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Food not only provides a person with the energy necessary for life. It supports a weakened body during illness, alleviating unpleasant symptoms. Everyone knows the saying of the healer Hippocrates: “Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food.” Certain foods with active properties can speed up the healing process. We present the top 15 foods you need when you’re sick.
1. Chicken soup
For hundreds of years, chicken soup has been recommended as the best cold remedy. This is due to the fact that the dish is saturated with minerals, vitamins, protein and calories that the body needs during an illness. Nutrients are concentrated in a product that is easy to prepare and easy to consume.
Chicken soup is necessary to maintain the water-salt balance in the body. When visiting the toilet room, a person loses fluid and electrolytes. A healthy dish restores the necessary level of fluid in the body. This is important in the case when the disease is accompanied by a prolonged fever.
Medical observations of patients have proven that chicken soup is a natural decongestant. It cleans the nose of mucus well, getting into the nose with the help of steam. Chicken is high in the cysteine amino acid. Acetylcysteine is able to destroy and remove mucous discharge. The active compound of cysteine has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral effect. [1]
Coughing and congestion in the upper respiratory tract are caused by neutrophils, a type of white blood cell with a specific action that are formed in the blood during illness. Chicken soup is able to suppress their negative impact on a weakened body. This peculiar inhibitory action explains the effectiveness of the dish against the symptoms of flu and other cold infections.
2. Broths
Broths, like chicken soup, help maintain the necessary level of fluid in the body during illness. They have a rich taste, filled with vitamins and calories. Decoctions contain the necessary minerals – magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, folates.
During a cold, hot broths relieve unpleasant symptoms due to a pronounced decongestant effect. Some diseases of the stomach do not allow you to eat solid food. Decoctions come to the rescue, eliminating the feeling of hunger and preventing dehydration. They have a rich taste, rich aroma.
If salt is contraindicated for the patient, when buying ready-made broth in the store, you should pay attention to the sodium content. Most of the presented products are characterized by a high concentration of salt.
During the self-preparation of the broth, you yourself control the amount of salt. A homemade dish is usually high in calories due to the high concentration of protein and nutrients.
There is a category of people who are convinced of the benefits of bone broth. It should be noted that at present there is no evidence that this is a healthy dish that has any healing properties.
3. Garlic
Garlic has been known for its health benefits since ancient times. Traditional medicine healers have used it for centuries in recipes for the treatment of viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases. In addition, garlic was used to activate the protective functions of the body.
Many experts have studied the medicinal properties of garlic. In the course of observations, results were obtained on a certain effect of the plant on cold and flu viruses. Promising data raises hopes that garlic will help in the fight against more serious ailments.
One of the experiments involved two groups of people. Some subjects were given garlic, while others were given a placebo. It was possible to establish that members of the group taking garlic fell ill 70% less often than the rest. [2]
Another study showed that sick patients who consumed garlic recovered faster than those who received a placebo. On average, the period of illness is reduced by 3-4 days. [3]
Several observations led to the conclusion that garlic extract enhances immunity and reduces the intensity of symptoms of colds and flu. [4]
Garlic goes well with chicken soup and various broths. It gives a rich taste, an appetizing aroma and enhances the healing qualities of dishes.
However, there are studies that refute the effectiveness of garlic for colds, the data is inconsistent. [20]
4. Coconut water
During an illness, it is important to maintain a drinking regimen in order to ensure an adequate level of fluid in the body. Adequate hydration is the most important condition for diseases accompanied by fever, severe sweating, diarrhea, and vomiting. These pathological conditions can lead to significant loss of fluid, electrolytes.
Coconut water is the perfect drink during times of illness. Sweet taste, pleasant aroma are combined with high rehydration qualities. Coconut drink contains a lot of glucose and electrolytes.
Drink from the pulp of coconut replenishes the water lost by the body after physical exertion, in cases of uncomplicated diarrhea. For the gastric mucosa, it is quite gentle. [5]
Animal studies have shown that coconut water is rich in antioxidants that help prevent oxidation. Coconut drink helps to normalize blood sugar levels.
It should be said about the study, which confirmed that coconut water can cause significant bloating. If you are trying this drink for the first time, start with small doses to prevent unpleasant symptoms.
5. Hot tea
Tea has long been a traditional drink for flu and colds. He struggles with the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. Hot tea, like chicken soup, is a natural decongestant.
It is believed that tea is a diuretic. This is not entirely true. A minority of teas contain negligible amounts of caffeine, but too little to cause dehydration. On the contrary, regular consumption of tea helps prevent dehydration and has a mild laxative effect.
Tea contains natural polyphenols – tannins. These plant components are very beneficial for health, as they have antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Tannins are one type of tea polyphenols. They have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.
Black tea. Experiments conducted with rats have shown that the tannins of black teas reduce the concentration of bacterial plaque on the throat. [6]
Hibiscus tea. Another study examined a decoction of hibiscus flowers. It turned out that this variety of tea inhibits the growth of the bird flu virus. [7]
echinacea tea can significantly reduce the intensity of symptoms of flu and cold infections. [8]
Currently, the formulation of tea collections has been developed, which have an antitussive effect, relieve sore throat and relieve the symptoms of a cold. Their effectiveness has been proven in clinical studies. We can say that tea is an integral part of the therapeutic diet.
best cold tea recipe
So, for vitamin tea for colds, you will need:
Grated fresh ginger root – 1 tablespoon (Read more: the benefits and harms of ginger);
Ground cinnamon – 1 teaspoon;
Pureed fresh or frozen cranberries – 2 teaspoons;
Boiling water – 0,5 liters.
Before you start treating a cold, take a large porcelain teapot, scald it from the inside, put all of the above ingredients in it, pour boiling water over it, wrap it in a towel and wait 20 minutes. Fragrant and healthy drink is ready!
Is there an alternative cooking method? – in enamelware. Tea can be kept on low heat for 2-3 minutes, and then wrapped for 10 minutes. In any case, it does not need to be filtered after brewing, let all the components settle to the bottom naturally and continue to give their valuable substances to the drink.
How to drink tea for a cold? It is better to drink such tea with the whole family, a glass three times a day. Like any medicinal decoction, it should be consumed either half an hour before a meal, or at least an hour and a half after a meal. If you are already unwell, be sure to drink this hot tea before bed.
Let’s say you have dinner at 7 pm. Then at half past eight, slowly drink tea for a cold, you can even have a couple of mugs. And go to bed at 11 pm. This order of treatment is optimal, since ginger strongly tones, and cranberries have a diuretic effect. This combination, you understand, does not contribute to falling asleep.
Many are confused by the bitter taste of this healing tea for colds. But it’s best to avoid the temptation to sweeten it with sugar. Try drinking this drink with honey. It is both tasty and very healthy, especially during the cold season, because honey perfectly strengthens the human immune system. Important note: do not put honey directly into tea. Once in a hot environment, it loses a significant part of its properties. It is better to eat half a teaspoon of honey, and then drink it with two or three generous sips of tea.
6. Honey
Honey contains unique compounds that have a powerful antibacterial effect. This action is so pronounced that the ancient Egyptians used honey in wound dressings. Modern Egyptian medicine has not abandoned this tradition. [9]
Many studies have proven that honey has the ability to activate the immune system. This makes honey a necessary product for the treatment of patients with bacterial tonsillitis.
Medical observations prove that honey is able to suppress obsessive cough in children. However, it should not be given to babies under 12 years of age due to the likelihood of allergic reactions, since honey is an active substance. [10]
To prepare a honey drink, you need to dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm milk. It will have a sedative effect, destroy bacteria and replenish fluid levels in the body.
7. Ginger
Ginger has long been used as an effective antiemetic. In modern medicine, ginger is recommended for pregnant women to combat nausea, as well as for patients undergoing anticancer therapy.
The spectrum of action of ginger is similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Its anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and antioxidant qualities are appreciated. [11]
If the disease is complicated by nausea or vomiting, ginger is the most suitable product to alleviate, eliminate unpleasant symptoms. All the valuable qualities of this plant make it an indispensable component of clinical nutrition.
Fresh ginger can be introduced into main dishes, brew tea. Stores sell ginger ale. When buying products with ginger, carefully read the ingredients on the label. This is to make sure there is natural ginger or ginger extract, not just a specific flavor.
Ginger lemonade
Recipe for single use. Prepared with the following proportions: for 2 teaspoons of honey and a slice of lemon, take the amount of ginger root two centimeters long. Ginger is pre-chopped with a knife or using a blender or grater, to save time, the peel can not be removed – it is rich in trace elements and dietary fiber. Pour ginger and lemon into a glass of hot water. Before drinking, the drink is infused for half an hour, only after that honey is added to the cooled mixture.
How to treat influenza with modern means?
Modern drugs are quite effective in fighting the flu. Do not forget that in the first place, influenza does not need antibiotics, but antiviral drugs (flu is a virus, not a bacterium). More about flu treatment ➤