these foods may help boost your mood during
cold weather months, according to researchers at Loyola University.
3. Carrots and other vitamin A-rich foods
All vitamins are essential to maintaining good health, but Harvard
Medical School says vitamin A is a key player in maintaining a strong immune
system. When you have a cold, try eating sweet potatoes, carrots, squash,
spinach, or collard greens.
4. Cold green tea
Green tea is full of antioxidants, which will boost your immune
system even when you’re already sick. Green tea can also help ease symptoms
that often come with a cold, like a sore throat. Instead of sipping a hot
mugful, Dr. Michael Greger suggests brewing it cold: antioxidant levels are
higher that way compared to when it’s made with boiling water.
5. Garlic
Garlic has been found to help prevent colds when consumed
regularly, owing to its immune-boosting compound allicin, says Donna Cardillo,
RN. Eat more garlic when you have a cold, or try it raw with an orange-juice
chaser.
6. Blueberries
Researchers from Cornell University found that blueberries
contained the most antioxidants than any other fresh fruit tested, which should
help beat your sniffles. Eat them alone when you have a cold, or sprinkle on a
bowl of cereal or yogurt to add some vitamin D.
7. Tea
Tea is soothing when you’re congested, especially a brew with
natural expectorants like anise seeds, recommends the American Pharmaceutical
Association’s recipe: one cup of crushed anise seeds to one cup of hot water,
flavored with sugar, garlic, cinnamon, or honey. Sip tea up to three times a
day. If you don’t like licorice flavour, try peppermint. University of Maryland
Medical Center reported that peppermint tea acts as an expectorant, loosening
mucus and breaking up coughs.
8. Fish
Eating oil fish, like salmon and tuna, when you have a cold, to
take advantage of their omega-3 fatty acids. These compounds help reduce
inflammation in the body, which can prevent your immune system from working
properly.
Source: http://www.readersdigest.ca
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